Compiler: Ira Sanderse-mail: RBA AT cobirds.orgDate: March 11, 2017This is the Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, March 11 sponsored by DenverField Ornithologists and the BirdConservancy of the Rockies.Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species)NOTE: The RBA is using the new AOU checklist and the order offamilies has changed.BRANT (Jefferson)Trumpeter Swan (Douglas)Tundra Swan (Eagle, Pueblo)AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (Weld)Long-tailed Duck (Larimer)Sharp-tailed Grouse (Larimer)Red-necked Grebe (Pueblo) Virginia Rail (*Jefferson)
American Woodcock (Larimer)
Thayer’s Gull (Adams, Larimer, Weld)
ICELAND GULL (Weld)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, Douglas, Larimer, Pueblo, 8Weld)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larimer, Pueblo)
Greater Roadrunner (Baca)
Lewis’s Woodpecker (Las Animas)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Pueblo)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Baca)
Williamson’s Sapsucker (Boulder, Pueblo)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (El Paso)
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Baca)
American 3-toed Woodpecker (*Boulder)
Chihuahuan Raven (Baca)
Winter Wren (Baca, *El Paso)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Prowers, Pueblo)
Red Fox Sparrow (El Paso)
Lincoln‘s Sparrow (Boulder, *Denver)
Harris's Sparrow (*Denver)
Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe)
Great-tailed Grackle (Weld)
ADAMS COUNTY:
---On March 2 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal at Lake Ladora, Candice
Johnson reported Lesser Black-backed Gull.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
---On March 5 at Cherry Creek SP, Christine Alexander reported Rusty Blackbird.
BACA COUNTY:
---On March 3 at Two Buttes Reservoir, Daniel Maynard reported Greater
Roadrunner and 2 Chihuahuan Ravens.
---On March 3 at Two Buttes SWA below dam, Daniel Maynard reported
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Winter Wren.
BOULDER COUNTY:
---On March 4 at Heil Valley Ranch, Wapiti Trail, Kathy Mihm Dunning
reported Williamson’s Sapsucker.
---On March 7, Thomas Heinrich reports an American 3-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 roughly the same area that he originally found it. 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
Rampart Range Rd.
On March 4, Joy and Leonard Lake reported Trumpeter Swan viewed from
High Line Canal Trail accessed from W Titan Road.
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 reports 2 Virginia Rails.
LARIMER COUNTY:---On February 26 at Bobcat Ridge, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brookereported American woodcock in creek east of ranger’s house. OnFebruary 27 at Bobcat Ridge, Brandon Percival reported AmericanWoodcock. One February 28, Susan Rosine reported American Woodcock atBobcat Ridge. On March 3, Marier Hoerner reported American Woodcockat Bobcat Ridge.--- On March 1 at Horseshoe reservoir, Andy Bankert reported 2Thayer’s Gulls, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Great Black-backedGull. On March 2 at Horseshoe Reservoir, Robert Beauchamp reported 2Thayer’s Gulls and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On March 3 atHorseshoe Reservoir, David Wade reported Thayer’s Gull, 8 LesserBlack-backed Gulls (3 imm, 5 ad) and Great Black-backed Gull. OnMarch 3 at Horsehsoe reservoir, Brandon Nooner reported juv Thayer’sGull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and juv Great Black-backed Gull.---On March 3 at Lory State Park, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brookereported Long-tailed Duck viewed from North Eltuck Bay. On March 4,Joe Mammoser reported Long-tailed Duck at Lory State Park, NorthEltuck Bay.---On March 3 at Boyd Lake SP, David Wade reported Thayer’s Gull andLesser Black-backed Gull on the North end.---On March 5 at Douglas Reservoir, David Wade reported Sharp-tailed Grouse.LAS ANIMAS COUNTY:---On March 1 at Lake Dorothy, Chuck Hundertmark reported 12 Lewis’sWoodpeckers.PUEBLO COUNTY:---On February 28 at Pueblo Reservoir, Brandon Percival reported thatthe Red-necked Grebe continues.On March 5 at Pueblo Reservoir, Art Hudak and Mark Chavez reportedRed-necked Grebe and 2 Curve-billed Thrashers.---On March 3, at Pueblo Reservoir, Brandon Percival reported LesserBlack-backed Gull and ad Great Black-backed Gull. On March 5 atPueblo Reservoir South Marina, Heidi Eaton reported Great Black-backedGull.---On March 4, Christine Alexander and Renee Casias reported ACORNWOODPECKER at Pueblo Mountain Park. On March 5 at Pueblo MountainPark, Kara Carragher and Mark Chavez reported ACORN WOODPECKER and Williamson’s Sapsucker.---On March 5 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), John Drummond reported5 Tundra Swans.WELD COUNTY:---On February 25, Glenn Walbek reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at WoodsLake. 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 Rutherfordreported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Woods Lake. On March 5 at WoodsLake, Joey Kellner and Adam Vesely reported Great-tailed Grackles.---On March 4 at Angel Lake, Steve Mlodinow reported Great-tailed Grackle.---On March 4 at Black Hollow Reservoir, Steve Mlodinow reportedThayer’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:The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, March 11 will be to Prospect Park(Wheat Ridge Greenbelt) led by Jackie King (jackie.king AT ccd.edu;720-381-3314). From I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south about ¾ mile andturn right (west) on 44th Avenue. Go one mile west. Look for theentrance to Prospect Park on your left (South). Meet at 0830 justinside the park in the lot right next to Prospect Lake. This is a trip with easy walking and accessible for mobilityimpaired individuals. Bring water and a snack; lunch option. Goodtrip for novice birders and new members. Register online or contactleader.The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, March 12 will be to Cherry Creek SPWetlands Loop led by Karen von Saltza (kvonsaltza AT yahoo.com;303-941-4881). Meet at 0800 at the Prairie Loop lot in Cherry CreekSP. From either park entrance, follow Lake View Road to the PrairieLoop that is located at the south rim of the reservoir. State Parkspass or day pass required. Day Light Savings Time starts 2:00 A.M. March 12. This half day of walkingpasses through most of the important habitats found in the park over adistance of about 3 miles. Trails could be slippery or muddy, sodress accordingly. Bring water and snacks; lunch is optional.Register online or contact leader.Good Birding,Ira SandersGolden, CO