Colorado Rare Bird report for Friday, March 7, 2014

[Joe Roller]

Compiler: Joe Roller

Date: March 7, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, March 7, 2014, updated at 0730, 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. For a mega-rarity, just call me directly at 303 204-0828.

 

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

 

Greater White-fronted Goose (Denver)

BRANT (Douglas)

TRUMPETER or TUNDRA SWAN (Morgan)

TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder)

Long-tailed Duck (Denver)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Jefferson)

Short-eared Owl (Weld)

MEW GULL (Arapahoe)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Denver, Weld)

Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson, Weld)

ICELAND GULL (Weld)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Arapahoe)

Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, Jefferson, Pueblo)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Weld)

Winter Wren (El Paso)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (Weld)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

--Dowell reports these gulls at Aurora Reservoir on February 26: MEW GULL, (ad)., Lesser Black-backed Gulls, (2 ad. & 1  3rd. yr.), Thayer’s Gull, (2 juv., 1 or 2 ad.), GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, (2nd. winter), Glaucous Gull, (1 ad., 2 immature).

--On March 3, Walbek reports a similar assortment of gulls from Aurora Res, best seen from the SW corner.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On February 1, Wilberding reported a TUNDRA SWAN at Cottonwood Marsh; the swan was seen there again on  February 23 by Breitsch, and may still be around.

DENVER COUNTY:

--On February 27, T. Jones reports seeing these gulls on Marston Reservoir: Two, ad. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the ice. One was a very dark backed[almost black] colored bird. The other ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull had more of the typical dark gray colored back. A first cycle Thayer’s Gull was also present.

--On March 3, T. Jones reports two Glaucous & one Thayer's Gull from Marston Res.

--On Feb 20 & again on the 28th, Breitsch reports a Greater White-fronted Goose (aka "tar belly" ) at the Rec pond at Green Valley Ranch (northeast corner of Tower Rd aka Green Valley Ranch Blvd, in Town Center Park).

--On March 4 Baker reports a Greater White-fronted Goose on the NE side of Sloans Lake, near Stuart Street. Sloans Lake is near Sheridan and 17th Ave.

--Vickery reports seeing a Long-tailed Duck on the South Platte on February 27.  It was across the river from the aquarium, with a group of Gadwalls and Mallards. On March 1, Breitsch saw it just SW of Speer Blvd bridge.

  

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

-- Stachowiak reports seeing the BRANT, on February 15, at the southeast corner of Redstone Park located in Highlands Ranch. Access the parking lot located on the west side of S Foothills Canyon Blvd approximately 2/10's of a mile south of W Town Center Drive.  Look straight ahead as you enter the parking lot or to the left towards the houses on the edge of the park.  I have located the bird in this area in the past as well. The Brant was seen by Kellner on Feb 23, at the playground pond at Redstone Park.

EL PASO COUNTY:

--On February 28 Lee reports that the Winter Wren continues at Fountain Creek across from Mile Marker 18 & the concrete gazebo, west of the path. 

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On February 18, Hackos reports seeing a Barrow’s Goldeneye at Chatfield Reservoir over the weekend.  It was in the open water near the dam, west of the tower.  On February 28, Kibbe reports the Barrow’s Goldeneye continues on the northwest corner of the reservoir. It persisted on March 3, according to a report by Suddjian.

--On March 2, Teuton and Brooke saw the continuing Golden-crowned Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post.

On March 3, Suddjian reported a flock of 11 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS along Plum Creek at Chatfield SP, downstream of the Plum Creek bridge.

MORGAN COUNTY:

--On February 8, Kellner reports 2 imm TRUMPETER SWANS at Boyd Ponds SWA at Log Lane Village near Ft. Morgan.  Directions: Take Exit 79 off I-76, take Elm St. in Log Lane Village north to the parking lot near the river.  From the parking lot walk the "road" east & cross the canal. Head further east along the canal.  The swans were in the open water of the pond on the south side of the canal & were seen by Breitsch on 2/26.  Some experts find reason to think that these are Tundra Swans. 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--On March 3 Percival reports a 1st yr Glaucous Gull at Pueblo Reservoir south Marina.

WELD COUNTY:

--Lefko reports Lapland Longspurs call over head in “Raptor Alley”, WCR 100 x WCR 23 x WCR 102 x WCR 27 on February 27. They continued on March 2, when he also found an ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull at Drake Lake.

--On March 2 Mlodinow reports these gulls at Woods Lake, east of Severance: a near adult Great Black-backed Gull, a continuing second year ICELAND GULL, 4 Thayer's Gulls & a Lesser Black-backed Gull. On March 4, Leatherman reports the Great Black-backed & Thayer's Gulls form Woods Lake, with a lot of bird activity there.

--Sheeter reports on March 5, a Short-eared Owl on road 48, at dusk, just south of Lower Latham Reservoir.

Migration notes: This March, a few returning birds have been seen at favored spots, including American White Pelicans, a few Cinnamon Teal, pioneering Lesser Yellowlegs, Mountain Bluebirds in numbers, and even one frosted Tree Swallow at Chatfield.

Upcoming DFO Field trips: 

Saturday, March 8, Cherry Creek State Park (This trip is full, but you could be number one on the waiting list).

Leader: Joe Roller,   jrol...@gmail.com

Join leader at 7:30 a.m. MST. Half-day trip until 12 or 1 PM. to find gulls, waterfowl, early migrants, & lingering winter birds. Please email leader to sign up. Limit 15 participants.

Enter at the EAST entrance to the Park from South Parker Road. NOTE: this is NOT the regular meeting site for most previous trips. Go past the entrance kiosk & take the first left turn. Continue on this road, past the east boat ramp & turn left to the “East Shades, Picnic Shelters,” as shown on the park map, located on the east shore of the lake.

We'll sign in & scope the lake from there. Walking will be kept to less than two miles on flat trails. Lunch is optional. State Parks pass & $3 "water sticker" are required.

Bring scopes, binocs, water, snacks, and dress for the predicted weather.

Sunday, March 9, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS TODAY Chatfield State Park Leaders: Ira and Tammy Sanders, 303-278-7172 Meet leaders at the swim beach at 7:30 a.m. MDT. Half-day trip until about noon. State Parks pass required. Walking will be held to a minimum, a mile or less. This would be a good trip for less experienced birders.

Bring scopes, binocs, & dress for the weather. Lunch is optional. Look for waterfowl such as ducks & grebes, early migrants such as bluebirds, & resident birds including woodpeckers, finches, & some sparrows.

Good Birding!

Joe Roller, Denver

303 204-0828

Please call for corrections, or email me at jrol...@gmail.com