[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, December 16 at 6:27 AM

Date: December 16, 2018

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

E-mail:  RBA  AT cobirds.org

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, December 16, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists.  

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 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 and 15 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 (*Arapahoe, *Weld)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (*Larimer)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (*Douglas)

GYRFALCON (*Larimer, Weld)

Palm Warbler (*Boulder)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

—On December 15 a (f) Black Scoter continued at South Platte Park--South Platte Reservoir; present since Nov 26.

---On December 15 a Long-tailed Duck lingered at Cherry Creek SP, reported by Kevin DeBoer.

BOULDER COUNTY:
---On December 15 a Palm Warbler was reported at Longmont Water Treatment ponds by Luke Phenager.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

---On December 15 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported at the Chatfield SP Camgrpund by Joey Kellner and Chris Wood. (rare here)

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.

LARIMER COUNTY:

—On December 14 & 15 an (imm) gray-phase GYRFALCON was reported on W Trilby Rd near Taft Hill Rd, then near S Shields St. 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 15 a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was reported by Loch Kilpatrick at Larimer County Landfill (restricted access).

 

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 15.

---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
 

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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