[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, February 8 2019

Date: February 8 2019

Compiler: Lynne Forrester, lforrester27@gmail.com

Phone: 303-981-1045

E-mail:RBA@cobirds.org

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, February 8, 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)

Brant (Weld)

Trumpeter Swan (Grand, Mesa, Pueblo)

Tundra Swan (Pueblo)

Black Scoter (Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Long-tailed Duck (Weld)

Mew Gull (Pueblo)

Glaucous-winged Gull (Pueblo)

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

GYRFALCON (Larimer)

Loggerhead Shrike (Arapahoe, Elbert)

Winter Wren (Jefferson, Prowers, Pueblo)

Carolina Wren (Pueblo)

Varied Thrush (*Boulder)

Rosy Finch (Boulder)

Purple Finch (Boulder)

Field Sparrow (*El Paso)

Lark Bunting (Boulder)

Fox Sparrow (Red) (*Jefferson)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Jefferson)

Northern Cardinal (Larimer) 

Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe, Chaffee, Denver)

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 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.

--On February 3 the overwintering Rusty Blackbird continued, north of the Swim Beach in Cherry Creek SP.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--On February 7 a Varied Thrush was reported on Bosque Ct (and Palo Neighborhood) 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 (unconfirmed) 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 5 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at First Creek at DEN Open Space. First reported by Denver Urban CBC on Jan 1.

--On February 3 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported in Rocky Mountain Lake Park (possibly same one seen in January, same locations) by Matt Gray.

 

ELBERT COUNTY

--On February 5 a Loggerhead Shrike was reported by David Suddjian on CR 178 east of CR 133. There is no winter season precedent in eBird for the county.

 

EL PASO COUNTY:

—On February 7 the overwintering Field Sparrow continued at Red Rock Canyon Open Space.

 

GARFIELD COUNTY:

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

 

GRAND COUNTY:

---On February 1 (3) Trumpeter Swans were reported at the hotspot "Confluence Recreation Area".  First reported by Alicia Arnold on Jan 30.

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On February 7 the (Red) Fox Sparrow was reported at Red Rock Trading Post by Norm Lewis. 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 6 a Pine Warbler was reported on the Oakridge Neighborhood Trail (west of McMurray Ave) by Nick Komar.

--On February 3 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.  

---January 31 the GYRFALCON was photographed by Scott Bailey and reported by Dave Leatherman at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. 

---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.

—On January 30 a (f) Northern Cardinal was reported by Steve Martin at his home SW of Wellington. It has been visiting his feeders since July. Email for current status and directions: falconridge AT cowisp.net.  

 

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 1 a Winter Wren was reported at Lamar Community College by Dorothy Russell.

 

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--On February 5 a Trumpeter Swan was reported Valco Ponds State Wildlife Area by Rod Schmidt.

--On February 4 a Trumpeter Swan was reported at Pueblo Res - Osprey Picnic Area.  Likely the same bird that had been seen for the past few weeks at Valco Ponds SWA.

—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.

---On February 4 a Glaucous-winged Gull was reported at Pueblo Reservoir--South Marina area. First reported by David Tonnesson on Feb 1. 

---On February 3 an unprecedented raft of (22) Black Scoters was reported from Pueblo Reservoir by Brandon Percival. 

---On February 1 a Mew Gull was reported at Pueblo Reservoir (Sailboard Area). First reported by Kara Carrager Jan 19.

---On January 31 a Tundra Swan was reported west of Fowler (Hwy 50 at Chicosa Creek) by Jerry DeBoer. First reported by Joey Kellner on Jan 28.

---On January 31 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 5 the overwintering (f) Long-tailed Duck continued at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir).

--On January 31 a Brant was reported at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) by Rachel Hopper.

---On January 31 a wintering (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

Joder Ranch
Saturday, February 9
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Chuck Hundertmark  (303-604-0531)

First Creek at RM Arsenal
Sunday, February 10
7:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Patrick O'Driscoll (Email: patodrisk@gmail.com; 303-885-6955) 

Cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop (Arapahoe County)
Sunday, February 10
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Karen von Saltza (Email: kvonsaltza@yahoo.com; 303-941-4881) 

Park County Explorations
Monday, February 11
6:30 AM - 3:00 PM
David Suddjian (Email: dsuddjian@gmail.com; 831-713-8659)

 

Happy Birding!