Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 20 March 2018

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:   Joyce Takamine

e-mail:      RBA AT cobirds.org  

Date:        March 20, 2018

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, March 20 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 changed.

Snow Goose (*Arapahoe)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Jefferson)

Greater Scaup (Costilla, Park, Weld)

White-winged Scoter (*Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Park, San Miguel)

Chukar (Larimer)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)

Red-necked Grebe (*Larimer)

Greater Roadrunner (Baca)

White-throated Swift (Pueblo)

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Pueblo)

Virginia Rail (Boulder, Chaffee, Saguache)

Sandhill Crane (Delta, Garfield, Kiowa, Larimer, Rio Grande)

American Avocet (Denver, Pueblo)

Mountain Plover (Kit Carson)

Long-billed Dowitcher (La Plata)

Lesser Yellowlegs (El Paso)

Greater Yellowlegs (*Boulder)

Bonaparte’s Gull (Park)

Franklin’s Gull (Larimer, *Mesa, Pueblo)

California Gull (Douglas, Mesa)

Iceland Gull (El Paso, Kiowa, Pueblo) 

Glaucous Gull (Douglas)

YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Gunnison)

American White Pelican (Douglas)

Turkey Vulture (*Boulder, Chaffee, El Paso, Jefferson, *Mesa, Montrose, Morgan, Weld, Yuma)

Osprey (*Mesa)

Northern Goshawk (Jefferson, Larimer, Weld)

Broad-winged Hawk (*Larimer)

Williamson’s Sapsucker (El Paso)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (El Paso, Pueblo)

Black Phoebe (El Paso, Mesa)

Eastern Phoebe (Arapahoe)

Say’s Phoebe (*Arapahoe, El Paso, La Plata, Mesa, Pueblo)

Chihuahuan Raven (El Paso, Fremont)

Tree Swallow (*Boulder, Larimer)

Mountain Chickadee (Weld)

Bushtit (Weld)

Pygmy Nuthatch (Broomfield, Denver)

Stub-tailed Wren spec (El Paso)

Eastern Bluebird (Denver)

Hermit Thrush (*Arapahoe)

Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso, Kiowa)

Brown Thrasher (Rio Grande)

Sage Thrasher (Mesa)

Northern Mockingbird (El Paso)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (San Miguel)

Black Rosy-Finch (San Miguel)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (*Park, San Miguel)

Canyon Towhee (Baca)

Field Sparrow (Baca)

Lark Sparrow (Jefferson)

Sagebrush Sparrow (Mesa, Montrose)

Savannah Sparrow (Kiowa, Mesa, Weld)

Lincoln’s Sparrow (Baca, Douglas, *El Paso, Kiowa, La Plata, Larimer, *Mesa, Montrose, *Park, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Miguel)

Swamp Sparrow (Boulder)

White-throated Sparrow (Arapahoe)

Harris’s Sparrow (Adams, Baca, *Denver, El Paso)

Dark-eyed Junco (Park, Weld)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Kiowa, Rio Grande, Weld)

Brown-headed Cowbird (*Mesa, Yuma)

Rusty Blackbird (Larimer)

Pine Warbler (*Arapahoe, *Larimer)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Arapahoe)

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On March 15 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Visitor’s Center Rebecca Laroche reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 17 at First Creek at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, the DFO Field trip led by Patrick O’Driscoll reported Harris’s Sparrow.  On March 18 at First Creek at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Riley Morris reported Harris’s Sparrow.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:                                                                  

---On March 14 at Lower Ridgewood Park, David Suddjian reported Eastern Phoebe.  On March 17 at Lower Ridgewood Park, Edward Donnan reported Eastern Phoebe.  On March 18 at Lower Ridgewood Park, Michael Lester and David Suddjian reported Eastern Phoebe and Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 16 at South Platte Reservoir, David Suddjian reported White-winged Scoter and Say’s Phoebe.  On March 19 at South Platte Reservoir, Dale Pate reported White-winged Scoter.

---On March 14 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Littleton, David Suddjian reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 14 at South Platte Reservoir, Cynthia Madsen reported White-winged Scoter.

---On March 16 at Cherry Creek SP Marina and nearby Dam Trail, Cynthia Madsen and David Hill reported 3 Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warblers.

---On March 18 on High Line Canal Trail – E Quincy to S Colorado Blvd (Three Pond and Dahlia Hollow Parks), G Stacks, Jared del Rosso and Mark Chavez reported Hermit Thrush, Pine Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow.  On March 19 on High Line Canal Trail – E Quincy to S Colorado Blvd (Three Pond and Dahlia Hollow Parks), Matt Clark and Troy Becker reported Pine Warbler; Matt Clark also reported Hermit Thrush.

---On March 19 at Exposition Park in Aurora, G Stacks reported Snow Goose and Say’s Phoebe.

BACA COUNTY:

---On March 18 at Turk’s Pond SWA, David Dowell reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 18 at Two Buttes SWA, David Dowell reported 2 Greater Roadrunner, Canyon Towhee, 2 Field Sparrows, 3 Harris’s Sparrows, and 12 Lincoln’s Sparrows.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On March 14 at 75th and Arapahoe in Boulder, Christian Nunes reported Turkey Vulture.

---On March 16 at Pleasant View Marsh, Ernest Crvich reported Viriginia Rail and Swamp Sparrow.

---On March 17 north of Hwy 7 and I-25, Anne Price reported Turkey Vulture.

---On March 18 on Darley Ave, Alexander Brown reported 3 Turkey Vultures.

---On March 19 at Walden/Sawhill Ponds, Jeff Parks reported Greater Yellowlegs and 8 Tree Swallows.

---On March 19 at Tantra Park in Boulder, Laura Steadman and Melissa Mezger reported 2 Turkey Vultures.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

---On March 14 on Little Arkansas River between Poncha Springs and Salida, Heidi Eaton reported Turkey Vulture.

COSTILLA COUNTY:

---On March 16 at Smith Reservoir, Ted Floyd reported 3 Greater Scaup.

DELTA COUNTY:

---On March 14 at Hart’s Basin, Evelyn Horn reported 1000 Sandhill Cranes.

DENVER COUNTY:

---On March 15 at Overland Park, Sarah Leavesley reported 2 Pygmy Nuthatch.

---On March 17 at TAVA Waters, Christina Yeagley reported 2 American Avocets.

---On March 18 at Bluff Lake NC, Jeff Dawson reported 2 Eastern Bluebirds.

---On March 19 at First Creek at DEN OS, John Breitsch reported Harris’s Sparrow.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On March 16 at Chatfield SP, R K Knapp reported Glaucous Gull.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On March 16 on S Meridian Road from Hanover Road to Pueblo County Line, Alan Versaw reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Northern Mockingbird.

---On March 17 at Aiken Canyon Preserve, Diane Roberts reported 2 Williamson’s Sapsuckers.  On March 18 at Aiken Canyon Preserve, Kiki Widjaja reported f Williamson’s Sapsucker.

---On March 17 at Cheyenne Mountain SP, Tanja  Britton reported Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 17 on Hanover Road, Robb Hinds reported 2 Curve-billed Thrashers.  On March 18 on Hanover Road, John Drummond reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Chihuahuan Raven.

---On March 18 east of downtown Colorado Springs, David Chartier reported Turkey Vulture.

---On March 18 at Ramah Reservoir SWA, Renee Casias reported 2 Lesser Yellowlegs.

---On March 18 at Double Tree Hotel Pond, Alan and MaryLynne Ketcham reported Black Phoebe and 2 stub-tailed wren.  

---On March 18 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), John Drummond reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 19 at Clear Spring Ranch, Alan Ketcham and Jim Merritt reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 19 on Cottonwood Creek Trail North Side, Cathy Bondy reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On March 16 at Rifle Gap, JoAnn Riggle reported 2 Sandhill Cranes.

GUNNISON COUNTY:

---On March 18 at Curecanti NRA Bay of Chickens, Dave Hawksworth reported YELLOW-BILLED LOON.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On March 14 at Hayden Green Mountain Park, Bob Shade reported Lark Sparrow.

---On March 17 on Ralston Creek Trail at Westwoods Golf Course, John Shunk reported Great White-fronted Goose.

---On March 18 at Mount Falcon Park, Andrew Aldrich reported Turkey Vulture.

---On March 18 at Bear Creek Greenbelt S Kipling pkwy to S Wadsworth Blvd, Max Miller reported Turkey Vulture.

KIOWA COUNTY:

---On March 17 at Upper Queens/Neeskah Reservoir, David Dowell reported Savannah Sparrow and 5 Lincoln’s Sparrows.

---On March 17 at Neenoshe Reservoir, David Dowell reported 27 Sandhill Cranes, Iceland Gull, Curve-billed Thrasher, 8 Lincoln’s Sparrows, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

KIT CARSON COUNTY:

---On March 18, Glenn Walbek reported Mountain Plovers have returned.  He saw some in a wheat field in the county.

LA PLATA COUNTY:

---On March 17 on Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatchery Area, Ryan Votta John Bregar, Elyse Klingener, and Megan Westervelt reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.  On March 18 on Animas River Trail Huck Finn Pond and Hatchery Area, Ryan Votta reported 3 Lincoln’s Sparrows and Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 18 at Pastorius Reservoir, Jason St Pierre reported Long-billed Dowitcher and Say’s Phoebe.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On March 16 -19 at Wild Horse Birdfeeder in Loveland, John Reichhardt reported Pine Warbler.

---On February 28 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Dave Leatherman found Red-necked Grebe which was seen by several other birders.   On March 14 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Austin Hess and Caroline Olson reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 15 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Dave Leatherman, Denise Bretting, and Nick Komar reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 16 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Jim Nachel reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 18 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Richard Trinkler and Jim Thompson reported Red-necked Grebe.  On March 19 at Fort Collins City Park and Sheldon Lake, Brad Biggerstaff, Skyler Bol, Eva Matthews Lark, and Georgia Doyle reported Red-necked Grebe.

---On March 14 on E CR 58 between I-25 and N CR 3, Jonny Appleseed reported Chuckar.

---On March 15 at Wellington SWA, Gary Lefko reported 41 Sandhill Cranes.

---On March 16 at Running Deer and Cottonwood Hollow NA, David Wade reported Tree Swallow.

---On March 18 at North Shield Pond NA, David Wade reported Chukar and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 18 at Fossil Creek Regional OS, Kirk LaGory reported Franklin’s Gull.

---On March 19 at CSU Environmental Learning Center, Colby Plante reported Broad-winged Hawk on Wilcox Trail in a tree.

MESA COUNTY:

---On March 10 at Connected Lakes SP, Carol Ortenzio and Katey Buster reported Black Phoebe along the canal.

---On March 14 at Colorado/Utah State Line, Kathleen McGinley and Mike Henwood reported Sage Thrasher and 8 Sagebrush Sparrows.

---On March 15 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood and Kathleen McGinley reported Say’s Phoebe.  On March 16 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood reported Say’s Phoebe and 3 Savannah Sparrows.  On March 19 at Highline Lake SP, David Price reported Franklin’s Gull.

---On March 16 at Clifton Nature Park, Ryan Claar reported Osprey.  On March 19 at Clifton Nature Park, Ryan Claar and Eileen Cunningham reported Osprey.

---On March 16 at Loma 12 Rd from O Rd to O1/2 Rd, Mike Henwood reported 6 Savannah Sparrows.

---On March 16 at Colorado River Trail Audubon Section, Katey Buster reported Black Phoebe and Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 17 at Redlands Pkwy Ponds, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported 15 Turkey Vultures.  On March 19 at Redlands Pkwy Ponds, Dave Hawksworth reported Turkey Vulture. 

---On March 18 on Hwy 141 N of Gateway Denise and Mark Vollmar reported Osprey.

---On March 19 at Book Cliff Country Club, Kathleen McGinley and Deb Mallory reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 19 at Ela Wildlife Sanctuary , Dave Hawksworth reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 19  at Patterson Rd and 29 Rd at feedlot, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported Brown-headed Cowbird.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

---On March 18 at Nucla Sewage Lagoons, Brenda Wright and Coen Dexter reported Lincoln’s Sparrow and 2 Turkey Vultures.

---On March 16 at Nucla Domestic Reservoir, Coen Dexter reported Turkey Vulture, Sagebrush Sparrow, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

MORGAN COUNTY:

---On March 17 at Brush, Norm Lewis reported Turkey Vulture.

PARK COUNTY:

---On March 17 in town of Jefferson, Steve Mlodinow reported 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows.  On March 19 in town of Jefferson, Carl Bendorf and John Rutenbeck reported Brown-capped Rosy-Finch and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

---On March 17 at Elevenmile Reservoir, Steve Mlodinow reported Barrow’s Goldeneye, 4 Greater Scaup, and Bonaparte’s Gull.

---On March 17 at Plamann Lake, Steve Mlodinow reported Bonaparte’s Gull and White-winged Junco.

---On March 17 at Antero Reservoir, Steve Mlodinow reported 2 Bonaparte’s Gulls.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On March 18 at Pueblo Reservoir South Marina, Kim Score reported 5 American Avocets, 2 Franklin’s Gulls, and Say’s Phoebe.

---On March 16 at Lake Beckwith in Colorado City, Gloria Nikolai reported White-winged Scoter.  On March 17 at Lake Beckwith, Darth Aves reported White-winged Scoter.

---On March 18 at Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, Kim Score reported Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

--- On March 14 at Monte Vista NWR, Tania Britton reported Yellow-headed Blackbird.  On March 14 at Monte Vista NWR, Cynthia Kristensen reported Brown Thrasher.  On March 16 at Monte Vista NWR, Gloria Nikolai reported 10,000 Sandhill Cranes.  On March 17 at Monte Vista NWR, Gloria Nikolai reported 8000 Sandhill Cranes and 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows.  On March 18 at Monte Vista NWR, Art Hudak and Gwen Moore reported 3000 Sandhill Cranes and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

SAGUACHE COUNTY:

---On March 16 at Russel Lakes SWA, Tom and Debbie Behnfield reported 2 Virginia Rail.

---On March 17 at Colorado College Baca Campus, John Cobb reported Lincoln’s Sparrow.

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On March 15 at The Terrace at Telluride Ski Resort, Eric Hynes reported Lincoln’s Sparrow, 2 Hepburn’s Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 2 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 3 Black Rosy-Finch, and 55 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.

---On March 17 at Miramonte Reservoir, Eric Hynes reported Barrow’s Goldeneye.

WELD COUNTY:

---On March 15 at Glenmere Park, Shawn Mason reported 2 Turkey Vultures and 2 Bushtits.  On March 16 at Glenmere Park, Shawn Mason reported 4 Bushtit, Mountain Chickadee and Turkey Vulture.  On March 17 at Glenmere Park, Norm Lewis reported 3 Bushtit and White-winged Junco.

---On March 17 on Hwy 119 across from St. Vrain SP, Gene Rutherford reported Osprey on nest platform.

---On March 17 at CR 40, Gene Rutherford reported Yellow-headed Blackbird.

---On March 17 at Stewart’s Pond, Christine Alexander reported Yellow-headed Blackbird.

---On March 18 on CR 134 between CR 111 and CR 115, Steve Rash reported 30 Sharp-tailed Grouse.

YUMA COUNTY:

---On March 17 at Yuma South Circles, Jane Stulp reported Turkey Vulture.

DFO Field Trips:

The DFO Field Trip for Tuesday, March 20 will be to Colorado Eastern Prairie led by David Suddjian (dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659)  Directions:  Meet at 0430 near Bennett off I- 70 at south side of the King Sooper’s parking lot.  Take I-70 east to Bennet Exit and go north.  Turn Left on West Market Place Drive, then right into the King Sooper’s lot.  

      This is a full day trip to explore eastern border of Colorado, possibly visiting counties such as Yuma, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, or Lincoln.  Plan to carpool from the meeting spot.  Bring lunch and liquids.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Wednesday, March 21 will be to South Platte River Reservoir and River Trail led by Edmund J Holub (Edmund.holub AT gmail.com; 303- 979-2194).  Directions:  Meet at 0800 at parking lot adjoining South Platte Reservoir.  This reservoir is just north of Chatfield off of C-470.  Take C-470 to the Wadsworth Blvd exit and turn north onto Wadsworth.  Turn right (East) on West Chatfield Avenue and follow the road for 1.5 miles.  Make a sharp turn right at the sign that says South Platte Reservoir and follow the access road around to the parking lot.  

    After exploring the reservoir, will walk along the South Platte River.  The walk is 2-4 miles. S Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Field Trip for Friday, March 23 will be to Rueter-Hess Reservoir led by Mary Cay Burger (mcburger3 AT juno.com; 720-940-8394)  This trip is full

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder