Compiler: Joyce Takamine e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org Date: December 27, 2016 This is the Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, December 27, 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. BRANT (Adams, Arapahoe) Trumpeter Swan (*Adams, El Paso, Jefferson, Mesa) Tundra Swan (Boulder, El Paso, Larimer) EURASIAN WIGEON (Fremont) Surf Scoter (Arapahoe) White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe, Pueblo) Black Scoter (*Arapahoe) Long-tailed Duck (Adams, *Arapahoe, Chaffee, Larimer) Barrow's Goldeneye (*Adams, Arapahoe, Chaffee, Summit) Red-necked Grebe (Boulder) White-winged Dove (Prowers) Greater Roadrunner (*Baca) Sandhill Crane (Fremont) Dunlin (Denver CBC) PURPLE SANDPIPER (*Summit) Bonaparte's Gull (Bent, Douglas) Mew Gull (Arapahoe) Thayer's Gull (*Arapahoe, Douglas) ICELAND GULL (*Arapahoe) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, *Arapahoe, Boulder) Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe) Great Black-backed Gull (*Arapahoe) Red-throated Loon (Douglas, Mesa) Pacific Loon (Arapahoe, Bent) Turkey Vulture (Costilla) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Larimer, Prowers) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (*Baca) Eastern Phoebe (Arapahoe) Chihuahuan Raven (*Baca) Winter Wren (Adams, *Baca) Curve-billed Thrasher (*Baca_ Gray Catbird (Boulder, Larimer) Northern Mockingbird (Boulder) Bohemian Waxwing (Routt) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Delta, Denver CBC, Routt, San Miguel) Black Rosy-Finch (Denver, CBC, San Miguel) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Delta,Denver, CBC, San Miguel) Common Redpoll (Grand) Lapland Longspur (Douglas, Routt) Ovenbird (Bent) Pine Warbler (Prowers) Green-tailed Towhee (Mesa) Rufous-crowned Sparrow (*Baca) Canyon Towhee (*Baca) Grasshopper Sparrow (Denver CBC) Lincoln's Sparrow (Larimer, Otero) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Otero) Northern Cardinal (*Baca, Bent) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Denver) Great-tailed Grackles (Bent) Brown-headed Cowbird (El Paso *****For directions to unfamiliar locations (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site: www.coloradocountybirding.org ADAMS COUNTY: ---On December 13 at Hidden Lake, Chris Rurik reported a Black BRANT. Hidden Lake is almost entirely private. You may scope the lake from Sheridan on the west end or park at the baseball field on the east end. All other access points are open only to residents. On December 18, Chris Gilbert reported BRANT at Hidden Lake. On December 19, Loch Kilpatrick and Ben Sampson reported BRANT at Hidden Lake. On December 21, Gabriel Wiltse reported BRANT on NW side of Hidden Lake and Lesser Black-backed Gull. ---On December 18, Steve Mlodinow reported Winter Wren on South Platte River around 74th Ave area. ---On December 24 at Rocky Mt Arsenal NWR, Lower Derby Lake, William and Peter Van Dyke reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks. ---On December 26, Susan Rosine reported Trumpeter Swan at Rocky Mt Arsenal NWR. ---On December 26 on South Platte River at 88th Ave, Cyndy Johnson and Kiki Widjaja reported 3 Barrow's Goldeneyes (2m, 1f) near the green tank. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: ---On December 9 at Aurora Reservoir, Glenn Walbek and Kathy Mihm Dunning reported 2 Mew Gulls (1 ad, 1 1-st cyc), 2 Thayer's Gulls, ICELAND GULL (probably Cherry Creek gull), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (ad), and Glaucous Gull. On December 10 at Aurora Reservoir, Glenn Walbek and David Dowell reported 1 f-type Surf Scoter, 2 f-type White-winged Scoters, 1 Long-tailed Ducks, 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 1-st-cyc Mew Gull, 6 Thayer's Gulls, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Glaucous Gull. On December 22 at Aurora Reservoir, David Dowell reported 2 White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, 5 Thayer's Gulls, 2 ICELAND GULLS, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gull. On December 26 at Aurora Reservoir, Gene Rutherford report imm Thayer's Gull, ad ICELAND GULL, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Great Black-backed Gull. ---On December 11, Steve Stachowiak reported at 1-st winter f-type Black Scoter in the NE corner of South Platte Reservoir. The scoter was seen by several birders. On December 11, Bill Kaempfer reported that a Long-tailed Duck had joined the Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. On December 12, David Suddjian, Charles Lawrence, and Thomas Holub reported Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir and David Suddjian reported that the Long-tailed Duck had moved to Blackrock Lake in the park. On December 13, David Suddjian and many other birders reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir. On December 13, David Suddjian reported a Long-tailed Duck on Blackrock Lake. On December 14, at South Platte Reservoir, DuWayne Worthington reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck. On December 14, Tina Jones reported Long-tailed Duck on Blackrock Lake in South Platte Park. On December 15, Peter Gent reported f-type Black Scoter and f Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir and f Long-tailed Ducks at Blackrock Lake. On December 16, Norm Lewis and Tom Wilberding reported Black Scoter at South Platte Reservoir. On December 21, Diane Roberts reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at South Platte Reservoir. On December 23, Joey Kellner and Diane Roberts reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir. On December 26, Chris Wood and Jessie Berry reported 1 imm f Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir and C Warneke reported Black Scoter. ---On December 18 Ben Sampson reported Eastern Phoebe on South Platte River Northern Wildlife Area from W Bowles Ave. Take the Lee Gulch Trail. ---On December 23, Meg Reck reported BRANT at Aurora Reservoir. BACA COUNTY: ---On December 26 on Cottonwood Canyon Loop 1, Steve Mlodinow reported Greater Roadrunner, 2 Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Winter Wren, 18 Canyon Towhees and pair of Northern Cardinals. On December 26 on Cottonwood Canyon Loop 2, Steve Mlodinow reported 2 Greater Roadrunners, 4 Curve-billed Thrashers, 25 Canyon Towhees, and 5 Rufous-crowned Sparrows. ---On December 26 at Two Buttes Reservoir, Steve Mlodinow reported Chihuahuan Raven. ---On December 26 at Two Buttes SWA below the dam, Steve Mlodinow reported 10 Winter Wren. BENT COUNTY: ---On December 15, Duane Nelson reported the following on the John Martin CBC: Ovenbird found by Kathy Mihm Dunning at Fort Lyon SW Easement; Pacific Loon, Northern Cardinals, and 1475 Great-tailed Grackles. On December 15, Kathy Mihm Dunning and Alan Versaw reported Bonaparte's Gulls on the John Martin CBC. BOULDER COUNTY: ---On December 18 at Valmont Reservoir Complex, Peter Burke reported 4 Tundra Swans, Red-necked Grebe, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Gray Catbird. ---On December 18 at Doudy Draw, Aidan Coohill reported Northern Mockingbird. CHAFFEE COUNTY: ---On December 11 at Sands Lake SWA, Jack Harlaln reported 1 m Long-tailed Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye. On December 12, Jeff Guy reported Long-tailed Duck and Barrow's Goldeneyes at Sands Lake SWA. On December 17 the male Long-tailed Ducks was reported by Bill Kaempfer at Sands Lake SWA where it was seen by many birders on the Salida CBC. COSTILLA COUNTY: ---On December 25, Carlos Lina reported Turkey Vulture on CO 159 north of the New Mexico border. DELTA COUNTY: ---On December 15, Dennis Garrison reported Rosy-Finches on the bank of the Gunnison River about 1/2 mile above confluence with North Fork at Gunnison River Pleasure Park. DENVER COUNTY: ---On December 21, David Hill reported 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds on the DIA loop. On December 23, Jason Bidgood reported Yellow-headed Blackbird on DIA loop. DENVER CBC: ---On December 17, Joey Kellner reported the following on the Denver CBC: Dunlin (near McClelland Reservoir), all 3 species of Rosy-Finches, Grasshopper Sparrow at Chatfield. DOUGLAS COUNTY: ---On December 24, Tim Ryan reported Bonaparte's Gull at Parker Regional Park. EL PASO COUNTY: ---On December 14 on the Fountain Creek CBC, Floyd reported 2 Tundra Swans and 1 Trumpeter Swan on Rice Pond and Diana Beatty reported Brown-headed Cowbird in Area 8. On December 15, David Tonnessen reported 2 Trumpeter Swans and 1 Tundra Swan at Fountain Creek Regional Park. FREMONT COUNTY: ---On December 18, a m EURASIAN WIGEON was reported by Brandon Percival and Brad Steeger on Sell Pond on Sell Ave in Canon City. GRAND COUNTY: ---On December 17, Brandon Percival reported that 26 Common Redpolls were seen on the Granby CBC. JEFFERSON COUNTY: ---On December 25, Paul Welscinger, Tom Behnfield, Art Hudak, and Frank Farrell reported Trumpeter Swan at Crown Hill Regional Park. LARIMER COUNTY: ---On December 8, David Wade reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop Dr by N Tyler Ave. On December 10, Gwen Moore and Irene Fortune reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop Dr. On December 18, Nick Komar reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop Dr. On December 19, Scott Somershoe reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Loveland on Hilltop Dr. ---On December 17, Austin Hess reported Gray Catbird at Prospect Ponds NA. On December 18, Lori Zabel reported Gray Catbird at Prospect Ponds NA. ---On December 23 at Rawhide Engergy Station/Hamilton Reservoir 5 Tundra Swans, Long-tailed Duck, and Lincoln's Sparrow were reported by Sue Riffe, Bill Kaempfer, Austin Hess, and Nick Komar. MESA COUNTY: ---On December 13 at Highline Lake SP, Mike Henwood reported juv Red-throated Loon. On December 15, Denise and Mark Vollmar reported Red-throated Loon at Highline Lake SP. On December 17, JoAnn Riggle and Gwen Moore reported Red-throated Loon at Highline Lake SP. ---On December 12 at the DeBeque Canyon exit on I-70, Tom McConnell reported Trumpeter Swan. On December 14, Vic Zerbi reported Trumpeter Swan at the Tunnel Rest Stop in DeBeque Canyon. On December 15, Carol Ortenzio reported Trumpeter Swan at DeBeque Canyon Tunnel. On December 19, JoAnn Riggle reported Trumpeter Swan at DeBeque Canyon Tunnel Pullout. ---On December 25, Meredith Walker spotted a Green-tailed Towhee on the Big Salt Wash trail in far W end of Fruita. OTERO COUNTY: ---On December 16, at Rocky Ford SWA, Kathy Mihm Dunning reported Golden-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow. 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, 29 & 30 by Janeal. On December 2, Janeal Thompson, Dale, and Joel Adams reported Pine Warbler in Lamar. On December 9, Janeal Thompson reported that the Pine Warbler continues in Lamar. On December 11, Janeal Thompson, Art Hudak, and Mark Chavez reported Pine Warbler and 34 White-winged Doves in Lamar. If you would like to try for the Pine Warbler, please contact Janeal at 719-336-9658 <(719)%20336-9658>(home) or 719-688-7912 <(719)%20688-7912> (cell) to make arrangements. ---On December 9, Janeal Thompson reported a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in her neighborhood in Lamar. ROUTT COUNTY: ---On December 17, Tom Litteral reported the following on the Steamboat CBC: 398 Bohemian Waxwings, Gray-capped Rosy-Finch, and Lapland Longspur. SAN MIGUEL COUNTY: ---On December 6, Eric Hynes reported all three species of Rosy-Finches coming to his feeders in Telluride. If you would like to try to see them, contact Eric at erichynes28 AT gmail.com. On December 9, Eric Hynes reported Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride. On December 14, Eric Hynes reported all three species of Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride as well as Vic Zerbi observing. On December 25, Eric Hynes reported all three species of Rosy-Finches at his feeders in Telluride. SUMMIT COUNTY: ---On December 16, a PURPLE SANDPIPER was reported by Jack and Ryan Bushong at Dillon Reservoir at the Blue River Arm about 20 yds off of Hwy 9. This would be a new state record if accepted. On December 17, Jack and Ryan Bushong reported that the PURPLE SANDPIPER was refound at the same spot and many birders were able to see the bird and comfirm the identification in better light. On December 18, Joey Kellner reported that the PURPLE SANDPIPER was refound in the same area as reported and was seen by many birders. On December 18, Todd Deininger reported PURPLE SANDPIPER in same area as reported and was seen by many birders. On December 20, Lisa Edwards reported PURPLE SANDPIPER in same area as reported and it was seen by many birders. On December 21, Scott Manwaring reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at the delta of the creek. On December 22, Pablo Quesada reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at the usual spot and David Dowell reported 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Dillon Reservoir Blue river Inlet. On December 23, Chip Clouse reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at mouth of creek. On December 24, Frank Farrell, bruce Neuman, Gene Rutherford, Tina Toth, and Christine Alexander reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at Dillon Reservoir. On December 25, Irene Rivas and Nick Moore reported PURPLE SANDPIPER at Dillon Reservoir. On December 26, Chris Wood and Jessie Barry reported that the PURPLE SANDPIPER came flying into the inlet around 0800. The PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen by many birders on December 26. Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips: Sign up on line for field trips at DFO’s Website. The DFO Field Trip for Wednesday, December 28 will be to South Platte Park led by David Suddjian (dssudjian AT GMAIL.COM <http://gmail.com/>; 831-713-8659 <(831)%20713-8659>) This trip is full. Help with Christmas Bird Counts. 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAHtstTcZQu-Ew4szrzNJZ6h9v4PRHnPVJ3K5i1WumnCCP3KHVg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
