Date: December 30, 2018
Compiler: Joyce Takamine
This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, December 30, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists.
Rare, out of place and out of season species include:
(*) indicates new information on this species; CAPITAL LETTERS are used for very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee,
Observers have been diligent in reporting sightings on COBirds - thanks! Please check there for updates.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (*Weld)
Brant (*Weld)
Wood Duck (Montrose)
Black Scoter (Arapahoe, Jefferson)
Long-tailed Duck (*Weld)
Barrow's Goldeneye (*Adams, Eagle, Mesa)
Greater Roadrunner (El Paso)
Sora (*Archuleta)
AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Larimer)
Spotted Sandpiper (*Adams)
Black-legged Kittiwake (*Larimer)
Bonaparte's Gull (Pueblo)
Iceland Gull (*Larimer)
SLATY-BACKED GULL (Larimer)
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larimer, *Weld)
Glaucous Gull (Larimer)
Great Black-backed Gull (*Boulder, Larimer, Pueblo)
Green Heron (Pueblo)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (*Adams)
Northern Goshawk (Arapahoe, El Paso)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Boulder)
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (*Baca)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Jefferson)
GYRFALCON (*Larimer)
Lewis's Woodpecker (La Plata)
Say's Phoebe (*Boulder)
Vermillion Flycatcher (*Boulder)
Canada Jay (Jefferson)
Chihuahuan Raven (*Baca)
Bushtit (Mesa)
Winter Wren (*Jefferson, Teller)
SEDGE WREN (Eagle)
American Dipper (Arapahoe)
Hermit Thrush (La Plata)
Curve-billed Thrasher (*Baca)
Northern Mockingbird (Boulder)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (*El Paso)
Black Rosy-Finch (*El Paso)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (*El Paso)
Common Redpoll (Routt)
Red Crossbill (Jefferson)
Canyon Towhee (*Baca)
Field Sparrow (*Baca)
Fox Sparrow (Red) (*Jefferson)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Mesa)
Swamp Sparrow (Weld)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Larimer)
Yellow Warbler (*Boulder)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (*Boulder, La Plata)
ADAMS COUNTY:
---On December 29 at S Platte River – Sand Creek mouth, Cheryl Teuton and Dan Brooke reported m Barrow's Goldeneye, Spotted Sandpiper, and 6 Black-crowned Night-Heron (4 ad, 2 juv)
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
---On December 27 at South Platte Reservoir, Charlie Chase reported Black Scoter which was first seen on December 20.
---On December 27 at S Platte River – Northern Wildlife Area to West Bowles Ave, Brian Johnson reported juv Northern Goshawk.
---On December 28 at South Platte Park, Dale Pate reported American Dipper seen upstream from Mineral Ave bridge on SE side along South Platte.
ARCHULETA COUNTY:
---On December 29 on San Juan River Walk in Pagosa Springs, Charles Martinez reported Sora.
BACA COUNTY:
---On December 29 at CR M near CR 6, Tony Leukering and Kathy Mihm Dunning reported 13 Chihuahuan Raven, 3 Curve-billed Thrasher, and Canyon Towhee.
---On December 29 at Sikes Ranch SWS, CR Q, Tony Leukering and Kathy Mihm Dunning reported Ladder-backed Woodpecker, 9 Chihuahuan Raven, Field Sparrow, and 2 Canyon Towhee.
BOULDER COUNTY:
---On December 18 the male Vermillion Flycatcher was seen again at Walden Ponds, having been here since mid-November. On December 22 at Cottonwood Marsh, Chris Friedman reported Vermilion Flycatcher. On December 24 at Walden Ponds, Kevin Rutherford reported Vermilion Flycatcher. On December 26 at Walden Ponds/Cottonwood Marsh, Chris Owens and Chris Gilbert reported Vermilion Flycatcher. On December 29 at Walden Ponds/Cottonwood Marsh, Candice Johnson, Luke Pheneger, Leslie S, Scott Shaum, and Karen Drozda reported Vermilion Flycatcher; Luke Pheneger reported Say's Phoebe; Simon Walker reported 2 Vermilion Flycatchers.
---On December 23 on Centennial Trail—Dimmitt Drive to Old Tale Road, Leslie S reported Northern Mockingbird.
---On December 24 on Coal Creek on E side of Dutch Creek Park near Chestnut in Louisville, Ryan Bushong reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
---On December 29 at Erie Reservoir, Steve Frye and Boulder Flying Circus Birders Walk reported Great Black-backed Gull.
---On December 29 at Longmont Wastewater Treatment Ponds, Luke Pheneger reported Say's Phoebe, Yellow Warbler and 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers.
EAGLE COUNTY:
---On December 25 at Lake Creek Village Wetlands, Eric Culbertson reported continuing SEDGE WREN.
---On December 27 at Seven Castle in Basalt, Louise Glaser reported 8 Barrow's Goldeneyes (2m, 6 f).
EL PASO COUNTY:
---On December 21 at Rainbow Gulch Trail, Terence Berger, David and John Marvin reported 300 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 5 Black Rosy-Finch, and 8 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch on shoreline of Rampart Reservoir. On December 25 at Rainbow Gulch Trail, James McCall reported Northern Goshawk and Tyler Stewart reported 150 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 1 Black Rosy-Finch, and 3 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. On Decemeber 26 at Rainbow Gulch Trail, Tyler Wilson reported 39 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 6 Gray-crowned (Hepburn's) Rosy-Finch, 7 Black Rosy-Finch, 20 Brown-caped Rosy-Finch. On December 29 at Rainbow Gultch Trail, Joel and Dale Adams reported 5 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 1 Black Rosy-Finch, and 1 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.
---On December 27 on Hanover Road, David Marvin reported Greater Roadrunner.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
---On December 25 at South Platte Reservoir Southwest Bay, Joey Kellner and Crystal Wilson reported Black Scoter.
---On December 28 at Red Rock Trading Post, Myron Gerhard and Paulo and Santiago Tabares reported Fox Sparrow (Red). On December 29 at Red Rocks Trading Post, Lorraine Laning, Michael Lester, Cyndy Johnson and Roberta Chase reported Fox (red) Sparrow.
---On December 28 at Staunton SP, Chris Wood reported American Three-toed Woodpecker, Canada Jay and numerous Red Crossbill.
---On December 29 at Morrison Park, Karen Goetz and Matt Clark reported Winter Wren near bridge on west end of park.
LA PLATA COUNTY:
—On December 23 at Animas River – Huck Finn Pond & Hatchery area, Susan Allerton reported 2 Lewis's Woodpeckers, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. On December 24, on Animas River – Huck Finn Pond & Hatchery area, Ryan Votta reported Lewis's Woodpecker and Hermit Thrush. On December 25 on Animas River –Huck Finn Pond & Hatchery Area, Ryan Votta reported Hermit Thrush.
LARIMER COUNTY:
—On December 14 through 18 an (imm) dark-phase GYRFALCON was seen off and on along W Trilby Rd and from Taft Hill Rd (where parking is not safe) & over the Larimer County Landfill. On the 13th it was reported at the landfill by Nick Komar. If you visit the landfill, be sure to check in at one of the pay windows (or the main office) & park as directed. On December 20 the GYRFALCON was seen on W Trilby on S side of road on brown metal pole between Shields and Taft Hill Rd by Ray and Joan Galbach. On December 21 the GYRFALCON was reported by Sarah Spotten, Sue Riffe, and Tom Hall flying over Trilby Rd close to Hidden Springs Rd and heading SW over the ridge. On December 22 the GYRFALCON was see by Walter Wehtje and Nick Komar on tall power poles along Triby east of Taft Hill and it later flew to a low post east of Taft Hill and found by Komar. On December 23 the GYRFALCON was reported by Georgia Goyle and Chery Teuton near Trilby and Taft but it flew. Peter Burke managed to get a flight shot but did not tell us the location. On December 24 from gate of Larimer County Landfill, Deb Carstensen and Ed Secor reported scoping the GYRFALCON eating prey. On December 27 at Larimer County Landfill, Andy Bankert reported that the GYRFALCON flew by and then perched on one of the tall power poles on Trilby. On December 29 the GYRFALCON was reported by Steve Mlodinow and David Ely south of the landfill and E of Taft Hill Road; at Taft Hill Road and Trilby by Aaron Shipe, on a pole on W Trilby and W of Taft Hill by Komar; and Norm Lewis reported that they GYRFALCON flew over the dump heading north.
---On December 18 a Great Black-backed Gull was reported at the Larimer County Landfill by Steve Mlodinow. On December 20 a Great Black-backed Gull was reported by Scott Somershoe and Alec Hopping at 2751 – 2889 W Trilby Road. On December 21 at Larimer County Landfill, David Ely, Matt Hofeditz, and Dave Leatherman reported 8 Iceland (Thayer's) Gull, SLATY-BACKED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, Glaucous Gull, and imm Great Black-backed Gull. On December 22 at Larimer County Landfill, Doug Kibbe, Elaine Wagner, and Mackenzie Goldthwaite reported Iceland Gull (Thayer's) and Great Black-backed Gull. On December 23 at Larimer County Landfill, David Ely and Loch Kilpatrick reported SLATY-BACKED GULL. On December 24 at Larimer County Landfill, Andy Bankert reported Glaucous Gull. On December 26 at Larimer County Landfill, Sue Riffe, Shawn Ashbaugh, and Josh Bruening reported SLATY-BACKED GULL, Glaucous Gull, 3 Iceland (Thayer's) Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gull. On December 27 at the Larimer County Landfill, Andy Bankert reported Glaucous Gull. On December 29 at Larimer County Landfill, Steve Mlodinow and David Ely reported Iceland Gull (kumlieni) and 6 Iceland Gull (Thayer's).
---On December 23 in afternoon, Nick Komar and Tim Smart reported ad SLATY-BACKED GULL at Horsetooth Reservoir opposite Dixon Dam.
---On December 23 at Four Corners Bison Pens, Nick Komar and Tim Smart reported Brown-headed Cowbird.
---On December 24 at Horsetooth Reservoir opposite Spring Canyon Dam, Nick Komar and Peter Burke reported juv Black-legged Kittiwake and many other birders were able to see it. On December 25 at Horsetooth Reservoir opposite Spring Canyon Dam, Nick Komar reported that the juv Black-legged Kittiwake continues and many birders were able to see it. On December 26 at Horsetooth Reservoir, opposite Spring Canyon Dam, Joe Mammoser, Dave Leatherman, and Sue Riffe reported Black-legged Kittiwake and Alec Hopping and Ira Sanders reported the kittiwake at 3105 Centennial Dr. On December 27 at Horsetooth Reservoir, Marcel Such, Nick Komar, Josh Bruening, Christine Sparks and Irene Fortune reported Black-legged Kittiwake. On December 28 at Horsetooth Reservoir, David Suddjian and DFO Field trip reported Black-legged Kittiwake at Horsetooth Reservoir Spring Canyon Dam; later in the day Suddjian reported the Black-legged Kittiwake by Dixon Dam; several other birders reported Black-legged Kittiwake at Horsetooth Reservoir. On December 29 at Horsetooth Reservoir, many birders reported the Black-legged Kittiwake at various spots on the southern end of the reservoir.
---On December 26 at 2401 W Trilby Rd, Ira Sanders reported Iceland (Thayer's) Gull, Glaucous Gull, and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.
---On December 26 at Gyrfalcon Stakeout, Chris Gilbert reported Great Black-backed Gull.
---On December 26 at Warren Lake, Nick Komar reported SLATY-BACKED GULL, 3 Iceland (Thayer's) Gull, and Glaucous Gull.
---On December 28 at Bobcat Ridge NA, Kevin DeBoer reported AMERICAN WOODCOCK in creek downstream of parking lot.
MESA COUNTY:
---On December 23 at Grand Junction Wildlife Area, Mike Henwood reported pair of Barrow's Goldeneye, 10 Bushtit in SE corner, and Lincoln's Sparrow. On December 28 at Grand Junction Wildlife Area, Kathleen McGinley reported 2 Barrow's Goldeneye and Lincoln's Sparrow.
MONTROSE COUNTY:
---On December 25 at Baldridge and Ute Parks, Betty Fenton reported Wood Duck. On December 27 at Baldridge and Ute Parks, Betty Fenton Reported m Wood Duck.
PUEBLO COUNTY:
---On December 24 on Arkansas River Trail – East of Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo, David Fries reported Green Heron foraging on N shore of river before flying off.
---On December 25 at Pueblo Reservoir South Marina, Alan Ketcham reported Great Black-backed Gull and 3 Bonaparte's Gull. On December 27 at Pueblo Reservoir, South Marina, David and John Marvin reported Great Black-backed Gull.
ROUTT COUNTY:
---On December 27 south of Clark, Hwy 131/CR 56, Tom Litteral passed along a reported of Common Redpoll.
TELLER COUNTY:
---On December 23 at Manitou Lake, Scott Shaum reported Winter Wren. On December 27 at Manitou Lake, Scott Shaum reported Winter Wren
WELD COUNTY:
---On December 12 through 18 the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE continued at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, where it has been among a diverse gaggle of goose species and hybrids. It was first reported by Steve Mlodinow at Idaho Creek Open Space on Dec 11. This would be a first state record if approved by the CBRC. On December 19 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE and Long-tailed Duck were reported by several birders. On December 20 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE and Long-tailed Duck were seen again by several birders. On December 21 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, Long-tailed Duck, and Brant were seen by several birders. On December 22 an eagle scatter the geese early on Frederick Lake so it was found at a field SW of intersection of CR 17 and CR 16 by Paul Hurtado and at 7000-7998 CR 19 by Mike Hearell and Taylor Abbot. The PINK-FOOTED GOOSE returned to Frederick Lake later and also seen were Long-tailed Duck and 2 Swamp Sparrows. On December 23 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, Michelle Puplava, Alison Hixon and Andy Bankert reported Long-tailed Duck and Swamp Sparrow. On December 24 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, Riley and Heather Morris and many other birders reported PINK-FOOTED GOOSE and Long-tailed Duck. On December 25 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, Steve Mlodinow and others reported Long-tailed Duck. On December 26 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, Scott And Andrew Schaum reported PINK-FOOTED GOOSE and Long-tailed Duck. On December 29 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area, John-Edd Brown reported PINK-FOOTED GOOSE and Long-tailed Duck; J & J Schneider, Judith Henderson, and Edward Done reported PINK-FOOTED GOOSE.
---On December 28 at Pine Cone Ave Minicipal Golf Course in Firestone, Jean Olson reported PINK-FOOTED GOOSE.
---On December 29 at Windsor Lake, Steve Mlodinow and David Ely, Ryan Graves, and Philip Carnehl reported 1st winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL.
---On December 29 at Wood Lake, Steve Mlodinow and David Ely reported Black Brant.
YUMA COUNTY:
---On December 21 at CR-2 between CR-C and US 385, Joey Kellner and Kathy Mihm Dunning reported 2 Yellow-headed Blackbird on Bonny CBC.
---On December 21 at Bonny SWA, Berm Area, Joey Kellner and Kathy Mihm Dunning reported Fox Sparrow (red) and Gray Catbird on Bonny CBC.
DFO Field Trips...trip details are at the DFO website: DFObirds.org
No DFO trips are scheduled until December 27, but the Christmas Bird Count season is upon us, through Jan 5, 2019.
Monday (12/31/2018)
Barr Lake
Rawhide Energy Station
Tuesday (01/01/2019)
Denver (Urban)
Grand Mesa
Loveland
Friday (01/04/2019)
Air Force Academy
Flagler
Saturday (01/05/2019)
Black Forest
Dotsero
Eagle Valley
Hotchkiss
Lake Isabel
Sterling
To sign up for Christmas Bird Counts, contact the compiler soon.
Good birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
