Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 2 February 2014

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: February 2, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

Go Broncos

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 2, 2014 sponsored  by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the

star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone

number, detailed directions including county, and dates for each sighting.

It would be helpful if you would spell your last name.

 

Highlight species include (* indicates new information on this species in

this report):

BRANT (Douglas, *Douglas/Jefferson)

TUNDRA SWAN (*Boulder, Rio Grande)

Barrow's Goldeneye (*Adams, Boulder, Delta, Douglas, Garfield, Pueblo)

RED THROATED LOON (Pueblo)

MEW GULL (Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Thayer's Gull (Boulder)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Boulder, El Paso)

Glaucous Gull (*Douglas/Jefferson)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Bent, Pueblo)

Greater Roadrunner (Pueblo)

SNOWY OWL (Lincoln)

Winter Wren (Larimer)

VARIED THRUSH (*Huerfano)

Bohemian Waxwing (Larimer, Routt)

Swamp Sparrow (Baca)

Harris's Sparrow (*Delta, Huerfano)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (*Adams)

Rusty Blackbird (Adams)

Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer)

ADAMS COUNTY:

--2 Rusty Blackbirds were reported by the DFO Field Trip led by Hundertmark at Barr Lake SP below the dam on January 26.

--Lapland Longspurs were reported by Breitsch on the DIA Owl Loop which starts .5 mile east of Tower Rd on 96th Ave.  Every flock of Horned Larks had some longspurs.  

--5 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Rurik near the Teal Water tank south of 88th and Platte.

ARAPHOE COUNTY:

--On January 28, Suddjian reported 1-st cyc MEW GULL and ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek SP.

BACA COUNTY:

--A Swamp Sparrow was reported by Dowell in Cottonwood Canyon on January 26.

BENT COUNTY:

--An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Duane Nelson at John Martin Reservoir on ice shelf in Clayton Bay on January 24.  On January 26, Dowell reported GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and 2 imm Glaucous Gulls on ice shelf in Clayton Bay at John Martin.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--5 or 6 pairs of Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Bradley-Bennett N of the bridge at Hwy 119 and 3rd Ave east of Longmont on January 24.

--A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was reported by Waltman at Clover Basin Reservoir in Longmont on January 25.

--A 1-st cyc Glaucous Gull, ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 2 ad Thayer's Gulls were reported by Floyd at Boulder Reservoir on January 25.

--40 Brown-capped and 1 Black Rosy-Finch were reported by Shade at Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark on January 29.

--An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Floyd at Waneka Lake in Lafayette on January 29.  Best viewing is from the dam on the east side from 0800 - 1000 with the sun at your back.

--On February 1, Wilberding reported a TUNDRA SWAN at Cottonwood Marsh.

DELTA COUNTY:

--20 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by McConnell on the Gunnison River at Confluence Park on January 26.

--A 1-st winter Harris's Sparrow was reported by Garrison at the Forest Service Office in Paonia on January 28.  On February 1, Garrison reported that the Harris's Sparrow continues at the Forest Service Office in Paonia.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

--The BRANT was reported by Crooks at Redstone Park in Highlands Ranch on January 27.  It was at the furthest S baseball field next to houses.  On January 29, Breitsch reported the BRANT at Redstone Park at the far east end in front of Lebsack Tennis Center off of Aspen Creek Drive.

--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Walbek at Parker Regional Park on January 31.

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:

--On February 1, Crooks and Teuton reported that the BRANT has returned to Chatfield SP.

--On February 1, Teuton reported a juv Glaucous Gull on ice on the west side of the reservoir at Chatfield.

EL PASO COUNTY:

--A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Hinds at Big Johnson on January 25.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

--5 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Baron 0.1 mile downriver from the west end of Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs on January 26.

HUERFANO COUNTY:

--A VARIED THRUSH has been visiting a private yard in La Veta.  The owners welcome visitors but the bird is best seen from inside the home.  If you would like to try to see the bird please contact Polly Neldner at pollywren AT gmail.com and she will help you make arrangements to see the bird.  On January 24, Erthal and Kilpatrick saw the VARIED THRUSH in La Veta.  On January 30, Percival reported VARIED THRUSH and Harris's Sparrow in La Veta.  On February 1, Chartier reported that the VARIED THRUSH continues in La Veta.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On January 27, Suddjian reported that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post and there were 2 Gray-crowned and 2  Brown-capped Rosy-Finches as well.  On January 31, Wood reported GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Red Rocks Trading Post.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--A Winter Wren was reported by Leatherman on January 24 NW of Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins.  It was along the S side of the Poudre River.  On January 25, Mark Miller reported refinding the Winter Wren at the spot as described by Leatherman.  The Winter Wren was reported by Bruening in the same spot as reported by Mark Miller on January 26.  On January 28, Sparks refound the Winter Wren along the Poudre Bike Trail west of Lee Martinez Park.

--On January 27, Rashid reported 1000 Rosy-Finches and a single Bohemian Waxwing in his yard.  Birders are welcome to come and see the birds.  His address is 715 Sanborn Drive, Estes Park.  On January 30, Rashid reported 600 Rosy-Finches, mostly Brown-capped and Black at his feeders.

LINCOLN COUNTY:

--A SNOWY OWL was reported by Kellner on a power pole on Hwy 94 east of CR 11 on January 26.  On January 29, Duane Nelson reported the SNOWY OWL near the intersection of CR 11.6 and Hwy 94 on the ground in a field in the valley beyond the trees NNE of the intersection.

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--A RED-THROATED LOON, m Barrow's Goldeneye, and ad MEW GULL were reported by Percival at Pueblo Reservoir on January 25.  The loon was at the Sailboard Launch Area to the east, the goldeneye was near the boatramp at SWA, and the gull was at N-1 road in NE corner of the reservoir.

--An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Dowell on the tires at South Marina at Pueblo Reservoir on January 25.

--A Greater Roadrunner was reported by Percival at Swallows SWA on January 26.  Swallows is at the far west end of Pueblo Reservoir.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

--Simmons reported on January 27 that the TUNDRA SWAN at the Rio Grande Bridge on 3W Road NW of Monte Vista continues.

ROUTT COUNTY:

--40+ Bohemian Waxwings were reported by Litteral near the CMC Campus in Steamboat Springs on January 27.

DFO Field Trips:

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, February 1 will be to Castlewood Canyon SP led by Laurie Duke (303-646-4699).  Meet the leader at 0800 at the north entrance to the park in the Homestead Parking Lot.  This will be a half-day trip, lunch optional but do bring snacks and drinking water.  The trip will involve hiking over trails but leader will try to avoid icy areas so wear good hiking shoes.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, February 2 will be to 88th and the Platte led by Chris Owens (303-772-6048 leave a message and number or christiel at q.com)  Meet the leader at 0745 at E 88th and S Platte River (parking lot just south of the intersection of 88th and Colorado).  Will check the duck population of this winter river habitat, any overhead raptors, and any other bird that flaps our way while we walk along paved flat trails (about 4 miles).  This will be a half-day trip, birding until noon or shortly thereafter.  Dress for predicted weather.  Bring water, snacks, binocs, and scopes.  Please register with leader in case of weather cancellaltion.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder