[cobirds] Boulder Chihuahuan Raven and Type 3 Red Crossbill

Greetings All,

Interesting day of birding at various spots in Boulder and Weld

The highlights:

Red Crossbill, Type 3: apparently a first report for CO but widely reported across n. half (s. to CO) across USA. I was in NW Hygiene, when I heard a call that I initially took for a Common Redpoll. I was rather surprised to see it was a crossbill (ad male) and one with a rather small bill, distinctly smaller than any crossbill I've seen in CO. Matched very nicely with recordings on Xeno-Cantu/Macauley.

Chihuahuan Raven: Was driving with Cathy Sheeter to Valmont Reservoir, and along Valmont Rd, not far w. of Teller Farms, we saw 7 ravens on the n. side of road. The bird nearest road (about 30 feet from road) was standing right next to a BB Magpie, both birds apparently interested in same food item. I called out "raven," Cathy called out "crow," stating that it was too small for a raven, which was exactly what I was thinking: too small for a Common Raven. Cathy and I independently came to an estimate of raven being about 10% longer than magpie, which is great for Chihuahuan and wrong for Common. Also, the culmen of the relatively narrow bill was extensively feathered. Photos can be found (with others for comparison) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/36088296@N08/

Note that ID was cinched when raven flew off calling, "Yo quiero Taco Bell." Just kidding. None of the ravens called, and all appeared same size.

Other highlights: 

4 Harris's Sparrows at feeder near Panama Res (1 ad, 3 imm)

1 Common Redpoll with 2 American Goldfinches at se. corner of Union Reservoir

1 Mountain Chickadee in Hygiene

10 BH Cowbirds around dairy farm n. of Union Reservoir

Still plenty of Western Grebes, Hooded Mergansers, 5 DC Cormorants at Valmont Complex. No RT Loons or other "true" rarities. 

Note that Clover Basin Res is nearly frozen, that Terry L and Panama Res are totally frozen, and that Union has a rim of ice. Firestone Gravel Pits partly frozen. 

Good Birding

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO

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