Magnificent Frigatebird in Arapahoe County

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Mary Keithler

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Nov 8, 2020, 12:26:08 PM11/8/20
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Hi all,

A magnificent frigatebird is currently flying above CherryCreek State Park.

Mary Keithler, Arapahoe county

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David Bailey

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Nov 8, 2020, 12:38:35 PM11/8/20
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Mary, 

In what area of Cherry Creek was the bird?  Was it circling the reservoir or did it seem to be moving in a particular direction?

David Bailey

Golden

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Ken Wat

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Nov 8, 2020, 1:03:56 PM11/8/20
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Mary and myself were seeing it from Prairie Loop and it was circling the reservoir.  I did  not see it dive and have not seen it again in the past 10 minutes.

Ken Wat
Aurora

Jessi Oberbeck

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Nov 8, 2020, 1:15:40 PM11/8/20
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I am currently at pelican point and it's here to the west!!!

Susan Rosine

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Nov 8, 2020, 1:19:00 PM11/8/20
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We can see it from the West Shades. It's by Pelican Point

David Bailey

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Nov 8, 2020, 1:22:14 PM11/8/20
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Still present.  Hovering over south part of reservoir.

Nathan Pieplow

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Nov 8, 2020, 1:47:43 PM11/8/20
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Bird just left Cherry Creek heading southwest. Check Chatfield. 

Nathan Pieplow
Boulder

Brandon

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Nov 8, 2020, 2:26:46 PM11/8/20
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Anyone at Chatfield Reservoir yet?

Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO

Myron Gerhard

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Nov 8, 2020, 2:32:31 PM11/8/20
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I’m here and other Birders are arriving also.

Myron Gerhard
Jefferson county

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On Nov 8, 2020, at 12:26 PM, Brandon <flamm...@gmail.com> wrote:



Meg Reck

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Nov 8, 2020, 2:40:40 PM11/8/20
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Where in chatfield are birders looking?

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On Nov 8, 2020, at 12:32 PM, Myron Gerhard <myrong...@gmail.com> wrote:



Myron Gerhard

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Nov 8, 2020, 2:45:43 PM11/8/20
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I see people at the handicapped platform, the Dam, and south of the swim beach.

Myron Gerhard
Jefferson county

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On Nov 8, 2020, at 12:40 PM, Meg Reck <m.rec...@comcast.net> wrote:

Where in chatfield are birders looking?

Brian Johnson

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Nov 8, 2020, 3:21:28 PM11/8/20
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Has the bird been spotted since leaving Cherry Creek? 
Brian Johnson
Englewood CO

Rachel Kolokoff Hopper

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Nov 8, 2020, 3:28:29 PM11/8/20
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No. People at Chatfield & Marston.

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Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
Ft. Collins

On Nov 8, 2020, at 1:21 PM, Brian Johnson <bunting...@gmail.com> wrote:

Has the bird been spotted since leaving Cherry Creek? 

sm...@q.com

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Nov 8, 2020, 3:53:15 PM11/8/20
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Cobirders,

 

The bird was last observed flying south, for what that is worth.  The newer Rueter-Hess Reservoir is ~12 miles straight due south of Cherry Creek reservoir if anybody down around Parker has a chance to check that location.  I suggest Aurora Reservoir at ~6 miles SE as the Frigatebird flies would definitely be in play as well.

 

Good Birding,

Steve Stachowiak

Highlands Ranch, CO

Joey Kellner

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Nov 8, 2020, 6:56:11 PM11/8/20
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In comparing photos from the John Martin Reservoir (JMR) female Magnificent Frigatebird and the female today at Cherry Creek Reservoir (CCR) I believe the these are TWO DIFFERENT birds.  Below are the checklists from JMR and CCR.  Note the length of the left and right outer tail feathers on the JMR bird (different lengths...I seriously doubt the shorter feather grew THAT much in three days).  Also note the patterning of the center of the dark bib as it extends down into the white of the upper breast (JMR bird has a large "blob" extending down, the CCR bird does not).  The JMR bird also has some black feathering inside the white (on the sides of the chest).  Just some interesting differences.

Sami Colvin's checklist from John Martin on November 5th: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76014403
Joey Kellner's checklist from Cherry Creek today: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76014403

Wow!  Hurricanes did not seem THAT strong (and close to the western part of the Gulf of Mexico).

Joey Kellner
Littleton, Colorado

Joey Kellner

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Nov 8, 2020, 6:57:19 PM11/8/20
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Oops:  Sami Colvin's checklist is: https://ebird.org/checklist/S75865266
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