cobirds colorado rare bird: February 2020

Saturday 29 February 2020

[cobirds] COLORADO RARE BIRD ALERT for March 1, 2020

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2020

Email: RBA AT Cobirds.org

Compiler: Dave Leatherman, daleatherman@msn.com

Phone: (970) 690-2257 (cell)

______________________________________

Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBIRDS. Thanks!

CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee at the CFO website.

(*) indicates new information on a species.

For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to the bottom for "Recent eBird Sightings."

_____________________________________

Rare, out-of-place and out-of-season species include:

Swan (Multiple counties reporting, with some listed below. For other locations please check COBIRDS and eBird)

BRANT (*Denver)

Trumpeter Swan (*Mesa)

Tundra Swan (Eagle, Rio Grande, *Mesa)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Denver)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)

Dunlin (Pueblo)

Red-necked Phalarope (Boulder)

Mew Gull (Adams, Pueblo)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larimer)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (*Larimer, *Pueblo)

Red-throated Loon (Pueblo)

Pacific Loon (*Pueblo)

GYRFALCON (Larimer)

PACIFIC WREN (Jefferson)

Winter Wren (*Jefferson)

SNOW BUNTING (Weld)

Rosy-Finches (*Boulder)

White-throated Sparrow (Pueblo)

Harris's Sparrow (Delta)

Rusty Blackbird (Eagle, Garfield)

Common Yellowthroat (*Jefferson)

Western Tanager (Pueblo)

Note, for locations listed below you are not familiar with, go to the Colorado Field Ornithologists' (CFO) website. Select the "Birding Resources" header and toggle down to "County Birding", and indicate county of interest. Site info is then available. https://coloradocountybirding.org/County/BySite.aspx.

ADAMS COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 a Mew Gull was reported at Mann-Nyholt Lake in Henderson, first seen by Susan Rosine on Feb 20.

BOULDER COUNTY: Mixed locks of Rosy-Finches (primarily Brown-capped Rosy-Finches and Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, with fewer Black Rosy-Finches) have been seen fairly regularly at 2 different feeders in Ward. See Ted Floyd report for Feb 29. The following map with the exact locations are from a COBirds post by Todd Deininger dated Feb. 25: https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1SJDqKgXs7pMs-DGfOShKT7CYC6I&hl=en_US

DELTA COUNTY:

---On Feb 27 a Harris's Sparrow was reported s of Hotchkiss on the e side of 34.00 Rd (38.785105, -107.724793) just s of the electric station by Dick Filby

DENVER COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 two Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported at Denver City Park/Duck Lake by Anita Denboske.

---On Feb 29 a black BRANT was reported from Central Park. This bird was first reported from nearby Bluff Lake Nature Center by Kathryn Kay on Feb 27.

EAGLE COUNTY:

—On Feb 26 a Tundra Swan was reported at Dostero Ponds by JoAnn Potter Riggle.

—On Feb 26 two Rusty Blackbirds were reported at Daggett Lane. First reported on Feb 12 by JoAnn Potter Riggle.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On Feb 27 five Rusty Blackbirds were reported from Carbondale Nature Park by John Anderson.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Bear Creek Lake Park by Amanda Spears.

—On Feb 29 a continuing Winter Wren was reported at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt - West Lake.

—On Feb 29 the continuing wintering Common Yellowthroat on Clear Creek Trail (Golden to I-70) was reported by Michael Lester.

—On Feb 26 the wintering PACIFIC WREN was reported at BearCreek LakePark in Lakewood. From the Whitetail Deer parking area walking to the creek, it has often been reported as close as 50-100 ft downstream. This 1^st JeffCo eBird record first reported on Dec 22 by Chris Wood. Note, this location requires a fee via Daily or AnnualPass (not covered by State Park Pass).

LARIMER COUNTY:

—On Feb 18 a GYRFALCON was seen on the big poles west of Taft on W Trilby Rd, near the Larimer County Landfill in Fort Collins. There is a new stake-out eBird hotspot near its favorite perch. This winter's first report was on Nov 3 by Robert Beauchamp. Please post updates to COBirds. Although not seen for over a week, including searches mid-morning on Feb 26, this bird is probably still around and, thus, retained on the RBA.

---On Feb 29 a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (1st winter) was at WarrenLake in Fort Collins.

---On Feb 29 a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (1^st winter basic) was seen at Warren Lake, first reported by Nick Komar.

A word of caution: other unusual big, white-headed gulls, including hybrids, are at Warren Lake in Fort Collins eating winter-killed fish, best viewed from Breakwater Drive. The core group of this gull set has been present for weeks at various locations in the Fort Collins area including Horsetooth Reservoir, Boyd Lake State Park and the Larimer County Landfill. These gulls move around and updates are appreciated.

LOGAN COUNTY:

---On Feb 29 two Trumpeter Swans were reported at Red Lion SWA by Luke Pheneger.

MESA COUNTY:

---On Feb 26 three Trumpeter Swans were reported on the Colorado River at Debeque (39.1962,-108.2673) by Carol Ortenzio.

---On Feb 29 nine Trumpeter Swans were reported at Highline Lake SP by Ron Lambeth.

---On Feb 29 two Tundra Swans were reported at Highline Lake SP by Ron Lambeth.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

—On Feb 29 a Pacific Loon was reported at Pueblo Reservoir. This bird and a Red-throated Loon were reported much earlier this winter by Brandon Percival. The Red-throated Loon is also probably still around and retained on the RBA.

—On Feb 29 the Great Black-backed Gull known as "Murray" was reported at Pueblo Reservoir. Murray has spent 20-plus years as a winter resident at Lake Pueblo SP.

—On Feb 27 two wintering Dunlins continue at Pueblo West Gravel Pit. These birds have also been seen at Pueblo Reservoir-South Marina.

---On Feb 22 the amazing wintering Western Tanager continues in Russian-olives along the Arkansas R e of Pueblo Res Dam at Pueblo West Gravel Pit area. Probably still around, retained on RBA.

---On Feb 27 a continuing second-cycle Mew Gull was at Pueblo West Gravel Pit, first reported by CU Bird Club. Along the river nearby were four White-throated Sparrows, also by CU Bird Club.

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

—Monte Vista Refuge currently is hosting thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

WELD COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 a SNOW BUNTING was reported on Weld CR 134 e of CR 111 by Sue Riffe.

---On Feb 23 a flock of 14 Sharp-tailed Grouse by Sue Riffe n of CR134 just e of CR111.

_________________

Upcoming Denver Field Ornithologists field trips (details at dfobirds.org)

Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space (Douglas County)

Saturday, February 29

7:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Chris Gilbert (Email: chrisgee9 AT gmail.com; 804-214-1508)

Littleton (Arapahoe County)

Monday, March 2

6:30 AM - 12:00 PM

David Suddjian (Email: dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659)

Bear CreekLakePark (Jefferson County)

Saturday, March 7

7 AM – 2 PM

Mark Amershek (Email: mamershek AT msn.com; 303-329-8646)

Cherry CreekStatePark Wetlands Loop (Arapahoe County)

Sunday, March 8

9 AM – 1 PM

Patrick O'Driscoll (Email: patodrisk AT gmail.com; 303-885-6955)

Good birding,

Dave Leatherman, Fort Collins

daleatherman AT msn.com

970(690-2257) cell

[cobirds] Eastern CO and western NE CU Birding club trip report

Hi All,

The CU Birding Club took a trip out to the eastern plains to see what we could find, and it turned out to be a pretty fantastic day. We started out the morning with lekking (!!) Greater Prairie-chickens. 12 birds were observed at the corner of county road Q and 50 in Washington County. The birds were in full display, and the only reason we spotted them was because of the males jumping up and down displaying! After our prairie chicken success, we went to Prewitt Reservoir, intent on finding gulls. Lesser Black-backed and Thayer's Gull were the larus highlights, but the 110 Bald Eagles and the 45 American White Pelicans were also awesome to see. A flock of at least 30 Greater White-fronted Geese were in the corn fields near the entrance. From there we trekked to Tammarack ranch, in search of owls and eastern species. We encountered 4 Great Horned Owls, but no eared owls (yet). In terms of passerines, the 18 Northern Cardinals and the single Black-capped Chickadee were pretty cool. After walking every hedgerow there, we had still not found a long eared owl, so we decided to call it and begin the drive to Lake Ogallala. We stopped along the way at Jumbo Res, and actually saw the Tundra Swans a little before, in Red Lion. At Jumbo Res, we found many more Greater White-fronted Geese. Luke then mentioned the Juniper row at Jumbo Res, and how he had a Long-eared Owl there in December, so we decided to walk it. We walked the entire thing, and finally flushed a Long-eared in the last tree. Very clutch bird. From there, we went to lake Ogallala, where the highlights were a beautiful Harlan's Hawk, more Thayer's Gulls, and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls. From there, we turned around and headed back to Tammarack ranch to see if we could find the previously reported Short-eared Owls. On the way in to Tammarack, we had a singing Eastern Screech-owl and a singing Northern Cardinal. It sounded like an evening chorus in Missouri. We stopped at the area 11 parking spot, and settled in to wait for sunset. As I was waiting for the owls to appear, I noticed a very large bird flapping about in the far back of the field. Hoping for owls, I spun my scope onto it and focused it. But, I did not see an Owl of any kind. It was a hawk, with a bright white supercilium, a long tail, with wavy bars across it, and white dapples on the back. I tried to talk myself out of the bird being a Goshawk, but that was the only thing it could have been. Unfortunately, the other members of the club had spread out, and none answered their phones when I called them. Some other birders who were looking saw the bird through binoculars, and their comments ranged from, "Oh my god its huge" to, "Wow thats massive". The bird then took flight, but the fading light made it almost impossible for me to get anymore details on it. The bird flew off very fast and I was unable to keep the scope on it as it disappeared into a different hedgerow. At that moment, I head a muffled yell from Luke, and then turned my attention to getting to him to see what he had. Turns out he had 2 Short-eared Owls, rounding out our day to a clean 4 owl day. After that, we were all extremely tired, and therefore decided to head home. It was a fantastic day of birding on the plains, with state birds for everyone in the car.

Will Anderson

Boulder

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[cobirds] Boulder County: Ward today, Waneka tomorrow

Hey, all.

1. The "Lower Ward," Boulder County, feeding station was perhaps the best I've ever seen it, this cloudy Sat. morning, Leap Day, Feb. 29. Hepburn's, black, brown-capped, and gray-crowned rosy-finches; type 2 red crossbills; THE MOTHER OF ALL PINE GROSBEAK FLOCKS; evening grosbeaks; Cassiar, Ridgway's, white-winged, slate-colored, Oregon, gray-headed, and pink-sided juncos; and even a golden eagle and an early prairie falcon. Keep in mind, please, that you're looking at birds on people's private property and that you're birding along a surprisingly busy and treacherously icy road. A little courtesy and common sense go a long way; ignorance and stupidity, unfortunately, go even further (in the opposite direction). eBird checklist here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S65285944. Video at the the Birding magazine Twitter site: https://twitter.com/BirdingMagazine.

2. Free bird walk tomorrow afternoon, Sun., Mar. 1, at Waneka Lake and Greenlee Preserve, Lafayette, eastern Boulder County. We'll convene at the Greenlee Preserve observation deck at 1pm. Weather should be nice. Expect to see cinnamon teal, American bushtit, Homey and Comey, and perhaps a bald eagle. Cacophonous red-winged blackbirds guaranteed. All are welcome; no previous experience necessary; children and families welcome. Bring your phones; bring binocs & cameras if you have 'em. See you tomorrow!

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County

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[cobirds] Something else about Birding magazine

Hey, all.

I'm following up on Steve Stachowiak's kind offer of that long run of print copies of Birding magazine. (I gave at the office, so...)

The Feb. 2020 issue of Birding has a preponderance of content from various of Colorado's great birders.

Jack Bushong, discoverer of the Summit County Purple Sandpiper (and other things), has a major article on the field identification of the Mexican Duck; and Steve Mlodinow, one of the continent's ID & S&D experts, complement's Jack's article with a supremely useful photo salon. The Mexican Duck is already a valid eBird/Clements species, and a little birdie tells me that the AOS is re-evaluating the matter even as we speak.

A little less ponderous than Mexican Duck ID is an absolutely delightful account, also in the Feb. 2020 issue, by Mel Goff of Colorado Springs. The subject matter is Mel's quest (with a little help from Jeanne...) to see all 50 U. S. state birds--each in the "correct" state. Don't laugh, it's not as easy as you might think--especially if you want to credibly tick Delaware's and Rhode Island's state birds... (And my natal state of Pennsylvania presented the biggest state-bird challenge to Mel and Jeanne; what's up with that?)

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County

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[cobirds] Birding Magazine

Cobirders,

I have an almost complete set of Birding Magazine from August 1990 thru July 2012 (missing only December 1995 - assuming that date was published) that I am giving away. Many of these were edited by Colorado's own Ted Floyd and have articles relating to Colorado's species. These are from back in the day before the current ABA president turned the organization into Audubon Lite Tours.

I also have June 2015 - July 2017 to throw in as well. Please contact me directly offline if you are interested in the magazines.

Good Birding,

Steve Stachowiak

Highlands Ranch, CO

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RE: [cobirds] Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins (Larimer) on Feb 28, 2020

Wednesday evening we watched a raven flying near the top of the CSU stadium with a stick in its beak.

-Pat

Pat Hayward

PO Box 41

Masonville CO 80541

970-231-5250

From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 3:26 PM
To: COBIRDS
Subject: [cobirds] Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins (Larimer) on Feb 28, 2020

The pair of Red Crossbills seen for the last 3 days is definitely nesting in the northeast corner of Section 1. Section 1 is the southwestermost section of the cemetery. There is a major cemetery road intersection at the ne corner of Section 1 which also touches the corners of I (letter between H and J, as in "interesting", "ittybitty" and "insect"), H, G, and 8. Their tree is a big CO blue spruce. Walking w from the middle of the intersection on the road that divides Section 1 and I, this tree is the second one on the left (south). Today I had the thrill of watching both the male and the female fly from the spruce nest tree a short distance to a Norway Maple on the ne side of the aforementioned intersection and tear light, fluffy materials from an old robin's nest, take it to the nest, return to the maple, then land at my feet to drink from a muddy puddle! Quite a privilege. After their drink, the birds flew off to the east. Perhaps they just added the final touches to the cup, drank a celebration and went off to do what they do while she grows eggs.

I recorded the male singing a few times on my cell phone but now don't know what to do with the files (they exceed 100MB and I can't even mail them to my email). I would like to edit them down and send to Cornell's Matt Young for ID of which Type they are but am at a loss as to how. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Other interesting birds seen today included a group of 6 Common Ravens cavorting together overhead, a lone Bushtit, increasing numbers of Pine Siskins, and a female Great Horned Owl on the traditional nest. I searched pretty hard for either of the two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers without any luck. The adult male might still be around but I took the liberty of removing both from the RBA just now since it has been a week since any reports. Grandview's wintering sapsuckers traditionally leave in March but late February now seems to be the new early March. If anybody sees a YbSapsucker at Grandview, please let me know.

Regarding the ravens, I strongly suspect they bred last year on or near the CSU campus, which I don't think has happened before. The group today might be part of the new contingent of low-elevation birds that lingers in town or out on the Pawnee beyond the winter to breed.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

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[cobirds] Thank-you Liz Bokram / Rusty Blackbirds Garfield FRIDAY Feb 28

Hi all

Huge thanks are due to Liz Bokram for years of work for the Roaring Fork Audubon, a volunteer position that she just retired from! THANKS LIZ

Thanks are also due because after her surprise thank-you lunch and presentation in Carbondale yesterday, most of us were able to go to Carbondale Nature Park and see the five RUSTY BLACKBIRDS that were rediscovered on Thursday 27^th by John Anderson (thks John), the birds having not been seen since December. PLUS: They were a LIFE BIRD for Liz yesterday - HURRAH. Seems that they are now commuting from the trees by the 'warm' stream at the Northeast corner of the park, into ranchland further NE, towards the Roaring Fork. In December they were favouring the stream on the NW side of the park.

In town, the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER continues, still frequenting the tree at the west end of Centennial Park on Friday also. BUT.. Still no further sign of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker photographed in that tree around Christmas

Also, still no further sign of the 8 Cackling Geese again around Carbondale – seems they may have been a one-day wonder on 3^rd Feb, brought in by the snowstorm that day

Good birding all, and on behalf of Roaring Fork Audubon, hearty thanks again to LIZ.

Best regards

Dick Filby

Carbondale, Garfield County

[cobirds] Rare Snow Buntings in Colorado?

Maybe it's a small thing, but I am sort of fascinated by Snow Buntings receiving the "very rare" designation on the Rare Birds Alert. As someone who desperately (and unsuccessfully) sorts through flocks of Horned Larks and longspurs this time of year looking for Snow Buntings, I would very excited to find one. However, they seem to be within their documented winter range in both counties where they've been reported recently (Jefferson and Weld). Is it the fact that this is a species that wanders over large swaths of open uninhabited land that makes them difficult to find and, as such, earns the very rare moniker? Or am I misinterpreting their range map and they are indeed notably rare?

Again, a small thing. But what else am I going to think about about while waiting for spring?

Doug Eddy

Laramie, WY

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[cobirds] Signs of Spring continued

Thanks, Mary Kay, for your signs of spring. On Wednesday at our home east of Boulder 2 meadowlarks were perched together, one singing, and magpies were breaking twigs off our black locus and carrying them into the blue spruce. Also, two cottontails sit a few feet apart, staring fixedly at each other for long minutes; then one, then the other jump straight up into the air; then repeat.
Carol Cushman, Arapahoe Road, Boulder

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re: *** SPAM 10: [cobirds] Signs of Spring

Migrating robins arriving to search for worms under wet thawed ground March 3-10

Karl Stecher

Aurora

From: "Mary Kay Waddington" <waddingtonmk@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 29, 2020 4:00 AM
To: "Colorado Birds" <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: *** SPAM 10: [cobirds] Signs of Spring

February usually feels cold and dark and depressing to me, definitely the middle of Winter. So it is a delight every time there is a hint in this month of the Spring to come. First there were a couple reports of American White Pelicans. (Of course someone spoiled it slightly by saying they'd been at Barr all winter.) Then Great Horned Owls have been seen on nests, and a Bald Eagle already has an egg! And the early Bluebirds have been reported here and there. And there have been some house finches with nesting materials in their beaks. But to me, the first sign of Spring is when the woodpeckers start drumming, which they did last week. As well as lots of hollow trees around, there are numerous pipes on the house that resonate quite well. And a couple days ago there were 2 male Hairy Woodpeckers, next to each other on a big tree, vying for supremacy by stretching their necks skyward as far as they could. I'd never seen this before and it was quite exciting. They looked for all the world like American Bitterns in the reeds! And the Chickadees have started using their "Hey Sweetie" call instead of just their Chick-a-dee-dee-dee or their scolding of the local Screech Owl. So does anyone else have favorite Avian signs of Spring?

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[cobirds] COLORADO RARE BIRD ALERT for Saturday, February 29, 2020

Date: Saturday, February 29, 2020

Email: RBA AT Cobirds.org

Compiler: Dave Leatherman, daleatherman@msn.com

Phone: (970) 690-2257 (cell)

______________________________________

Birders have been helpful by reporting updates to COBIRDS. Thanks!

CAPITAL LETTERS denote very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee at the CFO website.

(*) indicates new information on a species.

For more information on birds seen today, go to cobirds.org and scroll to the bottom for "Recent eBird Sightings."

_____________________________________

Rare, out-of-place and out-of-season species include:

Swan (Multiple counties reporting, with some listed below. For other locations please check COBIRDS and eBird)

BRANT (*Denver)

Trumpeter Swan (Mesa)

Tundra Swan (Eagle, Rio Grande)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Denver)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)

Dunlin (Pueblo)

Red-necked Phalarope (Boulder)

Mew Gull (Adams, Pueblo)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larimer)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (*Larimer, Pueblo)

Red-throated Loon (Pueblo)

Pacific Loon (Pueblo)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Larimer)

GYRFALCON (Larimer)

PACIFIC WREN (Jefferson)

Winter Wren (Jefferson)

SNOW BUNTING (Weld)

Rosy-Finches (Boulder)

White-throated Sparrow (Pueblo)

Harris's Sparrow (Delta)

Rusty Blackbird (Eagle, Garfield)

Common Yellowthroat (Jefferson)

Western Tanager (Pueblo)

ADAMS COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 a Mew Gull was reported at Mann-Nyholt Lake in Henderson, first seen by Susan Rosine on Feb 20.

BOULDER COUNTY: Mixed locks of Rosy-Finches (primarily Brown-capped Rosy-Finches and Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, with fewer Black Rosy-Finches) have been seen fairly regularly at 2 different feeders in Ward. The following map with the exact locations are from a COBirds post by Todd Deininger dated Feb. 25: https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1SJDqKgXs7pMs-DGfOShKT7CYC6I&hl=en_US

DELTA COUNTY:

---On Feb 27 a Harris's Sparrow was reported s of Hotchkiss on the e side of 34.00 Rd (38.785105, -107.724793) just s of the electric station by Dick Filby

DENVER COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 two Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported at Denver City Park/Duck Lake by Anita Denboske.

---On Feb 27 a BRANT was reported from Bluff Lake Nature Center by Kathryn Kay. A BRANT reported from the east end of nearby Central Park by Jason Bidgood Feb 27 & 28 and Gwen Moore on the 28^th is probably the same individual.

EAGLE COUNTY:

—On Feb 26 a Tundra Swan was reported at Dostero Ponds by JoAnn Potter Riggle.

—On Feb 26 two Rusty Blackbirds were reported at Daggett Lane. First reported on Feb 12 by JoAnn Potter Riggle.

GARFIELD COUNTY:

---On Feb 27 five Rusty Blackbirds were reported from Carbondale Nature Park by John Anderson.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Bear Creek Lake Park by Amanda Spears.

—On Feb 26 a Winter Wren was reported at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt - West Lake by Stephen Johnson

—On Feb 22 the wintering Common Yellowthroat on Clear Creek Trail (Golden to I-70) was reported as continuing. Probably still around, retained on RBA.

LARIMER COUNTY:

---On Feb 28 a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (1st winter) was at Warren Lake in Fort Collins.

---On Feb 27 a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (1^st winter basic) was seen at Warren Lake, first reported by Nick Komar.

A word of caution: other unusual big, white-headed gulls, including hybrids, were reported on Feb 27 eating winter-killed fish at Warren Lake in Fort Collins, best viewed from Breakwater Drive. The core group of this gull set has been present for weeks at various locations in the Fort Collins area including Horsetooth Reservoir, Boyd Lake State Park and the Larimer County Landfill. These gulls move around and updates are appreciated..

MESA COUNTY:

---On Feb 26 three Trumpeter Swans were reported on the Colorado River at Debeque (39.1962,-108.2673) by Carol Ortenzio.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

—On Feb 22 a Red-throated and a Pacific Loon were reported at Pueblo Reservoir by Brandon Percival. These birds first reported earlier this winter. Probably still around, retained on the RBA.

—On Feb 26 the Great Black-backed Gull known as "Murray" was reported at Pueblo Reservoir. Murray has spent 20-plus years as a winter resident at Lake Pueblo SP.

—On Feb 27 two wintering Dunlins continue at Pueblo West Gravel Pit. These birds have also been seen at Pueblo Reservoir-South Marina.

---On Feb 22 the amazing wintering Western Tanager continues in Russian-olives along the Arkansas R e of Pueblo Res Dam at Pueblo West Gravel Pit area. Probably still around, retained on RBA.

---On Feb 27 a continuing second-cycle Mew Gull was at Pueblo West Gravel Pit, first reported by CU Bird Club. Along the river nearby were four White-throated Sparrows, also by CU Bird Club.

[Various trails along the Ark R in Pueblo between the Nature Center, Valco Ponds and the recreation areas e of the Pueblo Res Dam have a number of other bird species that are certainly noteworthy but not quite RBA or blimp-worthy. See COBIRDS or eBird alerts].

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

—Monte Vista Refuge currently is hosting thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

WELD COUNTY:

—On Feb 23 a SNOW BUNTING was reported on Weld CR 134 e of CR 111 by Sue Riffe.

---On Feb 23 a flock of 14 Sharp-tailed Grouse by Sue Riffe n of CR134 just e of CR111.

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Upcoming Denver Field Ornithologists field trips (details at dfobirds.org)

Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space (Douglas County)

Saturday, February 29

7:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Chris Gilbert (Email: chrisgee9 AT gmail.com; 804-214-1508)

Littleton (Arapahoe County)

Monday, March 2

6:30 AM - 12:00 PM

David Suddjian (Email: dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659)

Bear CreekLake Park (Jefferson County)

Saturday, March 7

7 AM – 2 PM

Mark Amershek (Email: mamershek AT msn.com; 303-329-8646)

Cherry CreekState Park Wetlands Loop (Arapahoe County)

Sunday, March 8

9 AM – 1 PM

Patrick O'Driscoll (Email: patodrisk AT gmail.com; 303-885-6955)

Good birding,

Dave Leatherman, Fort Collins

daleatherman AT msn.com

970(690-2257) cell

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