[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, February 9, 2014

 

 

Compiler: Ira Sanders

Date: February 9, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 9, 2014 sponsored  by the 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 (* indicates new information on this species in

this report):

 

BRANT (Douglas)

TRUMPETER SWAN (Morgan*)

TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder, Rio Grande)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams, Douglas)

AMERICAN WOODCOCK (El Paso*)

MEW GULL (Arapahoe, Pueblo*)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Pueblo*)

Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, Pueblo*)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Arapahoe, Pueblo*)

SNOWY OWL (Lincoln)

Winter Wren (Larimer)

VARIED THRUSH (Huerfano)

Bohemian Waxwing (Larimer, Routt)

Fox Sparrow (Douglas*)

Harris's Sparrow (Delta, Huerfano)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (Adams)

Rusty Blackbird (Adams)

Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer)

Common Redpoll (Douglas)

 

ADAMS COUNTY:

--2 Rusty Blackbirds were reported by the DFO Field Trip led by Hundertmark at Barr Lake SP below the dam on January 26.  Walbek reports that 6 continue at this location as of February 7.

--Lapland Longspurs were reported by Breitsch on the DIA Owl Loop which starts .5 mile east of Tower Rd on 96th Ave.  On February 3, he found them on Trussville Rd between 114th and 120th Aves. On February 7, Walbek reports a flock of 75 longspurs near 128th and Pohawton Rd.

--5 Barrow's Goldeneye were reported by Rurik near the Teal Water tank south of 88th and Platte on February 1.

 

ARAPHOE COUNTY:

--On February 5, Suddjian reported a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL at McLellan Reservoir.

--Dowell reports the following at Aurora Reservoir (fee area $10.00): An adult ICELAND GULL on January 29.  3 immature Glaucous Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present on February 7.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--40 Brown-capped and 1 Black Rosy-Finch were reported by Shade at Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark on January 29.

--An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Floyd at Waneka Lake in Lafayette on January 29.  Best viewing is from the dam on the east side from 0800 - 1000 with the sun at your back.

--On February 1, Wilberding reported a TUNDRA SWAN at Cottonwood Marsh.  On February 3, Teuton reports the TUNDRA SWAN has moved to Hillcrest Reservoir in the Valmont Reservoir complex and is observable from Legion Park.

 

DELTA COUNTY:

--A 1-st winter Harris's Sparrow was reported by Garrison at the Forest Service Office in Paonia on January 28 and it is reported again on February 1.

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

--On January 29, Breitsch reported the BRANT at Redstone Park at the far east end in front of Lebsack Tennis Center off of Aspen Creek Drive.

--A BRANT was reported by Kellner at Chatfield State Park at the south marina with 1200 Cackling Geese on February 2.

--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Walbek at Parker Regional Park on January 31.

--About 12 Common Redpolls were reported by Crews in the parking area at Roxborough State Park February 5.

--On February 7, Kingery reports a Fox Sparrow at the feeders at his home in Franktown.  It has not been seen again.

 

ELPASO COUNTY:

--An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found by Teuton and Brooke at Fountain Creek Regional Park on February 9.  Directions: go south on the trail from the Willow Springs parking area (at north end of the park) past mile marker 18 to the concrete gazebo.  It was in the little creek to the right of the trail.

 

HUERFANO COUNTY:

--A VARIED THRUSH has been visiting a private yard in La Veta.  The owners welcome visitors but the bird is best seen from inside the home.  If you would like to try to see the bird please contact Polly Neldner at pollywren AT gmail.com and she will help you make arrangements to see the bird.   On February 6, Nelder reports the VARIED THRUSH continues in La Veta. The Harris's Sparrow is last reported on February 2.

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On February 6, Moore reported there were 8 Rosy-Finches at Red Rocks Trading Post.  

--On January 31, Wood reported the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Red Rocks Trading Post.

 

LARIMER COUNTY:

--A Winter Wren was reported by Leatherman on January 24 NW of Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins.  It was along the S side of the Poudre River.  On January 28, Sparks refound the Winter Wren along the Poudre Bike Trail west of Lee Martinez Park.

--On January 27, Rashid reported 1000 Rosy-Finches and a single Bohemian Waxwing in his yard.  Birders are welcome to come and see the birds.  His address is 715 Sanborn Drive, Estes Park.  On January 30, Rashid reported 600 Rosy-Finches, mostly Brown-capped and Black at his feeders.

 

LINCOLN COUNTY:

--A SNOWY OWL was reported by Kellner on a power pole on Hwy 94 east of CR 11 on January 26.  On January 29, Duane Nelson reported the SNOWY OWL near the intersection of CR 11.6 and Hwy 94 on the ground in a field in the valley beyond the trees NNE of the intersection.

 

MORGAN COUNTY:

--On February 8 Kellner reports 2 imm TRUMPETER SWANS at Boyd Ponds SWA at Log Lane Village near Ft. Morgan.  Directions: Take Exit 79 off I-76, take Elm St. in Log Lane Village north to the parking lot near the river.  From the parking lot walk the "road" east and cross the canal.  Head further east along the canal.  The swans were in the open water of the pond on the south side of the canal.

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--On February 9 Teuton reports the following seen below the Visitors Center at Pueblo Lake State Park: 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, several Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an imm Glaucous Gull.

--On February 8 Teuton saw a MEW GULL at the same location.

 

RIO GRANDE COUNTY:

--Simmons reported on January 27 that the TUNDRA SWAN at the Rio Grande Bridge on 3W Road NW of Monte Vista continues.

 

ROUTT COUNTY:

--40+ Bohemian Waxwings were reported by Litteral near the CMC Campus in Steamboat Springs on January 27.

 

Upcoming DFO Fieldtrips:

 

Saturday, February 15  Red Rocks Park

Leader: Tom Bush, 303-904-4576

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Red Rocks Trading Post and bird until 12 noon. We’ll spend some time checking out all the activity at the feeders––possible rosy-finches, jays, chickadees, and maybe some surprises.

We’ll do some walking, 2 miles or less, looking for raptors. Be prepared for the weather. Trails could be slick and challenging. Bring water, snack, and lunch. To reach Red Rocks Trading Post go west out of Morrison on Hwy 74. Less than 0.5 mile out of Morrison, turn right on Red Rocks Park Road (Entrance 2 to Red Rocks Park). Stay right at the first fork. Continue on Red Rocks Road approximately a mile to the Trading Post.

Sunday, February 16  Roxborough State Park

Leader: Doris Cruze, 303-798-8072

Meet leader at 8 a.m. at the Visitor’s Center for a 3.5-hour walking tour on an easy trail. Participants should see Golden Eagles and species common in the foothills. State Parks Pass required or $5 entrance fee per car. Lunch will be optional but there is a beautiful place to sit on the patio and watch the birds as you eat lunch.

Take S. Wadsworth Blvd. past Chatfield SP to Waterton Rd on left. Take Waterton Rd. 1.6 miles east to North Rampart Range Rd., turn right and go south 2.3 miles to Roxborough Park Rd. Turn left and follow signs to the park (2.2 miles). This is an excellent trip for novice birders and new members.

Good Birding,

Ira Sanders

Golden, CO