This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, February 1, 2013, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name.
Highlight species include: (* denotes that there is new information on this species in this report)
Trumpeter Swan (Larimer)
Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe*, Weld)
Red-throated Loon (Pueblo)
ICELAND GULL (Boulder*)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Boulder*)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Boulder)
Glaucous Gull (Pueblo)
Great Black-backed Gull (Boulder, Pueblo)
ACORN WOODPECKER (El Paso, Pueblo)
Carolina Wren (Prowers)
Marsh Wren (Jefferson)
Eastern Towhee (Adams, Prowers)
Swamp Sparrow (Arapahoe, Jefferson)
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)
Northern Cardinal (Prowers)
Rusty Blackbird (Adams)
Rosy-Finches (Grand)
Common Redpoll (Jefferson, Grand, Jackson, Larimer*)
HOARY REDPOLL (Grand, Jackson, Larimer*)
--A female Eastern Towhee was seen along 160th Av. about one mile east of I-76 on Jan. 31 by Walbek. It was seen in front of a house with large junipers in the front yard on south side of 160th.
-- On January 26, Miller reported that the small flock of Rusty Blackbirds continues to be seen on the South Platte River in the vicinity of the I-76 bridge; if not here, look upstream - they have been found as far upstream as the sewage plant outflow near Sand Creek. Miller also reported that one of the two White Pelicans first reported by Goulart on Jan 21 was still present on the river near the I-76 bridge on the 26th. Barrow's Goldeneyes (both male and female) continue to be seen on the S. Platte between 78th and 88th (opposite the green & white water tank).
ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
--Two Long-tailed Ducks and a Common Loon were still present on South Platte Reservoir (signed entrance is on Platte Canyon Rd. north of C-470) on January 30. Seven Greater Scaup were on the small lake ("Blackrock Lake") between South Platte Reservoir and the Platte River in South Platte Park on the 26th. A Swamp Sparrow found by Henwood and Raker on Jan. 25 along the So. Platte about 100 yds. (estimated) downstream (north) from the east-most parking area here near an island in the river was not seen on the 26th.
BOULDER COUNTY:
--A 1st-cycle ICELAND GULL was seen at Teller Lake #5 on February 1, reported by Walbek. Other gulls seen here on Feb.1 were an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and several adult Thayer's Gulls. Nunes reported an adult ICELAND GULL at Teller Lake #5 on Jan. 26; three Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also here on the 26th. Kaempfer reported a 1st cycle Glaucous-winged Gull at Teller Lake #5 on January 24, and on January 18, Vanderpoel reported a 1st cycle Great Black-backed Gull here.
EL PASO COUNTY:
--Maynard reports that the ACORN WOODPECKER continues to be present in SW Colorado Springs in the 1804 - 1810 section of Cheyenne Blvd. It was seen again on the 28th.
GARFIELD COUNTY:
GRAND COUNTY:
JACKSON COUNTY:
--
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
-- Erthal reported a Marsh Wren and a Swamp Sparrow seen in the Wheatridge Greenbelt on Jan. 22. Both birds were seen in the marsh at the southwest corner of Bass Lake near the end of the boardwalk. There have been no further reports of either bird.
-- The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at the Red Rocks Trading Post, first reported by Henwood on Nov. 26, continues to be seen at least through January 29 and is assumed to still be present.
--On January 29, Santangelo reported that several Common Redpolls, first reported on the 14th, were still coming to his feeder in Wheatridge. His address is: 3525 Estes St. (two blocks north of Crown Hill Lake and two blocks south of 38th Ave). You may park in front of the driveway but please do not park in the driveway and please stay in your car to observe the Redpolls.
LARIMER COUNTY:
--The large flock (>100) of Redpolls continues to be seen behind the Discovery Museum in Ft. Collins, located at Cherry and Mason St which is the NW corner of College and Cherry through February 1. While almost all are Common Redpolls, multiple observers have seen probable/possible HOARY REDPOLLs at this location since December 23, most recently on Feb.1 reported by Sparks.
--Gillilan reports the two Trumpeter Swans continue to be seen on Lower Hoffman Lake, Loveland, seen on Jan. 25.
PROWERS COUNTY:
--Leatherman reported the following birds seen in the Lamar Community College woods on January 24: an adult male Eastern Towhee, a Canyon Wren, and several (up to 4) Northern Cardinals. The towhee hangs out in the area near the feeder east of the library.
--A juv. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was present in Willow Creek Park, Lamar, on Jan. 24 reported by Leatherman.
PUEBLO COUNTY:
--Sanders reported the following birds seen at Pueblo Reservoir on January 26: at the South Marina a Great Black-backed Gull, Pacific Loon, and Red-throated Loon; at West Fisherman Point a 1st-cyc Glaucous Gull.
--Nelson reported that the ACORN WOODPECKER was still present at Pueblo Mountain Park near Beulah on January 16.
WELD COUNTY:
--Kaempfer reported that the Long-tailed Duck, first reported by Mlodinow, continues at Frederick Recreation Area, Frederick on Jan. 21.
DFO FIELD TRIPS:
Leader: Joey Kellner (303) 978-1748
Meet the leader at 6:30 am at the Division of Wildlife (DOW), 6060 N. Broadway. Exit I-25 at 58th Av., go west 2 blocks to Broadway, then north 2 blocks to the DOW parking lot on the right. This is a full-day trip - bring water, lunch and snacks.
Sunday, February 3: Chatfield State Park
Leader: Paul Slingsby (303) 422-3728
Meet the leader at 8:00 am at the Kingfisher Bridge trail head at the south end of the Park where the road crosses the Platte River. This is a half-day trip ending about 1 pm; lunch is optional. Will be walking 2-3 miles on dirt trails. Please register with Paul if you plan to go on this trip.
Good Birding,
Dick Schottler
Golden
