Tuesday 27 December 2016

Re: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 15 updates in 13 topics


From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2016 1:29:36 AM
To: Digest recipients
Subject: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 15 updates in 13 topics
 
David Suddjian <dsuddjian@gmail.com>: Dec 26 08:17PM -0700

I have encountered more *Ruby-crowned Kinglets* in the southern Metro Area
so far this winter (my 4th in CO) than in the previous three, with most
time spent in the same general areas each winter. In the past two week I've
had 5 in Littleton, Arapahoe Co, and 9+ in the Ken Caryl Valley, JeffCo.
One visits my yard most days lately, and there were two in the yard this
afternoon. In my prior winters I found them to be fewer and much farther
between.
 
*Lesser Goldfinches* were sporadic and in 1s and 2s on my efforts in Ken
Caryl Valley in November and early December (others maybe had them more
frequently at that time), but with the cold and storm on 12/17 they became
regular, daily, and in numbers of at least 9 at a time. They are pretty
much continual around my home right now. Today I had at least 7 there, plus
5 together in a near by open space corridor and 2 others elsewhere. About
85% are females, but the smaller percentage are brighter and some show
flecks of black on the crown.
 
David Suddjian
Ken Caryl Valley
Littleton, CO
RCKI in low late afternoon light
 
RCKI nicely showing both white wingbars (often only the lower white bar is
plainly evident)
LEGOs
LEGO showing some black flecks on the crown
"Bill Maynard" <bmaynard99@gmail.com>: Dec 26 09:14AM -0700

COBirders,
 

 
This is a hypothesis. Frisco, Colorado, is located at N 39.57859/W
-106.091118. Island Beach State Park, New Jersey, at N 39.54189 is an East
Coast location where Purple Sandpiper is regular in winter at similar
latitude (eBird). I used Google to tell me a location midway between Frisco
and Island Beach State Park. If you continue reading you will see why I did
this. Google presented me with Highland, Illinois, at the same approximate
latitude and with a longitude of W -89.679264. Following W -89.679264 north
into arctic Canada we arrive at the western side of Ellesmere Island, one of
the Queen Elizabeth Islands where Purple Sandpipers breed (eBird). We know
small shorebirds can travel about 4000 - 7000 km without stopping to refuel
or about 2485 to 4349 miles (Rare Birds of North America by Howell,
Lewington, and Russell). From Ellesmere Island to Frisco, CO, it is about
2970 miles (Google) or well within the range of a flight by a small
shorebird before needing to restore its fat reserves and get rid of lipid
oxidation. The >100 birders who approached the CO Purple Sandpiper closer
than the parking lot or highway should have been able to see the white-edged
tertials and wing coverts of a first winter bird (nice photo of a first
winter PUSA almost identical in appearance to the CO bird can be viewed in
The Crossley I.D. Guide Eastern Birds.)
 

 
Migrant young birds travel with a built-in compass and clock, while adults
who have successfully undergone at least one migration are thought to have a
bicoordinate migration system and are thought to sense at least two global
coordinates and can, perhaps, unlike young birds, determine their global
position and therefore make flight corrections when needed (Rare Birds of
North American). Young birds sometimes choose "misorientation" (not
disorientation) when their internal compass tells them the directional
heading and their internal clock tells them how long to stay in the air
(Rare Birds of North American). If either the internal compass or the clock
is faulty, perhaps in the case of our Purple Sandpiper its internal compass
may have caused our bird to head in the "wrong" direction. One of the
well-known types of misorientation is 'reverse migration' sending a bird in
the mirror image or opposite direction from the direction it would normally
fly. (Fork-tailed Flycatchers migrating north to the U.S. instead of
farther south in South America is a good example). Perhaps the 1st winter
Colorado Purple Sandpiper and one from each of these states, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Utah, Montana, and Alberta (photos on eBird show me they are all
likely 1st winter birds too) all perhaps had faulty internal compasses
sending them in the "wrong" direction. If Iron Spring Creek remains ice free
throughout winter months and the seemingly abundant aquatic food supply
stays easily accessible, perhaps the Purple Sandpiper could winter at the
same latitude Purple Sandpipers frequently choose for spending a winter, but
in this case Frisco, Colorado.
 

 
Bill Maynard
 
Colorado Springs
Paul Hurtado <paul.j.hurtado@gmail.com>: Dec 26 11:23AM -0800

Bill's hypothesis lines up exactly with what I was thinking regarding how
this bird got to CO, but I wanted to take the speculation a bit further.
Here's an additional thought on how it might have gotten it's directions
wrong.
 
First, simple mutation or developmental issues might muck up such a system,
or perhaps it hooked up with some other species and followed the wrong
flock.
 
But here's another option (admittedly a very remote one): it's not a pure
North American bird.
 
Purple Sandpiper is a holarctic species, and breeds along the northern edge
of Europe and the western parts of the Asian arctic. Those Eurasian birds
migrate WEST, not EAST like the North American birds.
 
There is evidence from other bird (songbird) spec that the direction of
that "internal compass" is heritable, and typically a youngster will tend
to migrate in roughly the same direction as it's parents. So if mom and dad
happen to have genes telling them to migrate two different directions,
studies in songbirds suggest that this might cause youngsters to want to
travel in a direction that is somewhere in the middle.
 
So, while I suspect this is a "pure" North American bird with a bad compass
(as suggested by the migratory patterns of the species and patterns of
vagrancy mentioned by Bill), the thought had also crossed my mind that
perhaps this is a bird with a mix of American and European Purple Sandpiper
genes (seems unlikely, I know!) who split the difference of heading SW and
SE and just went South.
 
As far fetched as it sounds, this is one of those fun little mysteries
we'll probably never know the answer to. Then again, should this bird
perish and some or all of it's remains are found, the answer might be there
in it's DNA, and so those remains should immediately be put on ice and
taken to CU Boulder (or perhaps the Denver Museum of Nature and Science)
where we might be able to preserve those tissues for later genetic work.
 
Just a thought :-)
 
Good birding,
Paul Hurtado
 
PS: Thank you all for the continued updates!! There are still a few of us
who haven't had a chance to chase this bird. I hope to make a trip up to
Frisco later this week, so with a little luck it'll stick around for me! ;-)
 
 
 
--
Paul J. Hurtado
Assistant Professor of Mathematics & Statistics
Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology
University of Nevada, Reno
http://www.pauljhurtado.com/
nkorte1 <nkorte1@hotmail.com>: Dec 26 01:46PM -0800

I never thought the town in which I was born and raised, Highland, IL, would ever be mentioned on cobirds!
Nic Korte
Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna@gmail.com>: Dec 26 05:13PM -0800

Excellent spotting by fellow birder Renee Moore today at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge in Adams County. She was still observing it when I arrived. I managed to get some photos of it, even though it was all the way across the lake, with some Canada Geese.
Photos to come.
Susan R.
Thornton
DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman@msn.com>: Dec 27 12:36AM

Highlights of today's visit to Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins between 11a and 1p were:
 
 
Eastern Screech-Owl (1 gray morph in a decrepit silver maple, first I've seen at GC since January 2012 (perhaps the same individual, as the locations were near each other). FYI, I am meeting Norm Lewis tomorrow morning at the entrance to the cemetery (at the west terminus of Mountain Avenue by the old stone building that formerly served as the cemetery office) at approximately 10am. Norm lacks this species for his impressive 2016 list. If anyone would like to join us, we can give it a shot. If we are not there exactly at 10, be patient. On the chance we are on time, we will wait until 10:15 before proceeding to find the bird. Showing people owl locations is sort of like discussing politics at the bar (i.e. potentially problematic), so please, no respondees with monstrous cameras who will not be respectful of the bird, both tomorrow and during sneaky return trips. Fair warning, Santa works as a P.I. during the off-season, and my grandkids gave me his cell number.
 
 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) - in a dense spruce tree near a big hackberry, no doubt gleaning hackberry gall-making psyllids from their overwintering sites under spruce bark. I had known there was one kinglet present, but not two until today. Does it seem like more and more individuals of this species are overwintering every year?
 
 
Bald Eagle (1 subadult) circling near the entrance, probably after a visit to nearby Sheldon Lake in City Park.
 
 
Brown Creeper (at least 3)
 
 
American Robin (several, one of which chipped ice off a garage roof as a source of water).
 
 
Misses today were Great Horned Owl, Eurasian Collared-Dove, flyover Red-tailed Hawk, White-breasted Nuthatch and flyover Ring-billed Gull. To my knowledge special species present at GC in certain winters but NOT this one (at least so far) are crossbills, Pine Siskin, sapsuckers and Golden-crowned Kinglet.
 
 
Total of 17 species today.
 
 
Dave Leatherman
 
Fort Collins
Thomas Heinrich <teheinrich@gmail.com>: Dec 26 03:15PM -0700

JoAnn Hackos <jthackos@gmail.com>: Dec 26 11:44AM -0800

Seen by many birders around noon on Dec 26.
Brandon Percival <flammowl17@gmail.com>: Dec 26 12:20PM -0700

Chris Wood said, the Sandpiper wasn't present for the first half and hour
this morning, around 7:30am, and then flew in from somewhere.
 
--
Brandon Percival
Pueblo West, CO
Denise GW <gonzalezwalker@gmail.com>: Dec 26 10:22AM -0800

If anyone is driving to see the Purple Sandpiper this week, and has room
for +2 (myself and my 12-year-old daughter), I'd love to tag along. I am
terrified of driving in the mountains in the winter, but would love the
chance to see the Purple Sandpiper, if it didn't blow away in yesterday's
storm, haha. My daughter is an even bigger birder than me, and would also
like the chance to see it.
 
We are not interested in skiing or any other winter activities - just
birding. We could meet up with you anywhere in the metro Denver/Boulder
area (we live in Broomfield), and I can pitch in $5 gas money.
 
Contact me directly at: gonzalezwalker AT gmail DOT com
 
Thanks!
Gregg Goodrich <gregggoodrich@gmail.com>: Dec 26 04:10PM

Cobirders
 
Looking for a New Year's Resolution? Lose weight - no fun. Get in shape -
no fun. Bird everyday - fun. eBird has a challenge for you. Submit an eBird
checklist daily and possibly win a prize.
 
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/listaday2017/
 
And it could not be easier using eBird mobile on your phone.
 
http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/2411868
 
Viewing your backyard birds from your armchair with a cup of coffee is
still valuable information for eBirds. I think I can do that!?
 
Gregg Goodrich
Highlands Ranch CO
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Dec 26 08:35AM -0700

Thanks to all who sent me Tim's email.
 
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Dec 26 08:00AM -0700

Does anyone have an e-mail address for Tim Smart.
Please send it to me off-line.
 
Thanks,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Dec 26 04:23AM -0700

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date: December 26, 2016
This is the Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 26, sponsored by Denver
Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
 
Sorry sent the report before I was finished. See Green-tailed Towhee and
Turkey Vulture.
 
Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species)
 
NOTE: The RBA is using the new AOU checklist, & the order of families has
changed.
 
BRANT (Adams, Arapahoe)
Trumpeter Swan (El Paso, Jefferson, Mesa)
Tundra Swan (Boulder, El Paso, Larimer)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Fremont)
Surf Scoter (Arapahoe)
White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe, Pueblo)
Black Scoter (Arapahoe)
Long-tailed Duck (Adams, Arapahoe, Chaffee, Larimer)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Arapahoe, Chaffee, Summit)
Red-necked Grebe (Boulder)
White-winged Dove (Prowers)
Sandhill Crane (Fremont)
Dunlin (Denver CBC)
PURPLE SANDPIPER (Summit)
Bonaparte's Gull (Bent, Douglas)
Mew Gull (Arapahoe)
Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe, Douglas)
ICELAND GULL (Arapahoe)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder)
Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe)
Great Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe)
Red-throated Loon (Douglas, Mesa)
Pacific Loon (Arapahoe, Bent)
Turkey Vulture (*Costilla)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Larimer, Prowers)
Eastern Phoebe (Arapahoe)
Winter Wren (Adams)
Gray Catbird (Boulder, Larimer)
Northern Mockingbird (Boulder)
Bohemian Waxwing (Routt)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Delta, Denver CBC, Routt, San Miguel)
Black Rosy-Finch (Denver, CBC, San Miguel)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Delta,Denver, CBC, San Miguel)
Common Redpoll (Grand)
Lapland Longspur (Douglas, Routt)
Ovenbird (Bent)
Pine Warbler (Prowers)
Green-tailed Towhee (*Mesa)
Grasshopper Sparrow (Denver CBC)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Larimer, Otero)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Otero)
Northern Cardinal (Bent)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Denver)
Great-tailed Grackles (Bent)
Brown-headed Cowbird (El Paso
 
*****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please
refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site: www.coloradocountybirding.org
 
ADAMS COUNTY:
---On December 13 at Hidden Lake, Chris Rurik reported a Black BRANT.
Hidden Lake is almost entirely private. You may scope the lake from
Sheridan on the west end or park at the baseball field on the east end.
All other access points are open only to residents.
On December 18, Chris Gilbert reported BRANT at Hidden Lake. On December
19, Loch Kilpatrick and Ben Sampson reported BRANT at Hidden Lake. On
December 21, Gabriel Wiltse reported BRANT on NW side of Hidden Lake and
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
---On December 18, Steve Mlodinow reported Winter Wren on South Platte
River around 74th Ave area.
---On December 24 at Rocky Mt Arsenal NWR, Lower Derby Lake, William and
Peter Van Dyke reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks.
 
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
---On December 9 at Aurora Reservoir, Glenn Walbek and Kathy Mihm Dunning
reported 2 Mew Gulls (1 ad, 1 1-st cyc), 2 Thayer's Gulls, ICELAND GULL
(probably Cherry Creek gull), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (ad), and
Glaucous Gull. On December 10 at Aurora Reservoir, Glenn Walbek and David
Dowell reported 1 f-type Surf Scoter, 2 f-type White-winged Scoters, 1
Long-tailed Ducks, 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 1-st-cyc Mew Gull, 6 Thayer's
Gulls, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Glaucous Gull. On December 22 at
Aurora Reservoir, David Dowell reported 2 White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed
Duck, 5 Thayer's Gulls, 2 ICELAND GULLS, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and
Great Black-backed Gull.
---On December 11, Steve Stachowiak reported at 1-st winter f-type Black
Scoter in the NE corner of South Platte Reservoir. The scoter was seen by
several birders. On December 11, Bill Kaempfer reported that a Long-tailed
Duck had joined the Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. On December
12, David Suddjian, Charles Lawrence, and Thomas Holub reported Black
Scoter at South Platte Reservoir and David Suddjian reported that the
Long-tailed Duck had moved to Blackrock Lake in the park. On December 13,
David Suddjian and many other birders reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed
Duck at South Platte Reservoir. On December 13, David Suddjian reported a
Long-tailed Duck on Blackrock Lake. On December 14, at South Platte
Reservoir, DuWayne Worthington reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck.
On December 14, Tina Jones reported Long-tailed Duck on Blackrock Lake in
South Platte Park. On December 15, Peter Gent reported f-type Black Scoter
and f Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir and f Long-tailed Ducks at
Blackrock Lake. On December 16, Norm Lewis and Tom Wilberding reported
Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. On December 21, Diane Roberts
reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir. On
December 23, Joey Kellner and Diane Roberts reported Black Scoter and
Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.
---On December 18 Ben Sampson reported Eastern Phoebe on South Platte River
Northern Wildlife Area from W Bowles Ave. Take the Lee Gulch Trail.
---On December 23, Meg Reck reported BRANT at Aurora Reservoir.
 
BENT COUNTY:
---On December 15, Duane Nelson reported the following on the John Martin
CBC: Ovenbird found by Kathy Mihm Dunning at Fort Lyon SW Easement;
Pacific Loon, Northern Cardinals, and 1475 Great-tailed Grackles. On
December 15, Kathy Mihm Dunning and Alan Versaw reported Bonaparte's Gulls
on the John Martin CBC.
 
BOULDER COUNTY:
---On December 18 at Valmont Reservoir Complex, Peter Burke reported 4
Tundra Swans, Red-necked Grebe, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Gray
Catbird.
---On December 18 at Doudy Draw, Aidan Coohill reported Northern
Mockingbird.
 
CHAFFEE COUNTY:
---On December 11 at Sands Lake SWA, Jack Harlaln reported 1 m Long-tailed
Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye. On December 12, Jeff Guy reported Long-tailed
Duck and Barrow's Goldeneyes at Sands Lake SWA. On December 17 the male
Long-tailed Ducks was reported by Bill Kaempfer at Sands Lake SWA where it
was seen by many birders on the Salida CBC.
 
COSTILLA COUNTY:
---On December 25, Carlos Lina reported Turkey Vulture on CO 159 north of
the New Mexico border.
 
DELTA COUNTY:
---On December 15, Dennis Garrison reported Rosy-Finches on the bank of the
Gunnison River about 1/2 mile above confluence with North Fork at Gunnison
River Pleasure Park.
 
DENVER COUNTY:
---On December 21, David Hill reported 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds on the
DIA loop. On December 23, Jason Bidgood reported Yellow-headed Blackbird
on DIA loop.
 
DENVER CBC:
---On December 17, Joey Kellner reported the following on the Denver CBC:
Dunlin (near McClelland Reservoir), all 3 species of Rosy-Finches,
Grasshopper Sparrow at Chatfield.
 
DOUGLAS COUNTY:
---On December 24, Tim Ryan reported Bonaparte's Gull at Parker Regional
Park.
 
EL PASO COUNTY:
---On December 14 on the Fountain Creek CBC, Floyd reported 2 Tundra Swans
and 1 Trumpeter Swan on Rice Pond and Diana Beatty reported Brown-headed
Cowbird in Area 8. On December 15, David Tonnessen reported 2 Trumpeter
Swans and 1 Tundra Swan at Fountain Creek Regional Park.
 
FREMONT COUNTY:
---On December 18, a m EURASIAN WIGEON was reported by Brandon Percival and
Brad Steeger on Sell Pond on Sell Ave in Canon City.
 
GRAND COUNTY:
---On December 17, Brandon Percival reported that 26 Common Redpolls were
seen on the Granby CBC.
 
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
---On December 25, Paul Welscinger, Tom Behnfield, Art Hudak, and Frank
Farrell reported Trumpeter Swan at Crown Hill Regional Park.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
---On December 8, David Wade reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland
on Hilltop Dr by N Tyler Ave. On December 10, Gwen Moore and Irene Fortune
reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop Dr. On December
18, Nick Komar reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop
Dr. On December 19, Scott Somershoe reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in
Loveland on Hilltop Dr.
---On December 17, Austin Hess reported Gray Catbird at Prospect Ponds NA.
On December 18, Lori Zabel reported Gray Catbird at Prospect Ponds NA.
---On December 23 at Rawhide Engergy Station/Hamilton Reservoir 5 Tundra
Swans, Long-tailed Duck, and Lincoln's Sparrow were reported by Sue Riffe,
Bill Kaempfer, Austin Hess, and Nick Komar.
 
MESA COUNTY:
---On December 13 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood reported juv
Red-throated Loon. On December 15, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported
Red-throated Loon at Highline Lake SP. On December 17, JoAnn Riggle and
Gwen Moore reported Red-throated Loon at Highline Lake SP.
---On December 12 at the DeBeque Canyon exit on I-70, Tom McConnell
reported Trumpeter Swan. On December 14, Vic Zerbi reported Trumpeter Swan
at the Tunnel Rest Stop in DeBeque Canyon. On December 15, Carol Ortenzio
reported Trumpeter Swan at DeBeque Canyon Tunnel. On December 19, JoAnn
Riggle reported Trumpeter Swan at DeBeque Canyon Tunnel Pullout.
---On December 25, Meredith Walker spotted a Green-tailed Towhee on the Big
Salt Wash trail in far W end of Fruita.
 
OTERO COUNTY:
---On December 16, at Rocky Ford SWA, Kathy Mihm Dunning reported
Golden-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow.
 
PROWERS COUNTY:
---On November 11 An adult male Pine Warbler visited the various seed
feeders in Janeal Thompson’s yard. The bird was also observed eating
insects. The Pine Warbler was seen by David Leatherman on November 16 then
on November 19 & 20, 29 & 30 by Janeal. On December 2, Janeal Thompson,
Dale, and Joel Adams reported Pine Warbler in Lamar. On December 9, Janeal
Thompson reported that the Pine Warbler continues in Lamar. On December
11, Janeal Thompson, Art Hudak, and Mark Chavez reported Pine Warbler and
34 White-winged Doves in Lamar.
If you would like to try for the Pine Warbler, please contact Janeal at
719-336-9658 <(719)%20336-9658>(home) or 719-688-7912 <(719)%20688-7912> (cell)
to make
arrangements.
---On December 9, Janeal Thompson reported a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in
her neighborhood in Lamar.
 
ROUTT COUNTY:
---On December 17, Tom Litteral reported the following on the Steamboat
CBC: 398 Bohemian Waxwings, Gray-capped Rosy-Finch, and Lapland Longspur.
 
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:
---On December 6, Eric Hynes reported all three species of Rosy-Finches
coming to his feeders in Telluride. If you would
like to try to see them, contact Eric at erichynes28 AT gmail.com. On
December 9, Eric Hynes reported Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches
at his feeders in Telluride. On December 14, Eric Hynes reported all three
species of Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride as well as Vic Zerbi
observing. On December 25, Eric Hynes reported all three species of
Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride.
 
SUMMIT COUNTY:
---On December 16, a PURPLE SANDPIPER was reported by Jack and Ryan Bushong
at Dillon Reservoir at the Blue River Arm about 20 yds off of Hwy 9. This
would be a new state record if accepted. On December 17, Jack and Ryan
Bushong reported that the PURPLE SANDPIPER was refound at the same spot
and many birders were able to see the bird and comfirm the identification
in better light. On December 18, Joey Kellner reported that the PURPLE
SANDPIPER was refound in the same area as reported and
was seen by many birders. On December 18, Todd Deininger reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER in same area as reported and was
seen by many birders. On December 20, Lisa Edwards reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER in same area as reported and it was seen by many birders. On
December 21, Scott Manwaring reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at the delta of the
creek. On December 22, Pablo Quesada reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at the
usual spot and David Dowell reported 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Dillon
Reservoir Blue river Inlet. On December 23, Chip Clouse reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER at mouth of creek. On December 24, Frank Farrell, bruce Neuman,
Gene Rutherford, Tina Toth, and Christine Alexander reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER at Dillon Reservoir. On December 25, Irene Rivas and Nick Moore
reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at Dillon Reservoir.
 
Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:
Sign up on line for field trips at DFO’s Website.
 
The DFO Field Trip for Wednesday, December 28 will be to South Platte Park
led by David Suddjian (dssudjian AT GMAIL.COM <http://gmail.com/>;
831-713-8659 <(831)%20713-8659>) This trip is full.
 
Help with Christmas Bird Counts.
 
Good birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Dec 26 04:11AM -0700

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date: December 26, 2016
This is the Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 26, sponsored by Denver
Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
 
Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species)
 
NOTE: The RBA is using the new AOU checklist, & the order of families has
changed.
 
BRANT (Adams, Arapahoe)
Trumpeter Swan (El Paso, *Jefferson, Mesa)
Tundra Swan (Boulder, El Paso, Larimer)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Fremont)
Surf Scoter (Arapahoe)
White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe, Pueblo)
Black Scoter (Arapahoe)
Long-tailed Duck (Adams, Arapahoe, Chaffee, Larimer)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Arapahoe, Chaffee, Summit)
Red-necked Grebe (Boulder)
White-winged Dove (Prowers)
Sandhill Crane (Fremont)
Dunlin (Denver CBC)
PURPLE SANDPIPER (*Summit)
Bonaparte's Gull (Bent, Douglas)
Mew Gull (Arapahoe)
Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe, Douglas)
ICELAND GULL (Arapahoe)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder)
Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe)
Great Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe)
Red-throated Loon (Douglas, Mesa)
Pacific Loon (Arapahoe, Bent)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Larimer, Prowers)
Eastern Phoebe (Arapahoe)
Winter Wren (Adams)
Gray Catbird (Boulder, Larimer)
Northern Mockingbird (Boulder)
Bohemian Waxwing (Routt)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Delta, Denver CBC, Routt, *San Miguel)
Black Rosy-Finch (Denver, CBC, *San Miguel)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Delta,Denver, CBC, *San Miguel)
Common Redpoll (Grand)
Lapland Longspur (Douglas, Routt)
Ovenbird (Bent)
Pine Warbler (Prowers)
Grasshopper Sparrow (Denver CBC)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Larimer, Otero)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Otero)
Northern Cardinal (Bent)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Denver)
Great-tailed Grackles (Bent)
Brown-headed Cowbird (El Paso
 
*****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please
refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site: www.coloradocountybirding.org
 
ADAMS COUNTY:
---On December 13 at Hidden Lake, Chris Rurik reported a Black BRANT.
Hidden Lake is almost entirely private. You may scope the lake from
Sheridan on the west end or park at the baseball field on the east end.
All other access points are open only to residents.
On December 18, Chris Gilbert reported BRANT at Hidden Lake. On December
19, Loch Kilpatrick and Ben Sampson reported BRANT at Hidden Lake. On
December 21, Gabriel Wiltse reported BRANT on NW side of Hidden Lake and
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
---On December 18, Steve Mlodinow reported Winter Wren on South Platte
River around 74th Ave area.
---On December 24 at Rocky Mt Arsenal NWR, Lower Derby Lake, William and
Peter Van Dyke reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks.
 
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
---On December 9 at Aurora Reservoir, Glenn Walbek and Kathy Mihm Dunning
reported 2 Mew Gulls (1 ad, 1 1-st cyc), 2 Thayer's Gulls, ICELAND GULL
(probably Cherry Creek gull), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (ad), and
Glaucous Gull. On December 10 at Aurora Reservoir, Glenn Walbek and David
Dowell reported 1 f-type Surf Scoter, 2 f-type White-winged Scoters, 1
Long-tailed Ducks, 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 1-st-cyc Mew Gull, 6 Thayer's
Gulls, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Glaucous Gull. On December 22 at
Aurora Reservoir, David Dowell reported 2 White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed
Duck, 5 Thayer's Gulls, 2 ICELAND GULLS, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and
Great Black-backed Gull.
---On December 11, Steve Stachowiak reported at 1-st winter f-type Black
Scoter in the NE corner of South Platte Reservoir. The scoter was seen by
several birders. On December 11, Bill Kaempfer reported that a Long-tailed
Duck had joined the Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. On December
12, David Suddjian, Charles Lawrence, and Thomas Holub reported Black
Scoter at South Platte Reservoir and David Suddjian reported that the
Long-tailed Duck had moved to Blackrock Lake in the park. On December 13,
David Suddjian and many other birders reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed
Duck at South Platte Reservoir. On December 13, David Suddjian reported a
Long-tailed Duck on Blackrock Lake. On December 14, at South Platte
Reservoir, DuWayne Worthington reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck.
On December 14, Tina Jones reported Long-tailed Duck on Blackrock Lake in
South Platte Park. On December 15, Peter Gent reported f-type Black Scoter
and f Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir and f Long-tailed Ducks at
Blackrock Lake. On December 16, Norm Lewis and Tom Wilberding reported
Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. On December 21, Diane Roberts
reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir. On
December 23, Joey Kellner and Diane Roberts reported Black Scoter and
Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.
---On December 18 Ben Sampson reported Eastern Phoebe on South Platte River
Northern Wildlife Area from W Bowles Ave. Take the Lee Gulch Trail.
---On December 23, Meg Reck reported BRANT at Aurora Reservoir.
 
BENT COUNTY:
---On December 15, Duane Nelson reported the following on the John Martin
CBC: Ovenbird found by Kathy Mihm Dunning at Fort Lyon SW Easement;
Pacific Loon, Northern Cardinals, and 1475 Great-tailed Grackles. On
December 15, Kathy Mihm Dunning and Alan Versaw reported Bonaparte's Gulls
on the John Martin CBC.
 
BOULDER COUNTY:
---On December 18 at Valmont Reservoir Complex, Peter Burke reported 4
Tundra Swans, Red-necked Grebe, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Gray
Catbird.
---On December 18 at Doudy Draw, Aidan Coohill reported Northern
Mockingbird.
 
CHAFFEE COUNTY:
---On December 11 at Sands Lake SWA, Jack Harlaln reported 1 m Long-tailed
Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye. On December 12, Jeff Guy reported Long-tailed
Duck and Barrow's Goldeneyes at Sands Lake SWA. On December 17 the male
Long-tailed Ducks was reported by Bill Kaempfer at Sands Lake SWA where it
was seen by many birders on the Salida CBC.
 
DELTA COUNTY:
---On December 15, Dennis Garrison reported Rosy-Finches on the bank of the
Gunnison River about 1/2 mile above confluence with North Fork at Gunnison
River Pleasure Park.
 
DENVER COUNTY:
---On December 21, David Hill reported 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds on the
DIA loop. On December 23, Jason Bidgood reported Yellow-headed Blackbird
on DIA loop.
 
DENVER CBC:
---On December 17, Joey Kellner reported the following on the Denver CBC:
Dunlin (near McClelland Reservoir), all 3 species of Rosy-Finches,
Grasshopper Sparrow at Chatfield.
 
DOUGLAS COUNTY:
---On December 24, Tim Ryan reported Bonaparte's Gull at Parker Regional
Park.
 
EL PASO COUNTY:
---On December 14 on the Fountain Creek CBC, Floyd reported 2 Tundra Swans
and 1 Trumpeter Swan on Rice Pond and Diana Beatty reported Brown-headed
Cowbird in Area 8. On December 15, David Tonnessen reported 2 Trumpeter
Swans and 1 Tundra Swan at Fountain Creek Regional Park.
 
FREMONT COUNTY:
---On December 18, a m EURASIAN WIGEON was reported by Brandon Percival and
Brad Steeger on Sell Pond on Sell Ave in Canon City.
 
GRAND COUNTY:
---On December 17, Brandon Percival reported that 26 Common Redpolls were
seen on the Granby CBC.
 
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
---On December 25, Paul Welscinger, Tom Behnfield, Art Hudak, and Frank
Farrell reported Trumpeter Swan at Crown Hill Regional Park.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
---On December 8, David Wade reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland
on Hilltop Dr by N Tyler Ave. On December 10, Gwen Moore and Irene Fortune
reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop Dr. On December
18, Nick Komar reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop
Dr. On December 19, Scott Somershoe reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in
Loveland on Hilltop Dr.
---On December 17, Austin Hess reported Gray Catbird at Prospect Ponds NA.
On December 18, Lori Zabel reported Gray Catbird at Prospect Ponds NA.
---On December 23 at Rawhide Engergy Station/Hamilton Reservoir 5 Tundra
Swans, Long-tailed Duck, and Lincoln's Sparrow were reported by Sue Riffe,
Bill Kaempfer, Austin Hess, and Nick Komar.
 
MESA COUNTY:
---On December 13 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood reported juv
Red-throated Loon. On December 15, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported
Red-throated Loon at Highline Lake SP. On December 17, JoAnn Riggle and
Gwen Moore reported Red-throated Loon at Highline Lake SP.
---On December 12 at the DeBeque Canyon exit on I-70, Tom McConnell
reported Trumpeter Swan. On December 14, Vic Zerbi reported Trumpeter Swan
at the Tunnel Rest Stop in DeBeque Canyon. On December 15, Carol Ortenzio
reported Trumpeter Swan at DeBeque Canyon Tunnel. On December 19, JoAnn
Riggle reported Trumpeter Swan at DeBeque Canyon Tunnel Pullout.
 
OTERO COUNTY:
---On December 16, at Rocky Ford SWA, Kathy Mihm Dunning reported
Golden-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow.
 
PROWERS COUNTY:
---On November 11 An adult male Pine Warbler visited the various seed
feeders in Janeal Thompson’s yard. The bird was also observed eating
insects. The Pine Warbler was seen by David Leatherman on November 16 then
on November 19 & 20, 29 & 30 by Janeal. On December 2, Janeal Thompson,
Dale, and Joel Adams reported Pine Warbler in Lamar. On December 9, Janeal
Thompson reported that the Pine Warbler continues in Lamar. On December
11, Janeal Thompson, Art Hudak, and Mark Chavez reported Pine Warbler and
34 White-winged Doves in Lamar.
If you would like to try for the Pine Warbler, please contact Janeal at
719-336-9658 <(719)%20336-9658>(home) or 719-688-7912 <(719)%20688-7912> (cell)
to make
arrangements.
---On December 9, Janeal Thompson reported a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in
her neighborhood in Lamar.
 
ROUTT COUNTY:
---On December 17, Tom Litteral reported the following on the Steamboat
CBC: 398 Bohemian Waxwings, Gray-capped Rosy-Finch, and Lapland Longspur.
 
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY:
---On December 6, Eric Hynes reported all three species of Rosy-Finches
coming to his feeders in Telluride. If you would
like to try to see them, contact Eric at erichynes28 AT gmail.com. On
December 9, Eric Hynes reported Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches
at his feeders in Telluride. On December 14, Eric Hynes reported all three
species of Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride as well as Vic Zerbi
observing. On December 25, Eric Hynes reported all three species of
Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride.
 
SUMMIT COUNTY:
---On December 16, a PURPLE SANDPIPER was reported by Jack and Ryan Bushong
at Dillon Reservoir at the Blue River Arm about 20 yds off of Hwy 9. This
would be a new state record if accepted. On December 17, Jack and Ryan
Bushong reported that the PURPLE SANDPIPER was refound at the same spot
and many birders were able to see the bird and comfirm the identification
in better light. On December 18, Joey Kellner reported that the PURPLE
SANDPIPER was refound in the same area as reported and
was seen by many birders. On December 18, Todd Deininger reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER in same area as reported and was
seen by many birders. On December 20, Lisa Edwards reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER in same area as reported and it was seen by many birders. On
December 21, Scott Manwaring reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at the delta of the
creek. On December 22, Pablo Quesada reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at the
usual spot and David Dowell reported 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Dillon
Reservoir Blue river Inlet. On December 23, Chip Clouse reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER at mouth of creek. On December 24, Frank Farrell, bruce Neuman,
Gene Rutherford, Tina Toth, and Christine Alexander reported PURPLE
SANDPIPER at Dillon Reservoir. On December 25, Irene Rivas and Nick Moore
reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at Dillon Reservoir.
 
Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:
Sign up on line for field trips at DFO’s Website.
 
The DFO Field Trip for Wednesday, December 28 will be to South Platte Park
led by David Suddjian (dssudjian AT GMAIL.COM <http://gmail.com/>;
831-713-8659 <(831)%20713-8659>) This trip is full.
 
Help with Christmas Bird Counts.
 
Good birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
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