Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 8 December 2016

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:  Joyce Takamine

e-mail:    RBA AT cobirds.org

Date:    December 8, 2016

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, December 8, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

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

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

BRANT (Sedgwick)

Trumpeter Swan (Garfield)

Tundra Swan (*Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, La Plata, Pueblo)

EURASIAN WIGEON (*Fremont)

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (Weld)

Mallard (Mexican intergrade) (Pueblo)

Surf Scoter (Adams, Arapahoe, Weld)

White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe, Pueblo, Washington, Weld)

Black Scoter (Arapahoe, Bent, Pueblo)

Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe, Bent, Douglas/Jefferson, Routt)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Archuleta, Eagle/Pitkin, Mesa, Routt, San Miguel, Weld)

Red-necked Grebe (Arapahoe, Boulder, Pueblo)

Dunlin (*Arapahoe)

Long-billed Dowitcher (Montezuma)

Greater Yellowlegs (Otero)

Mew Gull (*Arapahoe, Pueblo, Weld)

Thayer's Gull (*Arapahoe, Bent, Boulder, Douglas)

ICELAND GULL (Arapahoe)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Glaucous-winged Gull (Pueblo)

Glaucous Gull (*Arapahoe)

Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)

Red-throated Loon (Boulder, Douglas, Pueblo)

Pacific Loon (Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Pueblo)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (El Paso, Sedgwick)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Douglas/Jefferson, Pueblo)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (Jefferson)

White-eyed Vireo (Arapahoe)

Northern Shrike (Pueblo)

“Stub-tailed Wren” (Pueblo)

Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso, Pueblo)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (*San Miguel)

Black Rosy-Finch (San Miguel)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (

San Miguel)

Lapland Longspur (*Arapahoe, Bent, Denver, *Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson)

SNOW BUNTING (Douglas, (Sedgwick)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Arapahoe)

Palm Warbler (Denver)

Pine Warbler (Prowers)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (*Mesa)

Northern Cardinal (Sedgwick)

Rusty Blackbird (Adams, Arapahoe, Pueblo)

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Adams)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Weld)

*****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site:  www.coloradocountybirding.org

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On December 1 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Brian Berry reported EASTERN MEADOWLARK and 2 Rusty Blackbirds.

---On December 2 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Andrew McGann and Michael Lanzone reported Surf Scoter.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

---On November 23 Bob Shade reported a Black Scoter and 3 Surf Scoters at Aurora Reservoir. Also on November 23 David Dowell reported 3 White-winged Scoters, a Pacific Loon, a Red-necked Grebe and a Glaucous Gull there.  On December 2, Aaron Yappert reported 3 Surf Scoters, 1 f Black Scoter, and 3 White-winged Scoter, and Lesser Black-backed Gull at Aurora Reservoir.

---On November 25, Bill Kaempfer reported these birds at Aurora Reservoir:  On December 3 at Aurora Reservoir, Bill Kaempfer reported 3 White-winged Scoters and 2 Lesser Black-backed Guls.

3 White-winged Scoters, a Red-necked Grebe, and a Mew Gull (1st cy.) among other gulls.

---On November 24 Lock Kilpatrick reported a continuing Chestnut-sided Warbler in Littleton. The location is on S. Platte Canyon road (south of the intersection with Bowles), where there is an 8 car parking lot near a bike path. Walk south on that path towards some big willows. There is a small spur path that goes into the neighborhood. Look for the warbler in big willows over a wooden fence from public property. Kara Carragher saw it there on Nov 26 and 

it continued on November 26.

---On November 25 Ben Sampson reported a White-eyed Vireo (late) at South Platte Park. It was on the east side of the Mary Carter Greenway trail about 70 feet beyond its junction with the trail that leads to Bufflehead Lake and was also seen adjacent to Weber Rest Area near the north side of Redtail Lake. It was seen again on November 26. There are no previous eBird records for this species after November 13.

---On November 27 at Cooley Lake, David Suddjian reported 1-st cyc Thayer's Gull, 1-st cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull.

---On November 27 at Stoney Pass, David Suddjian reported a f American Three-toed Woodpecker.

---On November 29 at Cherry Creek SP, Cheryl Teuton reported 3 Rusty Blackbirds on beach in cove in SE corner.  On December 1, Dean Shoup reported 1 Rusty Blackbirds at Cherry Creek.  On December 2, Loch Kilpatrick, Mary Keithler, Cynthia Madsen and David Hill reported 5 Rusty Blackbirds at Cherry Creek SP.  On December 3, Bill Kaempfer, Bez Bezuidenhout, and Scott Somershoe reported Rusty Blackbirds at Cherry Creek SP.  On December 4, Mary Driscoll, Gene Rutherford, and Art Hudak  reported Rusty Blackbirds at Pelican Point at Cherry Creek SP.

---On December 2, Glenn Walbek, Cynthia Madsen, David Hill, and Brooke Miller reported ad Mew Gull at Cherry Creek SP.

---On December 3, Glenn Walbek and Bill Kaempfer reported ad Glaucous Gull at Cherry Creek SP.

---On December 3, Scott Someshoe reported ad Mew Gull at Marina, 1st-cyc Thayer's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek SP.  On December 4, Gene Rutherford and Art Hudak reported the following at Cherry Creek SP:  2 Mew Gulls, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Thayer's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and ad Glaucous Gull.   On December 7, Loch Kilpatrick reported Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Glaucous Gull at Cherry Creek SP.

---On December 5 at Cherry Creek SP, John Drummond reported ad ICELAND GULL, Glaucous Gull, 1st-cyc Thayer's Gull, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On December 6, Chris Gilbert reported ICELAND GULL and Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek SP.

---On December 7 at Cherry Creek SP, Mark Chavez, Art Hudak, Loch Kilpatrick, Scott Somershoe, and Jim Arnett reported Dunlin at Cherry Creek on Sandspit below Pelican Point parking lot.  On December 7 at Cherry Creek SP, Scott Somershoe, Jim Arnett, and Adam Vesely reported 5 Tundra Swans at Cherry Creek SP.  On December 7, Cheri Phillips reported 10 Tundra Swans and Lapland Longspur at Cherry Creek SP.

ARCHULETA COUNTY:

---On December 2, Byron Greco reported a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes on San Juan River Walk in Pagosa Springs.

BENT COUNTY:

On November 23 Duane Nelson reported a Long-tailed Duck (f) at Lake Hasty.  On December 2, Duane Nelson reported f Long-tailed Duck at Lake Hasty.

--On December 3 at Adobe Creek Reservoir, David Dowell reported f-type Black Scoter, 2 1-st cyc Thayer's Gulls, and 24 Lapland Longspurs.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On November 29 at Red-necked Grebe was reported by David Dowell, David Waltman, and Aaron Yappet at Boulder Reservoir.  On December 2, David Dowell reported Red-necked Grebe at Boulder Reservoir.  On December 3, Peter Gent and Matt Hofeditz reported Red-necked Grebe at Boulder Reservoir.  On December 4, Bob Spencer reported Red-necked Grebe at Boulder Reservoir.  On December 6, David Dowell reported Red-necked Grebe and ad Thayer's Gull at Boulder Reservoir.

---On December 2, Chuck Hundertmark reported a family of 6 Tundra Swans on Dodd Reservoir.  On December 3, Chuck Hundertmark reported family of 5 Tundra Swans on Dodd Reservoir in the afternoon.  Others reported no swans in the morning.

---On December 4, Jeff Parks reported Pacific Loon and Red-necked Grebe at Valmont Reservoir Complex.

---On December 6, David Dowell and Christain Nunes reported Red-throated Loon and Red-necked Grebe at Valmont Reservoir and 4 Tundra Swans on Hillcrest Reservoir (which is the southern most of the 3 reservoirs in the Valmont Complex).  

DENVER COUNTY:

---On November 25, Ira Sanders reported a Pacific Loon at Marston Reservoir.  On November 29, David Suddjian reported Pacific Loon at Marston Reservoir.  On November 30, Scott Somershoe and Tina Jones reported Pacific Loon at Marston Reservoir.  On December 2, Tina Jones reported Pacific Loon at Marston Reservoir.  On December 3, Todd Deininger and Jeff Dawson reported Pacific Loon at Marston Reservoir.  On December 4, Art Hudak, Tom Behnfield, and Mark Chavez reported Pacific Loon at Marston Reservoir.

---On December 2, Loch Kilpatrick reported 2 Lapland Longspurs at Box Elder Creek at E 104th Ave (near DIA).  

---On December 4, Todd Deininger reported Palm Warbler at First Creek at DEN open space; 1.2 miles on Buckley Rd in Cottonwoods after the pines.

---On December 4, Dick Schotter reported 9 Tundra Swans at Marston Reservoir and the swans were also seen by Tom Behnfield, Doug Kibbe, Mackenzie Goldthwait, Phil Lyon, Art Hudak., and Mark Chavez 

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On November 23 Alec Hopping reported a Snow Bunting in the model airplane field parking lot at Chatfield SP. Joey Kellner reported the Snow Bunting from the same location on November 24, and Dale Adams reported that 

20 birders saw it there on the morning of November 25, and m.ob. saw it in the afternoon.

---On November 25, Ira Sanders reported American Three-toed Woodpecker W of Sedalia near Rampart Range Road.

---On December 6, David Suddjian reported Red-thraoted Loon, Long-tailed Duck, and Thayer's Gull at Chatfield SP.  Loch Kilpatrick relocated the Red-throated Loon off Handicapped Fisherman's Point. on December 6.

---On December 7, Doug Kibbe reported Lapland Longspur at the model airplane field at Chatfield SP.

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:

---On November 26 Joey Kellner reported 5 Long-tailed Ducks (4f, 1m) at Chatfield SP. 

---On November 27, Bob Spencer reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Chatfield Sp in the marina area.

EAGLE/PITKIN COUNTIES:

---On November 27 Louise Glasser reported 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes on the Frying Pan River in pond by log cabin near Reudi Reservoir.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On November 19 Aaron Driscoll reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the wooded area near the banding station at Chico Basin Ranch (fee).  On November 29 Chris Brobin reported Red-bellied Woodpecker and Curve-billed thrasher at Chico Basin Ranch (fee).  On December 1, Bill Maynard reported Red-bellied Woodpecker and Lapland Longspur at Chico Basin Ranch (fee).  On December 4, Aaron Yappert reported Red-bellied Woodpecker at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area).

---On December 1, Alan Versaw reported Tundra Swan at Big Johnson.

FREMONT COUNTY:

---On December 7, Mark Peterson reported an EURASIAN WIGEON at Valco Ponds.  Valco Ponds is N of Arkansas River on MacKenzie in Canon City.  Bird only from the parking lot since it is private property.  

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On November 29, Jo Ann Riggle reported 7 Trumpeter Swans (4 ad, 3 juv) at east end of Silt Island Park.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On November 27 at Stoney Pass, David Suddjuian reported a f American Three-toed Woodpecker.

---On November 29 at Hine Lake in Robert A easton Regional Park, David Suddjian heard a fly over Lapland Longspur.

---On December 4 at Arvada Blunn Reservoir, Lorraine Lanning reported 4 (2 ad, 2 juv) Tundra Swans

LA PLATA COUNTY:

---On December 2 at Zink's Pond, Steve Smith, Ryan Volta, and Jason St Pierre reported Tundra Swan.

MESA COUNTY:

---On December 2, Mike Henwood reported m Barrow's Goldeneye at Grand Junction WA.  

---On December 3, Mike Henwood reported 7 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Jerry Creek Reservoir; 3 m 1 juv on Reservoir #1 and 2f and 1 juv at Reservoir #2.

---On December 6 and 7, Carol Ortenzio reported a Golden-crowned Sparrow coming to her feeders at 306 Dakota Dr in the Grand Junction area.  She welcomes birders who want to see the bird.  She asks that you  NOT block access to the garage when you park.

You can walk to the backyard along the right side of the house.  The bird has been seen at the feeders to the right as you enter the yard.  She has provided seating.  If you have questions please call or text Carol at 970-216-8762.  

MONTEZUMA COUNTY:

---On November 26 Jason St. Pierre reported 2 Long-billed Dowitchers at

Narraguinnep Reservoir.

OTERO COUNTY:

---On December 6, Stan Oswald reported 3 Greater Yellowlegs at Holbrook Reservoir.

 

PROWERS COUNTY:

---On November 11 An adult male Pine Warbler visited the various seed feeders in Janeal Thompson’s yard. The bird was also observed eating insects. The Pine Warbler was seen by David Leatherman on November 16 then on November 19 & 20, 29 & 30 by Janeal.  On December 2, Janeal Thompson, Dale, and Joel Adams reported Pine Warbler in Lamar.

If you would like to try for the Pine Warbler, please contact Janeal at 719-336-9658(home) or 719-688-7912 (cell) to make

arrangements.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On November 21 Brandon Percival reported a “Stub-tailed” Wren along the Arkansas River between Pueblo City Park and Dutch Clark Stadium. The closest parking lot is Reservoir Drive east of Pueblo City Park. Walk along the paved trail east from there for the Wren, which is not clearly either Winter or Pacific Wren.

---On November 22 Brandon Percival reported a Black Scoter (female/immature), a Pacific Loon and 3 Common Loons between SWA and West Fishing Road at Pueblo Reservoir. No kittiwakes were seen.

---On November 25 Brandon Percival reported these species at Pueblo Reservoir: 

an adult Mew Gull and a Pacific Loon west of West Fishing Rd.

Northern Shrike - 1 adult in Juniper Breaks Campground

Red-throated Loon - 2 off Sailboard launching area

Red-necked Grebe - 1 off Sailboard launching area

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 adult at South Shore Marina tires

Great Black-backed Gull - 1 adult at South Shore Marina tires

Brandon reported that most of these birds were seen again on November 26, including a newcomer, the rare Glaucous-winged Gull (1st cy).

---On November 29, Brandon Percival reported juv Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Pueblo City Park near the Frisbee Golf Course.

---On December 1, Brandon Percival reported 1 juv Tundra Swans flying along the Arkansas River near Pueblo Nature Center

but he has no idea where they landed.  

---On December 4 at Valco Ponds, Loch Kilpatrick and Glenn Walbek reported Mallard (Mexican intergrade, 2 Curve-billed Thrasher, and 2 Rusty Blackbirds.  

---On December 4 at South Marina of Pueblo Reservoir, Glenn Walbek, and Loch Kilpatrck reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

ROUTT COUNTY:

---On December 2, JoAnn Riggle reported Long-tailed Ducks at Stagecoach Reservoir.  On December 3, Vic Zerbi and Tresa Moulton reported Long-tailed Ducks and Barrow's Goldeneyes at Stagecoach Reservoir.  On December 4, Tom Litteral reported f-types Long-tailed Duck and 75 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Stagecoach Reservoir.

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On November 27, Coen Dexter reported 43 Barrow's Goldeneye at Miramonte Reservoir.

---On December 6, Eric Hynes reported all three species of Rosy-Finches coming to his feeders in Telluride.  If you would

like to try to see them, contact Eric at erichynes28 AT gmail.com.

SEDGWICK COUNTY:

---On November 27 Steve Mlodinow reported these goodies at Sand Draw SWA (CR 49, south of CR 16): Saw-whet Owl, resident Greater Prairie-Chicken, Northern Cardinal and Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and a few Snow Buntings.

---On November 27 Steve Mlodinow reported Brant at Jumbo.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

On November 27 Steve Mlodinow reported a White-winged Scoter at Prewitt Reservoir.

WELD COUNTY:

---On November 25 Steve Mlodinow reported an American Black Duck at Woods Lake (Weld CRs 74 & 27); take care, as this is a busy road, with dodgy parking. Steve also reported a White-winged Scoter (adult male) at Neumann Lake   (Weld CRs 66 & 33).

Loch Kilpatrick reported the American Black Duck at Woods Lake at dawn on November 26.  Minutes later the ducks sprung up at the sound of a shotgun blast, though some returned.

---On December 3, Steve Mlodinow reported 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Union Reservoir.

---On December 3, Chris Goulart reported 5 Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Firestone Gravel pits.

---On December 4, Steve Mlodinow reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at 34th St and Poudre Ponds in Greeley.

---On December 4, Steve Mlodinow reported 6 Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Lower Latham Reservoir.

---On December 4, Steve Mlodinow reported 1st-winter Mew Gull at Seeley Reservoir.

---On December 4, Steve Mlodinow and Nick Moore reported Surf Scoter at Windsor Lake.  On December 5, Steve Mlodinow reported Barrow's Goldeneye and Surf Scoter at Windsor Lake.

Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips: 

Sign up on line for field trips at DFO’s Website. 

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, December 10 will be a Chase Trip led by Pratyaydipta Rudra & Sreemala Das Majumder (pratyayr AT gmail.com; 919-699-4043).  Meet at 0800 at Colorado Park and Wildlife, 6060 N Broadway to carpool.  Exit I-25 at 58th Ave, go west 2 blocks to Broadway, the north 2 blocks to parking lot on right.  

   Not a typical chase trip.  Instead of looking for very specific rarities at very specific locations, we will choose general areas based on recent sightings.  The exact route will be determined nearer to the actual date based on weather and various sightings.  A general idea about locations would be Denver, Adams, or Weld counties.  A general idea about target birds will be raptors, waterfowl, and potential rare birds.  Be prepared to drive/ride more than a hundred miles, but hiking will be at most moderate.  Bring binoculars, scope, snacks, lunch, and plenty of water.  We will carpool in three cars and drivers will be reimbursed for mileage.  if you have walkie talkies, please bring them.  They will be very useful when we caravan.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, Decemeber 10 will be to Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR led by Jill Boice (jill AT booksandcats.net; 303-863-7580)  Meet at 9 AM at  Arsenal Visitors Center, 6550 Gateway Rd, Commerce City, Co.  On I-70 east, take exist 278, turn left onto Quebec St, turn right onto E. 60th ave, turn left onto Trenton St, continue onto Gateway Rd to Visitor Center.

   In this prairie and lake environment we hope to see many waterfowl and raptors.  Be prepared to carpool because parking is limited at the lakes.  We will walk around Lake Ladore, about 1.8 mile walk on level trails.  Then we will check Lake Mary.  Bathrrooms at the Visitor's Center open at 9 AM.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, December 11 will be to cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop led by Karen von Saltza (kvonsaltza AT yahoo.com; 303-941-4881)  Directions:   Meet at 9 AM at 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. 

   This is a half day of walking that passes through most of the important habitats found in the park overa a distance of about 3 miles.  trails could be slippery or muddy, so dress accordingly.  Bring water and snacks; lunch is optional.  Beginning birders are welcome.  Register online or contact leader.

Good birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder