Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 17 March 2015

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:  Joyce Takamine
Date: March 17, 2015
This is the Rare Bird Alert, Tuesday, March 17, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species).
 

BRANT (*Rio Grande)

Trumpeter Swan (Delta, Douglas)
Tundra Swan (Boulder, Fremont)
Long-tailed Duck (Park, Mesa, Weld)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Weld)
Thayer's Gull (Adams, Larimer, Weld)
ICELAND GULL (Adams, Washington)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, Arapahoe, El Paso, *Larimer, Washington, Weld)
Glaucous Gull (Larimer, Washington, Weld)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Weld)

Boreal Owl (Jackson)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Park)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Morgan)

GYRFALCON (Mesa)

Bewick's Wren (Mesa)

Winter Wren (Morgan)
Lapland Longspur   (Prowers, *Weld)
EASTERN TOWHEE (Logan)
White-throated Sparrow (Mesa)

Rusty Blackbird (Baca, Morgan)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Jackson, Jefferson, Park)

Black Rosy-Finch (Jefferson, Park)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Jefferson,Montrose, Park)
PURPLE FINCH (Bent)
 
ADAMS COUNTY:
--On February 28, Davis reported a Dunlin at the bridge over S Platte on McKay (about 9300 N). On March 7, Behnfield reports the Dunlin was working the rocky edge of the water about 200 yds. east of the McKay bridge.  On March 9 Vesely reported the Dunlin at McKay and S. Platte.  On March 10, Candice Johnson reported Dunlin at S. Platte and McKay.  On March 11, Riffe reported Dunlin near McKay and 100th.
--On March 6, Dowell reports an ICELAND GULL on one of the ponds east of the river between McKay and 88th Ave.
--On February 28, Starace reported m Barrow's Goldeneye on the S Platte River near 88th. On March 8, Gent reported male Barrow's Goldeneye below the green/white big water tank on the S Platte River, between the 78th St. and 88th St. parking lots.

 
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
--On March 6, Suddjian reports a 3rd cy. Lesser Black-backed Gull with Ring-billed Gulls at Cooley Lake at South Platte Park.

BACA COUNTY:

--On March 14, Peterson and Walbek reported a Rusty Blackbird at Two Buttes SWA.
 
BENT COUNTY: 
--On February 28, Duane Nelson reported f-type PURPLE FINCH and Cassin's Finch at his feeders. If you would
like to try for the birds, contact Duane at dnelson1 AT centurytel.net<http://centurytel.net/> On March 1, Duane reported that both the Cassin's Finch and PURPLE FINCH returned to his feeders. On March 6, Duane Nelson reports the PURPLE FINCH coming to his feeder.
 
BOULDER COUNTY:
--On February 21, Kaempfer reported Tundra Swan at the Valmont Complex on the N shore of Leggett Reservoir.  On March 8, Floyd reported Tundra Swan at the Valmont Complex.

DELTA COUNTY:

--On March 12, Horn reported 3 - 9 Trumpeter Swans at Hart's Basin.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

--A Trumpeter Swan was reported by Candice Johnson at Chatfield SP on March 14.
 
FREMONT COUNTY: 
—On March 8, Kosar reports the Tundra Swans, first found by R. Miller, are still at Holcim Wetlands. Most of the trail there is closed due to damage.   On March 9, Goff reported 2 Tundra Swans at Holcim Wetlands.

JACKSON COUNTY:

--On March 15, Leatherman reported hearing a Boreal Owl on Hwy 14 about milepost 64 on Cameron Pass around 2130.  The

bird was south of the highway.  
 
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
--Ira Sanders reports Gray-crowned, Brown-capped and Black Rosy-Finches coming to his front yard at 314 DeFrance Ct in Golden on December 29. Birders are welcome to watch from the street. On March 7, Sanders reported one Rosy-finch at his feeder.  On March 12, Sanders reported 1 Rosy-Finch in his yard.  On March 14, Sanders reported one Rosy-Finch in his yard.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
--On March 5, Komar reported 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Thayer’s Gulls, and 1 Glaucous Gull, subadult (at least 3yrs. old -Gorgeous) at Boyd Lake SP, (just northeast of Loveland).

--3 -4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were reported by Opler at Boyd Lake on March 16.
 
LOGAN COUNTY:
--On February 21, Dowell reported m EASTERN TOWHEE at eastern section, area 10 at Tamarack SWA. On March 8, Dowell reports the EASTERN TOWHEE in the eastern section of Tamarack SWA, area 10.  On March 14, Riffe reported EASTERN TOWHEE at Tamarack SWA.
 
MESA COUNTY:
--On March 5, Henwood reports a White-throated Sparrow at the Grand Junction Wildlife Area. Korte reports seeing a White-throated Sparrow on the sparrow walk on March 7 at GJWA.
--A f Long-tailed Ducks was reported by Dexter at Whitewater Ponds on the N side of CO 141 and W of Gunnison River on February 28. Lambeth reports the Long-tailed Duck continues at Whitewater Ponds, same area as first reported on March 7.

On March 9, McGinley reported that the Long-tailed Duck continues at Whitewater Ponds.  On March 10, Ortenzio reported Long-tailed Ducks at Whitewater Ponds.  On March 11, Tischbein reported Long-tailed Duck on Whitewater Ponds.  On March 12, Riggle reported Long-tailed Duck on Whitewater Ponds.  On March 13, Fenton reported Long-tailed Duck at Whitewater Ponds.  

--On March 10, Henwood reported a white Gyrfalcon on Pinyon Mesa, S of Glade Park Store below intersection of S16.5 and JS Road.

--On March 13, Henwood reported 3 pairs of Bewicks's Wrens on Audubon Trail and Connected Lakes SP.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

--On March 11, Garrison reported 2 small flocks of Brown-capped Rosy-Finches along WAPA power line near Forest Road 716 on Black Mesa south of Crawford.

MORGAN COUNTY:

--On March 14, Dowell reported 2 Rusty Blackbirds, 2 Winter Wrens, and 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers at Brush SWA.  On March 15, Kellner and Dunning reported Winter Wren at Brush SWA.  Rawinski reported that it was seen at the southern most turnout on the west side on Hwy 15.  

 
PARK COUNTY:
--On February 24, Suddjian reported Rosy-Finches (all three species) in Jefferson at a feeder at house behind the market;
in Fairplay at feeder at Front Street, on a snag tree off Beaver Creek Lane in Silverheels Circle. Also south of Fairplay and east of US 285 along Kokanee and Trout Roads.

--On March 9, Suddjian reported an American Three-toed Woodpecker on Hwy 59 between Saddle Mountain and Thritynine Mile Mountain.

--On March 9, Suddjian reported Long-tailed Duck on Eleven Mile Reservoir.

--On March 9, Suddjian reported Rosy-Finches at Fairplay and Jefferson.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

--A Black Brant was reported by Callahan at Monte Vista NWR on March 16.  Rawinski reported that it was seen at the southern most turout on the west side on Hwy 15.
 
WASHINGTON COUNTY:

—On March 8, Kellner reports Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 ad., ICELAND GULL, 1 ad., GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, 1, 1st winter - possibly a hybird, but mostly (?) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, and Glaucous Gull, 1 (likely 2) 1st. winter birds.
 
WELD COUNTY:
--On February 16, Hess reported Long-tailed Duck at Windsor Lake. On February 26, Mlodinow reported Long-tailed Duck and Thayer's Gull at Windsor Lake.  On March 9, Leatherman reported Long-tailed Duck, juv Thayer's Gull, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (1 ad, 1 3-rd cyc).  On March 11, Mlodinow reported Long-tailed Duck at Windsor Lake.  On March 13, Leatherman reported 1 sub ad Glaucous Gull, 2 juv Thayer's Gulls, 1 f Long-tailed Duck, and 1 f Barrow's Goldeneye.  On March 14, Fink reported Long-tailed Duck at Windsor Lake.

--On March 8, Lefko reported a Lapland Longspur on CR 33 between CR 98 and CR 100.

--On March 11, Mlodinow reported GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Black Hollow Reservoir.

--On March 14, Lefko reported 1 Lapland Longspurs at CR 124 Pond.  
 
UPCOMING DFO TRIPS:

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, March 22 will be to Cherry Creek SP.  Meet the leader Mary Cay Burger (mcburger3 AT juno.com, 303-771-3431).  Enter at EAST entrance to park from South Parker Road.  NOTE:  This is not the regular meeting site for most previous trip.  Go past the entrance kiosk and take first left turn.  Continue on this road, past the east boat ramp and turn left to the "East Shades, Picnic Shetlers" as shown on the park map,  located on the east shore of the lake.  

Join the leader for a drive and walk around the East side of the park looking for waterfowl, residents, and early migrants.  Bring binoculars, scopes, water and snacks, and dress for predicted weather.  Please register online or contact leader to register.
 

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder