Comments on reported Boulder Ross's Goose, Bay-breasted Warbler and update on Larimer LBBGs

[quet...@comcast.net]

I have posted some photos of the Larimer County Brant, the Boulder County Bay-breasted Warbler and the three Chen geese reported from Longmont, which includes the reported juvenile Ross's Goose, the adult white Snow Goose and the adult "blue" Snow Goose. These are in my recent bird pix gallery at www.pbase.com/quetzal.

Update: I have heard that the 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls are still loafing in the northwest corner of Horseshoe Lake in northeast Loveland.

Comment on Ross's Goose: The photo is not the best, but the bill shape and head shape do not look right for Ross's Goose. I suspect hybrid Ross's x Snow Goose. Note the lack of a vertical edge to the base of the bill.

Comment on the Bay-breasted Warbler: First, thanks to Alan Contreras for finding it, identifying it and sharing with the birding community. This bird has provided a rare Colorado learning opportunity for solving one of the greatest ID challenges (young Pine vs. Bay-breasted vs. Blackpoll Warblers in fall) as well as for understanding warbler foraging behavior. I have posted some comments on the ID features with my photos. I am thinking that this is a first fall male. Anyone disagree?

Suggestion: Everyone walk outside, find a pine tree with moths and bees flying around it on this warm afternoon (indicating an aphid infestation), and then check the infested pine carefully for a happy warbler. I'll bet there are others out there.

Nick Komar
Fort Collins, CO

[Glenn and Laurie]

I agree with Nick on the age and sex of the Boulder Bay-breasted Warbler.  I would also like to thank Alan for finding this beauty and getting the word out.

 

Now, if someone would have told me 4 days ago this warbler would be in the same tree after all this time, I would have argued.  Further, if someone had mentioned this behavior could be predicted, I would have laughed.  The point being, our own Dave Leatherman has brought a new level of birding expertise to us and I would like to say Thank You to Dave for sharing his aphid fascination and it's impact on birds and birders.

 

Glenn Walbek

Castle Rock, CO

 

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[steven...@comcast.net]

Actually, while I was watching the bird this AM with several other birders it moved around and foraged in several different trees farther up the street and across the street in front of the hotel. It did, however, always seemed to return to the original pine. Great bird, great find, provoking a lot of interesting and educational commentary.  

Steve Larson

Northglenn, CO

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From: "Glenn and Laurie" <jun...@comcast.net>
To: "Cobirds" <cob...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 1:45:34 PM
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Comments on reported Boulder Ross's Goose, Bay-breasted Warbler and update on Larimer LBBGs

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/C11DAEF1C7984B9FAEB61F472DC8DE42%40gwalbekPC.

[Norm Lewis]

I second Glenn's kudos to Dave.  Dr. Dave is a neverending fountainhead of great birding information.  Aphids in November.  Who knew?

Norm Lewis

Lakewood, CO

-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn and Laurie <jun...@comcast.net>
To: Cobirds <cob...@googlegroups.com>

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[Scott Severs]

Thanks to Nick getting some photo documentation shots of the Ross's-type goose at Dodd Reservoir, I believe there are two in Boulder County. The one I observed yesterday at Fairgrounds Lake (at essentially the same time as Nick was over at Dodd) was a very white individual appearing adult-like until I scoped it, with limited dusky feathers on head and nearly all white on back. It had a darkish line from bill to eye and a small triangular bill. Bird smaller than nearby Cackling Geese, I lean toward a pure Ross's for this bird.

There is definitely something to this aphid thing as all the late warblers in Boulder over the years seem to have an affinity to planted pines in office parks! I have a ton of trees to sort through on my lunch breaks! :)

Scott Severs

Longmont
.