[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Date: February 13, 2019

Compiler: Allison Hilf, ahilf@me.com

Phone: (303) 888-5120

E-mail: RBA@cobirds.org

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, February 13, 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 (*Pueblo)

Mew Gull (Arapahoe)

Glaucous-winged Gull (Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Denver, *Garfield, Larimer)

GYRFALCON (Larimer)

Loggerhead Shrike (Elbert)

Winter Wren (Jefferson, Pueblo)

Varied Thrush (*Boulder)

Brown Thrasher (Arapahoe)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Jefferson)

Chestnut-collard Longspur (Weld)

Snow Bunting (Weld)

Field Sparrow (*El Paso)

Fox Sparrow (Red) (Jefferson)

Northern Cardinal (Larimer)

Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe, *Denver, *Garfield)

Pine Warbler (*Larimer)

 

Gull species: several winter/very early spring gulls 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 12 the overwintering (f) Black Scoter continued at South Platte Reservoir

—On February 11 a Mew Gull (adult) was reported at South Platte Reservoir by Michael Lester.

—On February 11 the overwintering Rusty Blackbird continued, north of the Swim Beach in Cherry Creek SP.

—On February 10 a Glaucous-winged Gull was reported at Aurora Reservoir. First reported by Ben Sampson on Feb 9.

—On February 10 a Brown Thrasher was reported in Cherry Creek SP at Swim Beach/Smoky Hill Shelter area. First reported on by Alec Hopping on Feb 8.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On February 12 a Varied Thrush was reported on Bosque Ct in Boulder. First reported by Ernest Crvich Jan 23. 

 DENVER COUNTY:

—On February 12 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at First Creek at DEN Open Space. First reported by Denver Urban CBC on Jan 1.

—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).

 

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 12 the overwintering Field Sparrow continued at Red Rock Canyon Open Space.

 

GARFIELD COUNTY:

—On February 12 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported at Centennial Park in Carbondale.  First reported by Vic Zerbi on Feb 2.

—On February 12 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Carbondale Nature Park by Catherine Hagen.

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

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

—On February 11 the overwintering Winter Wren continued at Morrison Park.

—On February 10 the overwintering Fox Sparrow (Red) continued at Red Rock Trading Post.

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

 

LARIMER COUNTY:

—On February 12 a Pine Warbler was reported in Fort Collins south of E Harmony Rd and east of S Lemay Ave. First report on February 6 by Nick Komar.

— On February 10 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.

—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.  

 

MESA COUNTY:

—On February 10 (2) Trumpeter Swan were reported at Highline Lake State Park.  First reported by Glenn Pearson on Feb 9.

PROWERS COUNTY:

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

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

—On February 12 (13) Black Scoters were reported at Pueblo Reservoir (SWA on the NW Side of Pueblo Reservoir, west to the ice line, west of Turkey Creek). Various large flock numbers have been present since (22) were first reported by Brandon Percival on Feb 3.

—On February 12 (1) Trumpeter Swan was reported at Pueblo Reservoir, below the dam.  There have been 1-2 Swans reported over the past several days, likely moving between locations at  the following locations at Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, Pueblo Reservoir, Rock Canyon Rd. in Pueblo, Mosquito Alley, and Valco Ponds.

—On February 12 (2) Long-tailed Duck were reported at Pueblo Reservoir (SWA on the NW Side of Pueblo Reservoir, west to the ice line, west of Turkey Creek).  2 birds first reported by Brandon Percival on Jan. 19.

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

—On February 10 the overwintering Winter Wren continued at Valco Ponds.

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

 

WELD COUNTY:

—On February 10 a Chestnut-collared Longspur was reported on WCR 132. First reported by David Ely on Feb 9

—On February 9 (2) Snow Bunting were reported on WCR 132, 134, and 111-119 area by Steve Mlodinow.

—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 on dfobirds.org

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

Cherry Creek State Park (Arapahoe County)

Sunday, February 17

8:00 AM-2:00 PM

Mary Cay Burger (E-mail: mcburger3 AT junco.com; 720-940-8394)

Southeastern Colorado

Monday, February 18

4:00 AM - 7:00 PM

David Suddijian (E-mail: dsuddijian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659)

Good Birding,

Allison Hilf

Aurora, CO

Sent from my iPhone