[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, Monday, November 26, 2012

Compiler:     Joyce Takamine

Date:           November 26, 2012

email:          rba AT cfobirds.org

phone:         303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, November 26, 2012, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.  If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star key (*) on your phone at any time.  Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting.  It would be helpful if you would spell your last name.

Highlight species include: (* denotes that there is new information on this species in this report)

Cackling Goose (*Weld)

Tundra Swan (*Boulder)

Surf Scoter (Weld)

White-winged Scoter (*Denver)

Long-tailed Duck (El Paso)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams, Pueblo)

Red-throated Loon (Douglas)

Pacific Loon (Huerfano)

Thayer's Gull (*Pueblo)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Pueblo)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (*Pueblo)

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (*Pueblo)

Chihuahuan Raven (Boulder)

Winter Wren (Pueblo)

Yellow-throated Warbler (*Pueblo)

Pine Warbler (*Logan, *Pueblo)

Fox Sparrow (Pueblo)

Swamp Sparrow (Boulder, *Jefferson, Pueblo)

White-throated Sparrow (Huerfano, Jefferson, *Morgan)

Harris's Sparrow (Huerfano, *Morgan, Pueblo)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (Weld)

Northern Cardinal (*Boulder)

Rusty Blackbird (Douglas)

BRAMBLING (Jefferson)

Common Redpoll (*Boulder, Jefferson, *Logan, Weld)

Adams County:

--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Gilbert on the S Platte River near 88th and Colorado by the water tank on November 21.

Boulder County:

--At Baseline Reservoir in Boulder on November 17, the BBC field trip led by John Vanderpoel had 5 Tundra Swans (2ad, 3 juv).  On November 21, Rynes reported that the 5 Tundra Swans were in the SW corner of Baseline Reservoir in the morning.  On November 22, Kaempfer reported that the Tundra Swans were at Sombrero Marsh in Boulder.  On November 23, Rynes reported the Tundras Swans at Sombrero Marsh.  On November 24, Steve Frye's bird walk reported the Tundra Swans back at Baseline Reservoir.  On November 26, Tumasonis reported 8 Tundra Swans at Baseline.

--A Northern Cardinal was found by Jinx Cooper in Hawthorne Gulch in Boulder on November 19.  From Broadway, turn N on Hawthorn and drive to the end and park.  Continue on the trail for about 200 yards.  Bird was near pump house.  On November 23, Cooper saw the Northern Cardinal in Hawthorne Gulch below the pump house.  On November 24, Boswell refound the Northern Cardinal near the pump house.   On November 25, Tumasonis relocated the Northern Cardinal in Hawthorn Gulch.

--November 19 was Swamp Sparrow day for Ted Floyd in Boulder County:  he had one at the Cottonwood Marsh parking lot, 1 at Sawhill Ponds parking lot, 3 along Boulder Creek at 75th about 1000 ft downstream, 1 at McIntosh in the marsh on SW side, and 1 at Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont.  On November 20, Waltman reported a Swamp Sparrow at first pond SW of parking lot pond at Sawhill.  On November 22, Floyd reported 2 Swamp Sparrows at the back end of Sawhill Ponds, and 1 at Cottonwood Marsh Parking Lot

--On November 21, Breitsch reported a Fox Sparrow at Walden Ponds in Boulder.

--Tumasonis reported that Steve Frye's bird walk had 40 Common Redpolls at Baseline Reservoir on November 24.  They were feeding in weedy patches on the west side of the reservoir.  On November 25 Chartier reported that the Common Redpolls were feeding in weedy area long SW of Baseline Reservoir, mostly on the ground.

--A Chihuahuan Raven was reported by Schmoker in Longmont on November 24.

Denver County:

--A juv White-winged Scoter was reported by Tina Jones at Marston Reservoir on November 22.  On November 23, Kibbe relocated the White-winged Scoter at Marston.  Mark Chavez reported White-winged Scoter at Marston on November 25.

Douglas County:

--At Chatfield SP on November 20, Drummond reported a juv Red-throated Loon close to the dam wall seen from handicapped fishing pier and 2 Rusty Blackbirds at Plum Creek Delta.

El Paso County:

--A f type Long-tailed Duck was reported by Peterson at Big Johnson on November 24.

Huerfano County:

--On November 22, Neldner reported 2 Harris's Sparrows and a White-throated Sparrow at her feeders in La Veta.  If you would like to try for the birds, please contact her at pollywren AT gmail.com.  On November 23, Neldner reported 3 Harris's Sparrows and a White-throated Sparrow at her feeders.  

--At Lathrop SP on Martin Lake on November 23, Neldner relocated the Pacific Loon which she first reported on November 15.

Jefferson County:

--Tumasonis reported on November 22 that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post.

--A White-throated Sparrow was reported by Tumasonis at Matthews/Winter Park on November 22.

--A BRAMBLING was reported by Henwood at Bear Creek Lake Park on November 19.  Directions:  Bear Creek Lake Park is SE of C470 and Morrison Road.  After entering BCLP ($5 entrance fee), stay to the left (North Road) and drive about a mile to the Boat Launch area, where there is a large parking lot to the south.  Park here and do not park on side of road.  Just before reaching the Boat Launch area, there is a wooden sign on the north side of the road that reads COYOTE CROSSING PICNIC AREA.  Stand here and look about 30 feet to NE, you will see a small wooden footbirdge spanning the draw with willows on both sides.  This is where the bird returned in the afternoon with a mixed flock of American Tree Sparrows, song Sparrows, Juncos, and House Finches.  Henwood reported on November 20 that the BRAMBLING returned to the seed by the footbridge.  The bird was seen by many birders all day.  The bird has been identified as a juvenile male.  On November 21, Edwards reported that the BRAMBLING continues and it was again seen by many birders.  On November 22, Stachowiak reported that the BRAMBLING did not appear until about 8 a.m.   On November 23, Campbell reported that the BRAMBLING appeared at 7:20 a.m.  Kathy Miller reported that the BRAMBLING made appearances about every 20 minutes between 8:45 and 10:30 a.m.  The BRAMBLING was not seen on November 24 or November 25.

--On November 22 while waiting for the BRAMBLING, Batchelder observed 2 Common Redpolls in a tree to the right of the bridge.  Martin reported a Common Redpoll at 9:45 a.m. while waiting at the BRAMBLING spot on November 23.  A Common Redpoll was reported by McConnell at the BRAMBLING spot on November 24.

--2 Swamp Sparrows were reported by Breitsch at the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt on November 25.  They were on the W side of the boardwalk behind Bass Lake.

Logan County:

--A Pine warbler was reported by Kellner at Tamarack Ranch East between hedgerows 7 & 8 on November 25.  

--3 Common Redpolls were reported by Kellner at Tamarack Ranch on November 25.

Morgan County:

--At Jackson Lake SP campground on November 25, Kellner reported 2 White-throated Sparrows and 4 Harris's Sparrows.

Pueblo County:

--3 Swamp Sparrows were reported by Percival W of Valco Ponds parking lot on November 19.

--A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Percival W of Pueblo Nature Center on November 19.

--On November 24 the AVAS field trip to Pueblo Nature Center had a red Fox Sparrow at the Nature Center and and Winter Wren W of the the Nature Center as reported by Percival.

--On November 25 at Pueblo City Park, Percival reported Yellow-throated Warbler and Pine Warbler and ad m YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER by the big oak in the NE part of the park.

--At Pueblo Reservoir at the South Marina tires on November 25, Percival reported ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1-st year Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Thayer's Gulls (1 ad, 1 juv).

Weld County:

--On November 19 at Crow Valley, Leatherman reported Lapland Longspur flyovers and Common Redpolls (flock of 10, flock of 29, and

a single bird).  The redpolls were feeding with American Goldfinch.

--A f Surf Scoter was reported by Schmoker at Milavec Lake in the Frederic Recreational Area on November 24.

--An Aleutian Cackling Goose was reported by Mlodinow at Union Reservoir on the north side on November 25.

The next monthly meeting of Denver Field Ornithologists will be on Monday, November 26 at 7:30 pm in the Ricketson Auditorium of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Cindi Kelly will kick off the two part program Learning about Colorado Birds.  She will discuss the Bald Eagle Watch.   

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, December 1 will be RMBO Annual Barrow's Goldeneye Count, Longmont Area Lakes led by Chuck Hundertmark (303-604-0531).  Meet the leader at 0800 in the parking lot of Jim Hamm Nature Area in Longmont.  From Denver area, take I-25 north to Exit 240.  Drive west on Hwy 119 to County Line Road.  Go north on Count Line Road and look for the nature area on the left just past 17th Ave.  Will check Union Reservoir and McIntosh Lake for Barrow's Goldeneyes and other early winter waterfowl.  Will check other area lakes as time allows.  A long half day trip.  Spotting scopes will be useful.  Call or e-mail the leader in advance.  

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, December 2 will be RMBO Annual Barrow's Goldeneye Count, South Platte River led by Paul Slignsby (303-422-3728).  Meet the leader at 0800 at South Platte River trailhead at 88th Ave.  From I-76 take exit 10 and go west across the river to first stop light (Riverdale Rd/Colorado Blvd).  Turn left at the light, look for the group in the parking lot to your left.  If you live near Wheat Ridge, call leader for carpool.  Weather can cause cancellation so be sure to register with the leader.  Walk about 3 miles.  This will be a long 1/2 day trip.  Spotting scopes will be useful.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder

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