Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: February 17, 2013 email: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750
This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 17, 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) Tundra Swan (*Morgan) Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe) Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams) Red-throated Loon (Pueblo) MEW GULL (Pueblo) Thayer's Gull (Boulder, Arapahoe, *Morgan, Pueblo) Iceland Gull (Arapahoe) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Boulder, Arapahoe, *Morgan, Pueblo) Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, Pueblo) White-winged Dove (Mesa) ACORN WOODPECKER (El Paso) Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Morgan) American Three-toed Woodpecker (Boulder) Say's Phoebe (Arapahoe, Jefferson) Winter Wren (*Morgan) Bohemian Waxwing (Boulder, *El Paso, Larimer) Fox Sparrow (Boulder) Swamp Sparrow (Larimer) White-throated Sparrow (*Morgan) Harris's Sparrow (*Morgan) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson) Northern Cardinal (*Morgan) Rusty Blackbird (Adams, *Morgan) Rosy-Finches (*Boulder, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson) Common Redpoll (Grand, Larimer, *Mesa, *Montrose, San Juan) HOARY REDPOLL (Grand, Larimer)**** ** ***ADAMS COUNTY:* ** -- On February 4 the small flock of Rusty Blackbirds continues on the South Platte River, reported by Gilbert, near the mouth of Sand Creek, just south of where C-470 crosses the river. 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); per Gilbert. On Feb 11, Shade reported 5 Rusty Blackbirds at the east end of the pedestrian bridge just N of I-76 on the S Platte River. ** *ARAPAHOE COUNTY:* --Two Long-tailed Ducks (Brown, Feb 12) were still present on South Platte Reservoir (signed entrance is on Platte Canyon Rd. north of C-470). Walbek reports a Lesser Black-backed Gull (the rare, intermedius race) from South Platte Reservoir on Feb 8, as well as a first-cycle Iceland Gull. They were seen again on Feb 9 and 10. On Feb 11, Henwood reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and and 2 ad Thayer's Gulls at South Platte Reservoir. On Feb 12, Brown reported Lesser Black-backed Gull. On February 13, Kibbe reported a Say's Phoebe on the west side of S Platte reservoir, on the east side of S Platte Canyon Road just north of the junction with W Canyon Trail. --On Feb 2 Kent Nelson observed a Glaucous Gull in the SE corner of Cherry Creek Reservoir. A 2nd cycle Glaucous Gull was reported by Walbek from there on Feb 8 and 9. Also at Cherry Creek Reservoir on Feb 8, Walbek had a couple of Thayer's Gulls and a possible Glaucous-winged Gull X Herring Gull hybrid. * BOULDER COUNTY:* -- Lesser Black-backed and Thayer's Gulls were at Teller Lake #5 on Feb 10, reported by Kaempfer. Details and location: http://coloradocountybirding.com/county/bird_a_county.php?name=Boulder#373. See birding site 25 on this page. -- On Feb 10 Nunes reported several American Three-toed Woodpeckers along the Bear Peak West Ridge Trail in Boulder Mountain Parks. Directions to the trailhead: In south Boulder, head west on Table Mesa Dr all the way to NCAR parking lot. From that lot head west to the Mesa trail then south. At the Bear Peak canyon trail junction head west. This canyon takes you to the Bear Peak West Ridge Trail leading to the peak. Sherpa guides are available on request. --A flock of about 85 Bohemian Waxwings was reported by Guarente flying across Foothills Hwy between Valmont and Diagonal Hwy on February 13. They flew toward Howard Hueston Park. But Guarente suggests looking on the east side of Foothills for the birds. --On February 12, Andrews reported 30 Bohemian Waxwing in Arapaho Roosevelt NF about 2 miles from Allenspark. Directions: Drive 17 miles west from Lyons on Hwy 7, turn right on Taylor Rd (2 miles before Allenspark) and drive to the end of the road and park in the lot. The NF Road is gated and locked. Walk up the road about 5 minutes until you see a trail on the left. Follow the trail up to ridge where the waxwings were spotted. --A flock of Bohemian Waxwings was reported by Deininger around McIntosh Lake on February 14. --A Red Fox Sparrow was reported by Vanderpoel on Crane Hollow Road at the St Vrain Bridge in Lyons on February 15. --Rosy-Finches including 2 Black and 2 Gray-crowned were reported by Kaempfer at Upper Ward Feeders west past the Old Depot on February 16. *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.** Dunning and Luke reported the woodpecker on February 14. Gallagher also reported 15 Bohemian Waxwings in the neighborhood on Feb 8. --Peterson reported a flock of Bohemian Waxwings along Hwy 115 between Colorado Springs and Penrose near Mountaindale Campground on February 12. On February 14, Dunning reported a flock of 190 Bohemian Waxwings 0.2 mile S of Barrett Road on Hwy 115. --Miller reported about 30 Bohemian Waxwings at Turkey Creek Recreational Area at Fort Carson on February 16. They were at the playground farthest east with metal fence around playstation in Gamble Oak and Junipers. *GRAND COUNTY:* --On January 18 Filby reported that in Kremmling the feeders in the 900 block of Eagle had 100 Common Redpolls. 60+ Rosy-Finches of all three species were present. Mlodinow reported >200 redpolls including 3 HOARY REDPOLLs seen in Kremmling on Jan 27; rosy finches continued on Feb 3, reported by Deininger. On February 14, Luke reported that the Redpolls and a few Rosy-Finches continue to visit the feeders in Kremmling. ** *JEFFERSON COUNTY:* -- The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at the Red Rocks Trading Post, first reported by Henwood on Nov 26 and present all winter, was seen again on Feb 11 by Henwood. Henwood* *reported Gray-crowned and 2 Black Rosy-Finches on Feb 11. -- A Say's Phoebe was seen by Cameron above the south entrance (near the Upper Level food court) to the Southwest Plaza Mall on February 5. The mall is located on the NW corner of West Bowles Ave and South Wadsworth Blvd. ******** *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 HOARY REDPOLLs at this location since December 23, most recently on Feb 2 reported by Percival. Burke reported on Feb 12 that Common Redpolls continue at the musuem feeders and he reported a flyover flock of about 70 Bohemian Waxwings. --One Trumpeter Swan continues on Lower Hoffman Lake, Loveland, first reported by Rynes on February 3; then on Feb 15 by Leatherman. ** A Swamp Sparrow was reported by Leatherman on February 15 near the observation platform on the west side of the lake near McKee Medical Center Parking Lot. -- Hess reports a flock of Common Redpolls in Grandview Cemetery on Feb 5, reported again by Leatherman on Feb 8. -- Leatherman reports a flyover flock of Bohemian Waxwings from Grandview Cemetery on Feb 8. --Shenot reported Bohemian Waxwings at Library Park in Old Town Fort Collins on Feb 11. *MESA COUNTY:* --A White-winged Dove was reported by Arnold at Rocket Park in Grand Junction on February 14. --Common Redpolls were repored by Liewer at the feeders of Bldg C, Wildwood at Powderhorn Resort on February 16. *MONTROSE COUNTY:* --8 Common Redpolls were reported by Dexter on 25 Mesa Road NE of Nucla on February 16. They were eating sagebrush seeds on the side of the road. *MORGAN COUNTY:* --11 Rusty Blackbirds were reported by Roller at a park at the end of Elm St in Log Lane Village. The birds were in trees between the lot and the little wooden bridge which crosses a canal. At Log Lane Village Mlodinow reported 15 Rusty Blackbirds and 1 Winter Wren on February 16. --On February 16, at Jackson Mlodinow reported 1 Tundra Swan on N side, SWA; m Rusty Blackbird on E side, 2 Harris's Sparrow at SP, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 1-st cyc, 1 ad) on the res and 1 Thayer's gull on the res. --At a spot on the S Platte River NW of Fort Morgan on February 16, Mlodinow reported 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 Northern Cardinal, 1 White-throated Sparrow, and 2 Swamp Sparrows. *PUEBLO COUNTY:* --On February 15 Percival reported the following at Pueblo Reservoir: 1 ad MEW GULL, 1 1-st cyc Galucous Gull, 1 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 ad Thayer's Gull and 1 Red-throated Loon. The gulls were on the ice line seen from SWA on the NW side of Pueblo Reservoir and the loon was seen off of North Picnic Road. * * *SAN JUAN COUNTY*: Beatty reports that Common Redpolls have been visiting a feeder in Silverton, Colorado. Zerbi reported on February 13 that Common Redpolls and Rosy-Finches continue to visit a feeder in Silverton on Snowden. * * The DFO field trip for Sunday, February 17 will be to Roxborough State Park led by Doris Cruze (303-798-8072). Meet the leader at 0800 at the Visitor's Center for a 3 1/2 hour walking tour on an easy trail. Participants should see golden eagles and species common in the foothills. State Parks Pass required or $5 entrance fee per car. Lunch will be optional but there is a beautiful place on the patio to watch the birds as you eat lunch. Take S. Wadsworth Blvd past Charfield SP. Turn left onto Waterton Road, and go 1.6 miles east to North Rampart Range Rd turn right and go south 2.3 miles to Roxborough Park Rd. Turn left and follow signs to the park (2.2 miles). This is an excellent trip for novice birders and new members. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
