Lake Granby frigatebird

[greatg...@aol.com]

Hi all:

The recent report of a Magnificent Frigatebird at Lake Granby is interesting. However, the photo provided in the eBird checklist does not rule out any other species of frigatebird. One photo I've seen suggests that the bird has a white axial spur, which suggests Lesser Frigatebird (LEFR) or, even less likely, Christmas Island Frigatebird (CIFR).

There are zero records of CIFR in the ABA Area, although the great wanderings of many frigatebird species suggest that almost any species could occur almost anywhere. However, there are six previous ABA-Area records of LEFR, including Wyoming's only frigatebird record.

Given that another photo I've seen of the Lake Granby frigatebird does not show a white axial spur, the bird might not sport that feature, but none of the photos I've seen are anything close to what we might call good photos, so any specific ID one might want to paste upon the bird is suspect. It's certainly a frigatebird, but its specific identification is well beyond certainty given the photos available.

Who knows where that bird went after visiting Lake Granby, but it could be almost anywhere... including Wyoming, so keep watching the sky.

Sincerely,

Tony

Tony Leukering

Currently Cut Bank, MT

eBird blog

eBird commentary

Photos

[Scott Hammel]

I also gave it a shot trying to see the frigatebird up here in Granby this afternoon.  Osprey and Turkey Vultures were plentiful, but no frigatebird.  Will be up here all weekend so I'll be keeping my eye out!

Scott Hammel

Arapahoe County

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[David Tønnessen]

Folks, just a note that at least two out of three sightings of the frigatebird; both the eBird submission from yesterday on August 5th, and the photographs submitted to the CBRC from August 1 and 2, were all taken from sometime around 7:30 in the evening in or near Rainbow Bay. Frigatebirds can soar quite high during the day with good thermals, even when not actively traveling long distances, and will hang out quite low over their roosting site before landing for the night. 

For anyone in the area in the next few days, I would still keep an eye out for a frigatebird in Rainbow Bay after 7 pm, just in case.

David Tønnessen

Denver, CO