Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 13 March 2017

[Joe Roller]

Compiler:     Joe Roller
e-mail:          RBA AT cobirds.org
Date:            March 13, 2017
This is the Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 13 sponsored by Denver
Field Ornithologists and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

Highlight species include:  (* indicates new information on this species)
Note:  The RBA is using the new AOU checklist and the order of  families has changed.

BRANT (Jefferson)
Trumpeter Swan (Douglas)
Tundra Swan (Eagle, Pueblo)
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (Weld)
Long-tailed Duck (Larimer)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Larimer)

Virginia Rail (Jefferson)

American Woodcock (Larimer)
Thayer’s Gull (Larimer, Weld)
ICELAND GULL (Weld)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Douglas, Larimer, Pueblo, Weld)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larimer, Pueblo)

ACORN WOODPECKER (Pueblo)
Williamson’s Sapsucker (Pueblo)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (El Paso)

American 3-toed Woodpecker (Boulder)
Winter Wren (Baca, El Paso)

Carolina Wren (*Arapahoe)
Red Fox Sparrow (El Paso)
Lincoln‘s Sparrow (Denver)

Harris's Sparrow (*Denver)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

--On March 11 Luke Pheneger reported a Carolina Wren, heard near the Tower Loop at the east end 

   of the Cherry Creek SP dam.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On March 7 Thomas Heinrich reported an American Three-toed Woodpecker at Heil Ranch.

DENVER COUNTY:

--On March 9, Cheryl Teuton re-found a Harris's Sparrow at Westerly Creek, first reported by Jason Bidgood, in Westerly Creek Park. The bird moves about, but has 

  been most loyal to the area near 23rd Ave and Beeler St.  A Brown Thrasher was also seen.  Adam Vesely saw the Harris's Sparrow later in the day.

--On March 5, Tueton had a Lincoln's Sparrow associating with a small flock of juncos in the same area.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:
--On February 27 Brandon Percial reported Trumpeter Swan at Chatfield SP on pond viewed from High Line Canal Trail, accessed from Titan
   Road.  

--On March 3, Gregg Goodrich and Ben Lagasse reported Trumpeter Swan in SE Pond at Chatfield, best viewed from Highline Canal Trail. 

--On March 4 Joy & Leonard Lake reported the Trumpeter Swan.

EAGLE COUNTY:
--On March 3 at Blue Lake in El Jebel, Lynne Hertzog reported 2 Tundra Swans.

EL PASO COUNTY:
--On February 27 at Sinton Pond Open Space, Richard Taylor, David
    Tonnessen, Brandon Percival, Kara Carragher and Richard Bunn reported
    Red Fox Sparrow.  On March 2 at Sinton Pond Open Space, David
    Tonnessen reported Winter Wren and John Bruder reported Fox Sparrow.
--On March 4, Chris Brobin reported Winter Wren at Sinton Pond Open
    Space.  On March 5 John Drummond reported Winter Wren at Sinton Pond Open Space.
---On March 3 at Sondermann Park in Colorado Springs, John Bruder reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  On March 4 at Sondermann Park
    David Tonnessen, Aaron Driscoll, Richard Bunn, and Jan Albright
    reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. On March 6 at Sondermann Park Kim Mauritz reported Winter Wren.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:
--On February 27 at Indian Tree Golf Course, Brandon Percival reported BRANT. On February 28, Heidi Retherford reported BRANT at Indian Tree Golf Course.  

--On March 7 Tyler Stuart reported the BRANT continues at Indian Tree Golf Course.

--On March 9 at Bass Lake in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Walt Combs reported 2 Virginia Rails.

LARIMER COUNTY:
--On February 26 at Bobcat Ridge, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brooke reported American woodcock in creek east of ranger’s house.  

--On February 27 at Bobcat Ridge, Brandon Percival reported American
   Woodcock.  One February 28, Susan Rosine reported American Woodcock at
   Bobcat Ridge.  On March 3, Marier Hoerner reported American Woodcock
   at Bobcat Ridge.
--On March 1 at Horseshoe reservoir Andy Bankert reported 2
  Thayer’s Gulls, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Great Black-backed
  Gull.  On March 2 at Horseshoe Reservoir Robert Beauchamp reported 2 Thayer’s Gulls and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  

--On March 3 at Horseshoe Reservoir, David Wade reported Thayer’s Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 imm, 5 ad) and Great Black-backed Gull.  

--On March 3 at Horsehsoe reservoir Brandon Nooner reported juv Thayer’s Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and juv Great Black-backed Gull.
--On March 5 at Douglas Reservoir David Wade reported Sharp-tailed Grouse.

PUEBLO COUNTY:
--On March 3 at Pueblo Reservoir, Brandon Percival reported Lesser Black-backed Gull and ad Great Black-backed Gull.  

--On March 5 at Pueblo Reservoir South Marina Heidi Eaton reported Great Black-backed Gull.
--On March 4 Christine Alexander and Renee Casias reported ACORN WOODPECKER at Pueblo Mountain Park.  

--On March 5 at Pueblo Mountain Park, Kara Carragher and Mark Chavez reported ACORN WOODPECKER and Williamson’s Sapsucker.
--On March 5 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), John Drummond reported 5 Tundra Swans.

WELD COUNTY:
--On February 25 Glenn Walbek reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Woods
   Lake. 

--On March 4 at Woods Lake Kara Carragher, Lisa Edwards, and Tim Smart reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK.  

--On March 4 Frank Farrel, Matt Clark, Susan Bonfiglio, and Gene Rutherford reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Woods Lake.  
--On March 4 at Black Hollow Reservoir Steve Mlodinow reported Thayer’s Gull, ICELAND GULL, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
--On March 5 at Drake Lake Gary Lefko reported Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:

Southwest Metro Area Ponds and Lakes

3/14/2017     7:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Leader: David Suddjian   dsud...@gmail.com or 831-713-8659

Trail Difficulty: Moderate 

Directions: Meet at parking lot for Harriman Lake Park off South Kipling St. From Hwy 285, take S Kipling St south and turn right into the parking lot a short way south after crossing W Quincy Ave.

We will visit several lakes and ponds seeking a variety of waterbirds. Stops will be decided the day of the trip, but may include an entrance fee at Chatfield SP. Scopes will be helpful. Bring liquids and snacks. Register online. 

Westerly Creek Park 

3/16/2017     4:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Leader: Chris Rurik   chris...@gmail.com or 253-225-7104

Trail Difficulty: Easy 

Directions: Park on the east side of Beeler Street between 25th Drive and East 24th Place. From I-70 take Central Park Blvd south. Turn left on MLK Drive, then right on Beeler Street. This is in the Stapleton neighborhood of Denver.

Come take an evening ramble through Westerly Creek Park, another urban hotspot that has been discovered in the last few years as a place with great birds. We'll mosey around looking for early migrants (for the past few years it has hosted some of the state's earliest returning Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal) and residents. Expect a mix of waterfowl and land birds. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks. Dress for the weather. Register online.

Chatfield State Park 

3/18/2017     8:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Leader: Edmund J Holub   edmund...@gmail.com or 303-979-2194

Trail Difficulty: Easy 

Directions: Meet at swim beach by entering west entrance of park off S Wadsworth, 1.5 miles south of C-470. State Parks pass or day pass required.

Bring water, snacks, scope if you have one. Dress for the weather Looking for waterfowl, raptors, resident birds. Parks pass required. Register online. 

Golden Gate Canyon State Park 

3/19/2017     8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Leader: Chris Goulart   cgoul...@comcast.net or 586-764-2126

Trail Difficulty: Moderate: Directions 

Meet at Park-n-Ride on west side of Ward Road, just north of I-70. State Parks pass or day pass required.

This trip is limited to the first 11 registrations.

Late winter romp in the mountains. We will walk several trails (as available) and look for what late winter or early spring birds may be active. Three-toed Woodpeckers, Mountain Bluebirds, and more. Winter time in the mountains can be slow or magical. Register online. 

Good Birding,
Joe Roller, Denver

jrol...@gmail.com