Re: [cobirds] Boulder Chihuahuan Raven and Type 3 Red Crossbill

A quick correction: the first documented Type 3 Red Crossbill from CO
that I'm aware of was from a flock I recorded in Hinsdale County in
2007. I wrote an article in Colorado Birds about it at the time; also
see http://xeno-canto.org/14998. Since then I've had it in Colorado
three times, all on the west slope, and all documented by recordings.
I suspect it's a rare visitor that periodically erupts into the state.

Andrew Spencer
Quito, Ecuador

On Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 1:42 AM, Steven Mlodinow <sgmlod@aol.com> wrote:
> 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
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>
>

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.