Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 4 March 2017

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:           Joyce Takamine

e-mail:                RBA AT cobirds.org

Date:                   March 4, 2017

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, March 4 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 using the new AOU checklist and the order of families has changed.

BRANT (*Jefferson)

Swan spec (Boulder)

Trumpeter  Swan (*Douglas,  Jefferson)

Tundra Swan (Boulder, *Eagle)

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (Weld)

Long-tailed Duck (*Larimer)

Red-necked Grebe (Pueblo)

Greater Roadrunner (*Baca)

American Woodcock (*Larimer)

Thayer’s Gull (Adams,* Larimer, Weld)

ICELAND GULL (Larimer, Weld)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, Douglas, El Paso, *Larimer, *Pueblo, Weld)

Great Black-backed Gull (*Larimer, *Pueblo)

Lewis’s Woodpecker (*Las Animas)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Baca)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (*El Paso)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (*Baca)

Chihuahuan Raven (*Baca)

Winter Wren (*Baca, El Paso)

Curve-billed Thrasher (Prowers)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch ( Jefferson)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Jefferson)

Red Fox Sparrow (El Paso)

Lincoln ‘s Sparrow (Boulder)

Great-tailed Grackle (Weld)

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On March 2 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal at Lake Ladora, Candice Johnson reported Lesser Black-backed Gull.

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 February 26 at Cottonwood Marsh, Mark Miller reported 3 Tundra Swans sleeping and a 4th swan flew in.  The 4th swan is a bit of a mystery, It may be a hybrid Trumpeter/Tundra.  On February 28, Ted Floyd reported 3 Tundra Swans at Walden/Sawhill.

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.

EAGLE COUNTY:

---On March 3 at Blue Lake in El Jebel, Lynne Hertzog reported 2 Tundra Swans.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On February 23 at Memorial Park and Prospect Lake in Colorado Springs, Bill Maynard and Richard Bunn reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  On February 26 at Memorial Park and Prospect Lake, Heidi Eaton, Leonard and Joy Lake reported Lesser Black-backed Gull.

---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 3 at Sondermann Park in Colorado Springs, John Bruder reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Chatfield gravel ponds, Phil Lyon reported Trumpeter Swan.

---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 3, Doug Shoffner reported BRANT at Indian Tree Golf Course.

---On March 1 at Squaw Pass Road, Diane Roberts reported 120 Brown-capped Rosy-Finches and 40 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Bobcat Ridge, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brooke reported American woodcock in creek east of ranger’s house.  On February 27 at Bobcat Ridge, Brandon Percival reported American Woodcock.  One February 28, Susan Rosine reported American Woodcock at Bobcat Ridge.  On March 3, Marier Hoerner reported American Woodcock at Bobcat Ridge.

---On February 26 at Horseshoe Reservoir in Loveland, David Dowell reported juv thayer’s Gull, juv ICELAND GULL, and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (1 juv, 1 imm, 5 ad).  On February 27 at Horseshoe Reservoir, David Wade reported juv ICELAND  GULL and juv Great Black-backed Gull, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  On March 1 at Horseshoe reservoir, Andy Bnakert reported 2 Thayer’s Gulls, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gull.  On March 2 at Horseshoe Reservoir, Robewrt Beauchamp reported 2 Thayer’s Gulls and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  On March 3 at Horseshoe Reservoir, David Wade reported Thayer’s Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 imm, 5 ad) and Great Black-backed Gull.  On March 3 at Horsehsoe reservoir, Brandon Nooner reported juv Thayer’s Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and juv Great Black-backed Gull.

---On March 3 at Lory State Park, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brooke reported Long-tailed Duck viewed from North Eltuck Bay.

---On March 3 at Boyd Lake SP, David Wade reported Thayer’s Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull on the North end.

LAS ANIMAS COUNTY:

---On March 1 at Lake Dorothy, Chuck Hundertmark reported 12 Lewis’s Woodpeckers.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

---On February 26 at Pueblo Reservoir, Rock Canyon below the dame, Richard Taylor reported Great Black-backed Gull.

---On February 28 at Pueblo Reservoir, Brandon Percival reported that the Red-necked Grebe continues.

---On March 3, at Pueblo Reservoir, Brandon Percival reported Lesser Black-backed Gull and ad Great Black-backed Gull.

WELD COUNTY:

---On February 25, Glenn Walbek reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Woods Lake.   On February 25 at Woods Lake, Steve Mlodinow reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, 2 ad thaer’s Gulls, ad ICELAND GULL, Great-tailed Grackle.  On February 26 at Woods Lake, John Drummon reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Woods Lake.

---On February 26 at Drake Lake, Gary Lefko reported 2 Great-tailed Grackles.

Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, March 4 will be to South Platte River Trail at E 88th Ave and I-76 led by Chuck Hundertmark (chundertmark8 AT gmail.com; 303-604-9531).   Meet at 0800 at parking area at 88th Ave and South Platte River Trail.   From I-76 take E 88th Ave Exit, go west on 88th for 1.6 miles, then turn south at Colorado Blvd, Turn Left again into parking lot for South Platte River Greenway Trailhead.

   Hike along paved trail and occasionally in adjacent mud for up to three miles.   Scopes optional.  Bring water and snacks.  Register online or contact leader.

The DFO Filed Trip for Sunday, March 5 will be to Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR led by George Mayfield and Karen Drozda (georgemayfield At gmail.com; 720-289-9395).  This trip is full.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder