Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 6 January 2015

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: January 6, 2015

This is the Rare Bird Alert Tuesday, January 6 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

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

Tundra Swan (Boulder, Mesa)

White-winged Scoter (El Paso)

Long-tailed Duck (Pueblo)

Barrow's Goldeneye (*Delta, *Garfield, Pueblo, Routt, *Summit)

Chukar (Mesa)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)

Red-throated Loon (*Pueblo)

Red-necked Grebe (Huerfano)

Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe, Thayer's Gull)

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

Glaucous Gull (Pueblo)

Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)

ACORN WOODPECKER (*El Paso, Pueblo)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Prowers)

Chichuahuan Raven (El Paso, Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (*Arapahoe, Denver, Larimer, *Weld)

Chestnut-collared Longspur (*Arapahoe)

McCown's Longspur (*Arapahoe)

Snow Bunting (*Arapahoe, Weld)

Pine Warbler (*Jefferson)

EASTERN TOWHEE (Logan)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (*Boulder, Jefferson)

Northern Cardinal (Prowers)

Rusty Blackbird (Bent/Kiowa)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Boulder, *Jefferson, Larimer, *Teller, Weld)

Black Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Jefferson, *Teller)

Brown-caped Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Jefferson, *Teller)

PURPLE FINCH (Larimer, *Prowers)

ADAMS COUNTY:

--A Snow Bunting was reported by Kilpatrick at 96th and Tower Road on January 2.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

--At Cherry Creek SP on January 1, Teuton and Brooks reported Thayer's Gull and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

--On January 4, Rutherford reported Lapland, Chestnut-collared and McCown's Longsspurs N of Deer Trail between 3019 and 3071 South Prince Road.  On January 5, Suddjian reported Lapland, Chestnut-collared and McCown's Longspurs and a Snow Bunting on South Prince Road N of Deer Trail.

BENT/KIOWA COUNTIES:

--At Adobe Creek Reservoir on January 2, Duane Nelson reported 2 Rusty Blackbirds from dam at outlet.  Drive W on Bent CR UU from CR 10 until you get to spillway.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On December 25, Gent reported all three species of Rosy-Finches at Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark.  On December 28, Drummond reported all three species of Rosy-Finches at Fawn Brook Inn including one Black Rosy-Finch. On January 1, Kaempfer reported Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches at Fawn Brook Inn.

--On January 1, Gent reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farms parking lot. On January 5, Dowell and Moore reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farms parking lot.

--On January 1, Floyd reported 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 ad, 1 1-st cyc, 1 2nd-cyc) at Waneka Lake.

--On January 1, Floyd reported 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (5 ad, 1 1-st cyc) at Valmont Complex.

--A Tundra Swan was spotted by Bob Spencer Jr on January 1 at the Valmont Complex.  On January 2, Mlodinow reporte juv Tundra Swan at Valmont.

DELTA COUNTY:

--1 Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Filby at Confluence Park on January 4.

DENVER COUNTY:

--2 Lapland Longspurs were reported by Kibbe at Gun Club Road south of E 112th Ave on January 4.

EL PASO COUNTY:

--An ACORN WOODPECKER was reported by Peterson at Cheyenne Blvd in Colorado Springs on January 2.

Please respect the privacy of homeowners.  On January 3, Driscoll reported ACORN WOODPECKER in Willow Circle neighborhood of Colorado Springs.  On January 5, Koehn Reported ACORN WOODPECKER in Willow Circle neighborhood.

--A Chihuahuan Raven was reported by Peterson and Walbek in Colorado Springs along 26800 - 29024 Myers Road on January 4.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

--5 Barrow's Goldeneyes (3m, 2f) were reported by Dahl on the Colorado River along Deveraux Rd between the two I-70 exits on January 5.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On January 1 Gwen Moore and others reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post.  On January 4 Kellner reported Golden-crowned Sparrow and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch at Red Rocks Trading Post.

--A Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches was reported by Kibbe at Red Rocks Trading Post on December 31.

--Ira Sanders reported Gray-crowned 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 December 30, Kibbe reported Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches and 2 Black Rosy-Finches at Sanders residence.  On December 31, Stulp and Thompson reported Brown-Capped and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches at the Sanders residence.  On January 1, Skrentny reported Gray-crowned, including Hepburn's Rosy-Finches and Black-Rosy-Finch at the Sanders residence and Rasmussen reported Brown-capped Rosy-Finches.  On January 2, Meredith reported Gray-crowned including Hepburn's Rosy-Finches at the Sanders residence.  On January 3, Sanders reported that the Rosy-Finches returned in the morning but were a no show after 1300.  On January 5, Gwen Moore reported 150 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches at the Sanders residence.

--On January 2, Sanders reported several Chichuahuan Ravens flew by his residence while birders were

watching Rosy-Finches.

--On January 4, Schottler reported a Pine Warbler at Denver West Office Park near the SE corner of bldg 7.  On January 6, Suddjian reported Pine Warbler at Denver West Office Park.  

--On January 4 at Apex Park, Elliott Gordon reported all three specied of Rosy-Finches.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--On January 3 at Livermore Community Church, Komar reported 6 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches and a f PURPLE FINCH at the feeders and a Lapland Longspur on the driveway.  On January 4, Komar reported Lapland Longspur at Livermore Community Church.

LOGAN COUNTY:

--An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported by Larson at Tamarack Ranch on January 3.

MESA COUNTY:

--On January 1, Korte and Henwood reported Tundra Swan and 20+ Chukars at Jerry Creek SWA.

PROWERS COUNTY:

--At Lamar Community College Woods on January 1, Duane Nelson reported 3 N Cardinals and 1 m Red-bellied Woodpecker.

--A f-type PURPLE FINCH was reported by Janeal Thompson at her feeders on Willow Valley Drive on January 4.  If you would like to try to see the bird please e-mail her at janealthompson AT gmail.com.  On January 5, Thompson reported that the PURPLE FINCH continues to visit her feeders.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--At Pueblo Reservoir on December 29, Percival reported Red-throated Loon, male Long-tailed Ducks, f type White-winged Scoter, and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  The loon and duck were at Sailboard launching area looking scout, scoter was off North Picnic Road.  The Red-throated Loon was reported by Percival at the Sailboard Launching Area on December 31.  On January 1 at Pueblo Reservoir, Percival reported Red-throated Loon, 1 juv Thayer's Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 ad Glaucous Gull and 1 ad Great Black-backed Gull.  On January 2 at Pueblo Reservoir, Percival report 1 m Long-tailed Duck, pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes, 1 ad Thayer's Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 1 ad Glaucous Gull.  On January 5, Duane Nelson reported Red-throated Loon at Sailboard Launch Area of Pueblo Reservoir.

--On January 3, Percival reported 2 ACORN WOODPECKERS at Pueblo Mountain Park at the Horseshoe Lodge Parking Area.  

SUMMIT COUNTY:

--On January 5, Warneke reported 25  Barrow's Goldeneyes at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Silverthorne.

TELLER COUNTY:

--On January 5, Duane Nelson reported all 3 species of Rosy-Finches including at least 10 Black in Victor.  They were visiting a feeder on the north side of the northermost street.

WELD COUNTY:

--Gray-crowned and Hepburn's Rosy-Finches, 2 Snow  Buntings, and Sharp-tailed Grouse were reported by Mlodinow at CR 128 and CR 111 south on January 4.

--Gray-crowned and Hepburn's Rosy-Finches were reported by Mlodinow at CR 124 and CR 111 near Grover on January 4.

--On January 3, Lefko reported Lapland Longspurs on CR 100 between CR 23 and CR 27 and at CR 33 .5 m S of CR 100.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, January 11 will be to East 88th and South Plate River led boy Mark Amershek (mame...@msn.com; 303-329-8646).  This trip is full.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, January 11 will be to Cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop led by Karen von Saltza (kvons...@yahoo.com; 303-941-4881).  Meet at the Prairie Loopo lot in Cherry Creek Sp.  State Parks pass or day pass required.  This is a half day trip will be passing through many important habitats in 3 miles.  Trails could be slippery, so dress accordingly.  Bring water and snacks;  Lunch optional.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder