cobirds colorado rare bird: February 2017

Tuesday 28 February 2017

[cobirds] Sage Thrasher, Longmont!

I searched extensively for the Sage Thrasher today, walking about 3/4 miles on the bike path each way, but the only bird I saw was a single AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. I will continue to look of course.

Luke Pheneger
Longmont, Colorado

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/cd7f0a2a-1abb-4bb4-b730-3f7ffe9a64b9%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Woodcock still at Bobcat Ridge, Larimer Co.

Today around noon I saw my first ever American Woodcock! That is one cool bird!! It was nice enough to be in a spot where I could get some nice photos.
It hunts bugs and worms along the little stream across from the Bobcat Ridge parking lot and Ranger station.
It took me a long time to spot the little guy, but it was so worth it!!
Susan R.
Thornton

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/98977ea9-cefc-4a9f-aac4-281be1bc62fc%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Upcoming Nunn Guy Field Trip: Birding-Trip-to-Larimer-and-Weld-County-Waterfowl-Hotspots

Hi all

Details at link below:

http://coloradobirder.club/m/events/view/Birding-Trip-to-Larimer-and-Weld-County-Waterfowl-Hotspots

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://coloradobirder.club/

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/9ca33361-ceb8-4277-b51f-7b011102396d%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 28 February 2017

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org

Date: February 28, 2017

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, February 28 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, & the order of families has changed.

BRANT (*Jefferson)

Swan spec (Boulder)

Trumpeter Swan (*Douglas, Jefferson)

Tundra Swan (Boulder)

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (*Weld)

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, Weld)

Great Black-backed Gull (*Larimer, Pueblo)

Turkey Vulture (Jefferson)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Prowers)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Baca, El Paso)

Chihuahuan Raven (Baca)

Carolina Wren (Prowers)

Curve-billed Thrasher (Prowers)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Pitkin, San Miguel)

Black Rosy-Finch (Pitkin, San Miguel)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Pitkin, San Miguel)

Lapland Longspur (Larimer, Logan, Weld)

Canyon Towhee (Baca)

Sagebrush Sparrow (Mesa)

Red Fox Sparrow (*El Paso)

Lincoln's Sparrow (Boulder)

Northern Cardinal (Prowers)

Great-tailed Grackle (*Weld)

*****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site: www.coloradocountybirding.org

ADAMS COUNTY:

---On February 19 at McKay Road Ponds, Adam Vesely reported 2 Thayer's Gulls, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 ad, 2 juv). On February 20 at McKay Gravel Ponds, Ryan and Jack Bushong reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

BACA COUNTY:

---On February 25 at Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area, Alan Versaw reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Chihuahuan Raven, and Canyon Towhee.

---On February 25 at Cottonwood Canyon (Southern Loop), Alan Versaw reported 2 Greater Roadrunners and 4 Canyon Towhee.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On February 17 at Walden/Sawhill in Boulder, Carrie Vaughn reported 3 Tundra Swans and 2 Lincoln's Sparrows. On February 19, Todd Deininger reported Tundra Swans at Walden Ponds. On February 20 at Walden/Sawhill Ponds, Mark Minner-Lee reported 3 Tundra Swans and Lincoln's Sparrow. On February 25 at Sawhill Ponds, Kyle Medina reported swan. On February 26 at Cottonwood Marsh, Mark Miller reported 3 Tundra Swans sleeping and a 4th swan fly in. The 4th swan is a bit of a mystery. It may be a hybrid Trumpeter/Tundra.

---On February 24 at Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark, Dan Stringer reported 10 Brown-capped and 2 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On February 27, Brandon Percival reported Trumpeter Swan at Chatfield SP on pond viewed from High Line Canal Trail accessed from Titan Road.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On February 21 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), Adam Vesely reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

---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.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

---On February 24 at Chatfield SP, Cheri Phillips reported Trumpeter Swan. It was seen from Heron Overlook on the reservoir. On February 25 at Chatfield SP upstream from Kingfisher Bridge west of gravel ponds, Richard Taylor, Art Hudak, and Gwen Moore reported Trumpeter Swan. On February 26 at Chatfield gravel ponds, Phil Lyon reported Trumpeter Swan.

---On February 27 at Indian Tree Golf Course, Brandon Percival reported BRANT.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On February 24 near Wellington on CR 64, David Dowell reported 2 Lapland Longspurs.

---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.

---On February 26 at Horseshoe Reservoir, 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 Horsehoe Reservoir in Loveland, David Wade

reported juv ICELAND GULL, and juv Great Black-backed Gull, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

MESA COUNTY:

---On February 21 at Brewster's Ridge/Bar X Wash, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported Sagebrush Sparrow

PROWERS COUNTY:

---On February 21 at N end of Willow Creek Park in Lamar, Dave Leatherman reported ad m Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

---On February 20 at N end of Lamar Community College Woods, Dave Leatherman reported a sing Carolina Wren; heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker at the S end, 4+ Northern Cardinals, and a Curve-billed Thrasher in Woodland Park Subdivision south of the woods, right where Woodland Park Drive crosses Willow Creek.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

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

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On February 24 and 25, Eric Hynes reported all 3 species of Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride. If you

would like to try for them please contact him at erichynes28 AT gmail.com

WELD COUNTY:

---On February 24, Gary Lefko reported 2 Lapland Longspurs on N side of dump along CR 84, .25 m E of CR 25 in fallow field on south.

---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 Thayer's Gull, ad ICELAND GULL, 2 ad Thayer's Gulls, Great-tailed Grackle. On February 26 at Woods Lake, John Drummond, Jeannie Mitchell, and Lynne Miller reported AMERICAN BLACK DUCK. On February 27, Brandon Percival 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 99th 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, Tur nleft again into the parking lot for South Platte River Greenway Trailhead.

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

The DFO Field trip for Sunday, March 5 will be to Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR led by George Mayfiled & Karen Drozda (georgemayfield AT gamil.com; 720-289-9395). This trip is full

Good birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAHtstTcaPG_%3DcJLhqg0eYLtXamNyJpzoFituB%2B2SXPoBiyMZiQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

Monday 27 February 2017

[cobirds] Lamar (Prowers Co) CO 27Feb2017

19 species visited my yard today in Lamar, although there was nothing unusual, there was a lot of activity through-out the day. The visitors included a White-breasted and a Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Brown Creeper, several Cedar Waxwings, White-winged Doves and a calling Townsend's Solitaire. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew in to chase finches and juncos at the feeders and after an unsuccessful try, it went into hiding in a dense, blue spruce certainly assuring its next meal.

We desperately need some moisture down this way.

Janeal Thompson

Lamar, CO

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAEpG4NG-UoAAnAsdMucTG51gqmk%2BE8P%3DGrSGacxyJQVDLcQ4bw%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] North Park and Nunn Christmas Bird Counts

Does anyone know if either the North Park CBC or the Nunn CBC were
held this past winter? Compilers haven't enter results, and haven't
responded to my e-mails, asking them to enter their data by tomorrow
(the last day compilers can enter data into the CBC Website). If you
know either of the compilers of these counts, please contact them, and
have them please enter their data by the end of tomorrow. Perhaps
neither of these two counts actually happened, though I assume they
did.

Thanks,

--
Brandon Percival
Colorado CBC Regional Editor
Pueblo West, CO

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%2BXeEuUB0%2BPT5TbviLgKZStG5disp9kT2Q8VmX_1tj85n-cJww%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Dave Leatherman at Boulder Co. Audubon program, Tue. 2/28 7:15pm

Boulder County Audubon Society presents:

February 28, 7:15 PM
Dave Leatherman: Fox Squirrel - Cutest Devil On The Block

This presentation will explore the local life history of the Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger). Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, you have to be amazed at the variety of things they do. We will discuss how they affect other animals, shape tree architecture, challenge bird feeders, and at this very moment, are probably learning to hack your computer. Bring your favorite squirrel story or recipe to share.

Our programs are free and open to the public. They are held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder at 5001 Pennsylvania Ave.
Join us at 7pm for socializing; programs start at 7:15pm.

_________________________

Please Note the "E" in my email address below, and make sure it's correct in your address book.

Scott E. Severs
ScottESevers@gmail.com
Longmont, CO

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAL-OjWN70J7US7mwyfNQ7s_asEDqHYPdQJtxAAcEbEo-o29-Gg%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Christian Hagenlocher Presentation Hosted by CSU Ornithology Club

Good Evening Cobirders,

Saturday March 4th 6-7PM on March 4th in the Wagar 232 the Colorado State University Field Ornithologists will be hosting a presentation from big year birder Christian Hagenlocher. Christian will recount his adventures last year which took him across the ABA area, including spending a night in -20 degree temperatures after a failed Boreal Owl search at Cameron Pass, while breaking the previously set ABA area big year record.

We are asking for a $10 donation from non-students to help raise some funds to cover gas reimbursements for our twice monthly field trips and occasional speaker fees for club presentations which are typically free to the public and include refreshments. If you would like to learn more about the Colorado State University Field Ornithologists visit our facebook page here. Please RSVP (either on facebook or by email) for the lecture so we can estimate attendance. If you have any other questions about our organization feel free to contact us at csuornithology@gmail.com.

To see a map of campus email us at csuornithology@gmail.com

Posted with permission from David Suddjian.

-Megan Miller

CSUFO Officer
Fort Collins Colorado

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABQ76ObZW_xgwFOZ6B0nqSn_ZaCeZ-rRt7stSBhN%3Dx_zf1qpQg%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Sage Thrasher, Longmont!

(See pictures at very bottom)

Hi everyone,

About an hour and a half ago (2:45) as I was walking home from school I had what appeared to be an early SAGE THRASHER pop up about 10-15 feet away from me. I took some iPhone pictures of it making some sort of alarm call and I have cropped them to hopefully make them more identifiable. It was north of the Altona Midddle School, on the bike path off of Grandveiw Meadows Dr. about 35-45 yards(ish) down the trail east of the underpass perched in a small tree/bush. When I finished taking pictures and looked up again it flew another 30 feet or so up trail(east) and perched at the top of one of the red bushes. I have never had them this early and especially in Longmont, it was a huge surprise to have it there. Tommorow I will look for it again, and hopefully get some good pictures to share. And please tell me if you think it could be anything different.

Luke Pheneger

Longmont Colorado

Other species include:

Song sparrow(heard)

Tree sparrow

Cackling goose

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CALhMPZeWPyu8cqZcw4FiLsq0QHf4JOkFuubAU2Wku4s8hZmchQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Great Black-backed Gull, Iceland Gull - Larimer

Howdy birders,
In addition to the Iceland gull found yesterday by Dave Dowell there's is a Great Black-backed full at Horseshoe reservoir in Loveland. Both are on the south side of the res right now.

David Wade
Ft Collins, CO

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/16980a30-32c4-4223-add5-88fbb569de02%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Re: ecosymposium on Citizen Science, March 18, Boulder

Just a reminder of the upcoming BCNA ecosymposium on citizen science. Birders may be particularly interested in the talk by eBird co-founder Chris Wood from the Cornell Lab, and on reports from local natural history projects including monitoring of locally sensitive bird species. Please see the original post for more details, or visit the website: http://bcna.org/ecosymposium.html

- Sandra Laursen

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 9:36:03 AM UTC-7, Sandra Laursen wrote:

This year Boulder County Nature Association's (BCNA) annual spring ecosymposium focuses on citizen science. Birders are invited to join us on Saturday, March 18, 2017.

Finding the Science in Citizen Science: Front Range Environments
This year's ecosystem symposium will address the potential and limitations of citizen science for understanding environmental problems and engaging people in environmental observations. The program will feature citizen science projects with local involvement and high relevance for Front Range ecosystems, such as BCNA's work with Boulder County to monitor breeding populations of locally threatened bird species.

On the national level, featured speakers include Chris Wood, Assistant Director of Information at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where he leads a variety of projects including eBird, and Waleed Abdalati from CU Boulder, who will be hosting the PBS TV series, "The Crowd and the Cloud," on PBS this spring. We'll also feature lightning talks, posters and info tables for projects seeking to recruit citizen science volunteers.

The final panel, moderated by Greg Newman, founder and director of CitSci.organd a research scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University, will take a broad look at the challenges of citizen science efforts for both the 'citizen' and the 'science' parts of the work.

The ecosymposium will be held March 18th from 9 am-2:30 pm at the University of Colorado Boulder, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex (SEEC), 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder CO 80303. BCNA will offer a simple lunch - please make a donation, and bring your own plate, cup and flatware to reduce waste - or you can bring your own lunch.

For more information: http://bcna.org/ecosymposium.html

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/53493cd0-a704-45a8-919e-7e5de084b195%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Brant - Jefferson Co. 2/27

Indian Tree golf course seen from parking lot, Brant continues.

Brandon K. Percival
Pueblo West, CO

Sent from my Android

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%2BXeEuVD_ei%2B5so_s-HmMhJCom29ZkJCUckCHhffFrTFLPEoPQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] More Northcentral Weld County Birds

Hi all

Greater White-fronted Goose [F St W of 35th Ave on N, Greeley, Weld] - 3
Great-tailed Grackle [Drake Lake, Severance, Weld] - 2
Wild Turkey [Weld CR 70, Gill, Weld] - 8

Photos: http://coloradobirder.club/m/photos/home/

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://coloradobirder.club/

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5f4dfc18-56b0-4050-907c-a9557f9ea1b4%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] American Woodcock still present

The Bobcat Ridge, Larimer Co. American Woodcock continues this morning after 10am on 27 Feb. An adult Northern Goshawk on the road coming in was a nice bird too.

Brandon K. Percival
Pueblo West, CO

Sent from my Android

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%2BXeEuUdgkNn1QxdADOAoUtrPYvfK9qm%2BRQLYWJ0wHG1b9VmrA%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

RE: [cobirds] Front Range Bushtits-What's Up Wtih That?

David,

Thank you for the welcome back. I too am very much enjoying these little guys being around - always brighten up the day when they wonder through the yard.

I share your thesis that the changes in distribution and abundance, like we are seeing with the Bushtits, is due to a climatic shift. Up in North Idaho where we live (splitting time now), we are seeing a general northward (& eastward from the coast) march in a number of species (Anna’s Hummingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Bewick’s Wren,…) similar to what you mentioned here. The difference between all of the species you mentioned, along with those we are seeing in the Northwest, and the Bushtits here, is that all of the for mentioned are following habitat corridors that are becoming available either through a shift in habitat health or more favorable wintering conditions; both points that you mention. The Bushtits on the other hand seemed to have flipped some sort of adaptation switch such that they have ventured out of their traditional habitat here in Colorado into new realms and are obviously finding astonishing success - this is the fascinating facet for me. Several folks mentioned the feeding of suet may be a factor, and it could well be (like more feeding of hummingbirds in the Winter in the NW), but we were feeding suet “back-in-the-day” as well and the only feeders that would get them were in places like Morrison, so who knows.

End of the day, I’m going to continue to get excited when I bump into a group of Bushtits as they represent the fact we really don’t know how Nature works over time. Thanks again for the welcome back.

Good Birding,

Doug Ward

Denver

From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN [mailto:daleatherman@msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 5:09 PM
To: dougward@frontier.com; COBIRDS
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Front Range Bushtits-What's Up Wtih That?

Welcome back Doug "Thick-billed Kingbird" Ward.

I still thick of bushtit as a special bird when I see one, mostly because of my indoctrination regarding their status when I moved here in the 1970s. But certainly they are a great example of a species that has changed dramatically.

Rightly or wrongly, I tend to interpret most "trends" or "changes" we see in Colorado birding world thru the filter of their food. Every time I've been able to figure out the food of bushtits, it tends to be small insects: things like aphids, scales, psyllids, the makers of galls, plus insect parasites and predators of aphids and scales. I've watched bushtits at the Denver Botanic Gardens working for long periods of time on soft scales in some of the oak plantings. Of course, live oaks of several species are common in the southern heart of the bushtit's historical range. Many oak species are considered "quality" trees by Colorado Front Range urban foresters/landscape architects, and they are universally recommended as replacements for overplanted, "trash" species like silver maple, poplars and Siberian elm. Thus, I think, similar to what you mentioned for the blue jay, oak plantings are probably part of local habitat change by humans of benefit to bushtits. Certainly we have a lot of ornamental junipers and pinyon pines landscaping our new subdivisions. They occur on every list I've ever seen of recommended "xeriscaping" (i.e. low water use) plants, AND they harbor aphids and scales, good for bushtits. Climate change would seem to be another factor. I'd guess the associated extremes we've been seeing (especially those that could be described as "warmer/milder") allow for better survival of insect food items, but also, importantly, stress woody plants in a way that makes them more vulnerable to colonization by insects in the first place. Warm and dry, plus a lot more people taking showers and watering lawns = shortages, restrictions..... and moisture stress in plants.

In short I would say Colorado is fast becoming part of the desert Southwest. If you research the last 50 species added to the Official State Checklist, an overwhelming majority of them are southwestern or southern. Black phoebe, black-chinned sparrow, Lucy's warbler and many others are examples. Black-chinned hummingbird, formerly only found south of Colorado Springs or on the West Slope, now breeds in Lamar and all the way up the Front Range to southern WY. White-winged doves are now part of the scene. I saw 42 in one Lamar yard this past January. We had 13 roadrunners on the John Martin Res CBC last December. Steve Mlodinow found one near Fort Morgan a few years ago, one has been running the roads near Red Rocks in recent years, an unsubstantiated report came from west of Fort Collins a little over a year ago. If that was a fig newton of somebody's imagination then, it won't be in a few years. White-throated swifts overwintered in Pueblo last year. I think we are close, if it hasn't happened already, to having several species of shorebirds overwinter on open water in Colorado (least sandpiper, greater yellowlegs, spotted sandpiper, Baird's sandpiper, not just dunlin, snipe and killdeer).

It is exciting to see new things, but the reasons for them should be somewhat sobering. I think we birders have an important role to play in documenting the changes. If and when we ever have political leadership that values the environment, who knows, birders might have a lot to contribute that could make a difference.

Welcome back, and we also welcome your future contributions to COBIRDS.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Doug Ward <dougward@frontier.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 11:31 AM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Front Range Bushtits-What's Up Wtih That?

“Long time Colorado birder, first time CoBirds poster”. After being away for 17 years, I find myself back in the Front Range of Colorado on a regular basis now. Being born and raised here, I had over 25 years of birding experience before heading north to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 2000; actually splitting time between Colorado & Idaho now. With family down here, we were back for holidays, but never really got out to do much birding – plus after 25 years, I had a pretty good idea of what, and how many, were where, or so I thought.

Ted’s post last night (25 Feb.’17), “magpies, flickers, bushtits, and Bill Kaempfer”, prompted me to write this note based on one of the significant avian changes I’ve noticed along the Front Range since being away. Last summer, my wife and I were working in the yard here in Denver (Denver, Co.) and I heard the distinctive “twittering”, then “Holy s&#$, BUSHTITS!!!” (she still thinks the AOU needs to change the common name of these guys; I for one like it as I’m a perpetual adolescent). I immediately ran to eBird to check recent occurrences as I was sure this was huge. Turns out, not so much. Growing up, finding even a couple of Bushtits in the juniper patches west and south of town (Waterton, Red Rocks, Dinosaur Ridge, …) was a real nice surprise, and only happened once or twice a year.

So what happened in the interim? As you all know, they are now common in numerous locations all along the Front Range. What gets me is that these guys have hopped habitat preferences, as opposed to expanding along with habitat creep like the Blue Jay following “forestation” across the Great Plains. Up until that little pack of Bushtits came through the yard, they were always a “specialty” of the piñon/juniper belts of the southeast and West Slope in my mind in Colorado. Now I can see a growing population, for whatever reason, spilling into the urban areas with all of the native and ornamental conifers, but an outright move into cottonwood riparian areas, that makes no sense to me – I smell a thesis in there somewhere.

Any thoughts from the “old timers” who have been here throughout this shift would be welcomed. While stumbling on a rarity every so often is fun, these little evolutionary mysteries are what I very much enjoy about our hobby that is so linked to Nature.

Happy to Be Back,

Doug Ward

Denver

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/002d01d2905e%248b689c20%24a239d460%24%40com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Last Raptor Alley of Season Trip Results [Raptor Alley, Nunn, Weld]

Hi all

GREAT weather for raptoring on Saturday--sun, cold and no wind. Group had a fantastic outing seeing all expected birds. Also, we found Golden Eagle on nest as well as a (new) Bald Eagle nest in Nunn! The Bald Eagle nest in Nunn was previously attempted last two years but never had an eagle actually on/in the nest. I'll be watching this one closely.

Photos: http://coloradobirder.club/m/photos/browse/album/Raptor-Alley-Nunn-Pierce-Weld-02-27-2017/

Total raptors = 44

Red-tailed Hawk - 5
Merlin - 1
Rough-legged Hawk - 8 (3 dark morphs)
Northern Harrier - 3
Prairie Falcon - 1
Ferruginous Hawk - 10 (1 dark morph, 3 on a fence line together--see photos))
American Kestrel - 7
Bald Eagle - 5
Golden Eagle - 2
UNID Buteo - 2

Others:

Chukar - 2
Pronghorn - 26
Common Raven - 3
Ducks - 14 species (3 Cinnamon Teal)
Northern Shrike - 1

Thanks

Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://coloradobirder.club/

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/fe280b1e-99c2-45a2-b1ed-a235efe94c27%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Woods L. (Weld) 2/27

This bird continues currently at east side Woods Lake, Weld County. Congrats to Steve Mlodinow for finding this major CO rarity. I hadn't seen one in Colorado for a very very long time (back in the 1990s).

Brandon K. Percival
Pueblo West, CO

Sent from my Android

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%2BXeEuXGi6_OveW1%3DqTnWjcjJsNB1j%2Bd8Y3etkkmq%3D2gYjN_Aw%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Mountain bluebirds Larimer Co

I was taking a Sunday drive on the outskirts of fort Collins yesterday and observed a large number (est 20-50) of mountain bluebirds along Bingham Hill Road just east of the summit.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/e0f583ce-08ef-4686-88b5-8b600a445ecc%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 27 February 2017

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org

Date: February 27, 2017

This is the Rare Bird Alert for Monday, February 27 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, & the order of families has changed.

Swan spec (*Boulder)

Trumpeter Swan (*Jefferson)

Tundra Swan (*Boulder)

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (*Weld)

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, Weld)

Great Black-backed Gull (*Pueblo)

Turkey Vulture (Jefferson)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Prowers)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Baca, El Paso)

Chihuahuan Raven (Baca)

Carolina Wren (Prowers)

Curve-billed Thrasher (Prowers)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Pitkin, *San Miguel)

Black Rosy-Finch (Pitkin, *San Miguel)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Pitkin, *San Miguel)

Lapland Longspur (Larimer, Logan, Weld)

Canyon Towhee (Baca)

Sagebrush Sparrow (Mesa)

Lincoln's Sparrow (Boulder)

Northern Cardinal (Prowers)

Great-tailed Grackle (*Weld)

*****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site: www.coloradocountybirding.org

ADAMS COUNTY:

BACA COUNTY:

---On February 25 at Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area, Alan Versaw reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Chihuahuan Raven, and Canyon Towhee.

---On February 25 at Cottonwood Canyon (Southern Loop), Alan Versaw reported 2 Greater Roadrunners and 4 Canyon Towhee.

BOULDER COUNTY:

---On February 24 at Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark, Dan Stringer reported 10 Brown-capped and 2 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches.

EL PASO COUNTY:

---On February 21 at Chico Basin Ranch (fee area), Adam Vesely reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On February 24 near Wellington on CR 64, David Dowell reported 2 Lapland Longspurs.

---On February 26 at Bobcat Ridge, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brooke reported American Woodcock in creek east of ranger's house.

---On February 26 at Horseshoe Reservoir, David Dowell reported juv Thayer's Gull, juv ICELAND GULL, and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (1 juv, 1 imm, 5 ad).

MESA COUNTY:

---On February 21 at Brewster's Ridge/Bar X Wash, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported Sagebrush Sparrow

PROWERS COUNTY:

---On February 21 at N end of Willow Creek Park in Lamar, Dave Leatherman reported ad m Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

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

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:

---On February 24 and 25, Eric Hynes reported all 3 species of Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride. If you

would like to try for them please contact him at erichynes28 AT gmail.com

WELD COUNTY:

---On February 24, Gary Lefko reported 2 Lapland Longspurs on N side of dump along CR 84, .25 m E of CR 25 in fallow field on south.

Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:

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

The DFO Field trip for Sunday, March 5 will be to Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR led by George Mayfiled & Karen Drozda (georgemayfield AT gamil.com; 720-289-9395). This trip is full

Good birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAHtstTfKJMyxJqmu%2B8KiyFSnXCNJ%2BxhOiG%3DxRM%3DMKg_eq1jBXQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

Sunday 26 February 2017

[cobirds] Re: Western Kingbird today! Arapahoe county

I've been told that in 2009 there was a February sighting in Cheyenne County on the 27th. There have also been a few March recordings over the years. These are not Ebird records.
As far as I can tell, my sighting is the earliest known sighting for the month of February (25th)
Susan R.
Thornton

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/dbb92488-fb67-4a7c-b5ea-7258fe86fdde%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[cobirds] Re: Western Kingbird today! Arapahoe county

I've been told that in 2009 there was a February sighting in Cheyenne County on the 27th. There have also been a few March recordings over the years. These are not Ebird records.
As far as I can tell, my sighting is the earliest known sighting for the month of February (25th)
Susan R.
Thornton

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/e2f0d8e1-372d-4e10-90d3-dd43ccc82d8d%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

RE: [cobirds] Swan #4 at Cottonwood Marsh

Hi Everyone,

The fourth bird kept apart from the other three, but tried to push its way through the ice to get a bit closer. It had quite a bit of dirt and grime on its neck, so I'm sure we're talking about the same bird. It had a noticeable bulge in the bill, but it wasn't what the Brits would call a stonking Trumpeter bill. Its vocalizations were lower pitched than I normally hear from Tundras. Frankly, I didn't see any marks on the lores. It's an odd one, and it's a good lesson for all of us about looking at all the field marks.

Mark Miller

Longmont, CO

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Christian Nunes
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:34 PM
To: Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>
Cc: Cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Swan #4 at Cottonwood Marsh

Hi Maria,

I would make an argument that the bird in your photos is part of the pair of adult Tundra Swans that are invariably accompanied by the immature. Presumably they are a family group. The yellow spot on this one is rather small and can be hard to see, especially at a distance. Ted Floyd has some closer shots where the yellow can be seen well: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33740263

Steve Mlodinow also has some nice flight shots that show all three of these birds. The yellow on that one adult is again hard to see, but it's present if you squint hard enough: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34073530

Here are some more links to photos of the solitary swan who I think is more Trumpeter-esque, but things don't add up:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33611634

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34030937

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34773743

Myself and many scores of birders have been calling this a Tundra Swan all winter, perhaps a bit too willingly. I remember studying it while it fed in the shallow bay at the east end of Hillcrest Reservoir back in January. Alarm bells were ringing, and I had hopes I could "turn" it into a Trumpeter, but the pale spot on the bill and the U-shaped forehead made me withdraw from that conclusion. I've started to look more closely at the available photos (and the bird too, but it was mostly sleeping this afternoon) after Mark Miller's email this morning. I still don't think it's a Trumpeter, but a hybrid could be an option. Or it's just a goofy Tundra Swan like we've been assuming all winter.

Thanks,

Christian Nunes

Longmont, CO

From: mesozoic.cephalopod@gmail.com <mesozoic.cephalopod@gmail.com> on behalf of Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 7:14 PM
To: Christian Nunes
Cc: Cobirds
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Swan #4 at Cottonwood Marsh

That's interesting. That is not one of the birds that I was seeing last night; at least, I don't think that it is. Here are a couple of shots of that bird. (In the photos where the 4th swan joined 2 of the others briefly, it is the middle bird of the three in the photograph.) As far as I could see in the photos and through my binoculars, this one completely lacked the light color that is in the linked picture above. I am certainly not arguing with the ID of more experienced birders; I'm just wondering if one of the birds that I saw was a different bird because I'm curious and uncertain of my own ID skills when it comes to Trumpeters and Tundras.

Thanks for the thoughts on these swans,

Marie Hoerner

Aurora, CO

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 5:09 PM, Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu> wrote:

That's interesting. That is not one of the birds that I was seeing last night; at least, I don't think that it is. Here are a couple of shots of that bird. (In the photos where the 4th swan joined 2 of the others briefly, it is the middle bird of the three in the photograph.) As far as I could see in the photos and through my binoculars, this one completely lacked the light color that is in the linked picture above. I am certainly not arguing with the ID of more experienced birders; I'm just wondering if one of the birds that I saw was a different bird because I'm curious and uncertain of my own ID skills when it comes to Trumpeters and Tundras.

Thanks for the thoughts on these swans,

Marie Hoerner
Aurora, CO

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 4:49 PM, Christian Nunes <pajaroboy@hotmail.com> wrote:
Birders,

The two obvious adult Tundra Swans, one with extensive yellow on the bill and the other with a small yellow tear drop, are the likely parents of the immature. This family group acts as a unit and they are rarely separated by very much space. One adult has extensive yellow on the bill, the other more of a small tear drop. The immature is dusky and has a pale spot on the bill that hasn't yet turned yellow. It has V-shaped forehead feathering, demonstrating the weakness of this field mark on immature birds.

The fourth bird is another adult, and is the head-scratcher. It spends more time by itself, often traveling over to the Valmont lakes. It is the individual recently photographed by Kyle Medina over at Sawhill Ponds (refer to his COBirds post from this morning "Swan- Sawhill Pond 2/24/17"). It is maybe slightly larger than the other swans, and the neck looks a little more sinuous and the back maybe more rounded. These features give it a resemblance to a Trumpeter. It currently has some heavy staining on the head and neck, which helps pick it out from a crowd, but is not something that's useful for ID. The thing is that it does have a pale spot on the bill in front of the eye- not bright yellow like the other Tundras, but more of an off white. The forehead feathering is also U-shaped, as in an adult Tundra. The legs are dark black, which might help rule out a "white morph" Trumpeter as described in David Sibley's blog post linked below. There's a good chance it's a Trumpeter x Tundra. Steve Mlodinow has extensive experience with both species and their crosses, so he might have more to chime in on that hypothesis.

A handy link to Kyle's photo: http://tinyurl.com/hpe7det
Some good reading: http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/07/trumpeter-swans-with-yellow-loral-spots/
Trumpeter Swans with yellow loral spots - Sibley Guides
www.sibleyguides.com
Related posts and pages: Trumpeter Swans, yellow bill spots, and leucism In a previous post I've talked about Trumpeter Swans with yellow bill spots as a...

Thanks,

Christian Nunes
Longmont, CO

From: mesozoic.cephalopod@gmail.com <mesozoic.cephalopod@gmail.com> on behalf of Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 4:28 PM
To: snowy.owlets@gmail.com; Cobirds
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Swan #4 at Cottonwood Marsh

I had not gotten the chance yet to post about this, but I saw four swans there last night. Three were Tundra Swans (2 adults and a 1st year), and the fourth I thought was a Trumpeter based on the complete lack of yellow in the lores and what seemed to be larger size (although they are hard to tell apart because of individual variability in the lores and I'm no expert when it comes to swans). It is nice to have confirmation since I was rather uncertain.

Marie Hoerner
Aurora, CO

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 8:28 AM, snowy.owlets <snowy.owlets@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Everyone,

A fourth swan has just come in. It looks and sounds like a Trumpeter.

Mark Miller
Longmont, CO

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 5 ACTIVE™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/64a0rvwa9idkmybacp3h4hy0.1488122931978%40email.android.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

mhoerner@uchicago.edu
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Geophysical Sciences
The University of Chicago
5734 S. Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAPQkTv1grVKc78fA6Ssxz7Ms_SUW%3D530U5D6q_iFKSDYqdsDQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/DM5PR15MB1419CDE07DD25FEB6A79895BBC540%40DM5PR15MB1419.namprd15.prod.outlook.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

mhoerner@uchicago.edu
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Geophysical Sciences
The University of Chicago
5734 S. Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637

mhoerner@uchicago.edu

Ph.D. Candidate

Department of Geophysical Sciences

The University of Chicago

5734 S. Ellis Ave.

Chicago, IL 60637

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/DM5PR15MB14193E8900BCE8ABD11A3E09BC570%40DM5PR15MB1419.namprd15.prod.outlook.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

Re: [cobirds] Swan #4 at Cottonwood Marsh

Hi Maria,

Here are some more links to photos of the solitary swan who I think is more Trumpeter-esque, but things don't add up:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33611634

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34030937

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34773743

Thanks,

Christian Nunes

Longmont, CO

Thanks for the thoughts on these swans,

Marie Hoerner

Aurora, CO

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 5:09 PM, Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu> wrote:

That's interesting. That is not one of the birds that I was seeing last night; at least, I don't think that it is. Here are a couple of shots of that bird. (In the photos where the 4th swan joined 2 of the others briefly, it is the middle bird of the three in the photograph.) As far as I could see in the photos and through my binoculars, this one completely lacked the light color that is in the linked picture above. I am certainly not arguing with the ID of more experienced birders; I'm just wondering if one of the birds that I saw was a different bird because I'm curious and uncertain of my own ID skills when it comes to Trumpeters and Tundras.

Thanks for the thoughts on these swans,

Marie Hoerner

Aurora, CO

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 4:49 PM, Christian Nunes <pajaroboy@hotmail.com> wrote:

Birders,

The two obvious adult Tundra Swans, one with extensive yellow on the bill and the other with a small yellow tear drop, are the likely parents of the immature. This family group acts as a unit and they are rarely separated by very much space. One adult has extensive yellow on the bill, the other more of a small tear drop. The immature is dusky and has a pale spot on the bill that hasn't yet turned yellow. It has V-shaped forehead feathering, demonstrating the weakness of this field mark on immature birds.

The fourth bird is another adult, and is the head-scratcher. It spends more time by itself, often traveling over to the Valmont lakes. It is the individual recently photographed by Kyle Medina over at Sawhill Ponds (refer to his COBirds post from this morning "Swan- Sawhill Pond 2/24/17"). It is maybe slightly larger than the other swans, and the neck looks a little more sinuous and the back maybe more rounded. These features give it a resemblance to a Trumpeter. It currently has some heavy staining on the head and neck, which helps pick it out from a crowd, but is not something that's useful for ID. The thing is that it does have a pale spot on the bill in front of the eye- not bright yellow like the other Tundras, but more of an off white. The forehead feathering is also U-shaped, as in an adult Tundra. The legs are dark black, which might help rule out a "white morph" Trumpeter as described in David Sibley's blog post linked below. There's a good chance it's a Trumpeter x Tundra. Steve Mlodinow has extensive experience with both species and their crosses, so he might have more to chime in on that hypothesis.

A handy link to Kyle's photo: http://tinyurl.com/hpe7det

Some good reading: http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/07/trumpeter-swans-with-yellow-loral-spots/

Trumpeter Swans with yellow loral spots - Sibley Guides

www.sibleyguides.com

Related posts and pages: Trumpeter Swans, yellow bill spots, and leucism In a previous post I've talked about Trumpeter Swans with yellow bill spots as a...

Thanks,

Christian Nunes

Longmont, CO

From: mesozoic.cephalopod@gmail.com <mesozoic.cephalopod@gmail.com> on behalf of Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 4:28 PM
To: snowy.owlets@gmail.com; Cobirds
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Swan #4 at Cottonwood Marsh

I had not gotten the chance yet to post about this, but I saw four swans there last night. Three were Tundra Swans (2 adults and a 1st year), and the fourth I thought was a Trumpeter based on the complete lack of yellow in the lores and what seemed to be larger size (although they are hard to tell apart because of individual variability in the lores and I'm no expert when it comes to swans). It is nice to have confirmation since I was rather uncertain.

Marie Hoerner

Aurora, CO

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 8:28 AM, snowy.owlets <snowy.owlets@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

A fourth swan has just come in. It looks and sounds like a Trumpeter.

Mark Miller

Longmont, CO

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 5 ACTIVE™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/64a0rvwa9idkmybacp3h4hy0.1488122931978%40email.android.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

mhoerner@uchicago.edu

Ph.D. Candidate

Department of Geophysical Sciences

The University of Chicago

5734 S. Ellis Ave.

Chicago, IL 60637

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAPQkTv1grVKc78fA6Ssxz7Ms_SUW%3D530U5D6q_iFKSDYqdsDQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/DM5PR15MB1419CDE07DD25FEB6A79895BBC540%40DM5PR15MB1419.namprd15.prod.outlook.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

mhoerner@uchicago.edu

Ph.D. Candidate

Department of Geophysical Sciences

The University of Chicago

5734 S. Ellis Ave.

Chicago, IL 60637

mhoerner@uchicago.edu

Ph.D. Candidate

Department of Geophysical Sciences

The University of Chicago

5734 S. Ellis Ave.

Chicago, IL 60637