Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 7 March 2018

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:   Joyce Takamine

e-mail:      RBA AT cobirds.org  

Date:        March 7, 2018

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, March 7sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

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

NOTE:  The RBA is now using the new AOU checklist and the order of families has changed.

Greater White-fronted Goose (Adams, *Jefferson, Rio Grande)

BRANT (*Arapahoe)

Trumpeter Swan (Archuleta)

Greater Scaup ( Mesa, Park, Weld)

White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe, Jefferson)

Long-tailed Duck (*Montezuma)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (*Chaffee, *Montezuma, Park, Weld) 

Red-necked Grebe (Douglas, Jefferson, *Larimer)

Sora (*Montrose)

Sandhill Crane (Adams, Delta, Mesa, Rio Grande, Weld)

Lesser Yellowlegs (Weld)

Greater Yellowlegs (Kiowa, Prowers, Weld)

Spotted Sandpiper (Arapahoe)

Franklin’s Gull (Boulder)

Mew Gull (Weld)

California Gull (Douglas, Mesa, Park)

Iceland Gull (El Paso, Kiowa, Pueblo, Weld) 

Glaucous Gull (Kiowa)

Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)

YELLOW-BILLED LOON (*Douglas)

Double-crested Cormorant (Weld)

American White Pelican (Arapahoe, Douglas)

Turkey Vulture (Douglas, Jefferson)

Osprey (Pueblo)

Northern Goshawk (Larimer)

HARRIS’S HAWK (Larimer)

Burrowing Owl (Broomfield, Weld)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (El Paso)

Eastern Phoebe (*Arapahoe)

Say’s Phoebe (Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Larimer, Montezuma)

Pinyon Jay (Grand)

Chihuahuan Raven (*Arapahoe, Fremont, Jefferson)

Tree Swallow (Pueblo)

Mountain Chickadee (Weld)

Bushtit (Arapahoe, Weld)

Pygmy Nuthatch (Broomfield)

Winter Wren (Morgan)

Bewick’s Wren (Garfield)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Denver, Weld)

Hermit Thrush (*Arapahoe)

Gray Catbird (Boulder)

Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso)

Northern Mockingbird (Adams)

Bohemian Waxwing (Larimer)

Common Redpoll (Boulder, Jefferson)

Red Crossbill (Arapahoe, Weld)

Field Sparrow (Baca)

Sagebrush Sparrow (*Arapahoe, Conejos)

Savannah Sparrow (Weld)

Fox Sparrow (Larimer)

Lincoln’s Sparrow (Archuleta, *Chaffee, Douglas, La Plata, *Mesa)

White-throated Sparrow (Arapahoe, El Paso)

Harris’s Sparrow (Denver, El Paso)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Weld)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Yuma)

Rusty Blackbird (Larimer)

Pine Warbler (*Larimer)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (*Arapahoe, *Jefferson, Larimer)

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Rocky Mt Arsenal NWR, Susan Rosine reported 2 Greater White-Fronted Geese on far side of Lower Derby Lake.

---On February 27 on Elaine T Valente Open Space, Crystal Beckel reported 22 Sandhill Cranes.

---On March 4 at Big Dry Creek Open Space (Metzger Farms), David Ely and Matt Hofeditz reported Northern Mockingbird.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:                                                                  

---On February 27 at South Platte Reservoir, Cal Gesmundo and Zak Pohlen reported White-winged Scoter and Say’s Phoebe.  

---On February 27 at Ketring Park and Lake, Gregg Goodrich, Mark Chavez, Steve Miller, and Jim Merritt reported Black BRANT.  On March 1 at Gallup Park, Gwen Moore reported Black BRANT.  On March 1 at Ketring Park and Lake, Edward Donnan reported Black BRANT.  On March 4 at Ketring Park and Lake, Renee Casias reported BRANT.  On March 6 at Gallup Park, DFO Field Trip led by David Suddjian reported BRANT in the morning but in the afternoon, Art Hudak reported BRANT at Ketring Park.

---On February 27 at Cherry Creek SP, Mary Kiehtler reported American White Pelican.

---On February 28 on Arrowhead Loop (Elizabeth to Aurora and back), Tina Peters reported 2 Common Redpoll.

---On March 1 at Lee Gulch trail downstream of S Prince St in Littleton, David Suddjian reported Eastern Phoebe.  On March 2 at Lee Gulch Trail downstream of S Prince St in Littleton, David Suddjian, Mark Chavez and Diane Roberts reported Eastern Phoebe.  On March 3 at Lee Gulch Overlook Park, Art Hudak, Anna Troth, Gregg Goodrich, and Cole Sage reported Eastern Phoebe.  On March 6 at Low Ridgewood Park, DFO Field trip led by David Suddjian reported Eastern Phoebe.

---On March 1 on High Line Canal Trail E Belleview Ave to E Quincy Ave (Blackmer Lake area), Santiago Tabares reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 2 at Cherry Creek SP, Cynthia Madsen and Diane Roberts reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 2 at Littles Creek Park in Littleton, Diane Roberts reported Black  BRANT.

---On March 2 on S Platte River at Union Ave, Crystal Wilson reported Spotted Sandpiper.

---On March 3 at Cherry Creek SP Lake Loop, Glenn Walbek and Lynne Miller reported Sagebrush Sparrow.  On March 4 at Cherry Creek SP, Christine Alexander, Renee Casias, Gregg Goodrich, and Anna Troth reported Sagebrush Sparrow.  On March 6 at Cherry Creek SP Lake Loop, Christine Alexander reported Sagebrush Sparrow.

---On March 3 at Crescent Park in Greenwood Village, Troy Becker reported 6 Red Crossbills.

---On March 3 on South Platte River from Union to Bowles, Crystal Wilson reported Spotted Sandpiper and 6 Bushtits.

---On March 6 at South Platte Park Northern Wildlife Area, DFO field trip led by David Suddjian reported Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler.

---On March 6 on Lee Gulch Trail from Prince to Windermere, David Suddjian reported Hermit Thrush.

---On March 6 at Cherry Creek SP, Ben Sampson reported 6 Chihuahuan Ravens.

ARCHULETA COUNTY:

---On February 28 at Village Lake in Pagosa Springs, Byron Greco reported 3 Trumpeter Swans. 

---On February 28 at Vista Ponda, Charles Martinez reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On February 28 at Valmont Reservoir Complex, Jeff Parks reported Franklin’s Gull.

---On March 2 at Lagerman Reservoir, Carl Starace reported Common Redpoll.

---On March 4 at Walden Ponds and Sawhill Ponds, Ron Podhajsky reported 2 Gray Catbirds in front of ranger house

BROOMFIELD COUNTY:

---On February 28 and March 2 in field East of Huron between Hwy 7 and W of 160th Ave, Ivan Mota reported continuing Burrowing Owl.  Gwen Moore also reported Burrowing Owl at same location on March 2.  On March 4 on Huron between Baseline (Hwy 7) and 160th  Brian Johnson reported Burrowing Owl.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

---On March 5 at Buena Vista Ice Pond (view from road), Christian Hagenlocher reported 8 Barrow’s Goldeneyes and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

CONEJOS COUNTY:

---On February 28 at Antonito, John Rawinski reported Sagebrush Sparrows.  Go to Antonito, take Rd G east until Rd F joins from SE.  Take Rd F and watch for next 2-3 miles.

DELTA COUNTY:

---On March 3 Rick Harner and Evelyn Horn reported hundreds of Sandhill Cranes at Hart’s  Basin/Fruitgrowers Reservoir.

DENVER COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Westerly Creek Park, Jason Bidgood reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 1 at First Creek at DEN OS, John Breitsch reported Harris’s Sparrow.  On March 2 at First Creek at DEN OS, Mark Chavez reported Harris’s Sparrow.  On March 3 at First Creek at DEN OS, Bill Boeringer, Don Hall, and Bill Schreitz reported Harris’s Sparrow.

---On March 4 at Denver Botanic Gardens and Cheesman Park, Rebecca Laroche reported 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On February 27 at Chatfield SP From Handicapped Fisherman Platform and Marina Sandspit, Gregg Goodrich, Anna Troth, Gwen Moore, Time Ryan, Mark Chavez, and Steve Miller reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON, Red-necked Grebe, American White Pelican, and Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull.  On February 28 at Chatfield SP from Handicapped Fisherman Platform and Marina Sandspit, Chery Teuton, Dan Brooke, Cal Gesmundo, Zak Pohlen, and Christine Alexander reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON, Red-necked Grebe California Gull, and Iceland Gull.  On March 3 at Chatfield SP Heronry Overlook, Doug Kibbe and Mackenzie Goldthwaite reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.  On March 4 at Chatfield SP, Joey Kellner reported Red-necked Grebe from Hadicapped Fisherman Platform and YELLOW-BILLED LOON from Lake View Parking Lot; Tim Ryan reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON off heronry overlook and Red-necked Grebe along dam by rocks; Bill Boeringer reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON near SE entrance.  On March 6 at Chatfield SP Old Heronry Overlook, DFO Field Trip led by David Suddjian reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.

---On February 26 at Chatfield SP Marina Sandspit, Diane Roberts reported Red-necked Grebe.

---On February 26 at Highland Ranch Open Space near Toepfer, Gail Presley reported Say’s Phobe.

---On March 4 on South Santa Fe Dr (US 85) near Louviers, Diane Roberts reported Turkey Vulture.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On March 1 at Clear Spring Ranch,Tanja Britton reported White-throated Sparrow.

---On March 3 on Hanover Road, Leonard and Joy Lake reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Curve-billed Thrasher.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Silt Island Park, Kathy Mihm Dunning reported Bewick’s Wren.

GRAND COUNTY:

---On March 1 at Snow Mountain Ranch cabins, Reed Gorner reported Pinyon Jaya.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On February 27 at Waterton Canyon from Waterton Road to overhead pipes, Cal Gesmundo and Zak Pohlen reported Common Redpoll.

---On March 2 in Foothills of Golden, Ira Sanders reported 10+ Chihuahuan Ravens.

---On March 3 at Chatfield SP N boat ramp, DuWayne Worthington reported Red-necked Grebe.

---On March 4 at 1300 Golden Circle in Golden, Erin  Burn reported Greater White-fronted Goose.

---On March 6 at Woodmar Park, Bryan Arnold reported Greater White-fronted Goose.

---On March 6 at Clear Creek trail from Golden to I-70, Myron Gerhard reported Yellow-rumped Warbler.

KIOWA COUNTY:

---On March 3 at Neenoshe Reservoir, Tony Leukering reported Greater Yellowlegs, Iceland Gull, and 2 1-st cyc Glaucous Gulls.

LA PLATA COUNTY:

---On February 27 at Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatchery Area, Ryan Votta reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On February 27 on Animas River Trail across from Mercury Payments, Jason St. Pierre reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On March 5 at Wild Horse Birdfeeder in Loveland, John Reichhardt reported Pine Warbler.

---On February 26 at CSU Environmental Learning Center, Austin Hess reported Red Fox Sparrow.   On March 2 at CSU Environmental Learning Center, David Ely reported Red Fox Sparrow.  On March 4 at CSU Environmental Learning Center, Eva Matthews Lark reported Red Fox Sparrow.

---On February 27 at Kingfisher Point, Nix Farms and Williams NA, Lori Zabel reported 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

---On February 27 at entrance road to Bobcat Ridge NA, Joe Mammoser reported 6 Bohemian Waxwings.

---On February 28 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Dave Leatherman found Red-necked Grebe which was seen by several other birders.   On March 1 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Gary Lefko and many other birders reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 2 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Bez Bezuidenhout and many other birders reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 3 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Darla Anerson, John Shenot, Eva Matthews Lark, and Tyler Moss reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 4 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, April Eisele and Dave Leatherman reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 5 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Joshua Smith reported Red-necked Grebe.

---On March 1 at Kechter Pit Wetland, Austin Hess reported HARRIS’S HAWK perched on telephone wire.

---On March 3 at Crescent Park in Greenwood Village, Troy Becker reported 6 Red Crossbills.

---On March 4 at Cattail Pond, Christine Sparks reported Say’s Phoebe.

MESA COUNTY:

---On February 24 at Highline Lake SP, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported Greater Scaup and 2 California Gulls.  On February 26 at Highline Lake SP, Carol Ortenzio and Denise and Mark Vollmar reported 2 Greater Scaup and 2 California Gulls, and 180 Sandhill  Cranes.  On February 27 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood reported 2 California Gulls.

---On March 6 at Grand Junction WA, Ryan Claar reported 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY:

---On March 3 at McPhee Reservoir East end, Jim Beatty reported pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes and f Long-tailed Duck.  On March 6 at Dolores Ponds (wastewater treatment plant), Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright reported Long-tailed Duck and m Barrow’s Goldeneye.

---On March 3 at Totten Reservoir, Jim Beatty reported f Barrow’s Goldeneye.

---On March 4 at Industrial Pond near Cortez, Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright reported Say’s Phoebe.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

---On March 6 at Marine Road Park in Montrose, Sandy Beranich reported Sora.

MORGAN COUNTY:

---On February 24 at Riverside Park (east section) in Fort Morgan, Norm Lewis reported Winter Wren.  On February 27 at Riverside Park (east section), Brian Johnson reported Winter Wren.

PARK COUNTY:

---On February 27 at Elevenmile Reservoir, Steve Mlodiow reported Greater Scaup, 8 courting Barrow’s Goldeneyes, and California Gull.

PROWERS COUNTY:

---On February 28 at pond at US287 and Hwy 50, Tony Leukering reported 3 Greater Yellowlegs.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Runyon Lake in Pueblo, Mark Yaeger reported 2 Tree Swallows flying above river.

---On February 27 at Pueblo Reservoir South Marina, Linda Hdges and Chares Paterson reported Great Black-backed Gull.

---On March 1 at Pueblo Reservoir Rock Canyon (below dam, north of River), Vicki Sandage reported Osprey.

---On March 3 at Pueblo Reservoir South Marina area, Shayna Wieferich reported Osprey.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

---On February 28 at Monte Vista NWR, John Rawinski reported Greater White-fronted Goose and 4-5,000 Sandhill Cranes.  

WELD COUNTY:

---On March 2 at Firestone Gravel Pits (view from road), Tony Leukering reported m Barrow’s Goldeneye and 2 Iceland (Thayer’s) Gulls.

---On February 28 on South Platte near 168th AVE, Sunny Bradford reported Double-crested Cormorant in ponds of wastewater treatment plant.

---On March 1 at Barefoot Lakes Area, Gene Rutherford reported 1-st cyc Mew Gull.

---On March 2 at Behren Reservoir area, Gene Rutherford and Norm Lewis reported 5 Greater White-Fronted Geese, 6 Greater Yellowlegs, Savannah Sparrow.  On March 3 at Behrens Reservoir area, Gene Rutherford reported 6 Greater –Yellowlegs.                                                                                        

---On March 2 at Lower Latham Reservoir area, Gene Rutherford reported Yellow-headed Blackbird.

---On March 2 at Glenmere Park in Greeley, Tony Leukering reported 2 Mt Chickadees, 3 Bushtit, 9 Red Crossbills; Adam Veseley reported Red Crossbill and Golden-crowned Kinglet.  On March 3 at Glenmere Park in Greeley, Gene Rutherford reported 2 Bushtit.

---On March 3 at Linn Grove Cemetery, Gene Rutherford reported Mountain Chickadee.

---On March 4 at Pawnee Grasslands, CR 106 east of CR 51, Gregg Somermeyer reported Snowy Owl on power pole.

---On March 4 near LaSalle south of CR 40 west of CR 47, Gene Rutherford reported 2 Sandhill Cranes.

---On March 4 near LaSalle north of CR 38 between CR 47 and CR 49, Gene Rutherford reported Burrowing Owl.

---On March 4 at Eaton Cemetery, Gene Rutherford reported 3 Mountain Chickadees.

---On March 4 at Cozzens Lake, Gene Rutherford reported Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs.

DFO Field Trips:

Northeastern Colorado

Wednesday, March 7

5:00 AM - 6:00 PM

David Suddjian (Email: dsud...@gmail.com Phone: 831-713-8659)

Trail Difficulty: Strenuous

Maximum Participants: 15

Directions: Meet at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Office in Denver, 6060 N Broadway. Exit I-25 at 58th Ave, go west

2 blocks to Broadway, then north 2 blocks to parking lot on right.

Special guest leader: Norm Lewis. We may visit Jumbo, Red Lion, and Tamarack in the far northeast and Prewitt

Reservoir closer to home. Goals will be northeast specialties of the season, geese, sparrows, cardinal, Long-eared Owl, Red-bellied

Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, or eastern possibilities and winter rarities, including possible Snowy Owl and Common Redpoll.

Prepare for this full day winter outing with supplies of food. It is a 3-hour drive from meeting place to the first birding site. Possible

park entry fees. Register online or contact leader.

Prospect Park (Wheat Ridge Greenbelt)

Saturday, March 10

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Jackie King (Email: jacki...@ccd.edu Phone: 720-381-3314)

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Directions: From I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south about 3/4 mile and turn right (west) on 44th Avenue. Go one mile west.

Look for the entrance to Prospect Park on your left (south). Meet just inside the park in the lot right next to Prospect Lake.

This is a trip with easy walking and accessible for mobility impaired individuals. Bring water and a snack;

lunch optional. Good trip for novice birders and new members. Register online or contact leader.

Cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop (Arapahoe County)

Sunday, March 11

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Karen von Saltza & Bill Wuerthele (Email: kvons...@yahoo.com Phone: 303-941-4881)

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Directions: Meet at the Prairie Loop lot in Cherry Creek SP. From either park entrance, follow Lake View Rd to the

Prairie Loop that is located at the south rim of the reservoir. State Parks pass or day pass required.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder