Compiler: Joe Roller e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date: November 24, 2016 This is the Rare Bird Alert for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species) NOTE: The RBA is using the new AOU checklist, & the order of families has changed. Surf Scoter (*Arapahoe, Weld) White-winged Scoter (*Arapahoe, Park) Black Scoter (*Arapahoe, Pueblo) White-winged Scoter (*Arapahoe, Park, Pueblo, Otero) Long-tailed Duck (*Bent) Red-necked Grebe (*Arapahoe, Pueblo) Greater Roadrunner (Pueblo) Black-legged Kittiwake (Pueblo) Mew Gull (Larimer) Lesser Black-backed Gull (El Paso) Glaucous Gull (*Arapahoe) Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo) Red-throated Loon (Larimer, Pueblo) Pacific Loon (*Arapahoe, Park, Pueblo) Red-bellied Woodpecker (El Paso) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Pueblo) “Stub-tailed Wren” (Pueblo) Varied Thrush (El Paso) Lapland Longspur (Elbert) *Snow Bunting (*Douglas)* Palm Warbler (Larimer) Pine Warbler (Prowers) Rusty Blackbird (Jefferson, Pueblo) *****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site: www.coloradocountybirding.org *ARAPAHOE COUNTY:* ---On November 13 a Black Scoter (adult, male) and a Surf Scoter (female) were reported by Glenn Walbek at Cherry Creek State Park. On November 16 Nick Komar reports both Scoter species still present at Aurora Reservoir, along the southeast shore. Note that Aurora Reservoir is closed on Thanksgiving Day. ---On November 23 Bob Shade reported Black Scoter and 3 Surf Scoters at Aurora Reservoir. Also on November 23 David Dowell reported 3 White-winged Scoters, a Pacific Loon, a Red-necked Grebe and a Glaucous Gull there, among other gulls. Note that Aurora Reservoir is closed on Thanksgiving Day. *BENT COUNTY:* On November 23 Duane Nelson reported a Long-tailed Duck (f) at Lake Hasty. *DOUGLAS COUNTY:* ---On November 23 Alec Hopping reported a Snow Bunting in the model airplane field parking lot at Chatfield SP. *ELBERT COUNTY: * *---*On November 15 David Suddjian reported Lapland Longspurs in the areas with bare dirt fields, with many 100’s noted SE of Matheson along CRs 169, 66, 153, and 70. High counts were along CR 66 a few miles E of CR 149. And a pond along CR 169 at 3.8 miles S of Hwy 86 had flocks of longspurs coming in to drink water, offering nice looks with a scope. *EL PASO COUNTY:* ---On November 19 David Tennessen reported four Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Big Johnson Reservoir near the far shore. ---On November 19 Aaron Driscoll reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the wooded area near the banding station at Chico Basin Ranch (fee). ---On November 18 Cecile Lee reported a Varied Thrush at Drake Lake, Mallard Dr., Falcon-Peyton area. It was perched in a dead tree west of the parking area. On November 19 Cici Lee reported the cooperative Varied Thrush on the south shore of Drake Lake, then in a yard south of the lake. *JEFFERSON COUNTY:* ---On November 21 Frank Farrell reported a Rusty Blackbird at Harriman Reservoir. *LARIMER COUNTY:* ---On November 19 at dusk Nick Komar reported a Mew Gull (1st cy.) along the north shore of Lake Loveland with a squabble of gulls. ---On November 12 a Red-throated Loon was reported by Nick Komar at the North end of Boyd Lake SP. State Park pass required. Approach main entrance from the south (road is closed to the north). On November 13 the Red-throated Loon was re-found at the North end of Boyd Lake by David Wade. ---On November 13 a Red-throated Loon was reported by David Wade and Georgia Doyle at the North end of Boyd Lake SP. It was seen from the northern most parking lot on the west side. State Park pass required. ---On November 20 Renee Casias reported a Palm Warbler at the River’s Edge Natural Area in Loveland. *OTERO COUNTY:* ---On November 18 Darth Aves reported a White-winged Scoter at Holbrook Reservoir on south side of the lake near the outlet. *PARK COUNTY:* ---On November 21 David Suddjian reported these species at Spinney Mountain Reservoir: a Pacific Loon, a female type White-winged Scoter, 4 Common Loons, and 14 Bonaparte's Gulls among other species. And 9,100 American Coots were present, quelling any concerns about its immediate extinction. Eleven Mile Reservoir had 1 female type Surf Scoter, but only 4,100 American Coots. *PROWERS COUNTY:* ---On November 11 An adult male Pine Warbler visited the various seed feeders in Janeal Thompson’s yard. The bird was also observed eating insects. The Pine Warbler was seen by David Leatherman on November 16 then on November 19 & 20 by Janeal. *PUEBLO COUNTY:* —On November 18 Brandon Percival reported a White-winged Scoter below Pueblo Reservoir dam between the road bridge and Valco Bridge and a Rusty Blackbird in the same area along the river walk. ---On November 18 Brandon Percival reported a Great Black-backed Gull at Pueblo Reservoir. On November 19 mid-morning, Brandon Percival reported the Great Black-backed gull standing on the tires at the south shore marina at Pueblo Reservoir. --An adult Black-legged Kittiwake hung out at Pueblo Reservoir for over two weeks, October 30 til November 15. No recent sightings, but while it was there, many birders saw it. ---On November 20 Percival reported a different Black-legged Kittiwake, a juvenile, seen near West Fishing Road and in the SWA. Common Loons have been common there. The Pacific Loon was seen again in the SWA. ---On November 16 Brandon Percival reports a Red-necked Grebe, first seen on November 3 continuing off the sail boat launch area at Pueblo Reservoir. ---On November 20 a DFO field trip led by Ira and Tammy Sanders saw all of the gull and loon species at Pueblo Reservoir , as well as 2 Greater Roadrunners on the west side of the third Valco Pond, a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the NE part of Pueblo City Park and an adult Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Roselawn Cemetery near the small lake. ---On November 21 Brandon Percival reported a “Stub-tailed” Wren along the Arkansas River between Pueblo City Park and Dutch Clark Stadium. The closest parking lot is Reservoir Drive east of Pueblo City Park. Walk along the paved trail east from there for the Wren, which is not clearly either Winter or Pacific Wren. ---On November 22 Brandon Percival reported a Black Scoter (female/immature), a Pacific Loon and 3 Common Loons between SWA and West Fishing Road at Pueblo Reservoir. No kittiwakes were seen. *WELD COUNTY:* ---On November 5 a Surf Scoter (female) was reported by Tracy Pheneger at Union Reservoir. On November 15 Mlodinow reported a Surf Scoter at Union Reservoir. ---On November 20 Jack Bushong reported a Red-necked Grebe, 5 species of geese and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Union Reservoir. *Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips:* Sign up on line for field trips at DFO’s Website: *South Platte River Trail at E 88th Ave and I-76* *Friday*, November 25 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Jackie King (Email: jackie.k...@ccd.edu Phone: 720-381-3314) Trail Difficulty: Easy Directions: Meet at the parking area at 88th Ave and South Platte River Trail. 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. We will look for ducks, hawks, falcons, and whatever else that may fly in. Please dress for the weather. Sunscreen suggested. We will walk on easy, wheelchair accessible trails. Nearest restrooms are at the 7-11 just north across the street from the meeting location. Register online or contact leader. *Cherry Creek State Park* *Saturday*, 11/26/2016 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Leader: Mary Cay Burger mcburg...@juno.com or 720-940-8394 Co-leader: Bob Righter, author and historian Trail Difficulty: Easy Directions Meet at the west marina parking lot. State Parks pass or day pass required. We’ll look for gulls, waterfowl, and a variety of birds. Habitats include deep water, marshlands, mixed grasses, and cottonwoods. We will carpool to the various stops and walk 1-2 miles. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, and sunscreen. Scopes are useful. Register online or contact leader. Happy Thanksgiving and good birding, Joe Roller, Denver jroll...@gmail.com -- 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUCCfW%3DLXDmR44%3Dgy%2Bqu4e%3D8o_W5wChx2-0-ggBDfoYPzg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
