[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 10 2019

Date: February 10 2019

Compiler: Lynne Forrester, lforrester27@gmail.com

Phone: 303-981-1045

E-mail:RBA@cobirds.org

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 10, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists.

 

Observers have been diligent in reporting sightings and updates on CoBirds. Thanks!

CAPITAL LETTERS are used for very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee.

(*) indicates new information on this species.

 

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

 

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (Weld)

Trumpeter Swan (Mesa, *Pueblo)

Tundra Swan (Prowers)

Black Scoter (Arapahoe, *Pueblo)

Long-tailed Duck (Weld)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (*Weld)

Glaucous-winged Gull (*Arapahoe, *Pueblo)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Denver, Garfield, La Plata, Larimer)

GYRFALCON (Larimer)

Loggerhead Shrike (Arapahoe, *Elbert)

Winter Wren (Jefferson, *Pueblo)

Carolina Wren (Pueblo)

Varied Thrush (*Boulder)

Brown Thrasher (*Arapahoe)

Rosy Finch (Boulder)

-Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (*El Paso)

-Black Rosy-Finch (*El Paso)

-Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (*Jefferson)

Purple Finch (Boulder)

Chestnut-collard Longspur (*Weld)

Snow Bunting (*Weld)

Field Sparrow (*El Paso)

Lark Bunting (Boulder)

Fox Sparrow (Red) (*Jefferson)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Jefferson)

Northern Cardinal (Larimer)

Rusty Blackbird (*Arapahoe, Chaffee, Denver, *Garfield)

Pine Warbler (*Larimer)

 

Note, several more winter/very early spring Gull species are being seen, primarily in Pueblo and Larimer Counties (e.g. Thayer's Gull, Glaucous Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Greater Black-backed Gull).  

For more information on these Gull species, as well as other birds not on RBA list, please check cobirds.org, scroll down to the very bottom "Bird Trax" and click on "sightings".  It will list ALL birds reported on e-bird for the day.

 

 

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:

--On February 9 a Glaucous-winged Gull was reported at Aurora Reservoir by Ben Sampson.

--On February 9 a Brown Thrasher was reported in Cherry Creek SP at Swim Beach/Smoky Hill Shelter area and at Dixon Grove. First reported on February 8 by Alec Hopping.

--On February 9 the overwintering Rusty Blackbird continued, north of the Swim Beach in Cherry Creek SP.

--On February 5 2 Loggerhead Shrike were reported by David Suddjian, one on CR 241 (first reported Jan 2) and second on CR 42.

--On February 5 the overwintering (f) Black Scoter continued at South Platte Reservoir.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On February 9 a Varied Thrush was reported on Bosque Ct in Boulder. First reported by Ernest Crvich Jan 23. 

--On February 5 a flock (flyover) of Rosy Finch was reported by Thomas Heinrich 1/2 mi up the Brainard Lake road from the Peak to Peak highway.

--On February 5 a Purple Finch was reported in Lyons by Rolf Hertenstein. Seen at feeder on private property. Not seen again and owner not available to provide further access.

--On February 5 a Lark Bunting was reported at Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve by Art Reisman. There are no eBird records north of Pueblo in February.

 

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

--On February 3 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Mt Ouray SWA by Christian Hagenlocher.

 

DENVER COUNTY:

--On February 8 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported in Rocky Mountain Lake Park (possibly same one seen in January and more recently, same locations).

--On February 5 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at First Creek at DEN Open Space. First reported by Denver Urban CBC on Jan 1.

 

ELBERT COUNTY

--On February 9 a Loggerhead Shrike was reported on CR 178 and on County Road 158 by different people. First reported on February 5 by David Suddjian. There is no winter season precedent in eBird for the county.

 

EL PASO COUNTY:

--On February 9 the overwintering Field Sparrow continued at Red Rock Canyon Open Space and residence.

--On February 5 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (80 Hepburn's) and (160 Gray-crowned) reported on Rainbow Gulch Trail by David Tønnessen.

--On February 5 Black Rosy-Finch (3) reported on Rainbow Gulch Trail by David Tønnessen.

 

GARFIELD COUNTY:

--On February 9 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Delaney Nature Park by Matt Kuhn.

--On February 3 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported from Centennial Park in Carbondale.  First reported by Vic Zerbi on Feb 2.

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On February 9 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (30) reported in Echo Hills Area of Evergreen by Ginny Bergstrom,

--On February 9 the (Red) Fox Sparrow was reported at Red Rock Trading Post. First reported by Cheryl Teuton on November 30 and seen occasionally since.

--On February 3 a Golden-crowned Sparrow was reported at Morrison Park by David Tonnessen.

--On February 3 a Golden-Crowned Sparrow was reported on private property in Morrison on 2nd Street. Visitors are required to stay on the road and not wander onto the private parking lot just south of the house. 

--On February 3 the overwintering Winter Wren continued at Morrison Park.

 

LA PLATA COUNTY:

--On February 2 the overwintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continued at Animas River—Huck Finn Pond.

 

LARIMER COUNTY:

--On February 9 and 8 a Pine Warbler was reported in Fort Collins south of E Harmony Rd, in several locations east of S Lemay Ave. First report on February 6 by Nick Komar.

—On February 9 the overwintering (f) Northern Cardinal was reported. It has been visiting the feeders at the home of Steve Martin at his home SW of Wellington since July. Email for current status and directions: falconridge AT cowisp.net.  

--On February 8 a GYRFALCON was seen from Trilby Rd at the Larimer County Landfill. Seen periodically this winter too.  If you visit the Larimer County 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 February 2 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported from Grandview Cemetery on the adjacent golf course midway along the cemetery's southern border that runs east-west; approx. 50 yds east of the port a potty.  First reported by David Leatherman on Jan 8.

 

MESA COUNTY:

--On February 4 a Trumpeter Swan was reported along I-70 at De Beque.  First reported by David Prove approx. Jan 30.

 

PROWERS COUNTY:

--On February 7 a Tundra Swan was reported on County Road 7 and LL by Jane Stulp.

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--On February 10 & 9 a Glaucous-winged Gull was reported at Pueblo Reservoir--South Marina area. First reported by David Tonnesson on Feb 1.

--On February 9 two Trumpeter Swans were reported at Valco Ponds State Wildlife Area. Early speculation was that it was a single bird also seen at Pueblo Reservoir, but one report has two on different ponds at the same time.

--On February 9 Trumpeter Swans were reported at Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, Pueblo Reservoir, Rock Canyon Rd. in Pueblo, and Valco Ponds (above).

--On February 9 a raft of (up to 19) Black Scoters was reported on Pueblo Reservoir (northwest portion of the lake). First reported February 3 by Brandon Percival. 

--On February 9 the overwintering Winter Wren continued at Valco Ponds.

--On February 4 a Carolina Wren was reported at the Arkansas River Trail, east of Pueblo Blvd. First reported by Brandon Percival on Jan 4.

--Note, a Great Black-backed Gull, "Murray" is often reported at Pueblo Reservoir, where it has wintered for many years.

 

WELD COUNTY:

--On February 9 Sharp-tailed Grouse (9) were reported in the Pawnee National Grasslands by David Ely, Steven Mlodinow and Matt Hofeditz.

--On February 9 Snow Bunting (2) reported on WCR 132, 134, and 111-119 areas by David Ely, Steven Mlodinow and Matt Hofeditz.

--On February 9 a Chestnut-collared Longspur was reported on WCR 132 by David Ely and Steven Mlodinow

--On February 5 the overwintering (f) Long-tailed Duck continued at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir).

--On January 26 a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was reported at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir), but recent searches have not turned it up among the thousands of geese. It could still be there. First reported nearby by Steve Mlodinow on Dec 11.  This would be a first state record if approved by the Colorado Bird Record Committee. 

 

 

 

Upcoming DFO Field Trips...trip details are at the DFO website

Note: Monday trip to Park County CANCELLED

 

Park County Explorations - CANCELLLED
Monday, February 11
David Suddjian (Email: dsuddjian@gmail.com; 831-713-8659)

South Platte River Trail at E 88th Ave and I-76
Saturday, February 16
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Mark Amershek (303-329-8646)

Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe County)
Sunday, February 17
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Mary Cay Burger (720-940-8394)

 

Happy Birding!

Lynne