[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, Sunday, December 2, 2012

 

Compiler:    Mary Driscoll 

Date:           December 2, 2012

email:          rba AT cfobirds.org

phone:         303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, December 2, 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)

Trumpeter Swan (Grand,*Jackson)

Tundra Swan (Boulder, *Morgan)

Surf Scoter (Weld, *Denver)

White-winged Scoter (*Denver)

Long-tailed Duck (*El Paso, Pueblo)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Eagle, *El Paso, Garfield, Gunnison, *Jackson, Pueblo, Routt)

Pacific Loon (Denver, Huerfano, Pueblo)

Red-necked Grebe (Pueblo)

Dunlin (Boulder,*El Paso,*Weld)

MEW GULL (Pueblo)

Thayer's Gull (Pueblo)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Jefferson, Pueblo)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Pueblo)

Black-legged Kittiwake (Pueblo)

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Pueblo)

Chihuahuan Raven (Boulder)

Winter Wren (Pueblo, Boulder)

Yellow-throated Warbler (Pueblo)

Pine Warbler (El Paso, Logan, Pueblo)

Fox Sparrow (*Boulder, Pueblo)

Swamp Sparrow (Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer)

White-throated Sparrow (Huerfano, Jefferson, Morgan)

Harris's Sparrow (*El Paso, Huerfano,*Morgan)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (*Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (Boulder)

Northern Cardinal (*Boulder)

Rusty Blackbird (Boulder)

Common Redpoll (*Boulder,*Jefferson, Logan)

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 23, Rynes reported the Tundras Swans at Sombrero Marsh. On November 30, Heinrich reports that the Tundra Swans are still at Baseline Reservoir.

--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 December 1, Larson relocated the Northern Cardinal in Hawthorn Gulch, it was in the tangle north of the pump house feeding on the ground.

--On November 21, Breitsch reported a Fox Sparrow at Walden Ponds in Boulder. Heinrich relocated the Fox Sparrow on November 29. On December 1, Harlan reports the Fox Sparrow in the same general location, the Juniper trees, which are across the trail from a small rock cairn.

--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 30, Heinrich reports at least 4 Common Redpolls were in a mixed flock of 40-50 House Finches and American Goldfinches feeding in trees and thistle SE of the silo at the SW corner of Baseline Res.

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

--A f Rusty Blackbird was reported by Gillilan about 200 yds upstream from 75th and Boulder Creek on November 26.  On November 27, Arnesen refound the Rusty Blackbird near the water treatment plant.  On November 28, Floyd reported the Rusty Blackbird along Boulder Creek near 75th St. On November 29, Heinrich refound the Rusty Blackbird along Boulder Creek, west of 75th.

--A Swamp Sparrow was found by Boswell along  Boulder Creek upstream from 75th.  It was before the water treatment plant. On November 28, Floyd reported 3 Swamp Sparrows near 75th 

and Boulder Creek. On November 29, Heinrich reports the Swamp Sparrow still present along Boulder Creek west of 75th. 

--On November 30, Floyd reports  two Lapland Longspurs calling and circling low over the overlook,  Legion Park: They briefly put down in the shrubby, spiny stuff just east of the overlook, then kept on going. One showed a fair bit of dark below, and was colorful overall, so I guess that makes it an adult male.

--A Dunlin was reported by Marcel Such at Jim Hamm Pond on November 27.

--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.  Tina Jones reports on December 1, two White-winged Scoter on Marston Reservoir.

--Tina Jones reports a Surf Scoter was near the two White-winged Scoters on Marston Reservoir on December 1. They were in the central part of southern portion of the lake.

--A probable Pacific Loon was reported by Tina Jones at Marston Reservoir on November 28, there were nine Loons on Marston Reservoir, and one bird looked obviously smaller than the two birds next to it, but they were out so far, that a positive ID could not be made.  

Eagle County:

--At Blue Lake, McConnell reported 1 m Barrow's Goldeneye on November 27.

--At Spring Park Reservoir, McConnell reported 2 m Barrow's Goldeneye on November 27.

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 1, Chartier reports the Dunlin is still present at the pond in Falcon.

--On November 29, Gordon reported a bright, male, Pine Warbler, that was foraging mostly on the ground with a flock of Juncos. The address is 6755 Delmonico Drive. Birds are working around the parking areas and near the pool. Look for rock sign saying "Summit View II" on east side of Delmonico, 1 block N of its intersection with Rockrimmon. For more information you can contact Gordon on his cell phone, 302-388-4444 cell.  The bird was seen twice, just before 9:00, and then again about 9:15. It has not been seen again.

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

Garfield County:

--At the Ranch at Roaring Fork on November 27, McConnell reported 6 Barrow's Goldeneyes (3m, 3f).

Gunnison County:

--At Blue Mesa Reservoir on November 26, Beason reported 3 Barrow's Goldeneyes at the Gunnison River inflow area.

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.  On November 26, Neldner reported 3 Harris's Sparrows and a White-throated Sparrow at her feeders

--At Lathrop SP on Martin Lake on November 26, Neldner relocated the Pacific Loon which she first reported on November 15.

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.

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

--On November 29, Kingery reports that Pam Zimmer had 3 Common Redpolls in her Lakewood yard Wednesday afternoon, late. She sent 3 very good pictures. If you'd like to try to see them, call her for directions & confirmation that they have returned. Her phone number: 303-988-6504.

--Henwood reports a  (f ??) Common Redpoll near the Boat Launch area in Bear Creek Lake Park this morning, 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.

--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.

--A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Henwood at the W end of Kendrick Lake on November 26.

Larimer County:

--On November 30, Biggerstaff reports the Swamp Sparrow continues at Cottonwood Hollow in east Fort Collins.

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:

--On December 1, Mlodinow reports an ad and an imm TUNDRA SWAN at Jackson Reservoir.  For landbirds, Mlodinow reports a HARRIS'S SPARROW among the Russian Olives 

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

Pueblo County:

--On November 24 the AVAS field trip to Pueblo Nature Center had a red Fox Sparrow at the Nature Center and a Winter Wren west of 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. On November 27 & 30, Percival refound the Yellow-throated Warbler, it was in the sycamore tree, just east of the Headquarters, the ad m YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was also seen.

--At Pueblo Reservoir at the South Marina tires on November 28, Percival reported a basic plumaged ad. MEW GULL. Eight species of gulls were present on the reservoir. An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (which should be here until mid-February), three Lesser Black-backed (2 adults, 1 first year), and one Thayer's Gull (juvenile) were the highlights. 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).  On November 27, at South Shore Marina tires Percival reported ad GREAT-BLACK-BACKED GULL, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 ad, 1 1-st cyc), and a juv Thayer's Gull.

--On November 30 Percival reports Pacific Loon and a Common Loon, off West Fisherman's Point.

--At the SWA on the NW side of Pueblo Reservoir on November 26, Percival reported Black-legged Kittiwake and ad m Black Scoter.

From the boat launch at SWA on November 26, Percival reported Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon, and Long-tailed Duck.  On November 27 at SWA, Percival reported Red-necked Grebe.

Routt County:

--On November 30, Litteral reports at least 35 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Stagecoach Reservoir near Oak Creek.

Weld County:

--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. 

--Prather reports the Dunlin continues at Union Reservoir, on the NE side, on December 1.

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,

Mary Driscoll

Unincor. Arapahoe Co.