COLORADO RARE BIRD ALERT FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Email: RBA  AT cobirds.org

Compiler: Dave Leatherman, daleatherman@msn.<dot> com

_________________________________________

 

The Colorado Rare Bird Report is an informational service. 

Because of statewide coronavirus “Stay at Home” and “Safer at Home” orders (depending on where you live), the purpose of this report is to keep homebound readers abreast of rare bird sightings across the state during spring migration. It does NOT endorse or encourage illegal travel to see or "chase" rare birds beyond your own permitted area.

 

We urge readers to respect state and local restrictions on non-critical travel and limits on outdoor activities that include birding. Please do all you can to ensure the safety of others and yourself while birding, including appropriate PPE and distancing.

_______________________________________

 

Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBirds. Thanks!

CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee at the CFO website.

(*) indicates new information on a species.

For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to the bottom for “Recent eBird Sightings.”

_______________________________________

 

Spring migration notes: 

Passerine migration is in full swing, with many neotropical species arriving.  Any patch of habitat can produce birds. Birds like Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Broad-winged Hawk, American Redstart, flocks of Spizella sparrows, empid flycatchers, Mississippi Kites (all along Ark. R. from KA w to Pueblo/Colorado Springs) and many other wonderful species not included here are out there to be enjoyed.

 

What’s in your yard or near your home?  Let us know on COBirds.

________________________________________

 

Rare birds and some out-of-place or out-of-season birds are listed below. 

 

Neotropic Cormorant (El Paso, Weld)

Reddish Egret (*Mesa)

Glossy Ibis (Washington)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Jefferson)

White-eyed Vireo (*Baca)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Jefferson, *Larimer, Boulder)

Philadelphia Vireo (Jefferson)

Bewick’s Wren (Jefferson)

Gray-cheeked Thrush (*Baca)

Varied Thrush (*Bent)

Grasshopper Sparrow (Delta)

Sagebrush Sparrow (*Denver)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Boulder, Denver)

Northern Waterthrush (*Arapahoe, *Baca, *LaPlata, *Montrose, Weld)

Black-and-white Warbler (*Bent, Jefferson, *Larimer)

Prothonotary Warbler (*LaPlata)

Tennesee Warbler (*Baca, Douglas, Kiowa *Larimer)

LUCY’S WARBLER (*Mesa)

Nashville Warbler (*Baca, Jefferson)

Kentucky Warbler (Larimer)

Hooded Warbler (Adams, *Chaffee, *Kiowa, Larimer)

Cape May Warbler (*Baca)

Northern Parula (*Bent, Boulder)

Yellow-throated Warbler (Broomfield, Pueblo)

Bay-breasted Warbler (Pueblo)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (*Baca, Boulder, Pueblo) 

Black-throated Blue Warbler (*Jefferson)

Blackpoll Warbler (*Baca, *Boulder, Larimer)

Palm Warbler (Arapahoe, *Boulder, Broomfield, Denver)

HERMIT WARBLER (*Bent)

Black-throated Green Warbler (El Paso, Jefferson)

Prairie Warbler (Larimer)

CANADA WARBLER (Kiowa)

Summer Tanager (Boulder)

___________________________________________

     

ADAMS COUNTY:

—On April 30 a Hooded Warbler was reported at Barr Lake SP (banding station area) by Dan Maynard and others.

 

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

—On May 4 a Northern Waterthrush continues at Cherry Creek SP (Lake Loop), first reported May 3 by Doug Schoch.

—On May 4 a Palm Warbler continued at Cherry Creek SP (Lake Loop), possibly the same individual found on May 1 just south of there by Mitchell Bailey. 

 

BACA COUNTY:

--On May 5 a heard-only Cape May Warbler was reported high in the trees by Steve Mlodinow below the dam at Two Buttes Reservoir.

--On May 5 two Chestnut-sided Warblers were reported by Steve Mlodinow below the dam at Two Buttes Reservoir. 

--On May 5 a White-eyed Vireo was reported by Steve Mlodinow below the dam at Two Buttes Reservoir.

--On May 5 Steve Mlodinow also reports below the dam at Two Buttes Reservoir 5 Northern Waterthrushes, 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 American Redstart, 2 Tennessee Warblers, 1 Blackpoll Warbler, 1 Ovenbird and a russet-backed Swainson’s Thrush.

--On May 5 a Gray-cheeked Thrush was reported by Steve Mlodinow at Turk’s Pond SWA.

 

BENT COUNTY:

--On May 5 a Hermit Warbler was reported by the Phenegers at Melody Tempel Grove west of the CR35 bridge.

--On May 4 a male Varied Thrush was reported along the north side of the parking/equipment area w of CR35 at Melody Tempel Grove by John Malenich.

--On May 4 a Northern Parula was reported by John Malenich at Melody Tempel Grove.

--On May 4 a Black-and-white Warbler was reported by John Malenich at Melody Tempel Grove.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On May 5 a Palm Warbler was reported from Lagerman Ag Preserve  (“along north/ south stretch of Prospect Rd, in small tree across road from Sweden Lake Trail intersection”) by Emil Yappert.

--On May 5 a Blackpoll Warbler was reported at TwinLakes in n Boulder by Nathan Pieplow.

—On May 4 a Palm Warbler found at Hecla Lake on May 3 by Andy Angstrom continued.

—On May 3 a Palm Warbler was reported from near the CU Campus (Confluence Ponds & Skunk Creek) by Leslie S.

—On May 2 a Summer Tanager was reported from Pella Crossing by Bryan Guarente.
—On May 1 a Chestnut-sided Warbler was reported from Elks Park by 

Luke Pheneger.

—On May 1 a Palm Warbler was reported at Carolyn Holmberg Preserve by Chipper Phillips. 

—On May 1 a Northern Parula was reported at Waneka Lake by Pablo Quezada.

—On April 30 a Golden-crowned Sparrow was reported at the Boulder Community Garden by Richard Trinkner.

 

BROOMFIELD COUNTY:

—On May 3 a Palm Warbler was reported from the pond west of Stearns Lake, first found May 1 by Chipper Phillips.

--On May 4 a Summer Tanager was reported from Interlocken Business Park by Chipper Phillips.

 

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

--On May 5 a Hooded Warbler was first reported from Sands Lake SWA by Tyler Wilson.

 

DELTA COUNTY:

—On April 30 a Grasshopper Sparrow was reported in Austin by Connie Kogler. There appear to be no previous eBird records of Grasshopper Sparrow in Delta county.

 

DENVER COUNTY:

--On May 5 a Sagebrush Sparrow was reported at Westerly Creek Park by Jason Bidgood.

—On April 30 a Palm Warbler was reported at Westerly Creek (MLK Jr Blvd to Sand Creek). First reported on April 28 by Jake Shorty.

—On May 4 a Golden-crowned Sparrow was reported at Sand Creek (Havana St to Westerly Creek). First reported on April 19 by Jake Shorty.  There are no previous eBird records for Denver County.

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

—On May 3 a Tennessee Warbler was reported at Chatfield SP (upsteam of Kingfisher Bridge) by Joey Kellner.

 

EL PASO COUNTY:

—On May 2 a Black-throated Green Warbler was reported from Adams Open Space by Chris Gilbert.

—On May 1 a Neotropic Cormorant was reported from Big Johnson Reservoir by David Tønnessen.

 

Note: Chico Basin Ranch is closed to the public, except for dues-paying members of the birding, hunting and fishing clubs.

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

—On May 5 a male Black-throated Blue Warbler continues in Golden, first reported by Michael Lester on May 2 in the vicinity of the Garden Glen Ct. cul-de-sac, between the footbridge & 1st St, where there is now a stakeout hotspot.

—On May 2 a Yellow-throated Vireo was reported from Harriman Lake Park by Linda Lee.

—On May 2 a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was reported from Standley Lake (north shore) by Donna Stumpp.

—On May 2 a Philadelphia Vireo was reported from North Table Mountain Park by David Bailey. Third eBird record for the county.

—On May 2 a Nashville Warbler was reported at Bear Creek Lake Park--Big Soda Lakes N. Trail by Tom & Claire H.

—On May 1 a Bewick’s Wren, the 3rd ebird county record, was reported at Belmar Park, by Jesse Casias.

—On May 2 a Black-and-white Warbler was reported at Harriman Lake Park; first found on April 30 by Dale Pate.

—On April 29 a Black-throated Green Warbler was reported at Robert A Easton Regional Park by Dale Pate.

 

NOTE:  Red Rocks Park is closed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

KIOWA COUNTY:

--On May 4 a Hooded Warbler was reported from Upper Queens Res by John Malenich.

—On May 3 a CANADA WARBLER was reported from Upper Queens Reservoir by David Dowell.

—On May 2 a Tennessee Warbler was reported from Upper Queens Reservoir by David Dowell.

 

LAPLATA COUNTY:

--On May 5 a Prothonotary Warbler first reported May 4 from Pastorius Res by David Dunford was reported as continuing.

--On May 5 a Northern Waterthrush was reported from Pastorius Res by David Dunford.

 

LARIMER COUNTY:

--On May 4 a Tennessee Warbler was reported from Prospect Ponds NA by EJ Raynor.

--On May 4 multiple Blackpoll Warblers were found in both Loveland (Lon Hagler Res by Christine Sparks) and Fort Collins (Arapahoe Bend NA by Brian Tarbox, Prospect Ponds NA by Matthew Webb and Josh Bruening, Environmental Learning Center by Brian Tarbox)

--On May 4 a Yellow-throated Vireo was reported from Wellington SWA by Brendan Beers.

--On May 4 a Prairie Warbler was heard by Matthew Webb, while he was birding in the Poudre Ponds NA, singing across the Poudre River to the east within Cottonwood Hollow NA.  Note: where it was heard several times within a portion of CHNA is off-limits to visitors.

--On May 5 a Yellow-throated Vireo first found on May 4 by Jay Breidt along the Poudre River at Poudre Ponds NA in Fort Collins, was reported as continuing.

—On May 4 a Hooded Warbler first reported from just east of Hamilton Reservoir (40.84861, -105.00980) by Matthew DeSaix was seen by the mob. The nickname for this small wetland is “The Oasis”. The legality of access to this area needs clerification.

—On April 30 a Black-and-white Warbler was at Rolland Moore Park by Nick Komar.

--On May 4 a Black-and-white Warbler was reported from Prospect Ponds NA by Matt Webb.

—On April 30 a Kentucky Warbler was reported at Lon Hagler Reservoir SWA by Christopher Murray.

 

MESA COUNTY:

--On May 5 a white morph Reddish Egret was nicely discerned among other white wader species at the Redlands Parkway Ponds w of Grand Jct. by Carol Ortenzio.

—On May 4 a LUCY’S WARBLER at the hotspot “Gateway Cottonwoods” west of Gateway (town), first found here on April 26 by Kathleen McGinley, continues and may be nesting.

 

MONTROSE COUNTY:

--On May 5 a Northern Waterthrush was reported from the Nucla Water Treatment Plant by Coen Dexter.

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

—On May 3 a male Bay-breasted Warbler was reported from the Arkansas River Trail, east of Pueblo Blvd, by Evan Carlson.

—On April 30 a Yellow-throated Warbler was reported at Roselawn Cemetery. First reported on April 24 by Brandon Percival.

--On May 4 a Chestnut-sided Warbler was reported from near the Chico Basin Ranch HQ by Kip Miller.

 

Note: Chico Basin Ranch is closed to the public, except for dues-paying members of the  birding, hunting and fishing clubs.

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

--On May 3 a Glossy Ibis was reported from CR 57 & Hwy 6 pond by Nick Moore.

 

WELD COUNTY:

— On May 3 a Neotropic Cormorant was reported at PelicanLakes, a hotspot near Windsor, by Ryan Graves.

--On May 4 a Northern Waterthrush was reported from Norma’s Grove (CR100 e of CR57) by Ryan Graves.

 

Crow Valley Campground is closed to all human activity (per U.S.Forest Service District Office in Greeley).

____________________________________

 

PLEASE NOTE: Because of COVID-19 pandemic precautions, Denver Field Ornithologists has suspended all field trips scheduled for May and June. Other birding clubs have also canceled activities, and the annual Colorado Field Ornithologists convention, set for Pueblo in May, has been reset for May, 2021.

 

Please share interesting and/or unusual birds and behavior observations on COBirds.  

 

Dave Leatherman, Fort Collins