This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, December 15, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists.
Compiler: Joe Roller, Denver, jroller9 AT gmail.com E-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org Rare, out of place and out of season species include: (* indicates new information on this species; CAPITAL LETTERS are used to identify very rare species as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee) *PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (*WELD COUNTY)* This mega-rarity breeds in Iceland, winters in NW Europe and more recently winters in NE North America. There have been a few sightings west of Pennsylvania, but no accepted records. Steve Mlodinow discovered the goose on Tuesday, Dec 11 at Idaho Creek Open Space and posted a summary of previous sightings and other useful information to CObirds. There is no guarantee it’s a wild bird, but this might be your only chance to see one. The bird was reported on Dec 13 & 14 at Frederick Lake (Milavec Reservoir) & Recreation Area at the intersection of Weld CR 18 and Colorado Blvd near Firestone (see eBird hotspot map). On the 14th seven species of geese were observed there, including a Brant. Prior to the Milavec Reservoir location the bird was seen on Dec 11 & 12 from Weld County Road 7, a mile south of State Highway 119. Observers have been diligent in reporting sightings on CObirds - thanks! Please check there for updates. Other species: Brant (*Weld) Black Scoter (*Arapahoe, *Jefferson) Long-tailed Duck (*Weld) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larimer) Pacific Loon (Pueblo) Common Loon (Pueblo) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (La Plata) GYRFALCON (*Larimer, Weld) Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe) Palm Warbler (Adams, Arapahoe) ADAMS COUNTY: —On December 10 a Palm Warbler was reported at South Platte River 88th Ave area by Candice Johnson. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: —On December 14 a (f) Black Scoter was reported at South Platte Park--South Platte Reservoir. First reported by Tanja Britton on Nov 26. —On December 9 (2) Rusty Blackbirds were reported at Cherry Creek SP, near the swim beach. First found by Tuesday Birders on Nov 20. —On December 8 a Palm Warbler (Western) was reported at W Long Drive greenway in Littleton. First reported by David Suddjian on Nov 29. JEFFERSON COUNTY: ---On December 8 a lingering (f) Black Scoter was reported at South Platte Park--South Platte Reservoir, southwest bay. First reported on Nov 28. LA PLATA COUNTY: —On December 9 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported at Animas River--Huck Finn Pond & Hatchery area by the gazebo on the SE side of the river. First reported by Ryan Votta on Dec 2 as the second county record. LARIMER COUNTY: —On December 14 an (imm) gray-phase GYRFALCON was reported by Rachel Hopper on Trilby Rd near Taft Hill Rd, then seen by others. through about 2 PM, when it flew south. It has been in that area near the landfill off and on. On the 13th it was reported at the Larimer County landfill by Nick Komar. If you visit the landfill be sure to check in at one of the pay windows (or the main office) and follow instructions for parking from landfill employees. —On December 9 an (imm) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was reported at Boyd Lake (south end) by Nick Komar. PUEBLO COUNTY: —On December 9 a Pacific Loon was reported at Pueblo Reservoir by Brandon Percival. WELD COUNTY: PINK-FOOTED GOOSE - See notes at top of this report. ---On December 14 a (Black) Brant was reported by Chris Wood at Frederick aka Firestone Lake (Milavec) Reservoir. —On December 11 a Long-tailed Duck was reported by Steve Mlodinow at Frederick (Milavec) Reservoir, continuing through December 14. ---On December 7 a GYRFALCON was reported north of Highway 14 and west of WCR 47 by Rachel Hopper. The bird went to ground near Owl Creek. DFO Field Trips...trip details are at the DFO website: DFObirds.org <http://dfobirds.org/> Chatfield State Park Sunday, December 16 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Gregg Goodrich (GreggGoodrich AT gmail.com; 303.655.9135) Chase Trip Monday, December 17 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM David Suddjian (dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659), and Dale Pate ( 575-706-4584) Aurora Reservoir and Cherry Creek State Park Tuesday, December 18 6:45 AM – 2:00 PM David Suddjian (dsuddjian AT gmail.com; 831-713-8659) No additional DFO trips are scheduled until December 27, but... *the Christmas Bird Count season is here!* Now through Jan 5, 2019. Here are the dates that are on the CBC Website. *Saturday (12/15/2018)* Colorado Springs Denver Fort Collins Granby Longmont Monte Vista NWR North Park Pueblo Reservoir Pagosa Springs Roaring Fork River Valley Salida Steamboat Springs *Sunday (12/16/2018)* Aspen Boulder Durango Evergreen-Idaho Springs Grand Junction Gunnison Montrose Penrose Rocky Mountain National Park *Monday (12/17/2018)* John Martin Reservoir Pinon Canyon (inaugural count) *Tuesday (12/18/2018)* Rocky Ford Weldona-Fort Morgan *Wednesday (12/19/2018)* Pueblo *Thursday (12/20/2018)* Fountain Creek *Friday (12/21/2018)* Bonny Reservoir *Saturday (12/22/2018)* Crook Nunn Spanish Peaks *Sunday (12/23/2018)* Delta *Saturday (12/29/2018)* Cortez Douglas County Great Sand Dunes NP Greeley Westcliffe *Monday (12/31/2018)* Barr Lake Rawhide Energy Station *Tuesday (01/01/2019)* Denver (Urban) Grand Mesa Loveland *Friday (01/04/2019)* Air Force Academy Flagler *Saturday (01/05/2019)* Black Forest Dotsero Eagle Valley Hotchkiss Lake Isabel Sterling No Date known yet: Summit County - may not be held this year If you want to learn more about Christmas Bird Counts, go to https://www.audubon.org/conservation/…/christmas-bird-count/ <https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count/?fbclid=IwAR2Y975sXvSWYYP3FlWUvd79on_oKL5BSOt_efm94RPcm6pHg-z6IrTQpG4> There are usually over 40 Christmas Bird Counts held around Colorado each winter. To sign up for Christmas Bird Counts, contact the compiler soon. https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=fadfb421e95f4949bde20c29a38228bd Good birding, Joe Roller, Denver jroller9 AT gmail.com 303 204-0828 -- 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/CAJpZcUASch505gDd7JPEVXdN-KcDsiTYJmx%2BJmvnSzfLQ3rOYA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
