Compiler: Ira Sanders Date: February 6, 2012
e-mail: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, February 6, 2012, 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) Red-necked Grebe (Boulder) TRUMPETER SWAN (Boulder, Larimer) TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder, Sedgwick/Logan) Barrow's Goldeneye (*Chaffee, *Delta) Long-tailed Duck (Denver, *Mesa) ICELAND GULL (Larimer) Glaucous Gull (Sedgwick/Logan) GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Bent, Larimer) Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson) SNOWY OWL(Adams) Short-eared Owl (Weld) VARIED THRUSH (LaPlata) White-throated Sparrow (Jackson) Harris's Sparrow (Jefferson) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (*Jefferson, Boulder) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Jackson, *Jefferson) Black Rosy-Finch (*Jefferson) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (*Jefferson) Northern Cardinal (Otero) Please note, detailed directions to most of the following locations can be found on the Colorado County Birding Website: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/index.php Adams County: --No reports on the SNOWY OWL's east of Barr Lake have been received for over 1 week. They were seen in the vicinity of Harvest Rd. between 138th Av and 144th Av thru January 29. Directions: Take Bromley Lane (152nd) east from I-76 and go 2 miles past Piccadilly to Harvest Road. Turn right and go south to 138th. When looking for/observing the owls, use common sense: park and observe from the shoulders of public roads; do not obstruct traffic; do not walk or drive into fields; do not go up to people's houses to ask for information or request permission to enter their property (they apparently are growing tired of owl watchers). Bent County: --On January 31 Duane Nelson had a Great Black-backed Gull at the west end of John Martin Reservoir. Boulder County: --The TRUMPETER SWAN reported by Mlodinow at Valmont Reservoir was present as of February 1 but not seen on February 4. --A TUNDRA SWAN was found at Valmont on February 4 by the joint club fieldtrip and was present on February 6. --A GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at the North Teller Farm Trailhead off Valmont Rd through February 4. --An adult basic plumage Red-necked Grebe was found at Valmont on February 4 by the joint club fieldtrip. Chaffee County: --On February 6 Moss reports a flock of Barrow's Goldeneye at Sand Lake in Salida. Delta County: --On February 5 Thurmon reports 10 Barrow's Goldeneye and 12 White-fronted Geese at Confluence Park on the Gunnison River. Denver County: --A male Long-tailed Duck at Duck Lake in City Park continues to be seen thru January 31. Huerfano County: --Rosy-Finches are back at Beverly Jensen's yard in LaVeta. Please call Beverly before going to her house: 719-742-3195 Jackson County: --On February 1 Craig Dodson reports 2 tan morph White-throated Sparrows and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches at the Moose Visitor Center on the west side of Cameron Pass. Jefferson County: --The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at the Red Rocks Trading Post feeders continues to be seen thru February 6. --A Greater Roadrunner first reported by Roller on Dinosaur Ridge was seen again on February 2 along Alameda Pkwy. on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge (aka Dakota hogback). The best times to try for the Roadrunner seem to be on mild, sunny, calm afternoons. --On February 4, Henwood again found the 2 Harris's Sparrows at Bear Creek Lake Park near the boat launch. --On February 6, all 3 species of Rosy-Finch were at the feeders at Red Rocks Trading Post. There were about 50 birds. LaPlata County: --On January 31 Riley Morris reports a male VARIED THRUSH is being seen very infrequently at the Durango Fish Hatchery. The two best areas to try for it are: 1) the grassy area behind the DOW office where a Varied Thrush showed up five years ago. 2) Walk through the entrance gate and along the fish raceways until you reach the end of the wooden fence on your left. Look in the open area under the spruce trees, especially by the stumps and logs. This bird is very skittish and often appears seemingly from nowhere, runs around on the ground for 10 or 15 seconds, and disappears back into the spruce trees. Patience is required. --Morris reports on February 5 that the male VARIED THRUSH has been appearing in his yard under a big spruce for the last couple mornings, eating dried meal worms. If you would like to try for him, the best spot for viewing is standing under the front porch of his house (141 E. 16th St., presumably in Durango) looking west into the yard at the area in front of the doghouse under the big spruce. Walking around on the hill between his house and Main Street will most likely spook the bird away so it is best to drive in, park in the hatchery lot, and slowly approach the front of his house from the hatchery side, peering around the snowball bush as you enter the little driveway. Best viewing has been 7:30AM to about 9:00 AM. Feel free to e-mail him (rileyandheat...@q.com) if you're not familiar with the hatchery area. Larimer County: --On January 28 a TRUMPETER SWAN was on Cattail Pond. It was seen again on February 3. --Bol reports a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and a possible 2nd year ICELAND GULL at Horseshoe Lake on February 1. Mesa County: --Arnold reports a Long-tailed duck was on the Colorado River at the Connected Lakes turn-around. Otero County: --On February 1 Leatherman found a female Northern Cardinal at Timpas SWA south of Rocky Ford (accessed on Road Z w of Otero CR 21). Sedgwick/Logan Counties: --Kellner reports two Tundra Swans at Red Lion SWA. Jumbo Reservoir is mostly open and held three Glaucous Gulls. Weld County: --A Short-eared Owl was seen south of Lower Latham Reservoir on February 4. Upcoming DFO fieldtrips: Saturday, February 11 South Platte Greenway Trailhead Leaders: Barbara Shissler 303-904-7269 and Cindy Valentine 303-790-2805 Meet leaders at 0900 at E. 88th and the Platte River. From I-76 take E. 88th Ave. exit, go west on 88th for 1.6 miles then turn south at Colorado Blvd. Turn left again into the parking lot for the South Platte River Greenway Trailhead. This trip may go past noon so bring lunch and wear comfortable walking shoes. Plan to see lots of waterfowl and raptors. Sunday, February 12 Longmont Area Leader: Chris Owens 303-772-6048 Meet leader at 0800 at Jim Hamm Park. From I-25 take Exit 240. To reach the park, go west four miles on CO 119 to Boulder-Weld County Line Road, then north two miles to Jim Hamm Park at 17th Ave. This will be a three-quarter day trip ending about 2 pm so bring lunch and extra water. As an additional note, a Common Crane continues to be seen near Hall, Nebraska. Good Birding, Ira Sanders -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
