Monday, 31 March 2014

[cobirds] Savannah Sparrow, Larimer

Spotted an early Savannah Sparrow at the Running Deer / Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area off E Prospect in Fort Collins today. I couldn't identify it at first, fortunately I got 1 decent photo that revealed its identity. Other birds of note include the previously reported Osprey at nesting platform and a pair of Harlan's Hawks- one dark morph and one light morph. Spotted the Harlans from the White Pine Fire Lookout in the SE corner of Running Deer. I'm pretty sure I saw the dark bird in the same area a few days ago, so they might be loitering in the area and seen in the future. 

Thanks, David Wade Fort Collins

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[cobirds] First of year Western Meadowlark, Rocky Mtn. Natl. Park, Larimer Co. 3/31

Continuing our visit in the Estes Park area, we found two Western Meadowlarks in Morraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) this afternoon. Also enjoyed our first Mountain Bluebirds in the same area. eBird has no Western Meadowlark reports around Estes Park or RMNP (though we met a birder at Lake Estes yesterday who saw 4 near the lake). I also noted that several others were reporting Mountain Bluebirds today in RMNP.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, Maryland

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[cobirds] Early arriving migrants

I read with interest Paula's post, and responses by Nunes and Lundbald. I follow the daily ABA postings from SE Arizona. Every spring, I head there for hiking and birding, so I am very curious as to what new species are arriving daily. I wish to note that this year migrants have been arriving in SE Arizona as much as 2 + weeks ahead of their average arrival dates. Many species have arrived 2 + weeks ahead of their previous "earliest" arrival date. Blossoming vegetation is also ahead of schedule in the desert SW. Might this has some bearing on Paula's recent report of a possible flycatcher?

Laura Osborn
Boulder

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[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (31 Mar 2014) 3 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2014
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture133
Osprey000
Bald Eagle02525
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk055
Cooper's Hawk01515
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk1130130
Rough-legged Hawk077
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk088
Golden Eagle177
American Kestrel01414
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon022
Prairie Falcon055
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter022
Unknown Buteo055
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor044
Total:3232232


Observation start time: 08:15:00
Observation end time: 13:15:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official CounterJoyce Commercon
Observers:



Visitors:
A few hikers and bikers came to the HawkWatch platform for the view, but none seemed interested in raptors.

Weather:
The day was fairly warm and very sunny with near constant winds at beaufort level 4 from the West and the West Northwest. Visibility was good, despite occasional clouds of dirt and dust lifting from the quarry and Red Rocks to the South.

Raptor Observations:
All observed migrant activity took place within about 30 minutes near noon, when one might have imagined the wind was letting up somewhat. A Golden Eagle was aggressively escorted by a local adult RTHA along WestRidge before it continued further north. A migrating Turkey Vulture passed at eye level on the West side of the Ridge. On its heels came an adult RTHA, fairly high and directly over the Ridge on its way North. The local RTHAs and the local Prairie Falcon made some appearances along both sides of the Ridge. The local juvenile RTHA was seen hunting low along the East side of the Ridge.

Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Western Scrub-Jay, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Townsend's Solitaire, White-throated Swift and Western Meadowlark. Eleven mule deer were spotted at the bottom of the Ridge in Rooney Valley.


Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.birek@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/

Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.

Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.



[cobirds] Re: FOY Birds around Denver

Four Cinnamon Teal observed on Sand Creek about 200 yards west of the confluence with Westerly Creek. 

On Sunday, March 30, 2014 9:16:00 AM UTC-6, Chris Rurik wrote:
Hi all --

Some birds of local interest from the last few days:

Say's Phoebes are suddenly everywhere.
Cinnamon Teal at the confluence of Sand Creek and Westerly Creek.
Full breeding plumage Horned Grebe at Denver City Park.

Marston
Six Western Grebes + breeding plumage Eared Grebes
Two Greater Scaup
Lingering Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gulls
Lots of other birds and prime-looking shorebird habitat

Belmar Historic Park
One Lesser Goldfinch singing
Two American Avocets -- gorgeous
One Common Grackle

Great birding,
Chris Rurik
Denver County


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Re: [cobirds] Northern Cardinal Redux - High Line Canal Trail - Arapahoe County

At 4 PM today the male Northern Cardinal was singing very intermittently
at the aforementioned  site. It was loyal to the east side of the canal in a homeowner's private backyard trees
and in shrubs near the feeder there, but was not seen on the feeder. 

Many thanks to Kate Frost for finding and reporting this great bird and to John
Breitsch for updates and photos.

Joe Roller, Denver


On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 4:58 PM, JBreitsch - Denver <jbreitsch@hotmail.com> wrote:
This is just a re-post of my earlier one announcing that the Northern Cardinal spotted yesterday by Kate Frost was still around this morning.  I sent my previous post via my phone.  Since I don't have the texting skills of a fourth grader, it came out sounding a bit like jibberish.  The bird was in the area just south of E Quincy Ave, along the High Line Canal trail.  Just south of there is a bridge crossing the dry canal on the east.  The cardinal was hanging out just north of the bridge.  I walked around there for ten or fifteen minutes going back and forth without spotting it.  Then it sang.  That made finding it easy.  I parked at the lot at the end of Dahlia St.  From there, just cross the bridge and head to the right.

I was going to just stop at Cherry Creek on my way home, but I ended up meeting an east coast birder there.  I hijacked her and took her to Mt Falcon where we found half a dozen life birds for her.  Even with the wind, it was a beautiful day birding.


John Breitsch
Denver, Co

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[cobirds] Northern Cardinal Redux - High Line Canal Trail - Arapahoe County

This is just a re-post of my earlier one announcing that the Northern Cardinal spotted yesterday by Kate Frost was still around this morning.  I sent my previous post via my phone.  Since I don't have the texting skills of a fourth grader, it came out sounding a bit like jibberish.  The bird was in the area just south of E Quincy Ave, along the High Line Canal trail.  Just south of there is a bridge crossing the dry canal on the east.  The cardinal was hanging out just north of the bridge.  I walked around there for ten or fifteen minutes going back and forth without spotting it.  Then it sang.  That made finding it easy.  I parked at the lot at the end of Dahlia St.  From there, just cross the bridge and head to the right.

I was going to just stop at Cherry Creek on my way home, but I ended up meeting an east coast birder there.  I hijacked her and took her to Mt Falcon where we found half a dozen life birds for her.  Even with the wind, it was a beautiful day birding.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/breitschbirding/13548616104/in/photostream/

John Breitsch
Denver, Co
https://www.flickr.com/photos/breitschbirding/

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Re: [cobirds] Too bad birders can read...

Thank You, Christian, for the well-reasoned (and tactful) post.  I agree with you completely.  I thought it was worth pointing out that long-distance migrants are generally not able to simply respond to favorable weather conditions and migrate early.  Long-distance migration is an incredible feat requiring an enormous suite of complex physiological adaptations (especially for passerines). Long-distance migrants rely on photperiodic (day length) cues, not only to indicate when they should leave their wintering grounds, but also to initiate the physiological/hormonal cascades required to achieve the body conditions required of migration.  Furthermore, neotropical migrants have no way of knowing that conditions may be suitable on their breeding grounds when they are thousands of miles away.  For these reasons, it is more likely that short-distance migrants are able to respond plastically to conditions on or near their breeding grounds, both because they have more information and because short-distance migration doesn't require the complex "machinery" that long-distance migration does.  Adaptation by long-distance migrants to earlier springs will require many generations of positive selection on those earliest-arriving individuals in order to slowly shift their entire migratory program and their responses to photoperiod cues.

I guess the main points are, 1) As Christian pointed out, understanding distribution and status (of which, arrival time is part) is a key to good birding and recognizing what is unexpected and what is not, 2) Most long-distance migrants are not capable of simply getting up and leaving their wintering grounds in response to conditions on the breeding grounds, and 3) Some species are more capable of early arrivals than others.

Certainly, the status of migratory birds is always in flux, and we will continue to see changes in the status and distribution of our familiar species.  That is part of what makes birding fun and part of what makes it scary these days.  As Christian said, extraordinary arrival dates warrant skepticism, but carefully documenting these events will allow us greater insight into how and to what extent species are capable of adapting to accelerating climate change.  

Final note: Southern Nevada, where I review eBird records, has had a number of record or near-record early migrants this spring including Hammond's and Ash-throated Flycatchers and Wilson's Warblers.  Note that these are all short-distance migrants.

Enjoy your Spring!

Respectfully

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID (often in CO!)



On Monday, March 31, 2014 9:42:21 AM UTC-7, Christian Nunes wrote:
Birders,

There are many helpful resources out there that address the arrival dates of certain species in CO. Most notable is the eBird Bar Charts tool (http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=changeLocation). Plug in CO and then select the "Entire Region" button on the right-hand box and press go. The histograms that are presented should lay to waste any doubts that Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are not expected in the state in the last week of March. In fact, it should be revealed that that is exactly when they show up, albeit in low numbers. Scroll down a little and look at when Band-tailed Pigeons occur in the state. Late March is not when the bulk of the pigeons are around, but it's not terribly abnormal (note that they occasionally overwinter in CO). 

And then of course there's the reality that birders make errors. I do not know Gary or Lora Witt, and I am by no means trying to slight them in any way, but their report of an Empid foraging over the Republican River in March instantly makes my skeptical side want to ask, "what made you think it was an Empid rather than an Eastern Phoebe"? One is much more likely. The only Empid that even has a remote chance of being in the state in March is the Gray Flycatcher, and for it to be foraging over a river in the Eastern Plains is unlikely. There is value in understanding the status and distribution of certain species since people have been studying and publishing these trends in books, peer-reviewed articles, etc., for 100+ years. Also, we are often reminded that the human brain is fallible. An error is more likely, in this case, then an undocumented hypothetical record. 

This natural skepticism was, I'm sure, applied to Paula's Ash-throated Flycatcher report. This is not a personal slight, but just the nature of the beast. Any report of a heard-only Myiarchus flycatcher in March on the northern Front Range will get a raised eyebrow from me, and probably most other people in the birding community. This is why reports of such magnitude require documentation. I don't know what kind of electronics Paula is lugging around in the field, but if it's a smart phone, then it's very easy to use the video function to record bird sounds. I use an iPhone and it's surprisingly capable of recording sounds if the bird is at a reasonable distance. Of course, if her bird only called a few times and then was silent, there may not have been time to record it. Given this result, it was very appropriate for her to get the word out so that others could try to get on the bird, whatever it was.  

Tact is required by both the observer of a vagrant bird and by those who are willing to communicate their skepticism. I do hope that I'm utilizing it here successfully. 

Christian Nunes
Boulder, CO 




Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:23:15 -0600
Subject: [cobirds] Too bad birders can read...
From: redstar...@gmail.com
To: cob...@googlegroups.com
CC: redstar...@gmail.com

The Empid seen over the weekend in NE Colo., my possible flycatcher heard last week, Bill Kaempfer's Band-tailed Pigeon of a couple of weeks ago, and Jeff Jones' recent hummer are all examples of early migrants.   (and probably many other birds that are dismissed because "they aren't supposed to be here yet")

Because they take field guides too literally, many birders commonly dismiss "out-of-season" bird reports and totally ignore even what they see or hear.

Birds can fly and take advantage of favorable winds and other weather conditions...and, because they cannot read books that say they should not be at a certain latitude before a particular date, they can easily appear "early" if weather is favorable!

Paula Hansley
Louisville

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[cobirds] Eastern Phoebe - Boulder

55th St by canal between the Longmont Diagonal and Sixmile Reservoir.

Chuck Lowrie, Denver

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Re: [cobirds] Too bad birders can read...

Christian Nunes stated that:
Tact is required by both the observer of a vagrant bird and by those who are willing to communicate their skepticism.
I think the common courtesy by the bird should be called for--- it should sing multiple times and then show up on the nearest limb!
Deb Carstensen , Arapahoe county
Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 31, 2014, at 10:42 AM, Christian Nunes <pajaroboy@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Tact is required by both the observer of a vagrant bird and by those who are willing to communicate their skepticism.

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[cobirds] Pawnee NG Birding Driving Tour/Weld

Weld CR 124/122 ponds had spring ducks, no shorebirds sans Killdeer.  Only migrants on Pawnee NG Birding Driving tour were a lone Mourning Dove and four Mountain Bluebird.  No owls, longspurs or plovers yet.  The three area Golden Eagle nests were "active".

Also, reported three license plates of target shooters--seemed to be in areas not authorized for shooting ... :-)

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn
http://coloradobirder.ning.com/
Mobile:  http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m

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RE: [cobirds] Too bad birders can read...

Birders,

There are many helpful resources out there that address the arrival dates of certain species in CO. Most notable is the eBird Bar Charts tool (http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=changeLocation). Plug in CO and then select the "Entire Region" button on the right-hand box and press go. The histograms that are presented should lay to waste any doubts that Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are not expected in the state in the last week of March. In fact, it should be revealed that that is exactly when they show up, albeit in low numbers. Scroll down a little and look at when Band-tailed Pigeons occur in the state. Late March is not when the bulk of the pigeons are around, but it's not terribly abnormal (note that they occasionally overwinter in CO). 

And then of course there's the reality that birders make errors. I do not know Gary or Lora Witt, and I am by no means trying to slight them in any way, but their report of an Empid foraging over the Republican River in March instantly makes my skeptical side want to ask, "what made you think it was an Empid rather than an Eastern Phoebe"? One is much more likely. The only Empid that even has a remote chance of being in the state in March is the Gray Flycatcher, and for it to be foraging over a river in the Eastern Plains is unlikely. There is value in understanding the status and distribution of certain species since people have been studying and publishing these trends in books, peer-reviewed articles, etc., for 100+ years. Also, we are often reminded that the human brain is fallible. An error is more likely, in this case, then an undocumented hypothetical record. 

This natural skepticism was, I'm sure, applied to Paula's Ash-throated Flycatcher report. This is not a personal slight, but just the nature of the beast. Any report of a heard-only Myiarchus flycatcher in March on the northern Front Range will get a raised eyebrow from me, and probably most other people in the birding community. This is why reports of such magnitude require documentation. I don't know what kind of electronics Paula is lugging around in the field, but if it's a smart phone, then it's very easy to use the video function to record bird sounds. I use an iPhone and it's surprisingly capable of recording sounds if the bird is at a reasonable distance. Of course, if her bird only called a few times and then was silent, there may not have been time to record it. Given this result, it was very appropriate for her to get the word out so that others could try to get on the bird, whatever it was.  

Tact is required by both the observer of a vagrant bird and by those who are willing to communicate their skepticism. I do hope that I'm utilizing it here successfully. 

Christian Nunes
Boulder, CO 




Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:23:15 -0600
Subject: [cobirds] Too bad birders can read...
From: redstart.paula@gmail.com
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
CC: redstart.paula@gmail.com

The Empid seen over the weekend in NE Colo., my possible flycatcher heard last week, Bill Kaempfer's Band-tailed Pigeon of a couple of weeks ago, and Jeff Jones' recent hummer are all examples of early migrants.   (and probably many other birds that are dismissed because "they aren't supposed to be here yet")

Because they take field guides too literally, many birders commonly dismiss "out-of-season" bird reports and totally ignore even what they see or hear.

Birds can fly and take advantage of favorable winds and other weather conditions...and, because they cannot read books that say they should not be at a certain latitude before a particular date, they can easily appear "early" if weather is favorable!

Paula Hansley
Louisville

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[cobirds] First Osprey returns to Prospect nest in Ft Collins

In FOS news, there was an Osprey on the nest platform on Prospect Rd at the Poudre River crossing in east Fort Collins this morning.

- Barry Gingrich
  Broomfield County

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[cobirds] First arrivals in spring in Pueblo County

COBirders,

 

   Brandon Percival just reminded me that in Dave Silverman’s compilation of first spring arrivals for Pueblo County, Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s earliest arrival date is April 5.  Therefore any metallic buzzing heard now should be taken seriously, as Paula Hansley pointed out as well.  If you are interested in consulting Dave’s dates, go to www.socobirds.org and click the “Reference Section” button.

 

Leon Bright, Pueblo

[cobirds] Too bad birders can read...

The Empid seen over the weekend in NE Colo., my possible flycatcher heard last week, Bill Kaempfer's Band-tailed Pigeon of a couple of weeks ago, and Jeff Jones' recent hummer are all examples of early migrants.   (and probably many other birds that are dismissed because "they aren't supposed to be here yet")

Because they take field guides too literally, many birders commonly dismiss "out-of-season" bird reports and totally ignore even what they see or hear.

Birds can fly and take advantage of favorable winds and other weather conditions...and, because they cannot read books that say they should not be at a certain latitude before a particular date, they can easily appear "early" if weather is favorable!

Paula Hansley
Louisville

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[cobirds] Re: Long-billed Dowitcher, etc., Boulder County, 3/30

Make that http://tinyurl.com/Bob-Spencer-Walden

On Monday, March 31, 2014 9:04:51 AM UTC-6, Ted Floyd wrote:

Here's a photo tribute to the occasion: http://tinyurl.com/Bob-Spencer/Walden

Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

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[cobirds] Long-billed Dowitcher, etc., Boulder County, 3/30

Hello, Birders.

Cottonwood Marsh, Walden Ponds, Boulder County, was decently birdy yesterday afternoon, Sunday, March 30th: an Osprey or two, a Greater Yellowlegs, a swirling mass of Tree Swallows, and an early Long-billed Dowitcher. Over at nearby Boulder Creek, there were three pairs of Wood Ducks.

The birding was good, but the real pleasure for me was spending some time with Colorado birding legend Bob Spencer on the occasion of the last day of his 9th decade of life. Today Bob starts decade #10. Happy Birthday, Bob!

Here's a photo tribute to the occasion: http://tinyurl.com/Bob-Spencer/Walden

Ted Floyd
tedfloyd57@hotmail.com
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

[cobirds] Northern cardinal. Arapahoe

Till below Quincy. Between Street and green bridge on East side.

John. Breitsch
Denver

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[cobirds] B-T Hummers in CO?

COBirders,

  In response the report of a possible Broad-Tailed Hummingbird in Colorado Springs, yesterday my wife Treva, who has heard hundreds of them over the years, said she thought she heard one outside our house in Pueblo.  We both dismissed it as totally unlikely…….  But, as they say, birds don’t read the field guides.  Judging from the winds yesterday and today maybe they should.

Leon Bright, Pueblo

[cobirds] Osprey at Poudre River and Prospect Ave nest

I spied a single Osprey on the nest by the Poudre River and Prospect Ave in Fort Collins on Friday 3/28/14.  I drive by this nest everyday and this is the first sighting for me.

This nest successfully fledged 2 birds last year.  

Ann Donoghue
Fort Collins

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[cobirds] Cranes Leaving Daily

Cranes have been spiraling upward and leaving the Valley by the hundreds in the last 2 weeks. It is amazing how fleeting the bird seasons are. Seems they just got here, and they leave me wanting more....
 
Western Bluebirds and Williamson's sapsuckers are back in the hills. Nice to hear the rat a tat tat drumming they do.
Lisa Rawinski saw a Barrow's Goldeneye while doing surveys at Blanca Wetlands last week. (Blanca is closed for the nesting season).
 
Finally a question....what is the status of Mute Swan in Colorado? Any info would be appreciated.
 
John Rawinski
Monte Vista, CO
 

[cobirds] Probable Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Colorado Springs, El Paso Co. 3/30

My brother lives in Colorado Springs east of the Broadmoor Hotel. He called me yesterday afternoon to tell me that a hummingbird had buzzed by him and stopped to feed briefly on the vinca that were the only flowers blooming in his yard. He described the whistling sound that the bird made as it flew by and said it was green on the back. From the description, it sounds like it could only be a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird since a male Rufous Hummingbird would be obviously orange. I just checked eBird and could not find any hummingbird reports for Colorado, but Broad-tailed has been reported in New Mexico.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 31 March 2014

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
Date: March 31, 2014
email: rba AT cfobirds.org
phone: 303-659-8750
 
This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 31, 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).
 
TRUMPETER SWAN (Kiowa)
TUNDRA SWAN (Weld)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Larimer)
Thayer's Gull (*Pueblo)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Denver, El Paso)
White-winged Dove (Pueblo)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Yuma)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Pueblo)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Jefferson)
Black Phoebe (Delta, *Fremont)
Eastern Phoebe (Douglas, Pueblo)
Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso)
Fox Sparrow (*Dolores/Montezuma)
Harris's Sparrow (Delta, El Paso)
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Boulder)
Northern Cardinal (*Arapahoe, Prowers)
Rusty Blackbird (Teller)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Pitkin)
Black Rosy-Finch (Pitkin)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
--A male Northern Cardinal was reported by Frost at Highline Canal and Quincy in Cherry Hills Village on March 30.

BOULDER COUNTY:
--Severs reported that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at the Teller Farm
Parking lot by the windbreak on March 27.

DELTA COUNTY:
--A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Garrison at the FS office feeder in Paonia on March 25.
--A Black Phoebe was reported by Harris at a bridge across the Gunnison River near Dominquez Canyon Road on March 29.

DENVER COUNTY:
--A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Rurik at Marston Reservoir on March 29.

DOLORES/MONTEZUMA COUNTIES:
--A Slate-colored Fox Sparrow was reported by Vest in Lone Dome SWA on the Dolores River on March 29.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:
--A singing Eastern Phoebe was reported by Kibbe at Chafield SP on March 28.  It was singing in a tree adjacent to "Phoebe Bridge" over Plum Creek.

EL PASO COUNTY:
--At Chico Basin Ranch (fee area) Percival reported on March 25 a singing Curve-billed Thrasher and by the banding station a Harris's Sparrow.
--An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Peterson at Big Johnson on March 28.

FREMONT COUNTY:
--A Black Phoebe was reported by Moss on the Canon City Riverwalk about .25 mile east of 9th St on March 30.

KIOWA COUNTY:
--A probable TRUMPETER SWAN was reported by Kaempfer at Nee Gronda Reservoir on March 22.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
--A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was reported by Baron at Timnath Reservoir
on March 10. They were seen from the parking lot of open space (South
Shore) off of CR 40.  Leatherman reported that the Barrow's Goldeneyes continue at Timnath on March 25.

PITKIN COUNTY:
--250 Rosy-Finches of all 3 species were reported by Filby at Snowmass Ski Area on March 19.  On March 22, Gieszl reported all 3 species of Rosy-Finches at the feeder at the top of Village Express at Snowmass.

PROWERS COUNTY:
--A pair of Northern Cardinals was reported by Kaempfer at Lamar Community College Woods on March 22.  On March 25, 2 Northern Cardinals were seen by Stulp at LCCW.  

PUEBLO COUNTY:
--A singing Eastern Phoebe was reported by Percival on March 26 W of Valco Ponds parking lot along Hwy 96 in Pueblo.
--A singing Eastern Phoebe was reported by Percival on March 28 at Valco Ponds/Rock Canyon in Pueblo.
--A m YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and singing White-winged Dove were reported by Percival at Pueblo City Park on March 28.
--A juv Thayer's Gull was reported by Percival on March 29 flying above the dam at Pueblo Reservoir.

TELLER COUNTY:
--2 Rusty Blackbirds in breeding plumage were reported by Jones at Manitou Lake on March 22.  They were about 300-400 yards N of the dam along a trail on W side of Trout Creek.  Taylor reported that the pair of Rusty Blackbirds was seen again on March 23. 

WELD COUNTY:
--A TUNDRA SWAN was reported by Lefko at Loloff Reservoir on March 23.  The TUNDRA SWAN was seen
again on March 29 by Mlodinow.

YUMA COUNTY:
--A Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Witt at Sandsage SWA on March 30.

DFO Field Trips
The DFO Field Trip for Friday, April 4 will be to Denver City Park (photo and behavior trip) led by Chuck Hundertmark (303-604-0531 or chundertmark8 AT gmail.com).  Meet the leader at 0700 at the parking strip SE of 22nd Ave, just north of Ferril Lake.  From Colorado Blvd, turn west onto 22nd Ave. and go past the Museum of Nature and Science.  Turn left just before the zoo at the sign to the Pavilion Bandstand.  Park on the left at the end of the parking area closest to Ferril Lake.  
  Will photograph and observe early nesting behavior of Double-crested Cormorants, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and Snowy Egrets on Ferril and Duck Lakes.  Will also walk the park for migrants and early nesters.  An easy morning walk for half-day trip.  Bring water, snacks, bins, camera, and optional tripod and scopes.  Limit of 10 participants, so call or email leader if you plan to attend.
 
Good Birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder

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Sunday, 30 March 2014

[cobirds] Nesting American Dippers in Bighorn Canyon west of Canon City

Also on Saturday  Kathy Miller, Nina Ogilvie and Holly (?) accompanied me to the Bighorn Sheep Canon west of Canon City where we watched one American Dipper feed in the water on the other side of the river from the several anglers.  After they went on to the Westcliffe area I continued birding  in the Bighorn Canyon I located 4 American Dippers at 3 locations  with nests at two locations.  I photographed one of the dippers and one of the nests plus videoed a second one as it foraged for insects not in the water but on the shore.  I have uploaded these to my Birds and Nature blog.

SeEtta Moss
Canon City
http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com

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[cobirds] Black Phoebe, pair of Rock Wrens and pair of Say's Phoebes in Canon City Saturday

Yesterday morning I accompanied Colorado Springs birders Kathy Miller, Nina Ogilvie and Holly (?) on some birding in Canon City.  We started on the Canon City Riverwalk about a quarter mile east of 9th Street where I had found a Black Phoebe on Friday.  We did find the Black Phoebe there as well as a Wilson's Snipe in the tailwater ditch.

We looked unsuccessfully for Rufous-crowned Sparrows at Tunnel Drive but only searched the lower area and did not hike the trail.  We did find an apparent pair of Rock Wrens as they perched near each other.  We also found an apparent pair of Say's Phoebes there also.

SeEtta Moss
Canon City
http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com


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[cobirds] NE Colorado Birding (WELD, PHILLIPS, YUMA & WASHINGTON Counties)

Spent late Friday and Saturday birding with my wife in northeastern Colorado with the specific intent to visit the chickens on the prairie in Yuma County.

Decided to leave work early on Friday afternoon and stopped by the Crow Valley Campground.  Crow Creek was flowing but not much else of note except for 50+ EUROPEAN STARLING near the entrance (closed to vehicles by the way), 30+ AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, 7 AMERICAN ROBINS and 3 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.

Spent the night in Sterling and headed east before the sun (sunrise at about 6:40 AM as we were just west of Holyoke).  Used the description provided in the Colorado Birding Society's Locations by County to visit Site 7 in Yuma County (Yuma County Road 45).  The description was 'spot on' and we were able to observe a total of 9 GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS (a lifer) with binoculars and scope between about 7:45 and 8:30 AM (6 were on the lek and we scared up a pair and a single on the way in and out along the County road).

Drove into Wray, CO from the east and was completely stopped by 19 WILD TURKEYS crossing the road just east of town.  After grabbing a bite to eat in town we headed west to Sandsage State Wildlife Area where we had 3 FOY RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, a FOY EASTERN BLUEBIRD pair, a FOY RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and a FOY Empid (flycatching [what else] over the North Fork of the Republican River - never made a sound but flew off when I attempted to get close enough for a photograph).

We made our way south to the Bonny Area and Hale ponds - pretty uneventful.  The most excitement here was found just north of Hale where the flowing South Fork of the Republican River crosses County Road L1.5.  In this area we observed 15 WILD TURKEYS (in the field south of the river),  500+ RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (immediately south of the river on the ground [west side of the road] and in the big tree [east side of the road]), and 20+ AMERICAN WIDGEON in the river itself (west side of the road).

About 4:00 PM we started back for Denver along HWY 34 through Joes, Cope, Anton, and Lindon where we counted 5 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS and 1 FERRUGINOUS HAWK on fence posts and telephone/power poles.

Our last stop before Denver was the Last Chance rest area.  We arrived about 5:30 PM and spent about an hour.  Surprises here were a FOY RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (in the dense brush on the SE corner of pond) and a lone (yes single, hard to believe) FOY CEDAR WAXWING flycatching in the tree tops overhead (only lasted a short time before heading southwest).  We also spotted a FOY GREAT-HORNED OWL on the north side of HWY 34 and west bank of the next major drainage east of Last Chance as we headed home about 6:30.

All total, a long but rewarding birding day.

Gary and Lora Witt
Greenwood Village, CO

  

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[cobirds] First osprey returns to Boulder County Fairgrounds

Via the Boulder County Open Space Twitter feed at 9am today (3/30/2014):

The first osprey has returned and is on the nest right now! BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/osprey


Boulder County has replaced the nest camera that had problems last year. The link leads to the webcam page.


- Barry Gingrich

Broomfield County

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[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (30 Mar 2014) 12 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 30, 2014
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture122
Osprey000
Bald Eagle02525
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk055
Cooper's Hawk21515
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk6129129
Rough-legged Hawk077
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk188
Golden Eagle066
American Kestrel11414
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon022
Prairie Falcon055
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter122
Unknown Buteo055
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor044
Total:12229229


Observation start time: 09:15:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official CounterLee Farrell
Observers: Bill Wuerthele, Bob Holmes, Francis Commercon, Jeanette Strom, Nathan Berry, Rob Reilly



Visitors:
A number of visitors stopped by the station and inquired as to what we were doing and about the HawkWatch. Bea Slingsby stopped by briefly to check on our progress.

Weather:
An overcast day with mild temperatures and low winds during the morning and early afternoon provided a tolerable day weather wise. High clouds covering the sky in the morning were relatively thin, condensation trails of jet airliners passing above could be seen through the clouds. The cloud layer thickened to heavier overcast around noontime. Comparatively light winds were variable in direction until the 1:00 PM hour when they picked up to 3 and then 4 (bft) out of the northwest.

Raptor Observations:
The 10:00 AM hour provided 5 migrating raptors, no other hour of the day had more than 2. During the morning hours most of the migrants were at or below the elevation of the station. Later in the day both migrants and residents soared very high in the sky, often at or beyond binocular range where their paths seemed to inevitably find the sun. This often required a significant effort and arm strength to discern migrating birds. A Ferruginous Hawk and early migrating Turkey Vulture provided the highlights of the day. Local raptors observed included: Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon.

Non-raptor Observations:
A Great Horned Owl was heard on the way up the trail in the morning. Other bird species seen or heard included: American Crow, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, White-throated Swift, Mountain Chickadee, Western Scrub Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, and Northern Flicker.

Predictions:
The high winds predicted for tomorrow should help to keep whatever migrating birds there might be down close to the elevation of the station and in a determined flight pattern to the north.


Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.birek@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/

Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.

Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.



[cobirds] Re: Northern Cardinal

How far south of the road?

Karl Stecher
Centennial

Kate Frost writes:

> Just saw a male Northern Cardinal at the Highline Canal and Quincy. Cherry
> Hills Village 80113. The ditch is dry and he was low in the brush on the
> south side of Quincy. Dogs, runners and bikers galore; a few birders
> shouldn't make a difference!
>
> Kate Frost
> Centennial, CO
> Sunday, March 30, 1:30 pm
>
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[cobirds] Jeffco -- FOS White-throated Swift

One, seen this morning from the top of Carpenter Peak, in Roxborough State Park. Another good harbinger of Spring.

David Gillilan
Littleton

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[cobirds] Common Grackle alert!! Pueblo

COBirders,

   Today at 15:30 hours one Common Grackle was detected in the alley of the 600 block of Henry Ave. in Pueblo.  It is surely headed north and no doubt scouting for future gang activity in Colorado.  Even though the winds are gusty and dirt-filled at this time, all units are urged to initiate feeder-protecting protocols.  Be prepared for reports relating increasing numbers of this species of interest.  Out.

Leon Bright

Pueblo

   P.S.  On a more pacific note a few Mourning Doves have appeared here in the last three days.

 

[cobirds] Pueblo birding 3/29-3/30

After a pretty good morning of birding on Friday around Pueblo, I didn't find much of note over the weekend, though I only birded until 10am both days.

On 29 Mar:
My highlights were one juvenile Thayer's Gull flying above the dam, at Pueblo Reservoir.  One Ladder-backed Woodpecker was in Rock Canyon, and it flew over into Valco Ponds areas.

On 30 Mar:
Two Common Loons continue at Pueblo Reservoir near the dam, and there was a large group of Western and Clark's Grebes off Sailboard Launching Area.

Good birding, 

Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO

Re: [cobirds] Greater Scaup (?) Colorado Springs


I'm pretty sure this bird on the right, is a ? Scaup x Ring-necked Duck hybrid with a Lesser Scaup on the left.

 

Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO



From: kickback <bill_kosar@msn.com>
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 4:56 PM
Subject: [cobirds] Greater Scaup (?) Colorado Springs

I think these pictures that I took this morning confirm the Greater Scaup reported by Jim Nelson at the Doubletree pond in Colorado Springs.
 

Bill
 
Colorado Springs


[cobirds] Greater Scaup (?) Colorado Springs

I think these pictures that I took this morning confirm the Greater Scaup reported by Jim Nelson at the Doubletree pond in Colorado Springs.
 
Male Greater Scaup
 
Female Greater Scaup (in center of picture)
 
Male Greater Scaup (right side of picture, Lesser Scaup in center)
 
Any comments would be appreciated, the correct ID of these ducks is challenging!.
 
Thanks
 
Bill
 
Colorado Springs

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[cobirds] Turkey Vultures - Adams

At around 7:30 Friday evening, Jeff Carter observed approximately twenty Turkey Vultures landing in neighborhood trees near U.S. 36 and Sheridan Blvd. in Westminster. At 6:30 this morning, sixteen vultures were present. They departed at around 9:30 a.m.

Chuck Lowrie, Denver

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[cobirds] Northern Cardinal

Just saw a male Northern Cardinal at the Highline Canal and Quincy. Cherry Hills Village 80113. The ditch is dry and he was low in the brush on the south side of Quincy. Dogs, runners and bikers galore; a few birders shouldn't make a difference!

Kate Frost
Centennial, CO
Sunday, March 30, 1:30 pm

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RE: [cobirds] Possible Heron Rookery-Douglas Co-Parker

This morning I ran past the location Jean talked about in her e-mail earlier this week.   I would like to confirm that this is an active Great Blue Heron rookery.  There were 20 birds in the trees noted in her email.   There were pairs standing on 8 nests and the other birds were standing on tree branches near the nests.  I did not have binoculars because I was running but it was very obvious when one knows where to look.  I run here every Sunday morning and will enjoy monitoring the activity.

 

I also have the good fortune of having a Red-tailed Hawk nest across the street from my home in Parker.  It is high in a tree in a green space that backs up to my neighbors' home.  I'm hoping I won't get arrested as a peeping tom as I have my spotting scope set up in the living room and from the street it appears to be aimed directly at their house.    Not really, it's watching the female on the nest and the male standing guard duty nearby.

 

Pam Munroe

Parker,

Douglas County, CO

 

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of stevenson.jean@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 4:56 PM
To: CObirds
Subject: [cobirds] Possible Heron Rookery-Douglas Co-Parker

 

Lat 39 33 02 N

Long 104 47 00 W

At approx. 3:00PM, this afternoon, March 26, I observed at least ten Great Blue Herons perching in tall cottonwood trees and taking off soaring in circles, then returning to the trees.  I did not see any nest building activity, but there were potential nests (small collections of sticks) all around. Maybe they were simply on a migration rest stop? The trees are in a fenced "Wildlife Conservation Area" along Cherry Creek, just north of a small duck pond which is visible to the north from westbound E-470 between Parker Rd and Jordan Rd, north of the center of Parker CO. I was on the Cherry Creek bike path where I ride frequently, so I plan to check this out again in a couple of days. I had my binoculars because I was scanning for owl and hawk nests which I did not find.  I did see a hawk, likely Red tailed, standing on the edge of a nest high in a cottonwood tree west of Cherry Creek and just south of the greenhouses at Tagawa Gardens.

Other birds seen between Arapahoe Rd and Lincoln Ave:  Belted Kingfisher, Killdeer, Mourning Doves, Robins, Red winged Blackbirds, Northern Flickers, Canada Geese, Crows, Coots, Gadwalls,Lesser Scaups, Mallards

Also the bugs were out hitting me in the face.  Spring is definitely here.

 

Jean Stevenson

Aurora CO

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