[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, December 9, 2012

 

Compiler:    Mary Driscoll 

Date:           December 9, 2012

email:          rba AT cfobirds.org  

phone:         303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, December 9, 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)

Trumpeter Swan (Jackson, *Larimer)
Tundra Swan (Boulder,*Larimer, Morgan)

Surf Scoter (Weld, *Denver)
White-winged Scoter (*Denver)
Long-tailed Duck (El Paso, Pueblo)
Barrow's Goldeneye (El Paso, Jackson, Routt)

RED-THROATED LOON (Boulder)
Pacific Loon (Denver, Huerfano, Pueblo)
Dunlin (Boulder, El Paso, Weld)
LITTLE GULL (Weld)
MEW GULL (Pueblo)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Pueblo)
Northern Pygmy-Owl (Boulder)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (*Pueblo)
Chihuahuan Raven (Boulder)
Winter Wren (Boulder, El Paso, Pueblo)
Bohemian Waxwing (Boulder, Routt)

Northern Parula (El Paso, Pueblo)
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (*Pueblo)
Pine Warbler (El Paso, Pueblo)
Fox Sparrow (Boulder)
White-throated Sparrow (*Freemont, Morgan)
Harris's Sparrow (El Paso, Morgan)
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

Snow Bunting (*Sedgwick)
Northern Cardinal (Boulder)
Rusty Blackbird (Boulder)
Common Redpoll (Boulder, *Jefferson)

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 December 8,Tumasonis reports that the Tundra Swans are still at Baseline Reservoir.

--At Valmont Reservoir, on December 6, Mlodinow is viewing a RED-THROATED LOON. He is viewing it from the City of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks Annex off of 75th St. This would be the east end of Valmont which is not really all that visible from the Legion Park Overlook. The RED-THROATED LOON is associating with Western Grebes. 
--A Northern Pygmy-Owl was seen by Heinrich on December 2. It flew across the road at Eben Fine Park, and landed in a tree next to Arapahoe Ave.
--A Northern Cardinal was found by Jinx Cooper in Hawthorne Gulch in Boulder on November 11.  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 December 6, Heinrich had a brief view of the Northern Cardinal in Hawthorn Gulch.
--On November 21, Breitsch reported a Fox Sparrow at Walden Ponds in Boulder.  On December 2, Kaempfer reports 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.  Chavez refound a flock of about 30+ Common Redpolls at Baseline Reservoir on December 2.
--On December 2, Kaempfer reports a Common Redpoll in Allenspark, and another flock of about 5 at McCaslin Lake along N. 59th St.

--On December 7, Floyd reports seeing a small flock of Common Redpolls while birding along the St. Vrain "River" in Longmont.
--A Chihuahuan Raven was reported by Floyd at Lagerman Reservoir on December 2.
--On December 2, Kaempfer reports a large flock (250) of Bohemian Waxwings about 1/2 mile east of Barker Dam outside of Nederland.
--A f Rusty Blackbird was reported by Gillilan about 200 yds upstream from 75th and Boulder Creek on November 26. On November 29, Heinrich refound the Rusty Blackbird along Boulder Creek, west of 75th.
--A Winter Wren was reported by Kilpatrick on November 28, on the South side of Boulder Creek upstream from 75th., it was near the overhead pipe where the Rusty Blackbird was seen.

Denver County:
--A juv White-winged Scoter was reported by Tina Jones at Marston Reservoir on November 22.  On December 8, Stachowiak reports the White-winged Scoter and Surf Scoter continue on Marston Reservoir.  Tina recommends when viewing birds at Marston Reservoir, please beware of signs in this area especially if viewing from the SW,  PLEASE let's not give birders a bad name and PLEASE watch the birds from the sidewalk or right next to the sidewalk.    

 

El Paso County:

--A f type Long-tailed Duck was reported by Peterson at Big Johnson on November 24. Pals refound the Long-tailed Duck on December 1, at Big Johnson Res.
--On November 29, Drummond reports a (m) Barrow's Golden Eye on Big Johnson Reservoir.  On December 1, Pals refound the Barrow's Golden Eye at Big Johnson Res.
--Cici Lee reported that the Dunlin first reported on November 17 continues on November 26, at the pond in Falcon off Stapleton Dr and Lambert Road. On December 5, Gillilan reports the Dunlin is still present at the same location.

--On December 6, B. Maynard reports a Winter Wren at Fountain Creek Regional Park.  The Wren was seen near the KM18 trail marker, very close to the Widefield Water Treatment exclosure.

--On December 5, Farese reports a female Northern Parula, beautiful hatch-year female at Fountain Creek Regional Park. The bird was in the northern part of the park, in the area around the mile 18 marker where areas 2 and 3 meet.

--On December 1, Koehn reports a Harris's Sparrow around his usual hangout near the gazebo at Fountain Creek Nature Center.

Fremont County:

--On December 8, S. Moss refound the White-throated Sparrows along the Canon City Riverwalk near the MacKenzie Ave parking area.

 

Jackson County:

--On November 30, D. Maynard reports 2 Trumpeter Swans, and a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes at Walden Reservoir.

Jefferson County:
--Henwood reported on November 26 that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post. Henwood reports the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post ON DECEMBER 1.
--On November 29, Kingery reports that Pam Zimmer had 3 Common Redpolls in her Lakewood yard Wednesday afternoon, late.  If you'd like to try to see them, call her for directions & confirmation that they have returned. Her phone number: 303-988-6504.

--Kellner reports a nice (m) Common Redpoll at Chatfield State Park on December 8. The bird was just east of the marina in the trees at the "base" of the marina sandspit. The bird was singing and calling a fair amount. The bird was last seen, flying west.
--Henwood reports a  (f ??) Common Redpoll near the Boat Launch area in Bear Creek Lake Park, on December 1.  The bird was with a large flock of American Tree Sparrows plus a few Song Sparrows. The area is directly east of the road and the paved Boat Launch parking lot. The bird was along a path next to a thicket feeding with the American Tree Sparrows.

Larimer County:

--On December 9, Mammoser reported 10 Swans, 6 Tundra and 4 Trumpeter, at North Poudre Reservoir #3. 

Morgan County:
--On December 1, Mlodinow reports an (ad and an imm)  TUNDRA SWAN at Jackson Reservoir.  For land birds at Jackson Res., Mlodinow reports a HARRIS'S SPARROW among the Russian Olives.
 

Pueblo County:

--On November 25 at Pueblo City Park, Percival reported YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and Pine Warbler and (ad m) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. On December 8, Percival and six other birders report seeing the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER IN big sycamore trees east and west of the Administration Building around 7:40 am this morning.

--Percival reports seeing a  juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the eastern part of the Pueblo City Park, close to Calla Drive.

--On December 5, Percival reports seeing a male Northern Parula in a Sycamore Tree near the Pueblo Zoo.
--At Pueblo Reservoir at the South Marina tires on November 28, Percival reported a basic plumaged (ad.) MEW GULL, and an (ad) GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. On December 2, Mlodinow reports the GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL continues at Pueblo Reservoir.
--On November 30 Percival reports Pacific Loon and a Common Loon, off West Fisherman's Point.

Routt County:

--On November 30, Litteral reports at least 35 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Stagecoach Reservoir near Oak Creek.
--On December 1, Litteral reports a flock of 23 Bohemian Waxwings were found by the 9th street pedestrian bridge over the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat Springs.

Sedgwick County:

--On December 8, Mlodinow reported a Snow Bunting on the shore of Sedgwick portion of Jumbo Reservoir; (the point that sticks into reservoir from w. side)

Weld County:
--A LITTLE GULL (1 juv.) was reported by Komar with his FCAS group at Windsor Lake on December 2. Leatherman reports the LITTLE GULL on December 2,  is mostly a 1st cycle with a few retained juvenile characteristics. At the end of the day, it headed northeast, probably toward the Weld County landfill. Komar reported on December 2, that there were (2 ad) Thayer's Gulls, and (3 1st cy) Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Windsor Lake.
--Prather reports the Dunlin continues at Union Reservoir, on the NE side, on December 1.

DFO FIELD TRIPS:

Sunday, December 9 Boulder County Lakes 
Leader: Chishun Kwong, 303-709-6097 or chishunkwong@yahoo.com. 0800, half day trip. Join us as we visit various bodies of water in Boulder County looking for waterfowls and any lingering land birds. Meet at Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks office parking lot (66 South Cherryvale Road, Boulder, between US 36 and S. Boulder Rd), 

Good Birding,

Mary Driscoll

Unincor. Arapahoe Co.