[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, December 15, updated at 6:50 AM

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, December 15, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists.  

Compiler: Joe Roller, Denver, jroller9 AT gmail.com

E-mail:  RBA  AT cobirds.org

Rare, out of place and out of season species include:  

(* indicates new information on this species; CAPITAL LETTERS are used to identify very rare species as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee)

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (*WELD COUNTY)

This mega-rarity breeds in Iceland, winters in NW Europe and more recently winters in NE North America. There have been a few sightings west of Pennsylvania, but no accepted records. Steve Mlodinow discovered the goose on Tuesday, Dec 11 at Idaho Creek Open Space and posted a summary of previous sightings and other useful information to CObirds. There is no guarantee it's a wild bird, but this might be your only chance to see one.  

The bird was reported on Dec 13 & 14 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area at the intersection of Weld CR 18 and Colorado Blvd near Firestone (see eBird hotspot map). On the 14th seven species of geese were observed there, including a Brant.

Prior to the Milavec Reservoir location the bird was seen on Dec 11 & 12 from Weld County Road 7, a mile south of State Highway 119.

Observers have been diligent in reporting sightings on CObirds - thanks! Please check there for updates.

Other species:

Brant (*Weld)

Black Scoter (*Arapahoe, *Jefferson)

Long-tailed Duck (*Weld)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larimer)

Pacific Loon (Pueblo)

Common Loon (Pueblo)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (La Plata)

GYRFALCON (*Larimer, Weld)
Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe)
Palm Warbler (Adams, Arapahoe)

ADAMS COUNTY:

—On December 10 a Palm Warbler was reported at South Platte River 88th Ave area by Candice Johnson.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

—On December 14 a (f) Black Scoter was reported at South Platte Park--South Platte Reservoir. First reported by Tanja Britton on Nov 26.

—On December 9 (2) Rusty Blackbirds were reported at Cherry Creek SP, near the swim beach. First found by Tuesday Birders on Nov 20.
—On December 8 a Palm Warbler (Western) was reported at W Long Drive greenway in Littleton. First reported by David Suddjian on Nov 29.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:
---On December 8 a lingering (f) Black Scoter was reported at South Platte Park--South Platte Reservoir, southwest bay. First reported on Nov 28.
 
LA PLATA COUNTY:

—On December 9 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported at Animas River--Huck Finn Pond & Hatchery area by the gazebo on the SE side of the river. First reported by Ryan Votta on Dec 2 as the second county record.

LARIMER COUNTY:

—On December 14 an (imm) gray-phase GYRFALCON was reported by Rachel Hopper on Trilby Rd near Taft Hill Rd, then seen by others. through about 2 PM, when it flew south. It has been in that area near the landfill off and on. On the 13th it was reported at the Larimer County landfill by Nick Komar. If you visit the landfill be sure to check in at one of the pay windows (or the main office) and follow instructions for parking from landfill employees.

—On December 9 an (imm) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was reported at Boyd Lake (south end) by Nick Komar.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

—On December 9 a Pacific Loon was reported at Pueblo Reservoir by Brandon Percival.

 

WELD COUNTY:

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE - See notes at top of this report.

---On December 14 a (Black) Brant was reported by Chris Wood at Frederick aka Firestone Lake (Milavec) Reservoir.

—On December 11 a Long-tailed Duck was reported by Steve Mlodinow at Frederick (Milavec) Reservoir, continuing through December 14.

---On December 7 a GYRFALCON was reported north of Highway 14 and west of WCR 47 by Rachel Hopper.  The bird went to ground near Owl Creek.

DFO Field Trips...trip details are at the DFO website: DFObirds.org
 
Chatfield State Park
Sunday, December 16
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Gregg Goodrich (GreggGoodrich AT gmail.com; 303.655.9135)

 

Chase Trip

Monday, December 17

7:00 AM – 2:00 PM

David Suddjian (dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659), and Dale Pate (575-706-4584)

 

Aurora Reservoir and Cherry Creek State Park

Tuesday, December 18

6:45 AM – 2:00 PM  

David Suddjian (dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659)

 

No additional DFO trips are scheduled until December 27, but...

the Christmas Bird Count season is here! Now through Jan 5, 2019. Here are the dates that are on the CBC Website.

Saturday (12/15/2018)

Colorado Springs

Denver

Fort Collins

Granby

Longmont

Monte Vista NWR

North Park

Pueblo Reservoir

Pagosa Springs

Roaring Fork River Valley

Salida

Steamboat Springs

Sunday (12/16/2018)

Aspen

Boulder 

Durango

Evergreen-Idaho Springs

Grand Junction

Gunnison

Montrose

Penrose 

Rocky Mountain National Park

Monday (12/17/2018)

John Martin Reservoir

Pinon Canyon (inaugural count)

Tuesday (12/18/2018)

Rocky Ford

Weldona-Fort Morgan

Wednesday (12/19/2018)

Pueblo

Thursday (12/20/2018)

Fountain Creek

Friday (12/21/2018)

Bonny Reservoir

Saturday (12/22/2018)

Crook

Nunn

Spanish Peaks

Sunday (12/23/2018)

Delta

Saturday (12/29/2018)

Cortez

Douglas County

Great Sand Dunes NP

Greeley

Westcliffe

Monday (12/31/2018)

Barr Lake

Rawhide Energy Station

Tuesday (01/01/2019)

Denver (Urban)

Grand Mesa

Loveland

Friday (01/04/2019)

Air Force Academy

Flagler

Saturday (01/05/2019)

Black Forest

Dotsero 

Eagle Valley 

Hotchkiss

Lake Isabel

Sterling

No Date known yet:

Summit County - may not be held this year

 

If you want to learn more about Christmas Bird Counts, go to https://www.audubon.org/conservation/…/christmas-bird-count/

There are usually over 40 Christmas Bird Counts held around Colorado each winter.

To sign up for Christmas Bird Counts, contact the compiler soon.

https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=fadfb421e95f4949bde20c29a38228bd

 

Good birding,

Joe Roller, Denver

jroller9 AT gmail.com

303 204-0828

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