Friday 24 March 2017

Re: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 12 updates in 10 topics

Interesting that you saw 53 raptors, and the official Hawk Watch site only saw 13.  Wonder why.  Any ideas?

Nancy


On 3/22/17 2:23 AM, cobirds@googlegroups.com wrote:
Larry Modesitt <larry.corvid@gmail.com>: Mar 21 09:30PM -0700

Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) holds conferences throughout western
North America including Hawaii, the northeastern Pacific Ocean, and Western
Mexico. WFO is partnering with Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO) to
bring this year's conference to Colorado. It will be held at the Pueblo
Convention Center *August 16-20, 2017*.
 

 
Pueblo was chosen because it is near a wide variety of habitats. Pueblo
also gives attendees of the CFO convention in Steamboat Springs a chance to
experience a different part of Colorado in another 2017 birding convention.
 

 
CFO members have been a big part of putting this conference together.
University of Northern Colorado's Lauryn Benedict, an expert on animal
communication and social behavior, will give the keynote address and a
workshop. Bill Kaempfer has been responsible for setting up field trips and
recruiting leaders. You'll see new presenters along with some frequent CFO
contributors. In addition, you'll see Forrest Rowland (head of Rockjumpers
Birding Adventures), and authors Jon Dunn, Kimball Garrett, and Jay
Withgott lead field trips.
 

 
WFO has set aside a block of rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Pueblo,
located at 110 West First Street, Pueblo, CO 81003. The Courtyard is
connected to the Convention Center via a hallway. Unusual plus: those of us
elders whose "Search for Bridey Murphy" ended with a question mark might
find answers in the display at convention headquarters.
 

 
Make your hotel reservations at the WFO discounted group rate now with this
link: *https://tinyurl.com/zw83jlz*
<http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=gTdzV&mc=Ck&s=XHPZli&u=BYPG&y=l&>
or call 719-542-3200.
 

 
The room rate is $98.00 (plus local taxes). We have a limited number of
rooms, so make your reservation soon.
 

 
For further information about WFO's conference, check out
http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/conference.php
 

 
In late March, we plan to announce and post the schedule for the
conference, including field trips and workshops. *Registration will open in
late April*.
 

 
WFO also is offering eight scholarships for youth aged 12 to 22.
Application deadline is April 5--so don't delay! More information is
available on the WFO website, or check out
http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/scholarship.php
<http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/conference.php>
 

 
We hope to see you there!
 

 
Larry
 

 
Larry Modesitt
 
Pueblo Conference Chair
 
Western Field Ornithologists
Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>: Mar 21 09:50PM -0600

Hi everyone,
 
This evening after work, I headed to Parker Regional Park to check out a
couple of eBird posts on a Baird's Sandpiper. Although the photos aren't
great, the best couple I got are attached and are enough for documentation.
 
While there, I also what, by my best guess, was a Northern x Mexican
Mallard hybrid. I would love people's thoughts on whether that seems right.
 
I was leaving because the combination of an overcast sky with the late time
made for really poor lighting when I saw a meadowlark that struck me as a
little unusual, so I took a closer look and the best photos I could get. I
am reasonably confident that this is an Eastern Meadowlark based on its
mostly white malar, paler articulars, darker eyestripe, more streaked
sides, and more extensive white in the tail (seen briefly when it flew but
not even remotely successfully photographed, unfortunately). I found it on
the east side of the pond in the grassy area east of the dirt trail that
circles the pond. My pictures actually (to my untrained eye) looked
closest to Lilian's Meadowlark, so out of curiosity I did research online
and found this article
<http://cobirds.org/CFO/ColoradoBirds/InTheScope/27.pdf>by Tony Leukering
and Nathan Pipelow on the rare presence of Lilian's Meadowlarks in
Colorado. I would love to know if anybody has thoughts on this. Eastern
Meadowlark is a lifer for me!
 
Thanks!
 
--
 
mhoerner@uchicago.edu
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Geophysical Sciences
The University of Chicago
5734 S. Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>: Mar 21 09:57PM -0600

Apologies! I forgot to include my name and location.
 
Marie Hoerner
Aurora, CO
 
On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 9:50 PM, Marie Hoerner <mhoerner@uchicago.edu>
wrote:
 
 
--
 
mhoerner@uchicago.edu
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Geophysical Sciences
The University of Chicago
5734 S. Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
Thomas Heinrich <teheinrich@gmail.com>: Mar 21 06:20PM -0600

Dear Cobirders,
This afternoon my brother and I took a hike up Mt Sanitas and were treated with quite a raptor migration spectacle. We observed some on the hike up, but most were seen from the summit (12:30-2:30 pm).
33 RT Hawk
7 Buteo sp.
3 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Accipiter sp. (likely Cooper's)
1 Golden Eagle
2 Northern Harrier
3 American Kestrels
There were several RT Hawk groups of 3-5, some accompanied rising in the thermals by accipiters. It was very cool experience, the first time seeing so many migrating raptors from Mt Sanitas.
Good birding,
Thomas Heinrich
Boulder, CO
Nyctea@aol.com
reports@hawkcount.org: Mar 21 04:13PM -0800

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2017
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 7 7
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 3 3
Cooper's Hawk 1 2 2
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 8 115 115
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 3 3
American Kestrel 1 8 8
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2
Prairie Falcon 0 1 1
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 9 9
Unknown Falcon 0 3 3
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 2 6 6
 
Total: 13 162 162
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
 
Official Counter: Gary Rossmiller
 
Observers:
 
Visitors:
Just a few people casually stopping by.
 
 
Weather:
Cool and hazy all day with increasing clouds. Horizons barely visible.
Completely overcast towards end of day. Falling barometer from 30.21" to
30.12" Breeze out of the N, NW direction starting at 3-4 bft ending at 1-2
bft.
 
Raptor Observations:
Locals fairly active. A solitary Coopers, Kestrel, and Sharp-Shinned Hawk
were welcome along with a small push of RT's between 11-12 MST. A Prairie
Falcon went by just as I got back to the parking lot, not counted. With
increasing cloudiness (poor light) and flight height it became difficult to
identify a couple of raptors.
 
Non-raptor Observations:
Meadow Larks heard all day on both sides of the ridge. An occasional Robin
and Townsend Solitaire heard. A few Magpies, Crows, Swifts, and Bushtits. 3
deer crossed the hiway early coming back to the ridge.
 
Predictions:
Hopefully with the high pressure system breaking up there will be more
activity.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff.birek@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at:
http://www.birdconservancy.org/
 
 
Site Description:
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is
the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur
Ridge may be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of
the Broad-winged Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger
long enough may see resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie
Falcons, in addition to migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned
Hawks, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and
Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern Goshawk is rare but regular.
Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes Bushtit, Western
Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White Pelican or
Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from Bird Conservancy of
the Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
 
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take
left into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from
the south side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an
old two-track and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the
ridge. When the trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through
the gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the
ridge.
Hugh Kingery <ouzels8@aol.com>: Mar 21 05:25PM -0400

On our morning walk Urling heard the distinctive call of an Eastern Phoebe, and later got a good look at the birds. It's on the Walker Trail, between the first foot bridge and the Colo. 86 overpass -- the same area where they probably bred last year.
 
Otherwise the selection seemed normal - though more birds than two weeks ago -- 20 species. Residents have started to sing: Black-capped Chickadees,W. Meadowlarks, & Song Sparrows. eBird deemed the Common Grackle as rare -- though I wouldn't.
 

 

 
Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO
Carl Starace <castarace@gmail.com>: Mar 21 12:45PM -0600

Hi All, Jeff Parker and I had our scopes on Five American Avocets
about mid morning. They weren't there when I showed up at 8 am. As we
talked, a Say's Phoebe started singing just a few yards to our right. The
Canvasbacks and pair of Pintails that have been regulars were absent. Good
March Birding, Carl Starace, Niwot
Jeff Parks <lastimout@gmail.com>: Mar 21 01:48PM -0700

Yes, the avocets must have arrived just before I did, as they were there
when I walked out onto the boardwalk. I was hoping to see a Yellowlegs,
since one has been reported there recently, but Avocets were good, too (see
poor photo of three of them below). In addition, there were a few killdeer
and the Teal Trifecta, which is always a nice sight. The Say's Phoebe was
a nice little bonus, good thing Carl was there, as I didn't hear it.
 
good birding -
 
Jeff Parks
 
<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0gRlHYYw8YY/WNGRa8qi7-I/AAAAAAAAAE8/mB--yNbvp-AlCxLIXhniGW8W8JAoKDPVACLcB/s1600/Avocets%2Bat%2BCottonwood.jpg>
"The \"Nunn Guy\"" <colorado.birder@gmail.com>: Mar 21 11:53AM -0700

Hi all
 
Visited various areas ... highlights:
 
- Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2 (ad.) [Gull/goose flock at Weld CR 84/29]
- Franklin's Gull - 1 [Gull/goose flock at Weld CR 84/29]
- Snow Goose - 3 [Gull flock at Weld CR 84/29] + 6 [O St Gravel Ponds]
- Greater White-fronted Goose - 1 [Gull flock at Weld CR 84/29] + 2 [O
St Gravel Ponds]
- Wood Duck - 1 [Crom Lake]
- Great-tailed Grackle - 7 [Woods Lake, Lower Latham]
- Cinnamon Teal - 14 [Weld CR 59] + 18 [Beebe Draw]
- Greater Yellowlegs - 1 [Loloff Reservoir] + 6 [Ponds to west of
Behren's Pond]
 
Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn
 
http://coloradobirder.club/
Pieter Strauss <pstrauss451@gmail.com>: Mar 21 10:54AM -0700

<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4UcvucMlFqk/WNFocTssBMI/AAAAAAAAAD0/0TmT0EUZ1-QSlG3ok0YBIJ6oIi016GifgCLcB/s1600/Mntn_Bluebird_03_21_2017_IMG_1057.jpg>
Spotted my first of the year Mountain Bluebird, hiking on north shore of
Gross Reservoir, 7600 feet. Not a record, last year I saw the first one at
Walker Ranch Boulder County, flying over the road, on 2/29/2016. But fun.
This male mountain bluebird was perching on a 5 foot bush, swooping to the
ground for bugs. Lots of bugs with the warm weather.
Very weak photo taken with iPhone, but best I could do.
"David Tønnessen" <davidtonnessenx@gmail.com>: Mar 21 07:37AM -0700

Currently a pair of Eastern Bluebirds hanging around the dirt parking lot at Rock Ledge Ranch, El Paso County.
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Mar 21 04:49AM -0600

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date: March 21, 2017
This is the Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, March 22 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 and the order of families has
changed.
 
Eurasian Wigeon (*Weld)
BLACK SWAN (Adams)
Tundra Swan (*Weld)
Long-tailed Duck (Pueblo)
Red-necked Grebe (Pueblo)
Greater Roadrunner (*Adams)
Snowy Plover (*Bent)
Mountain Plover (*Kit Carson)
Mew Gull (Larimer)
Thayer's Gull (Larimer)
ICELAND GULL (Weld)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Adams, Larimer)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (Larimer)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Logan)
Williamson's Sapsucker (Gilpin, Pueblo)
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (*l Paso)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Larimer)
Eastern Phoebe (Logan)
Chihuahuan Raven (Baca)
PACIFIC WREN (Larimer)
Winter Wren (*El Paso, Pueblo)
Carolina Wren (Pueblo)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Baca)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (*Gunnison)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Baca, El Paso, *Kit Carson)
Black-throated Sparrow (Mesa)
Savannah Sparrow ( Baca, *Kit Carson, Weld)
Lincoln's Sparrow (El Paso, Logan, Pueblo, Washington)
Harris's Sparrow (Denver, Larimer)
Great-tailed Grackle (El Paso, *Kit Carson, Pueblo, Weld)
 
ADAMS COUNTY:
---On March 19 at Barr Lake SP, Michelle Puplava and Michelle Fulcher
reported BLACK SWAN.
---On March 19 at Raptor Education Foundation in Brighton, Anne Price
reported a Greater Roadrunner.
---On March 20 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWF, N shore of Lake Ladora, Brian
Johnson reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
 
BACA COUNTY:
---On March 18 on F Rd, Tony Leukering reported Chestnut-collared Longspur
and Savannah Sparrow.
---On March 18 on G Rd, west of Rd 39, Tony Leukering reported 2 Chihuahuan
Raven, Curve-billed Thrasher, 19 Chestnut-collared Longspurs, and Field
Sparrow.
 
BENT COUNTY:
---On March 20 at John Martin Reservoir, Duane Nelson reported first Snowy
Plover of season.
 
DENVER COUNTY:
---On March 8 Cheryl Teuton refound a Harris's Sparrow at Westerly Creek
Park, first reported by Jason Bidgood. The bird moves about, but has been
most loyal, to the area near 23rd Ave and Beeler St. On March 16, the
Harris's Sparrow was seen on the DFO field trip to Westerly Creek Park and
seen again Mary 17 by Sunny Bradford. On May 18 at Westerly Creek Park,
Steve Stachowiak, Peter Gent, and John Drummond saw Harris's Sparrow.
 
EL PASO COUNTY:
---On March 18 at Paint Mine Open Space, Kara Carragher reported fly over
Chestnut-collared Longspur.
---On March 19 at Fountain Creek Regional Park, Tanja Britton reported 2
Lincoln's Sparrows.
---On March 19 at Birdsall Road, Kara Carragher reported m Ladder-backed
Woodpecker and 46 Great-tailed Grackles.
---On March 20 at Sinton Pond Open Space, David Tonnessen reported Winter
Wren.
 
GILPIN COUNTY:
---On March 19 at Golden Gate SP, Kriley Pond, Christ Goulard reported 1 m
Williamson's Sapsucker.
 
GUNNISON COUNTY:
---On March 20 at El Notcho, white bowl, Holly Annala reported 4
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches above 12000 ft.
 
KIT CARSON COUNTY:
---On March 20, Glenn Walbek reported 10 Chestnut-collared Longspurs flying
overhead, Savannah Sparrow, and 4 Great-tailed Grackles.
---ON March 20 on CR 58 between CR N and CR P, Glenn Walbek reported 2
Mountain Plovers.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
---On March 13 at Horseshoe Reservoir in Loveland, Andy Bankert reported a
1st cyc Mew Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Thayer's Gull, ICELAND
GULL, and early Franklin's Gulls. On March 17, Nick Komar reported Mew
Gull at Horseshoe Reservoir. On March 18, Andy Bankert and Mike McCloy
reported 1-st cyc Mew Gull, 3 Thayer's Gulls, and 5 Lesser Black-backed
Gulls (4 ad, 1 1-st cyc). On March 19 at Horseshoe Reservoir, Nick Komar
reported Mew Gull and 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
---On March 14 Rob sparks reported a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK from McMurry
Natiural Area, reached from the west end of Hickory St in Fort Collins.
---On March 15, Francis Commercon reported a Skulking PACIFIC WREN on the
Grey Rock Trail, along the summit trail, just where this trail first
crosses the creek as you hike northward and upward. On March 18, David
Wade, Nick Komar, and Austin Hess reported PACIFIC WREN and 3 American
Three-toed Woodpeckers on Grey Rock Trail.
---On March 17 at McMurry Natural Area, Rob Sparks reported a first winter
Harris's Sparrow in hawthorn.
 
LOGAN COUNTY:
---On March 18 on CR 25 from Merino to Prewitt, Steve Mlodinow reported
Eastern Phoebe.
---On March 19 at Tamarack Ranch SWA, CR 93 and S Platte River, Chris Wood
reported Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Phoebe singing near the bridge.
---On March 19 at Little Jumbo Reservoir, Chris Wood reported Lincoln's
Sparrow.
 
MESA COUNTY:
---On March 18 at Colorado National Monument, Carol Ortenzio reported 2
Black-throated Sparrows.
 
PUEBLO COUNTY:
---On March 14 and 16, Brandon Percival reported Red-necked Grebe that has
been present since January at Pueblo Reservoir
---On March 18 along Arkansas River Trail, Van Truan and Brandon Percival
reported Winter Wren, Carolina Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, and 10 Great-tailed
Grackles. On March 19, Brandon Percival reported Carolina Wren east of
Pueblo City Park along South side of Arkansas River. On March 19, Renee
Casias reported Winter Wren and Carolina Wren on Arkansas River Trail.
---On March 18 at Pueblo Reservoir, North Shore Marina, Brandon Percival
reported Red-necked Grebe.
---On March 19 on Goodnight River Trail in Pueblo, Brandon Percival and
Kara Carragher reported Long-tailed Duck.
 
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
---On March 18 at Last Chance Rest Area, Adam Vesely and Christin Alexander
reported 4 Lincoln's Sparrows.
 
WELD COUNTY:
---On March 14, Mlodinow reported an Eurasian Wigeon and Tundra Swan at
Stewart's Pond (Private Property) at CR 37 and CR 46. Kevein DeBoear
reported both species again on March 17. On March 18, Heather and Riley
Morris, Sunny Bradford, Ryan Graves, and Steve Mlodinow reported Tundra
Swan at Steward's Pond and Morris reported 2 Great-tailed Grackles. On
March 19 at Stewart's Pond, Gene Rutherford, Tim Smart, Dean Shoup, todd
Deininger, Bill Kaempfer, and Glenn Walbek reported Eurasian Wigeon and
Glenn Walbek and Chris Wood reported Tundra Swan. On March 20, Gwen Moore
reported Eurasian Wigeon at Stewart's Pond. On March 20, Doug Kibbe
reported Eurasian Wigeon and Tundra Swan at Stewart's Pond.
---On March 18 at Lower Latham Reservoir, Ryan Graves reported Savannah
Sparrow and Great-tailed Grackle.
---On March 19 at Wetland on CR 46, Gene Rutherford, Todd Deininger, and
Bill Kaempfer reported imm Tundra Swan.
 
Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips
The DFO Field Trip for Friday, March 24 will be to Fountain Creek Regional
Park led by Paul Slingsby (paslisngsby AT comcast.net; 303-422-3728) This
trip is full
 
The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, March 25 will be the Chatfield State Park
– Marina Sandspit led by Gregg Goodrich (GreggGoodrich AT gmail.com;
303-665-9135). From the south entrance of Chatfield meet at the first
parking lot which is just south east of the marina. We will bird several
locations in NW Douglas county. Register online or contact leader. Meet
at 0700.
 
The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, March 26 will be to Cherry Creek SP led by
Mary Keithler (mkeithler AT yahoo.com; 303-771-1421) Meet at 0800 at WEST
entrance of park. Go east from Yosemite St. on Union Ave past Cherry Creek
High School to west entrance. State Parks Pass or day pass required.
Habitats include deep water, marshland, mixed grasses and cottonwoods.
Will carpool to various stops and walk 1-2 miles. Bring binoculars, water,
snacks, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Scopes are useful.
Register online or contact leader.
 
Good Birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
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