cobirds colorado rare bird: May 2014

Saturday, 31 May 2014

[cobirds] Ken Caryl Valley open space - more Ovenbirds; Jefferson Co

Following up on Mike's recent post I covered some trails in the "Foothills Open Space" of Ken Caryl Valley (no public access to this open space), south of Mike's area of coverage, and including the area where I reported Ovenbirds a week ago. I tallied 24 OVENBIRDS while surveying along the Lost Canyon Trail, and parts of the Shaffer Trail and Upper Massey Draw Loop Trail. 22 were singing on apparent territories, but one was carrying nest material in an aspen grove beside Massey Creek, and another was closely positioned with one of the singing birds, as if paired. A singing male INDIGO BUNTING was along Shaffer Trail near the top of Lost Canyon Trail.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

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[cobirds] Northeast Colorado May 31 (Logan, Phillips, Washington)

Visiting Tamarack Ranch SWA in Logan County this time of year is a Colorado birding highlight, and many of us have visited recently. Tim Smart and I started the day there, finding a soggy version of Tamarack this time. Roads were sloppy, and walking to the river would have involved wading in ankle- to knee-deep water at least three times. Nevertheless, the birding was enjoyable. The most memorable birds on the east side were a GREEN HERON at the fishing pond (area 13) and singing male CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER somewhere between areas 13 and 12. The surprise on the west side was 3 LESSER GOLDFINCHES (area 2). Expected local specialties were at Tamarack this morning, including Bell's Vireos (areas 1 and 2 on the west side), Northern Cardinals, 3 types of Orioles, Field Sparrows, lots of Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers, and a Great Crested Flycatcher. We were unable to find any Cuckoos. Other birds this morning included a singing Willow Flycatcher, two Yellow-breasted Chats, lots of Blue Grosbeaks, hybrid Towhees, and a good candidate (can't be sure) for male Eastern Towhee.

Near Hwy 138 between Crook and Jumbo/Red Lion (Logan County), we found an UPLAND SANDPIPER perched on a fence post. At Red Lion SWA itself, the highlights were a GOLDEN EAGLE and several BLACK TERNS.

At Holyoke Cemetery (Phillips County), we found a singing immature AMERICAN REDSTART, a Baltimore x Bullock's Oriole (probably the one reported recently by Kellner and Lawrence), and nearby singing Dickcissels (also previously reported). At the nearby Fishin' Hole, the most interesting find was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

Before heading home, we stopped by Prewitt Reservoir and birded below the dam (Washington County side). We found it to be eerily quiet. This area can really be hit or miss.

David Dowell

Longmont, CO

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[cobirds] Manitou Lake, Teller County - 58 species!!!

I beat my Big Day Record of 56 species by 2 at Manitou Lake today with the help of 4 Empidonax (Cordilleran, Hammonds, Dusky, Willow); all calling in appropriate habitat.

Dave Elwonger birded with me this morning and helped me out and then I went back after the rains this afternoon.

My previous record of 56 in a day at Manitou Lake Park (Fee area) was done twice on the same day on May 18^th, 2010 and 2014! Today I got 58 species. Complete list below my signature.

Highlights were:

· Willow Flycatcher; seen both in morning giving fitz-bew song and in afternoon calling. Only seen by me two other times here in 26 years.

· Hammond’s Flycatcher; a recent new-comer to the big pines below the dam on the west side of the creek. First sighting of one by me here was last year. Today there were a few singing.

· MacGillivray’s Warbler

· Lazuli Bunting

Not bad for a little mountain lake. Missed on so many common birds that I could have easily gotten over 60. No chickadees (mtn and black-capped), nuthatches (pygmy and white-breasted), mourning dove, woodpeckers, coot, pied-billed grebe, etc. Still a great day.

Jeff J Jones

(jjones@jonestc.com)

Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands

FIRST SIGHTINGS: World: 0, Location: 0, Annual: 7, World Annual: 4

Species: 58 - Subspecies: 0 - Forms: 58

Total Records: 58

Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca

Common Merganser Mergus merganser

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis

American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Virginia Rail Rallus limicola

Sora Porzana carolina

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata

California Gull Larus californicus

Eurasian Collared-Dove [a] Streptopelia decaocto

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Red-naped Sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus

Willow Flycatcher [a*] Empidonax traillii

Hammond's Flycatcher [a*] Empidonax hammondii

Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri

Cordilleran Flycatcher [a] Empidonax occidentalis

Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus

Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus

Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos

Common Raven Corvus corax

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

House Wren Troglodytes aedon

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher [a*] Polioptila caerulea

Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis

MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia

Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata

Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii

Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana

Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus

Lazuli Bunting [a*] Passerina amoena

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

American Goldfinch [a] Spinus tristis

Birder's Diary - www.BirdersDiary.com - 5/31/2014

[cobirds] Re: Identify 500 birds with new Birdsnap app

I gave this a try today on my iPhone with much excitement! Being a birder, a photographer and a computer scientist, this app is a pretty good amalgamation of the things I most interested in!

I had some scope shots of a female House Finch and a male Black-headed Grosbeak on my feeder that were fairly clear and large in the frame. Every single shot of the house finch resulted in an ID of either Mourning Dove or Eurasian-collared Dove. The Black-headed Grosbeak was IDed as a Henslow's Sparrow. Those were the only two I had to try so I'll have to give it more of a chance as I get more scope shots, but so far it's batting a big fat 0. Cool idea though - I hope it does better on my next tests, and they improve its algorithms as well!

Jackson Trappett
Grand Junction

On Saturday, May 31, 2014 9:20:18 AM UTC-6, Marty wrote:

Cobirders,

Technology gets more & more useful--or scary? I don't have an iPhone, but those who do, have a free opportunity to see how good or bad this latest iteration may be... Take a picture of your bird sighting with your phone and get an ID! Getting the pic with an iPhone may be the hardest part, tho I guess some do that thru a scope... Will we be flooded with false IDs? Or will this end all ID-debates? They're working on incorporating vocalizations into a future version--and talking about incorporating the whole app into smart-binocs. Who needs a brain?

http://earthsky.org/earth/identify-500-birds-with-new-birdsnap-app?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=859a669f59-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-859a669f59-393692797

Marty Wolf,
NW CO Spgs

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[cobirds] Black and Eastern Phoebes, Boulder Co.

All,

I stopped at the 75th Street bridge over Boulder Creek at 9:15 this
morning. The first bird I saw on the west side of the bridge was a Black
Phoebe, and the second was an Eastern Phoebe, both searching for insects
just above the creek. Subsequently, I went to the Hwy 287 bridge and the
109th Street pond and did not see a Black Phoebe there. So, perhaps it is
the same bird seen previously in the latter area that has moved a couple
of miles upstream.

Cheers, Peter Gent.

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[cobirds] Summer Tanager, Rio Grande County

Summer Tanager was seen twice at my home in Del Norte on May 30.

Virginia Simmons, Del Norte

[cobirds] Identify 500 birds with new Birdsnap app

Cobirders,

Technology gets more & more useful--or scary? I don't have an iPhone, but those who do, have a free opportunity to see how good or bad this latest iteration may be... Take a picture of your bird sighting with your phone and get an ID! Getting the pic with an iPhone may be the hardest part, tho I guess some do that thru a scope... Will we be flooded with false IDs? Or will this end all ID-debates? They're working on incorporating vocalizations into a future version--and talking about incorporating the whole app into smart-binocs. Who needs a brain?

http://earthsky.org/earth/identify-500-birds-with-new-birdsnap-app?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=859a669f59-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-859a669f59-393692797

Marty Wolf,
NW CO Spgs

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 31 May 2014

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: May 301, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, May 31 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).

LEAST BITTERN (El Paso/Pueblo)

Green Heron (Huerfano, *Pueblo)

WHITE IBIS (Washington)

GLOSSY IBIS (El Paso/Pueblo)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Pueblo)

Least Tern (Montrose)

LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Montrose)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (Larimer, San Juan)

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (*Weld)

ALDER FLYCATCHER (Logan)

Black Phoebe (Mesa)

Eastern Phoebe (*Pueblo)

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Bent)

White-eyed Vireo (Weld)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Lincoln)

PHILADELPHIA VIREO (*Boulder)

Blue-winged Warbler (Jefferson)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (*Washington)

Magnolia Warbler (Jefferson, Kit Carson)

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Larimer)

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Logan)

Blackpoll Warbler (El Paso/Pueblo, Larimer)

Worm-eating Warbler (Jefferson)

Ovenbird (El Paso/Pueblo, Larimer)

Northern Waterthrush (Arapahoe, Fremont, Weld)

KENTUCKY WARBLER (Logan)

Hooded Warbler (El Paso/Pueblo)

EASTERN TOWHEE (Logan)

Black-throated Sparrow (Garfield/Mesa)

Fox Sparrow (San Juan)

BENT COUNTY:

--A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was reported by Duane Nelson S of Las Animas on May 25. It was 1/2 mile S of mm 3 on Hwy 101.

BOULDER COUNTY:

--A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported by Burke in Gregory Canyon in Boulder on May 28.

EL PASO/PUEBLO COUNTIES:

--At Chico Basin Ranch on May 26, Percival reported on the Pueblo Side LEAST BITTERN at Rose Pond, GLOSSY IBIS at HQ Pond, m Blackpoll Warbler and f Hooded Warbler at HQ willows and on the EL Paso side Ovenbird.

HUERFANO COUNTY:

--A Green Heron was reported by Neldner at Lathrop SP at small wildlife ponds behind Horseshoe Lake on May 27.

GARFIELD/MESA COUNTIES

--On May 29, Zerbi reported Black-throated Sparrow and Sagebrush Sparrow on CO 139 by the Garfield/Mesa County line.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--A Blue-winged Warbler was reported by Jones at Welchester Tree Grant Park on May 22. On May 23, Shade reported that the Blue-winged Warbler continued at Welchester and it was seen by many other birders. On May 24, Willis reported that the Blue-winged Warbler continues at Welchester. On May 25, Schmidt reported the Blue-winged Warbler at Welchester Tree Park in mid-afternoon. On May 26, Edwards reported that the Blue-winged Warbler was singing at Welchester and the birds was seen my many birders on May 26. On May 27, Roller reported that the Blue-winged Warbler continues at Welchester Tree Park. On May 28, Brower reported that the Blue-winged Warbler continues at Welchester Tree Park.

--A Worm-eating Warbler was reported by Kibbe at Belmar Park on May 27.

--An ad m Magnolia Warbler was banded by McBurney at Chatfield Banding Station on May 28.

KIT CARSON COUNTY:

--A f Magnolia Warbler was reported by Kaempfer at Flager SWA upstream from the reservoir on May 26.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--3 American Three-toed Woodpeckers were reported by Komar in the burn area of Rist Canyon on May 26.

--3 singing Ovenbirds were reported by Komar in upper Rist Canyon on May 26.

LINCOLN COUNTY:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Floyd where Horse Creek crosses CR M off Hwy 81 near mile marker 60 on May 25.

LOGAN COUNTY:

--An EASTERN TOWHEE and ALDER FLYCATCHER were reported by Mlodinow at Area 11 of Tamarack Ranch on May 25.

--On May 25 at Tamarack Ranch, Area 11, Walbek reported YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and KENTUCKY WARBLER.

MESA COUNTY:

--A Black Phoebe was reported by Stigen at Audubon Trail in Grand Junction by Phoebe Rock on May 26.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

--A LESSER NIGHTHAWK and Least Tern were reported by Dexter 1 mile west of Nucla on a farm pond on May 26. The LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen again the evening of May 28 by the farm pond. On May 29 De Fonso reported that the LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen again by ag ponds along 5th Ave W of town.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--A 1-st cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Percival at Pueblo Reservoir on May 30.

--2 Green Herons were reported by Percival at Pueblo City Park on May 30.

--A Eastern Phoebe was reported by Percival at Valco Ponds W of parking lot on May 30.

SAN JUAN COUNTY:

--In the Silverton area on Upper Lime Creek Morris reported a singing Fox Sparrow on May 26.

--On CR 2, Morris reported 2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers on May 26.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

--A WHITE IBIS was reported by Walbek at the Akron Golf Course on May 25.

--A Chestnut-sided Warbler was reported by Kellner at Last Chance Rest Stop on May 30.

WELD COUNTY:

--On May 26 at Crow Valley, Baron reported White-eyed Vireo.

--On May 29 at Crow Valley, Sheeter reported EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and Northern Waterthrush.

DFO Field Trips:

The DFO field trip for Saturday, May 31 will be to Lair o' the Bear led by Nina Routh (303-987-8687) Meet at 0800 at the west end of Lair parking lot for our annual trek (half-day trip) to see who has flown in for the season. Plan on 2-3 miles of hiking on a single track in foothills area in coniferous/juniper/aspen and riparian habitats. Bring binocs, water, sunscreen, snacks. Dress for changeable weather. Intense study of creek side habitat and feeders at Bear Creek Restaurant in Kittridge for lunch. Hwy 285 s/w or C470 to Morrison (Hwy 74) continue through Morrison and west past Idledale and a few more miles to entrance on the left. This is a limit trip, reservations only. Call Nina at 303-987-8687.

The DFO field trip for Sunday, June 1 will be to the Lyons Area led by Raymond Davis. Meet at the Lyons Park-n-Ride just south of 4th and Main by the skateboard park and visitor center at 0830. Will check out flood damage and see how Mother Nature bats last. Walk level ground for 1-3 miles, bird by car, and then eat lunch on Davis's decks. Wheelchair accessible.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder

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Friday, 30 May 2014

[cobirds] Blue-winged warbler Jeff Co. Welchester tree grant park 5/30

I saw the warbler today around 12:45pm in the large cottonwood that was behind me as I stood looking at the half dead Russian olive trees to the east.

Good birding,
Kathy Miller
Colo Springs

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[cobirds] BLUE-WINGED WARBLER at Welchester Tree Grant Park, Jefferson Co. on May 30

While at the park today from about 11:30am until 1pm the Blue-winged warbler was heard and seen briefly in a large cottonwood that was right behind me when I faced the half dead russian olive trees.
Sorry for the late post, Just got to an internet connection

Good birding,
Kathy Miller
Colo. Sprgs

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[cobirds] Chestnut-sided Warbler - Washington County

A group of us visited the rest area at Last Chance, Colorado today and found an adult (presumably male) Chestnut-sided Warbler. The bird was in the treed "ravine" south of the pond.

Last Chance is located at the intersection of Colorado Highway 36 (east of Byers) and Colorado Highway 71.

Joey Kellner

Littleton, Colorado

[cobirds] Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space - Jeffco

Hello All,

Completed the annual Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space yesterday and today with help from Michael Kiessig and Chuck Aid. The total was 33 singing Ovenbirds, the same number as last year.

Some historical background: When I first moved to the Willow Springs area and started hiking in the Open Space Area, I noticed there were many singing Ovenbirds. When I told people I thought there were 20 -30 Ovenbirds in the area, they were surprised at the high numbers and thought that very unusual for Jefferson County (not so for El Paso County and the Air Force Academy areas). So in 2008 I laid out point-transects over two days, and have conducted the Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space annually during the last few days of May or the first few days in June. Willow Springs is located just south of Highway 285 along the foothills. The Open Space Area (which is open only to residents) is located in the foothills, and adjoins Mount Lindo (Denver Mountain Parks) on the north, Jefferson County Open Space on the west, and Ken Caryl Open Space (private also) on the south.

The Ovenbirds are found in small canyons/ravines in forests with thick undergrowth. The ravines usually have some running water in the spring (not year round), the south facing slopes are Ponderosa Pine with Gambel's oak understory, while the north facing slopes are Douglas fir with a thick understory of various shrubs. Most areas have small aspen groves or stringers of aspen, but not all. The areas preferred by the Ovenbirds are a mosaic, and the key component seems to be forest with thick undergrowth along a hillside, not any specific habitat dominated by a specific tree or plant. Forest areas nearby that have less of an understory and show some bare ground do not have any ovenbirds.

From 2008 - 2011, the survey produced about 20 singing Ovenbirds each year - the low was 19 and the high was 21.
in 2012, we had 24 singing Ovenbirds.
In 2013 and 2014, we had 33 singing Ovenbirds.

The birds seem to be spreading into new areas rather than just increasing in density in the original areas where they first noted.

Mike Henwood
now living in Grand Junction, Mesa County
formerly a resident of Willow Springs, Morrison, Jefferson County.

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[cobirds] Re: Playback

I am covering for Dodd Deininger this week as moderator of CObirds, while Todd is away

and taking a well-deserved break from moderating.

Thanks for everyone's input on the subject of tape playback.

I am closing this discussion.

Thanks,

Joe Roller, Denver

On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 9:51 PM, Steven Mlodinow <sgmlod@aol.com> wrote:

Greetings
Sorry, but as evidenced by Cathy's apology, the implication was that she had been a bad girl. If the intent was to say otherwise, then a bit more explanation would've been nice

Respectfully
Steve

Sent from my iPhone

On May 29, 2014, at 9:45 PM, Dick Filby <dickfilby@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi Steve,

Apart perhaps from Gary's insinuation by asking the question, seeing as the only two replies were mine and Joe's....

I certainly hoped that my contribution had no chance of being seen by anyone as in the slightest critical of Cathy, never-mind holier-than-thou, and reading Joe's again, I think it would be hard to construe any jot of criticism implied there either. My intent, which I had hoped was abundantly clear, was to put a stop-before-it-started to the almost inevitable endless spouting of non-original 'comment' that such topics generate until the moderator jumps in. Cobirds generally isn't bad for that, but some other lists that I follow have been dire this spring.. to the extent of making it hard to spot news of bird sightings..

On a personal note – I agree wholeheartedly with your position. It is 100% mine too! I still really hope that this doesn't degenerate into a lengthy, and IMO, unnecessary, cobirds debate.

I've copied Joe in, so as to perhaps head that off at the pass (as we say in the UK)

best supportive wishes

Dick

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com]
Sent: 30 May 2014 04:23
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Playback
Importance: High

Excuse me. Please, give that holier-than-thou bit a break folks.

Eastern Wood-Pewees are not rare birds, but a common species in North America. Rare in Colorado, and also likely a migrant, hardly disturbed by a couple plays of a recording.

Cathy wasn't some idiot chaser trying to lure a bird in for a tick (as many were doing with the already-obvious Painted Redstart earlier this spring, to get that killer photo), but she was trying to identify this thing. After it called, she did not pester it with persistent playback to get that "smashing photo." She was able to photograph it using skill.

Nor was she playing tapes at a Spotted Owl.

Try applying a tad of common sense, please, and look at the spirit of the rules. When there's a rare bird present, don't torture it. Don't use playback on scarce breeders, as this might effect the population.

If Cathy hadn't sparingly used playback, no one would've known that there was an Eastern WP at Crow today. I think that is reason enough for her judicious use of playback. Something called scientific curiosity.

And I might add that I suspect that some of those spouting ABA ethics have probably played a Black Rail tape or two in their time.

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO

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[cobirds] Subject: Acorn Woodpeckers reported from Rye, Colorado

dllaliberte@yahoo.com
Subject: Acorn Woodpeckers reported from Rye, Colorado

Hi all, A friend of mine, Diana, who lives in the area of Rye, CO, recently reported an Acorn Woodpecker on her Facebook page. This species is a first for her. She took some nice photographs of the bird at her birdfeeders.

I have not lived in Colorado for about ten years now – I don't keep up with CO birds like I did before this time. Should I advise her to submit a Rare Bird Committee & report? Thanks for any help regarding this matter.

Happy birding!

David Laliberte
Clearwater, FL

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[cobirds] Philadelphia Vireo - Late report for Gregory Canyon, Boulder Cty.

COBirders,

I visited Gregory Canyon Wednesday evening. The access is challenging as the road remains dramatically washed out from the Sept. floods, photo but there is limited parking available.

Plumbeous Vireos were numerous and vocal, though difficult to see. Trying to track one down is when I was fortunate to see the Philly Vireo fly into a Ponderosa Pine. It had a very bright yellow throat and breast and a dark head with bright white supercillium. It was not singing but did offer a few "sneer" calls that readily separate it from Warbling Vireo, which nests in the canyon.

Other nice birds included heard Red-breasted Nuthatch and singing Hermit Thrush, and a displaying Yellow-breasted Chat.

Peter Burke

Editor, Colorado Birds

Colorado Field Ornithologists

935 11th St. Boulder, CO 80302

(973) 214-0140

CFO Flickr LinkedIn

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[cobirds] Bobolinks (Douglas)

This morning I saw four Bobolinks on Castlewood Canyon Rd 2 miles East of Lake Gulch Rd. This is right before the entrance gate to Winkler Ranch, on the south side of the road in the alfalfa fields. Some longtime birders know of this location, I'm posting for those new to the area or new to birding.

Dan Stringer, West of Larkspur

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[cobirds] Register now for the CFO Convention

Cobirders,

2014 has been a spring migration of historic proportions for us birders here in Colorado. For instance, by my count I can come up with 40 warbler species reported for the state this spring (there are only 47 warblers on the Colorado Bird Records Committee list for the state).

Nevertheless, all good things come to an end, as the old yarn goes. Migration reports are fizzling out. Except for a Blue-winged Warbler here or an Eastern Wood Pewee there we have pretty much run through the season.

But don’t despair, now is the time to get ready for fall migration by signing up for the Colorado Field Ornithologists’ annual convention—scheduled for the last weekend in August (Thursday, August 28 through Labor Day, Monday, September 1^st) in Sterling, Colorado. The last weekend of August is probably the peak of fall migration with hoards of shorebirds joining a steady push of migratory song birds as well as many eastern species pushing west to check out Colorado on their way south. So the birding at the convention will be terrific. But we will also feature the many extras that you have come to expect from a CFO convention: a no-charge Thursday night welcome BBQ; the ID Challenge; our annual scientific paper session presenting fascinating research results about Colorado birds; and our annual convention banquet featuring out keynote speaker, author and birder extraordinaire, Jon L. Dunn.

For years I’ve organized field trips to the northeast corner of the state at the end of August to capture this migration and the thrills range from the rare species, like Buff-breasted Sandpiper, for which we have only a very narrow window of opportunity at the end of August, to huge and breath taking congregations of more common species like 3,000 American White Pelicans, 1,000 Black Terns or 5,000 Baird’s Sandpipers. This is birding not to be missed.

And you won’t miss it if you sign up for this year’s CFO Convention by visiting http://cfobirds.org/convention/2014/index.htm

Bill Kaempfer

President, CFO

[cobirds] Pueblo birds 5/30

Hi all,

Since it was cloudy this morning, and I was up very early, mowing the grass, I decided to go birding around a few spots in Pueblo for a couple of hours.

Here are my highlights (mostly just odd things for late May in Pueblo).

Pueblo Reservoir:
Black-necked Stilt - 2 (at Sailboard launching area)
Ruddy Duck - 1
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - 1 first year (South Shore Marina)
Herring Gull - 1 adult (South Shore Marina)
Franklin's Gull - 2 (SE Corner of Pueblo   Res.)
Also many California and Ring-billed Gulls at the South Shore Marina
Eared and Western Grebes

Pueblo City   Park:
Swainson's Thrush - 2 singing
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 singing
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Mississippi Kite - 2 (pair at nest)
Green Heron - 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 (eastern part of park)

Valco Ponds (west of Parking lot):
Eastern Phoebe - 1
 

Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO  

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 30 May 2014

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: May 30, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, May 30 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).

LEAST BITTERN (El Paso/Pueblo)

Green Heron (Huerfano)

WHITE IBIS (Washington)

GLOSSY IBIS (El Paso/Pueblo)

Least Tern (Montrose)

LESSER NIGHTHAWK (*Montrose)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (Larimer, San Juan)

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (*Weld)

ALDER FLYCATCHER (Logan)

Black Phoebe (Mesa)

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Bent)

White-eyed Vireo (Weld)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Lincoln)

Blue-winged Warbler (Jefferson)

Magnolia Warbler (Jefferson, Kit Carson)

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Larimer)

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Logan)

Blackpoll Warbler (El Paso/Pueblo, Larimer)

Worm-eating Warbler (Jefferson)

Ovenbird (El Paso/Pueblo, Larimer)

Northern Waterthrush (Arapahoe, Fremont, *Weld)

KENTUCKY WARBLER (Logan)

Hooded Warbler (El Paso/Pueblo)

EASTERN TOWHEE (Logan)

Black-throated Sparrow (*Garfield/Mesa)

Fox Sparrow (San Juan)

BENT COUNTY:

--A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was reported by Duane Nelson S of Las Animas on May 25. It was 1/2 mile S of mm 3 on Hwy 101.

EL PASO/PUEBLO COUNTIES:

HUERFANO COUNTY:

--A Green Heron was reported by Neldner at Lathrop SP at small wildlife ponds behind Horseshoe Lake on May 27.

GARFIELD/MESA COUNTIES

--On May 29, Zerbi reported Black-throated Sparrow and Sagebrush Sparrow on CO 139 by the Garfield/Mesa County line.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--A Worm-eating Warbler was reported by Kibbe at Belmar Park on May 27.

--An ad m Magnolia Warbler was banded by McBurney at Chatfield Banding Station on May 28.

KIT CARSON COUNTY:

--A f Magnolia Warbler was reported by Kaempfer at Flager SWA upstream from the reservoir on May 26.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--3 American Three-toed Woodpeckers were reported by Komar in the burn area of Rist Canyon on May 26.

--3 singing Ovenbirds were reported by Komar in upper Rist Canyon on May 26.

LINCOLN COUNTY:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Floyd where Horse Creek crosses CR M off Hwy 81 near mile marker 60 on May 25.

LOGAN COUNTY:

--An EASTERN TOWHEE and ALDER FLYCATCHER were reported by Mlodinow at Area 11 of Tamarack Ranch on May 25.

--On May 25 at Tamarack Ranch, Area 11, Walbek reported YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and KENTUCKY WARBLER.

MESA COUNTY:

--A Black Phoebe was reported by Stigen at Audubon Trail in Grand Junction by Phoebe Rock on May 26.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

SAN JUAN COUNTY:

--In the Silverton area on Upper Lime Creek Morris reported a singing Fox Sparrow on May 26.

--On CR 2, Morris reported 2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers on May 26.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

--A WHITE IBIS was reported by Walbek at the Akron Golf Course on May 25.

WELD COUNTY:

--On May 26 at Crow Valley, Baron reported White-eyed Vireo.

--On May 29 at Crow Valley, Sheeter reported EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and Northern Waterthrush.

DFO Field Trips:

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Boulder

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Thursday, 29 May 2014

[cobirds] Reservoir Ridge NA Trailhead (FtCollins,Larimer) on 5/29

Late this afternoon I stopped by the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area Trailhead which is in the far northwest part of Fort Collins west of Overland Trail about a mile south of Michaud Lane. This is the area where Bobolinks have been seen for the last week or so. Today I would estimate at least 6 males and a couple females still working both sides of the east-west fenceline a couple hundred yards west of the parking lot. The sound was amazing. Most of the Bobolink activity is in the hayfield north of the e-w fenceline that parallels the trail, but they occurred in the City-owned weedy fields south of the fence on several occasions.

Other birds in this area today:
Blue Grosbeak (male) briefly perched on a fence post next to a post occupied by a male Bobolink (the song "Blue On Black" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd came to mind)

Grasshopper Sparrow (1 heard on the City property south of the e-w fenceline)
Vesper Sparrow (multiples seen and heard)
Lark Sparrow (multiples seen and heard)
Western Kingbird (couple)
Eastern Kingbird (1)

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

[cobirds] Lesser Nighthawk continues, Montrose

Hi folks,

Although I'm completely missing out on the remarkable migration season on the east slope this year because of west slope field work, I partially made up for it by seeing the (dare I say) regularly recurring LESSER NIGHTHAWK in Nucla, Montrose County. Thanks to Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright whom I met up with, I was able to both get great views of the bird in a timely manner and have excellent company while I did so. It was a Colorado lifer for me all the same and I'm very appreciative of the reports of this species over the years. In fact, it was the report by Coen of this bird in Nucla last year at this time that inspired me to angle for getting SW Colorado survey transects with my RMBO work for this season, just so I'd be in place to look for this bird if/when it reappeared again.

The bird does indeed make its appearance right around 8:20pm by the ag ponds along 5th Ave just west of town. The wrinkle for today as Coen related to me was that today was the frist day this year that he and Brenda had seen Common Nighthawks at the location as well. This provided me with excellent comparison opportunities between the male Lesser and the 8-10 or so Commons that were coursing aggressively over the ponds for all manner of insects.

I plan on searching other SW Colorado ponds and reservoirs in the next few weeks for other Lessers that may be lurking in the state and going unrecorded.

I should add that no playback was used to attract or discombobulate the bird, which is too bad because this species makes some really cool sounds that are fun to listen to. I did however ruthlessly slaughter many biting insects that were attempting to feast on my blood during the early evening. So sorry about that.

Eric DeFonso

(usually Boulder, but currently Cortez), CO

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[cobirds] N Boulder, S Larimer county spottings

While scouting for my DFO trip around Lyons this upcoming Sunday, I found the following

… (scan for bold, for the more interesting stuff )

5 Western Grebe

45 Great Blue Heron (Crane Hollow Road rookery)

25 Canada Goose

4 Mallard

2 Redhead

2 Common Merganser

2 Osprey (nest)

2 Red-tailed Hawk (nest on Old South Rd)

2 Swainson’s Hawk

1 Golden Eagle (soaring over Lyons)

3 American Kestrel

4 Killdeer

3 Spotted Sandpiper

4 Eurasian Collared Dove

14 Rock Pigeon

35 Mourning Dove

3 Common Poorwill (heard nightly at my place)

12 Broad-tailed Hummingbird

2 Hairy Woodpecker (feeding my suet to her nestlings, I think)

3 Northern Flicker

3 Western Wood-Pewee

2 Cordilleran Flycatcher

1 Say’s Phoebe

2 Western Kingbird

3 Eastern Kingbird

6 Tree Swallow (nesting)

12 Violet-Green Swallow (nesting)

35 Bank Swallow

3 Barn Swallow

5 Steller’s Jay

2 Blue Jay

1 Scrub Jay

15 Pinyon Jay (my feeders)

1 Clark’s Nutcracker (at my place, 6,000 ft, in late May!)

3 Black-billed Magpie

2 American Crow

6 Common Raven (apparently 4 fledged out of nest north of me on 4/27)

2 Black-capped Chickadee

2 Mountain Chickadee

2 White-breasted Nuthatch (nesting)

5 Pygmy Nuthatch

6 House Wren (nesting)

2 Western Bluebird (nesting, I believe)

2 Mountain Bluebird

5 American Robin

2 Gray Catbird

14 European Starling

1 Plumbeous Vireo (calling north of me)

1 Red-eyed Vireo (singing on old South Road on 4/27)

12 Yellow Warbler

1 Yellow-breasted Chat (heard at Lyons Cemetary)

3 Western Tanager

3 Black-headed Grosbeak

2 Lazuli Bunting

18 Spotted Towhee

2 Chipping Sparrow

2 Lark Sparrow

3 Savannah Sparrow

1 White-crowned Sparrow

5 Bobolink (including a female, in 3 fields near McCall Lake on Hwy 66)

25 Red-winged Blackbird

5 Western Meadowlark

3 Yellow-headed Blackbird

10 Brewer’s Blackbird

3 Common Grackle

4 Brown-headed Cowbird

4 Bullock’s Oriole

3 Cassin’s Finch

6 House Finch

17 Red Crossbill (Type 2 Ponderosa pine?, hanging at my place)

24 Pine Siskin

15 Lesser Goldfinch

8 American Goldfinch

Raymond Davis - at 6,000 ft. NW of Lyons (in Larimer County by a nose)

[cobirds] Playback

Excuse me. Please, give that holier-than-thou bit a break folks.

Eastern Wood-Pewees are not rare birds, but a common species in North America. Rare in Colorado, and also likely a migrant, hardly disturbed by a couple plays of a recording.

Cathy wasn't some idiot chaser trying to lure a bird in for a tick (as many were doing with the already-obvious Painted Redstart earlier this spring, to get that killer photo), but she was trying to identify this thing. After it called, she did not pester it with persistent playback to get that "smashing photo." She was able to photograph it using skill.

Nor was she playing tapes at a Spotted Owl.

Try applying a tad of common sense, please, and look at the spirit of the rules. When there's a rare bird present, don't torture it. Don't use playback on scarce breeders, as this might effect the population.

If Cathy hadn't sparingly used playback, no one would've known that there was an Eastern WP at Crow today. I think that is reason enough for her judicious use of playback. Something called scientific curiosity.

And I might add that I suspect that some of those spouting ABA ethics have probably played a Black Rail tape or two in their time.

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO

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[cobirds] American Bittern- Crow Valley CG -

I managed to miss everything of note Cathy found at Crow Valley but did hear and see the American Bittern in the flooded willows upstream of the campground.

Doug Kibbe

Littleton

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 2:29 PM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Eastern Wood Pewee- Crow Valley CG - and around Weld

For some reason cobirds does not like me today! Third time trying to post this...

Crow Valley was filled with normal breeding birds and few migrants this AM. Best bird was an Eastern Wood-pewee, which was silent until I played a recording, at which point it vocalized in response, supporting the physical traits of very pale chest (almost no vest), pale all orange lower mandible, and two uniformly bright (almost white) wingbars. It also shows the slight cocked-tail pose typical of Eastern per ABA article (http://www.aba.org/birding/v40n5p34.pdf). I uploaded a couple of photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aphelionart/

Other birds of interest include female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Northern Waterthrush, and a pair of wood ducks (maybe only notable because I have never seen them here). On the whole not many warblers there today.

I cruised through WCR 59 ponds, loloff, lower latham, Stewart's, and Bebee Draw and although a good number of species I really didn't turn up anything truly noteworthy at any of those locations.

Cathy Sheeter

Fort Lupton, CO

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