Saturday, 1 August 2015

Re: [cobirds] pipit v. Horned Lark

A blast from the past on this subject:

http://cobirds.org/CFO/ColoradoBirds/InTheScope/28.pdf

Tony Leukering
currently Cut Bank, MT
http://cobirds.org/CFO/Resources/Columns.aspx?id=2


-----Original Message-----
From: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
To: Digest recipients <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Jul 30, 2015 2:31 am
Subject: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 10 updates in 7 topics

David Suddjian <dsuddjian@gmail.com>: Jul 29 08:20PM -0600

Water levels in Chatfield Reservoir are more or less back to "normal",
although there is still lots of extra standing water in upland areas that
were flooded recently. Other than Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers, my only
shorebirds were 2 *Marbled Godwits* and a *Willet* at the Marina Sand Spit.
A segment of the trail upstream of Kingfisher Bridge on the JeffCo side is
now walkable. So I did. I was excited to see a *Yellow-billed Cuckoo* fly
in front of me at mid-canopy height, perching briefly before moving on.
Also here was an adult *Red-eyed Vireo* feeding a begging juv., and four *Least
Flycatchers* included 2 begging juvies. An *Eastern Phoebe* was upstream of
Kingfisher Bridge.
 
At Ken Caryl Valley there was an *Ash-throated Flycatcher *north of Massey
Draw between the Lyons and Dakota formation hogbacks. It was even calling.
An earlyish *Sage Thrasher* was my first in the area this season.
 
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
<cougar@gojade.org>: Jul 29 07:28PM -0600

Today while doing some bird surveys, I chanced upon 2 Adult Caspian Terns at the Blanca Wetlands Wildlife Area (Alamosa County). The area is now open and the birds were alternately using pond 115 and 107. This is possibly only the second and third records for the species in the San Luis Valley, with Mlodinow finding one last year at Smith Reservoir.
 
The shorebirds were well represented. Between my wife Lisa and I, we observed Western, Least, Baird's, Spotted and Pectoral Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, BN Stilts, close to 1500 Wilson Phalaropes, Peregrine Falcons, and one Gray Flycatcher. So shorebirds are on the move and this is a great increase in numbers since we last surveyed a few weeks ago. Lots to see.....
 
John Rawinski
Monte Vista, CO
Virginia Simmons <simmons19281@hotmail.com>: Jul 29 03:13PM -0600

In 2014 in open grassland near the floor of the San Luis Valley, below the San Juan Mtns., I mis-identified a "Sprague's Pipit." An experienced birder pointed out to me that American Pipits were just starting down from high country at about that time, and I wisely yielded.
Virginia Simmons
Joe Roller <jroller9@gmail.com>: Jul 29 03:36PM -0600

Raise your hand if you ever mis-identified a bird!
 
If you think about it, John James Audubon, Roger Tory Peterson and David
Allen Sibley have their hands raised.
 
Joe Roller,
Denver
 
On Wed, Jul 29, 2015 at 3:13 PM, Virginia Simmons <simmons19281@hotmail.com>
wrote:
 
Deborah Carstensen <fiddlenurs@aol.com>: Jul 29 08:32AM -0600

Oh, come on, you're not a fool! Every time people reach out for help on IDs they're taking a risk of looking silly, but what better use of this format than to get help with birds?
The more people ask for help with IDs, the more others, like myself, will be willing to do the same. Then some of us will become smarter and the others of us will look smarter!
Deb Carstensen, Littleton
 
Sent from my iPhone
 
"Jeff J Jones" <JJones@JonesTC.com>: Jul 29 09:28AM -0600

Ha! Hi David. I remember being fooled by the same thing and came to the same false Sprague's Pipit conclusion as you did quite a few years ago. Folks on this list correctly and quickly suggested juv. Horned Lark.
 

 
Nothing foolish at all of course. But rather a common mistake at this time of year when there are an abundance of juveniles about, which a) few have experience with and b) field guides often don't do justice.
 

 
Me personally, glad to see someone else make the same mistake; and isn't it great that we have this resource to ask questions and get great assistance.
 

 
Jeff J Jones
 
( <mailto:jjones@jonestc.com>; jjones@jonestc.com)
 
Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands
 

 
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Wade
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 1:28 AM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Cc: davespeedbump@gmail.com
Subject: [Bulk] [cobirds] Re: ID help - Larimer Co Rd 5
 

 
Looks like I did it, I made myself a fool. Nick Komar straightened me out. Turns out they are Horned Larks.
 
Mea Culpa
David Wade
Ft Collins
 
On Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 12:43:33 AM UTC-6, David Wade wrote:
 

 
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David Wade <davespeedbump@gmail.com>: Jul 29 02:05PM -0700

Howdy Folks, First, thanks to all those people that replied either here or
to me personally. I appreciate your feedback. I've figured out exactly
where I went off track on my path of identification. I use the book form of
Sibley's 1st edition in the field. There I saw that Spragues Pipet has
pale/pink legs and Sibley's illustrations show all ages of Horned Lark
with black legs. I took the first trait I found as absolute and excluded
Horned Lark as a possibility right from the get-go. That led me astray to
the "not-quite-right" Spragues. What really bothers me is that I remember
getting real hung up on a juvy Horned Lark last year too! I didn't learn my
lesson then, hopefully I won't repeat it next year- but probably will.
 
So others don't repeat my mistake here are some clues to look for that
separate Pipets and Larks. Primary extension is long for Horned, it extends
beyond the tertials. Sprague's wing extension ends at or near the tertials.
The outer tail feathers are extensively white on the Sprague's and white is
thin or hardly noticeable on the Horned Lark. On the tertials, Horned has a
white edge then a subterminal black edge. Sprague's tertials are edged in
pale buff/white without the black. I also should have picked up on the
crouching posture of the bird pictured away from me. Finally, There are
10's of thousands of Horned Larks in Colorado right now and if there are
Sprague's Pipets in Colorado right now the number would be less then 10
(I'm speculating here).
 
Good luck and good birding,
David Wade
Ft Collins, CO
Pam Piombino <piombino.pam@gmail.com>: Jul 29 12:55PM -0600

Thanks to all for your interest and support. Please plan on coming to
Boulder County Audubon's Annual Holiday Sale on November 24, when next
year's offerings in our, "Interludes with Nature" begins signing up
participants.
 
These sell out quickly, so come early for what promises to be some great
new trips with out best leaders!
 
Thanks, Pam Piombino
President, Boulder County Audubon
Pam Piombino <piombino.pam@gmail.com>: Jul 29 12:17PM -0600

Interludes with Nature: Hummingbird Workshop
 
- August 2, 2015 09:00am - 03:00pm
- Niwot
 
 
*1 SPOT LEFT*
 
Leader: John Vanderpoel, videographer and co-author of *Hummingbirds of
North America *DVD.
 
This is an exceptional opportunity to join an expert for a workshop that
will explore every aspect of hummingbird identification, behavior, and
natural history. You will start with an indoor class and proceed to the
field to hone your i.d. skills for these most magical of all bird species..
A gourmet lunch will be provided. Limited to 10. $50.00 Sunday, August 2, 9
a.m.-3 p.m. Meet at John's home in Niwot, details to follow.
 
Register by sending an email to piombino.pam@gmail.com
 
Proceeds of these popular field trips now being offered for the 3rd year
benefit our Youth Naturalist Program. This year we are sent 3!! promising
young students to National Audubon's Hog Island Environmental Camp.
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Jul 29 04:16AM -0600

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
Date: July 29, 2015
This is the Rare Bird Alert, Wednesday, July 29 sponsored by Denver Field
Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.
 
Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species).
 
Barrow's Goldeneye (Rio Blanco)
Little Blue Heron (Weld)
Broad-winged Hawk (Larmier)
Upland Sandpiper (Logan, Weld, Yuma)
Caspian Tern (Weld)
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Washington)
Greater Roadrunner (El Paso)
Chimney Swift (Jefferson)
Red-headed Woodpecker (*Jefferson)
Williamson's Sapsucker (Larimer)
Red-naped Sapsucker (Gunnison)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Boulder, Eagle/Pitkin, Gunnison, Hinsdale,
Park)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Logan)
Least Flycatcher (Boulder, Douglas, Logan, Yuma)
Gray Flycatcher (Fremont)
Black Phoebe (Jefferson)
Eastern Phoebe (Douglas/Jefferson, *Jefferson)
Bell's Vireo (Logan)
Purple Martin (Mesa)
Wood Thrush (Logan)
Lapland Longspur (*Larimer)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Larimer,*Weld)
McCown's Longspur (*Weld)
EASTERN TOWHEE (Sedgwick)
Field Sparrow (Logan)
BAIRD'S SPARROW (*Larimer, *Weld)
Fox Sparrow (Boulder, Gunnison)
Northern Cardinal (Boulder)
Baltimore Oriole (Logan)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Park)
 
BOULDER COUNTY:
--2 Fox Sparrows was reported by David McQuade at Brainard Lake on July 5.
On July 11, Adam Vesely reported Fox Sparrow at Brainard Lake. On July 19,
Andrew Fontenot reported Fox Sparrow at Brainard Lake.
--A m American Three-toed Woodpecker was spotted by Connie Takamine in Wild
Basin section of Rocky Mountain NP a little below Calypso Cascades on July
17.
--A Least Flycatcher was reported by Ted Floyd on the S side of Waneka Lake
on July 19.
--A singing Northern Cardinal was reported by Eric DeFonso near 19th and
Neher in Boulder on July 24.
 
DOUGLAS COUNTY:
--On July 21, David Suddjian reported 7 Least Flycatchers at Kingfisher
Bridge on the upstream side.
 
EAGLE/PITKIN COUNTIES:
--An American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by Mary Harris on the
Savage Lake trail above Ruedi Reservoir on July 23.
 
EL PASO COUNTY:
--A Greater Roadrunner was reported by John Drummond running across Hanover
Road about a mile west of Degrott Road intersection, near bridge and
culvert on July 18.
 
FREMONT COUNTY:
--On July 21, SeEtta Moss reported several Gray Flycatchers at Red Canyon
Park north of Canon City. They appeared to be still feeding young.
 
GUNNISON COUNTY:
--An ad American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by Mary Harris feeding
young in conifers at the start of West Maroon trail which begins at
Schofield Parking lot on July 23.
--A Slate-colored Fox Sparrow was singing in willows above Ohio City as
reported by Mike Henwood on July 24.
--A Red-naped Sapsucker was reported by Mike Henwood on Quartz Creek near
Ohio City on July 24.
 
HINSDALE COUNTY
--A m American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by Bez Bezuidenhout at
Grizzy Gulch Trailhead on July 16.
 
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
--On July 14 Scott Somershoe reported Black and Eastern Phoebe at Waterton
Canyon. On July 15, Doug Kibbe and Frank Farrell reported Black and
Eastern Phoebes in Lower Waterton Canyon. On July 16, Gwen Moore reported
Black Phoebe in Lower Waterton Canyon. On July 19, Tim Ryan, Joe Roller,
Mackenzie Goldthwaite, and Mark Chavez reported Black Phoebe in Lower
Waterton Canyon and Goldthwait and Chavez also reported Eastern Phoebe. On
July 21, David Suddjian, David Hill and Cynthia Madsen reported Black and
Eastern Phoebe in Lower Waterton Canyon. On July 23, Ira Sanders reported
Black Phoebe in Lower Waterton Canyon. On July 23, Andrew Fontenot
reported Black and Eastern Phoebe at Waterton Canyon between canyon mouth
and Waterton Rd. On July 24, Scott Somershoe and Lynn Saver reported Black
and Eastern Phoebe at Waterton Canyon between canyon mouth and Waterton Rd.
--On July 15, Michel Kiessig reported Eastern Phoebe at Denver Botanic
Gardens at Chatfield. On July 22, Cynthia Madsen, Jonelle Balais and Janet
Shin reported 2 Eastern Phoebe at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield.
--A Chimney Swift was reported by David Suddjian at Clement Park in
Littleton on July 25.
--On July 28, Kate Frost and Michael Kiessig reported 4 Red-headed
Woodpecker (2 ad, 2 juv) at Stony Pass Rd at Wigwam Creek.
--An Eastern Phoebe was reported by David Suddjian on the W side of Platte
River upstream of Kingfisher Bridge on July 28.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
--On July 22, Nick Komar reported Broad-winged Hawk at Laport Lions Park.
--On July 25, Nick Komar report 2 singing BAIRD'S SPARROWS on the W side
of CR 5 near Rawhide Energy Station about 2 miles N oF Buckeye Road. On
July 26, Alec Hopping, Kevin Keirn, Josh Bruening, Gwen Moore, Georgia
Doyle, and David Wade reported 2 BAIRD'S SPARROW on CR 5 N of Buckeye Rd.
Robert Beauchamp reported BAIRD'S SPARROW on CR 5 N of Buckeye Rd. On July
27, Todd Deininger, Brad Biggerstaff, and Nick Komar reported 2 BAIRD'S
Sparrows on CR 5 N of Buckeye Rd. On July 28, Sue Riffe reported 2 BAIRD'S
SPARROWS on CR 5 Between CR 82 and CR 92.
--Georgia Doyle and David Wade reported McCown's Longspur on CR 5 N of
Buckeye Rd on July 26.
--On July 28, Sue Riffe reported a juv Lapland Longspur on CR 5 between CR
82 and CR 92.
--A f Williamson's Sapsucker was reported by Jim Nelson in Hollowell Park
in Rocky Mountain NP on July 24.
 
LOGAN COUNTY:
--On July 18, Bill Kaempfer reported about 15 Upland Sandpipers along US
138 West of Crook.
--At Tamarack Pond on July 18, Bill Kaempfer reported Baltimore Oriole and
several Field Sparrows. On July 19, Mlodinow reported Field Sparrows and
Least Flycatcher at Tamarack Pond.
--On July 19, Mlodinow reported at Tamarack Ranch SWA, walking W from CO
55, a Wood Thrush was heard by the river. About 300-400 yards W of CO 55
an EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was heard and seen and lots of Bell's Vireos were
heard. On July 20, Alec Hopping reported EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Tamarack
Ranch SWA. On July 22, Norm Erthal and Kevin Keirn reported Eastern
Wood-Pewee at Tamarack Ranch SWA. On July 25, Scott Somershoe, Gwen Moore,
and Matt Clark reported Eastern Wood-Pewee at Tamarak Ranch SWA.
 
MESA COUNTY:
--A Purple Martin nesting colony was reported by Mike Henwood along Points
Creek on the Uncompahgre Plateau on July 17.
 
PARK COUNTY:
--4 Brown-capped Rosy-Finches were reported by David Suddjian at Kite Lake
on CR 8 on July 22.
--An American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by David Suddjian on CR 8
between Alma and tree line on July 22.
 
RIO BLANCO COUNTY:
--2 f Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Tom and Kay McConnell at a
roadside pond just past White Owl Lake in the Flattops area on July 26.
--Tom and Kay McConnell rfeported a f and juv Barrow's Goldeneye on a side
road from White Owl Lake on July 26.
 
SEDGWICK COUNTY:
--An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported by Robert Beauchamp at Sand Draw SWA on
July 25.
 
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
--On July 19, Dan Stringer reported BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and 4 Yellow-billed
Cuckoos at the Inlet Canal at Prewitt Reservoir. They were in the
bushes/trees closer to the dirt road.
 
WELD COUNTY:
--A Caspian Tern was reported by Steve Mlodinow at Firestone Gravel Pits on
July 6. On July 14, Bill Kaempfer reported 3 Caspian Terns at Firestone
Gravel Pits. On July 15, Steve Mlodinow reported 3 Caspian Terns at
Firestore Gravel Pits. On July 22, Steve Mlodinow reported a Caspian Tern
at Firestone Gravel Pits. On July 26, Christine Alexander reported a
Caspian Tern at Firestone Gravel Pits. On July 26, Renee and Jesse Casias
reported 2 Caspian Terns at Firestone Gravel Pits. On July 27, Dean Shoup,
Norm Erthal, and Bob Spencer reported Caspian Tern at Firestone Gravel Pits
--Bob Andrews did two loops of the Pawnee National Grassland on July 16 and
17 and reported 55 McCown's Longspurs and 6 Chestnut-collared Longspurs.
Andrews reported an Upland Sandpiper in a meadow on the N side of CR 108
where it crosses Robins Creek just east of CR 37.
--An immature Little Blue Heron was reported by Carl Starace at Firestone
Gravel Pits on July 24. On July 25, Scott Manwaring reported Little Blue
Heron flew east from Firestone Gravel Pits.
--A Caspian Tern was reported by Laura Steadman at Pelican Pond in St Vrain
SP on July 25.
--ON July 28, Sue Riffe reported BAIRD'S SPARROW, 2 Chestnut-collared
Longspurs, and 2 McCown's Longspurs at Central Plains Experimental Range on
CR 114.
 
YUMA COUNTY:
--A couple of Upland Sandpipers were reported by Bill Kaempfer North of
Wray on July 18.
--A Least Flycatcher was reported by Alec Hopping at Stalker Lake on July
18.
 
UPCOMING DFO FIELD TRIPS:
 
The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, August 1 will be to Prospect Park led by
Mary Geder (mfg5000 AT live.com; 303-986-6127). Meet the leader at 0700 at
parking lot next to Prospect Lake. From I-70 exit 267, take Kipling south
about 3/4 mile and turn right (west) on 44th Avenue. Go one mile west.
Look for entrance to Prospect Park on your left (South).
This will be a half-day trip, easy walking, accessible for mobility
imparied individual. Bring water and a snack; lunch optional. Register
online or contact leader to register.
 
The DFO Field Trip for Sunday August 2 will be to Chavez Trail and Beaver
Brook Braille Trail led by Paul Slingsby. Meet the leader at the lower
end of the Stegosaurus Park-n-Ride at 0645. Will carpool from there. From
I-70, exit 259, turn left onto CO 26, driver under I-70 bridge and look for
the Park-n-Ride on your left. Will carpool 6 miles to the trailhead.
Half-day trip. This will be a slow alk of about 2 miles on smooth,
moderately steep trails with some unmaintained paths in aspen and ponderosa
forest. Please register online or contact leader to register.
 
Good Birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
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