Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 23 October 2017

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:           Joyce Takamine

e-mail:                RBA AT cobirds.org

Date:                   October 23, 2017

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Monday, October 23 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 now using the new AOU checklist and the order of families has changes.

Mute Swan (Weld)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Denver)

Cackling Goose (Larimer)

Tundra Swan (Montrose)

Wood Duck (*Otero)

Surf Scoter (*Arapahoe, *Jefferson, Mesa, *San Miguel)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (*Routt)

Gunnison Sage-Grouse (*San Miguel)

White-winged Dove (*Douglas, La Plata)

Sandhill Crane (Kiowa, *Teller)

Black-bellied Plover (*El Paso, Kiowa)

Sanderling (Pueblo)

Pectoral Sandpiper (Kiowa, Weld)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Kiowa)

Solitary Sandpiper (*Arapahoe)

Pomarine Jaeger (Arapahoe)

Sabine’s Gull (Otero)

Common Tern (Boulder, Crowley)

ARCTIC TERN (Weld)

Common Loon (*Arapahoe, *Pueblo, *San Miguel)

American Bittern (Jefferson)

Cattle Egret (Kiowa)

Bald Eagle (Crowley)

Northern Pygmy-Owl (El Paso)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Kiowa)

Red-belllied Woodpecker (Bent)

Williamson’s Sapsucker (La Plata, Montrose)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (El Paso)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (Larimer)

Willow Flycatcher (*Jefferson)

Eastern Phoebe (Morgan)

Northern Shrike (Lincoln)

Steller’s Jay (Denver)

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Kiowa)

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Kiowa)

Pygmy Nuthatch (Morgan)

Winter Wren (Jefferson, Kiowa)

Eastern Bluebird (El Paso)

Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso)

Sage Thrasher (Montrose)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Park)

Red Crossbill  (Bent, *Pueblo)

Lesser Goldfinch (*Denver)

Chestnut-collared Longspur (Kiowa, Weld)

Hooded Warbler (*Otero)

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Jefferson)

Clay-colored Sparrow (La Plata)

Brewer’s Sparrow (Weld)

Lincoln’s Sparrow (*Otero)

Swamp Sparrow (*Boulder, Moffat, Park)

White-throated Sparrow (*Boulder, Kiowa, *Otero, Pueblo)

Harris’s Sparrow (Kiowa)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Mesa)

Sagebrush Sparrow (*Mesa, Montrose)

Fox Sparrow (La Plata, Montrose)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (*Garfield)

Black-headed Grosbeak (*Boulder)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

---On October 18 at Cherry Creek Reservoir, Bob Righter reported 3 loons, one of which he identified as Common.

---On October 20 at Cherry Creek SP Swim Beach and Smoky Hill Shelter Area, Cynthia Madsen and David Hill reported Pomarine Jaeger.

---On October 22 at Cherry Creek SP Mary Cay Burger reported the DFO Field Trip had a f Surf Scoter best seen from Prairie Loop and Common Loon.

---On October 22 on South Platte River from Union Ave south to footbridge, Crystal Wilson reported Solitary Sandpiper.

BENT COUNTY:

---On October 20 at Melody Tempel Grove, Dan Stringer and Tom Whitten reported Red-bellied Woodpecker.

---On October 21 at John Martin Reservoir, Joel Adams reported flyover Red Crossbill on top of dam.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On October 22 at Eldorado Canyon SP, Elizabeth Frazee reported pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks near Visitors Center.

---On Ocober 22 at Golden Ponds in Longmont, Luke Pheneger reported White-throated Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow.

CROWLEY COUNTY:

---On October 21 at Lake Meredith, David Dowell reported Commonn Loon and 2 ad Bald Eagles.

DENVER COUNTY:

---On October 14 at Garland Park Lollipop Lake, Mary Keithler reported Greater White-fronted Goose.  On October 17 at Garland Park, Jessica Gordon-Bowser reported Greater White-fronted Goose.

---On October 17 at Corvid Brewing HQ, Soren Dinsmore and Tracy Rackauskas reported Steller’s Jay.

---On October 22at First Creek at DEN Open Space, Jason Bidgood reported Lesser Goldfinch.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On October 22 Laura Roberts reported White-winged Dove in Larkspur.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On October 17 at Cheyenne Mountain SP, Rod Schmidt reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

---On October 20 on Milne Road, Jeff Dawson reported 3 Curve-billed Thrasher.

---On October 21 at Blodget Peak Open Space, Aiken Audubon field trip reported Northern Pygmy Owl.

---On October 22 at Ramah Reservoir SWA, Robb Hines reported Black-bellied Plover.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On October 22 at Glenwood Canyon Grizzly Creek Rest Area, Soren Dinsmore and Tracy Rackauskas reported imm m Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On October 17 at Tabor Lake at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, a f Surf Scoter was reported by Andy Knolla and

later seen seen by Mark Chavez, George Mayfield, and Ginny Bergstom.  On October 18 the Surf Scoter at Tabor Lake was seen by Dough Kibbe, Jeff Dawson, Bruce Snyder, and Meg Reck.  On October 18 the Surf scoter at Tabor Lake was seen by Karen Drozda, Lorraine Lanning, and Sarah Leavesley.  On October 20 at Tabor Lake, Mary Geder, Ira Sanders, Christy Payne, Cyndy Johnson, Candice Johnson, Bez Bezuidenhoot, and Jerry Baines reported Surf Scoter.  On October 21 at Tabor Lake Michelle Pupkava and many other birders reported Surf Scoter.  On October 22 at Tabor Lake, Susan Rosine and many other birders reported Surf Scoter.

---On October 18 at Harriman Lake Park, Chuck Aid and Michael Kiessig reported American Bittern; Ginny Berstrom also saw it.  On October 20 at Harriman Lake Park, Frank Farrell reported American Bittern.

---On October 19 at Waterton Canyon from Waterton Road to overhead pipes, Tom WIlberding reported Black-throated Blue Warbler.

---On October 18 on Trailmark Retention Pond, Cynthia Madsen and Janet Shin reported Winter Wren.

---On October 22 at Harriman Lake, Brian Johnson reported Willow Flycatcher.

KIOWA COUNTY:

---On October 20, Dan Stringer and Tom Whitten reported Tan Stripe White-throated Sparrow, Black-bellied Plover, and Pectoral Sandpiper at NeeNoshe Reservoir.

---On October 20 at Upper Queens, Dan Stringer and Tom Whitten reported Red-headed Woodpecker.

---On October 20 at Lower Queens, Dan Stringer and Tom Whitten reported 4 Black-bellied Plover, 7 Pectoral Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and 30 Sandhill Cranes.

---On October 21 at Neenoshe Reservoir, Joel Adams reported Black-bellied Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Laughing Gull and 2 Chestnut-collared Longspurs.

KIT CARSON COUNTY:

---On October 18 Glenn Walbek reported PURPLE FINCH and Le CONTE’s SPARROW somewhere in Kit Carson County.  He gave no details

Of his photos on Facebook.

LA PLATA COUNTY:

---On October 8 Jason St. Pierre reported 2 Slate-colored Fox Sparrows at Oxbow Park and Preserve.

---On October 15 Jason St Pierre reported Red Fox Sparrow in his front yard.  Birders are welcome to try for it at 3508 Earl St in Durango.

On October 16 Susan Allerton reported seeing the Red Fox Sparrow in the St. Pierre yard.  On October 18 Jason St Pierre reported that the

Red Fox Sparrow continues in his yard.  On October 19 Vic Zerbi reported Red Fox Sparrow and White-winged Doves in St. Pierre yard.

---On October 17 at Pastorius Reservoir, Ed Rumberger reported Clay-colored Sparrow.

---On October 18 at Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatchery area, Ryan Votta reported Slate-colored Fox Sparrow.  On October 20, Ryan Votta reported Red Fox Sparrow at Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatcher area.  On October 21, Ryan Votta reported both Slate-colored and Red Fox Sparrow at Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatchery area.

---On October 21 on Colorado Trail Durango Trailhead to June Creek Bridge at 2.6 mi, Susan Allerton reported m Williamson’s Sapsucker.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On October 13 at Timnath Reservoir, David Wade and Nick Komar reported 6 Cackling Geese.  On October 17 Nick Komar reported that the 6 Cackling Geese continue at Timnath Reservoir.  

---On October 14 at Soapstone Prairie NA, David Wade, Georgia Doyle, and Nick Komar reported Lapland Longspur.

---On October 18 at pond S of Wellinton on Clinton Avew, Lori Pivonka reported Cackling Goose.

---On October 18 in Rocky Mountain NP, Alexa Boyes reported American Three-toed Woodpecker.

LINCOLCN COUNTY:

---On October 21 at Hugo SWA, Norm Lewis reported Northern Shrike.

MESA COUNTY:

---On October 17 Ron Lambeth reported Surf Scoter at Colorado River SP Fruita Section.  On October 18 the Surfscoter at Colorado River SP Fruita Section was seen by Denise and Mark Vollmar, Mike Hendwood, Katey Buster, Rhonda Woodward, and Rodene Harwood.

---On October 21 at Snooks bottom Open Space, Wayne Baumgartner reported Golden-crowned Sparrow.

---On October 22 at orchard Mesa Wildife Area, David Price reported Sagebrush Sparrow.

MOFFAT COUNTY:

---On October 18 at Loudy-Simpson Nature Trail, Jan Leonard reported Swamp Sparrow.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

---On October 16 at Silver Hawk Ranch, Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright reported f Williamson’s Sapsucker.

---On October 17 James Valimont reported Slate-colored Fox Sparrow at Black Canyon of Gunnison NP.  

---On October 17 SW of Hopkins Montrose Airport, Betty Fenton reported Sage Thrasher and 6 Sagebrush Sparrows.

---On October 18 S of Montrose E side of Hwy 550 on S side of Uncomphgre River immediately after Chipeta Road, Jon Horn reported Tundra Swan.

OTERO COUNTY:

---On October 16 at Holbrook Lake, Stan Oswald reported juv Sabine’s Gull.

---On October 22 at Rocky Ford SWA, Joey Kellner, David Dowell, and Kathy Mihm Dunning reported ad m Hooded Warbler.  Park at the west most parking area (just east of Hwy 266).  The warbler was on east side of pond.

PARK COUNTY:

---On October 20 at Lake George, David Elwonger and John Druder reported Swamp Sparrow.

---On October 21 at Wade Elk Lodge, Alec Oliver reported 3 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On October 19 at Valco Ponds, Brandon Percival reported 2 White-throated Sparrows.

---On October 22 at Pueblo Reservoir below dam, Brandon Percival reported 2 Red Crossbills and Common Loon.

ROUTT COUNTY:

---On October 22 at Lake Catamount, Cait Boyd and JoAnn RIggle reported 2 Barrow’s Goldeneyes.

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On October 22 at Miramonte Reservoir, Eric Hynes reported 15 Surf Scoters in three groups of 3, 7, 5, Common Loon, and a fly-over Gunnison Sage-Grouse.

TELLER COUNTY:

---On October 22 at Mueller SP, Matt Newport reported 30 Sandhill Cranes.

WELD COUNTY:

---On October 17 at Eaton Cemetery, Steve Mlodinow reported Brewer’s Sparrow.

---On October 17 at Stewart’s Pond, Steve Mlodinow reported Mute Swan and 5 Pectoral Sandpipers.

---On October 17 at Union Reservoir, Steve Mlodinow and David Dowell reported ARCTIC TERN and Luke and Tracy Pheneger reported Chestnut-collared Longspur.

On October 18 at Union Reservoir, Nick Moore reported ARCTIC TERN.

DFO Field Trip

The DFO Field Trip for Friday, October 27 will be Littleton Lunch Hour Birding led by David Suddjian (dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659)   The leader will notify participants of the meeting place and  birding location the day before the trip.  Join the leader on his lunch hour for a 45-60 minute outing to one seasonally interesting location in Littleton.   Plan for some easy walking.  You may eat lunch as we bird.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, October 28 will be to Barr Lake State Park led by Paul Slingsby (paslisngsby AT comcast.net; 303-422-3728).  This trip is full.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, October 29 will be to Harriman Lake led by Doris Cruze (cruzeduo AT aol.com; 303-798-8072).  Meet at 0800 at Avoca Park & Ride at the Southwest corner of S. Wadsworth and Hwy 285.  Will bird the area just west of the Park & Ride, then drive to Quincy to check areas near the Federal Correctional facility.  Harriman Lake Parking lot is at Quincy and Kipling.  Some walking on level trails.  Bring binoculars, bird book, water, snack and/or money for food when we make a rest stop at a fast food place.  Dress for changing eather conditions as the morning can be cool be warms up before we finish.  Register online or contact leader.

The monthly meeting of Denver Field Ornithologists will be on Monday, October 23 at 7:30 pm in RIcketson Auditorium at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Park on north side and enter the security/employee entrance.  Tell the guard that you are there for the DFO meeting.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder