cobirds colorado rare bird

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Re: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher

Hi Dave,

We saw it eating Virginia Creeper berries on Monday. I don't think anyone got pictures though.

Adrian Lakin,

Mead,CO

On Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:07 PM DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman@msn.com> wrote:

A big thanks to Dan Maynard for finding and reporting this CO 1^st State Record bird!

Congrats to Joey Kellner for his 500^th CO species and everybody else (including Duane Nelson with ??? species) who has had the fortune to visit Wray and see it.

What is this bird eating? BOW Cornell account for Piratic Flycatcher says, “insects and fruit, with adults being entirely fruit-eaters (frugivorous)”. The two obvious fruits available at Stalker Lake SWA are those of Russian-olive and Virginia Creeper. The bird seems to sit up in bare Russian-olive branches a lot. It apparently doesn’t do so to flycatch but rather to just “chill” or digest. After bouts in bare branches, it goes down into the olives, presumably to feed. Olives are abundant, but is that what it is eating? Virginia creeper vines at this site often climb up into the olives, and they, too, are full of purple fruits. If anyone gets a photo of the bird with something in its beak, I’d love to see it. Here are photos taken in the last few days at the Piratic Flycatcher site along the north side of Stalker Lake (Russian-olive on left, Virginia Creeper on right).

Currently, there is a SECOND Piratic Flycatcher in Phoenix, AZ that my friend Dr. David Steingraeber says has been wonderfully documented in eBird (Cristina Avila) eating the fruits of Chinese Pistache Tree (Pistachia chinensis). Photo below showing fruits from Stanford University.

And, Dave Steingraeber also informs me, there’s a THIRD Piratic Flycatcher on a recent checklist at Sawgrass Lake Park (near St. Petersburg FL) by a former prominent Colorado birder, Bill Kaempfer. No mention of what it might be eating.

Every CO birder ought to give Russian-olives a taste test. The pulp birds are after is either bland or mildly sweet, like weak watermelon. Don’t eat the pit, obviously.

Again, nice job Dan Maynard.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

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[cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher

A big thanks to Dan Maynard for finding and reporting this CO 1^st State Record bird!

Congrats to Joey Kellner for his 500^th CO species and everybody else (including Duane Nelson with ??? species) who has had the fortune to visit Wray and see it.

What is this bird eating? BOW Cornell account for Piratic Flycatcher says, “insects and fruit, with adults being entirely fruit-eaters (frugivorous)”. The two obvious fruits available at Stalker Lake SWA are those of Russian-olive and Virginia Creeper. The bird seems to sit up in bare Russian-olive branches a lot. It apparently doesn’t do so to flycatch but rather to just “chill” or digest. After bouts in bare branches, it goes down into the olives, presumably to feed. Olives are abundant, but is that what it is eating? Virginia creeper vines at this site often climb up into the olives, and they, too, are full of purple fruits. If anyone gets a photo of the bird with something in its beak, I’d love to see it. Here are photos taken in the last few days at the Piratic Flycatcher site along the north side of Stalker Lake (Russian-olive on left, Virginia Creeper on right).

Currently, there is a SECOND Piratic Flycatcher in Phoenix, AZ that my friend Dr. David Steingraeber says has been wonderfully documented in eBird (Cristina Avila) eating the fruits of Chinese Pistache Tree (Pistachia chinensis). Photo below showing fruits from Stanford University.

And, Dave Steingraeber also informs me, there’s a THIRD Piratic Flycatcher on a recent checklist at Sawgrass Lake Park (near St. Petersburg FL) by a former prominent Colorado birder, Bill Kaempfer. No mention of what it might be eating.

Every CO birder ought to give Russian-olives a taste test. The pulp birds are after is either bland or mildly sweet, like weak watermelon. Don’t eat the pit, obviously.

Again, nice job Dan Maynard.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

Re: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

On the theme of first Colorado records, BIRD BOMBS: First State Record! from Dec 2022 made an attempt, with expert input, to consider which species would be found for the next new state record. You can view it here: First State Record!

Ten new species were predicted (including Piratic Flycatcher) to be the next most likely choices, although in reality the wide pool of possible species makes such predictions very challenging to get correct. Also included is discussion on past state additions and why and where vagrants come from. All 47 episodes of BIRD BOMBS are available here.

David Suddjian

Littleton CO

On Wed, Sep 23, 2026 at 7:27 AM Nathan Pieplow <npieplow@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

An article in today's Denver Post celebrates the Yuma County Piratic Flycatcher found by Dan Maynard as the 523rd species ever to be seen in Colorado, and Joey Kellner's 500th state bird.

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/23/rare-tropical-bird-colorado-piratic-flycatcher/

Huge congratulations to Joey on this enormous milestone. As far as I can tell from a quick stroll around eBird, a single person seeing 500 species has only been accomplished in 5 other states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, although it's possible that someone's done it in Oregon as well, as the top public eBird list there is 495.

If you needed more evidence that we live in one of the finest US states for birding, there it is.

(Note: it's possible Duane Nelson has also seen 500 species in Colorado, but Duane doesn't officially keep track of his number, according to what he told me when I ran into him at the Phainopepla in Baca County last month 🙂).

Nathan Pieplow

Boulder

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Re: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

That's all right, Doug -- Google Maps calls it that, too.

Good navigating

Patrick O'Driscoll

Denver

On Wed, Sep 23, 2026 at 12:09 PM Doug Ward <dougward@frontier.com> wrote:

Sorry for any confusion, but had a “Trumpian” moment in my previous email in renaming Stalker Lake to “Stocker Lake”. Hope my fat fingers and spell check didn’t lead anyone astray.

Cheers,

Doug

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Doug Ward
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 8:43 AM
To: 'cobirds' <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

Nathan, thanks for passing this fun article along, and a big congratulations to Joey (and probably Duane too) for hitting an unfathomable milestone! Also want to thank Daniel (Maynard) for having the awareness that this was a crazy unusual bird and getting the word out so others could head to Wray and experience the bird for themselves. I was one of the lucky ones yesterday (Tues., 22 Sept.’26) around 2pm in the Russian olives on the far northwest part of Stocker Lake SWA (near the train tracks), so there may still be a good chance if you’d like to chase for yourself.

Again, congrats Joey and thank you Daniel on this amazing find!

Good Birding,

Doug

Currently Denver

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Nathan Pieplow
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 6:28 AM
To: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

Hi all,

An article in today's Denver Post celebrates the Yuma County Piratic Flycatcher found by Dan Maynard as the 523rd species ever to be seen in Colorado, and Joey Kellner's 500th state bird.

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/23/rare-tropical-bird-colorado-piratic-flycatcher/

Huge congratulations to Joey on this enormous milestone. As far as I can tell from a quick stroll around eBird, a single person seeing 500 species has only been accomplished in 5 other states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, although it's possible that someone's done it in Oregon as well, as the top public eBird list there is 495.

If you needed more evidence that we live in one of the finest US states for birding, there it is.

(Note: it's possible Duane Nelson has also seen 500 species in Colorado, but Duane doesn't officially keep track of his number, according to what he told me when I ran into him at the Phainopepla in Baca County last month 🙂).

Nathan Pieplow

Boulder

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RE: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

Sorry for any confusion, but had a “Trumpian” moment in my previous email in renaming Stalker Lake to “Stocker Lake”. Hope my fat fingers and spell check didn’t lead anyone astray.

Cheers,

Doug

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Doug Ward
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 8:43 AM
To: 'cobirds' <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

Nathan, thanks for passing this fun article along, and a big congratulations to Joey (and probably Duane too) for hitting an unfathomable milestone! Also want to thank Daniel (Maynard) for having the awareness that this was a crazy unusual bird and getting the word out so others could head to Wray and experience the bird for themselves. I was one of the lucky ones yesterday (Tues., 22 Sept.’26) around 2pm in the Russian olives on the far northwest part of Stocker Lake SWA (near the train tracks), so there may still be a good chance if you’d like to chase for yourself.

Again, congrats Joey and thank you Daniel on this amazing find!

Good Birding,

Doug

Currently Denver

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Nathan Pieplow
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 6:28 AM
To: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

Hi all,

An article in today's Denver Post celebrates the Yuma County Piratic Flycatcher found by Dan Maynard as the 523rd species ever to be seen in Colorado, and Joey Kellner's 500th state bird.

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/23/rare-tropical-bird-colorado-piratic-flycatcher/

Huge congratulations to Joey on this enormous milestone. As far as I can tell from a quick stroll around eBird, a single person seeing 500 species has only been accomplished in 5 other states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, although it's possible that someone's done it in Oregon as well, as the top public eBird list there is 495.

If you needed more evidence that we live in one of the finest US states for birding, there it is.

(Note: it's possible Duane Nelson has also seen 500 species in Colorado, but Duane doesn't officially keep track of his number, according to what he told me when I ran into him at the Phainopepla in Baca County last month 🙂).

Nathan Pieplow

Boulder

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RE: [cobirds] Piratic Flycatcher: Joey Kellner's 500th species in Colorado

Again, congrats Joey and thank you Daniel on this amazing find!

Good Birding,

Doug

Currently Denver

Hi all,

An article in today's Denver Post celebrates the Yuma County Piratic Flycatcher found by Dan Maynard as the 523rd species ever to be seen in Colorado, and Joey Kellner's 500th state bird.

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/23/rare-tropical-bird-colorado-piratic-flycatcher/

If you needed more evidence that we live in one of the finest US states for birding, there it is.

Nathan Pieplow

Boulder

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[cobirds] Re: The Buena Vista Shuffle

That's "Corvid Rich" as in family Corvidae. My data collection is not bad, just my typing and spelling. Thanks, Elena for catching that.

John T

One more note: Residents of Buena Vista I conversed with are saying there is an uptick in black bear encounters in and around town. Be "bear aware".

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 1:53:14 PM UTC-6 John Tumasonis wrote:

Clark's Nutcracker getting a drink at Buena Vista River Park on the Arkansas River.

All:
For the 8th, 9th, and 10th of September. Late post. This is for the Buena Vista Colorado area.

For those birders familiar with Buena Vista, you know that its "Covid Rich". And two noteworthy things about it are that hundreds of mule deer pile into town in the winter, as well as pinyon jays that attack bird feeders with vigor.

Clark's Nutcracker - over 60, most concentrated at the Buena Vista River Park trail(s) - easy to observe and photograph. This part of the Arkansas River must be like paradise for Nutcrackers, as one side is open pinyon forest sloping down the river, which is thick with narrow-leaf cottonwoods, willow, oak, rabbitbrush, three leaf sumac, and other deciduous shrubs. Their numbers seem to be increasing along the river each year.

Pinyon Jay - over 100 seen at the Collegiate Peaks Overlook off of route 285 (state parks pass required). This is one of best places in Colorado to watch for Pinyon Jays.

Scrub Jay - about 6 at the River Park Trail and a couple more in town.

Stellar's Jay - about 30 along the River Park Trail, and more up the Cotton Pass Road.

Gray Jay - 2 - near Little Ptarmigan Lake \ Ptarmigan Lake Trail. A grueling hike that I would not recommend unless you are in good shape.

Black Billed Magpie - scant, only 2 heard in town.

Common Raven - 2 at Cottonwood Pass (12,126 feet).

American Crow - about 40 in and around town.

Other birds and wildlife.

Cottonwood Pass = CP

Cottonwood Pass Road = CR

Cottonwood Hot Springs = CS

Buena Vista River Trail - BVT

Buena Vista (town proper) - BV

Ptarmigan Lake(s) Trail - PL

Continental Divide Trail - CD

Mountain Chickadee - 100 + CR, PL

Red Breasted Nuthatch - 15 CR, CS, PL

Pygmy Nuthatch - 12 - BV, BVT

White Breasted Nuthatch - 2 - BV

Black Capped Chickadee - 6 - BVT

Gray Headed Junco - hundreds, even above Cottonwood Pass along the Continental Divide Trail. CD, CP, CR, BVT, BV, PL

House Wren - only 1 seen at BVT

Chipping Sparrow - about 50 including migratory groups above 12,000 feet foraging in the tundra. CD, BV, BVT, PL, CP

Ruby Crowned Kinglet - 12 - along PL

Broad Tailed Hummingbird - 2 at CS and 2 in BV

Wilson's Warbler - only a couple - PL and BVT

Audubon's Warbler - 11 - BV, BVT, CR

MacGillivray's Warbler - 1 at CL

White Crowned Sparrow - 12 - at CD and CP

House Sparrow - few in numbers, only 6 - BVT

Bushtit - 20 - BV, BVT

Belted Kingfisher - 1 - flying along CR

Green Tailed Towhee - 6 - at CL and BVT - foraging

Townsend's Solitaire - 6 - BVT - eating juniper berries

American Robin - 60 + most in higher mixed evergreen forests. BVT, PL, CP, CR

Mallard - 40 in ponds and lakes, most at CL

Common Grackle - 200 - two large flocks at BV

Eurasian Collared Dove - only 4 in BV

Mountain Bluebird - 2 along CD above 12,000 feet foraging

Plumbeous Vireo - 1 - at BVT in a ponderosa pine

American Pipit - 20+ foraging groups along CD in the tundra

Red Crossbill - 2 - the only ones seen - at BVT flyover \ calling

Northern Flicker - 6 - BVT, PL, CR

Downy Woodpecker - 2 - CR and BV

Pika - 4 - PL trail

Pine Squirrel - hundreds gathering Doug fir cones and spruce cones in mixed conifer forests up to tree line.

Mule Deer - 25 - BV, CR - early morning was the worst, as they wandered right out onto roads around corners while driving.

Chipmunk spp: 100+ - in mixed conifer habitats and surprisingly lots of them foraging above 12,000 along the CDT.

Conspicuously absent: starlings, house finches, and raptors of any kind.

The two great things near and in Buena Vista are the numerous hot springs, and the cool plunge pools along the Arkansas River Trail - which I took advantage of. Cottonwood Hot Springs now has a cold plunge right into cold numbing Cottonwood Creek. Great after a hot day of hiking and birding. Wim Hof eat your heart out.

Happy fall,

John T (Tumasonis)

"I'm not a real birder. I only pretend to be one on CoBirds."

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