[cobirds] Burlington Cemetery migrant raptors (Mississippi Kite, Peregrine, Prairie)
Hi all, While heading up to Wray with my WINGS tour, we stopped at the cemetery on the north side of Burlington. We experienced what was among my best thirty minutes of sky watching in eastern Colorado including an early MISSISSIPPI KITE, Broad-winged Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, and Prairie Falcon. Notes from my eBird checklist are below. Just to the north of here we found a flock of at least 1900 Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Location: Burlington Cemetery Observation date: 4/23/10 Notes: Stopped to check the cemetery. A few landbirds, but the real highlight was the amazing migration taking place overhead. While driving to the cemetery we first detected an adult Broad-winged Hawk. As we scanned overhead at the cemetery we had a number of migrants, highlighted by a MISSISSIPPI KITE, an adult Peregrine Falcon and a Prairie Falcon. Also lots of pelicans (flock of 79 and 26) and a very unexpected flyover American Wigeon. Then OBSERVERS: WINGS Tour led by Chris Wood with Valarie Barnes, Mary Case, James Goodwin, and Nancy Magnusson. Number of species: 35 American Wigeon 1 flyover. Mallard 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 2 American White Pelican 105 (79 and 26) Turkey Vulture 3 Osprey 1 Mississippi Kite 1 **Rare. Early. A single adult flew over in direct comparison with Prairie Falcon and Northern Harrier. Bird appeared falcon like but with more slender wings, narrower forked tail and more fluid buoyant wing beats. At this distance appeared grayish overall with paler head (crown). Identified by flight style and shape, which was easy given good raptor flight at the time. Northern Harrier 3 Cooper's Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Adult seen in flight. First detected and identified from within the town of Burlington, but we could still see it when we arrived at the cemetery. Swainson's Hawk 7 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 **Locally rare. My first in the county. The first raptor that we noticed after the Broad-winged in what proved to be an amazing hawk flight. Adult. Prairie Falcon 1 Flyover. Killdeer 1 Rock Pigeon 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove 40 Mourning Dove 6 Great Horned Owl 1 Horned Lark 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Townsend's Solitaire 1 American Robin 25 Cedar Waxwing 18 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 9 Brewer's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) 5 Western Meadowlark 3 Common Grackle 5 House Finch 1 Pine Siskin 45 House Sparrow 5 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Cheers, Chris Wood eBird Neotropical Birds Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] D.F.O. Monthly Meeting - April 26th
D.F.O. Monthly Meeting Nathan Pieplow -- A Refresher Course on Calls and Songs of Avian Spring Migrants Monday, April 26, 2010 Denver Musuem of Nature and Science 7:30 p.m. What ARE bird songs and how do they differ from bird calls? According to Frank B. Gill (1990) bird’s vocalizations allow them to “ mediate social interactions, particularly over long distances, at night, and in dense cover.” Clicks and clacks, chips, cheeps, buzzes, squawks, trills and peeps enable DFO members to tune in to the daily activities of our avian neighbors. It is often said that the best birders have the best trained ears. Some bird species have only one identifiable song. Some of the mimics such as the northern mockingbird have hundreds of songs. Some birds such as the wood thrush can control both sides of their trachea independently and thus can sing two songs at the same time. Similar abilities have been discovered in grebes, bitterns, ducks, sandpipers, and various other songbirds. In October of 2007 Ted Floyd told us about a small, cryptically colored Asian species in which the male and female sing one song simultaneously with each contributing only 50% of the notes. In 1956 P. Marler studied the vocalizations of Europe’s common chaffinch and identified the following: songs and subsongs, along with flight, social, injury, aggression, alarm, and courtship calls. In 1954 L. de Kiriline listened to a red-eyed vireo which sang 22,197 songs in a ten hour period (Does one question the sanity of the ornithologist?). For months DFO members have been listening to the conversations of Colorado’s winter residents from a skein of Canada geese passing overhead, to the neighborhood flock of bushtits in the leafless lilac bushes, to the black-capped chickadees and dark-eyed juncos at the feeder. In recent days however, a few tentative spring songs have been heard in the urban forest. A few mourning doves have been around all winter, but now some secret signal from nature seems to have awakened their biological clocks causing them to announce the early beginnings of spring with their soft, distinctive cooing calls. Have you grown weary of the winter vocalizations of our feathered friends? Do you long for the distant call of migrating sandhill cranes, for Roxborough ovenbirds calling from oak thickets, for the melodious notes of a Red Rocks Park canyon wren echoing off the red sandstone formations, or the magic sound of a MacGillivray's warbler emanating from a creekside willow carr? If so, then you are primed to spend an evening with Nathan who will discuss and play recordings of the songs of common spring migrants, providing a timely refresher course on the sounds of spring in Colorado, with an emphasis on telling bird sounds apart by using patterns. The presentation should give members some new ideas about what to focus on when listening to birds. Nathan will also touch on some questions of high-frequency hearing loss and how it affects birders. Nathan Pieplow is an avid bird sound recordist, the esteemed editor of the quarterly journal Colorado Birds, and an author of the Colorado Birding Trail. His blog which is found at Earbirding.com, is dedicated to recording, identifying, and interpreting bird sounds. He teaches writing and rhetoric at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Join us for a fascinating evening in preparation for one of Nature’s miracles: Spring migration! Future Meetings May through July - No DFO meetings August 23, 2010 - Ted Floyd and Nocturnal Migrations of Birds (the 4th Monday, not the last Monday) September 27, 2010 - Black Swifts in Colorado with Jason Beason of RMBO October 25, 2010 - Scott Rashid and Small Mountain Owls Directions The Denver Field Ornithologists monthly meetings are held in Ricketson Auditorium at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in City Park. These meetings are free and open to the public and occur on the 4th Monday of each month August through April (except December). Park on the north side of the Museum and walk around and enter through the Museum's west door. Plan to arrive by 7:15 p.m.; DOORS OPEN BY 7:00 AND ARE LOCKED AT 7:30 P.M. If late, you can enter through the security/volunteer door, but this does create problems for our hosts at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Submitted byChris A. Blakeslee - DFO Board Member Centennial, Colorado corvidc...@aol.com -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Broad-winged Hawk, Sondermann Park, El Paso County
This morning I had a Broad-winged Hawk at Sondermann Park. It was in the tall cottonwoods to the west of the beaver dam area. Other signs of the season: 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers. Good birding,Allan Burnswest side of Colorado Springs -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Glossy Ibis also at Fruitgrowers
Bill Kaempher just called and reported seeing the Snowy Plover and a Glossy Ibis at Fruitgrowers Todd Deininger Longmont -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] GLOSSY IBIS and SNOWY PLOVER Fruitgrowers resr12:45pm (Delta County)
Hi all, Bill Kaempfer called to say he has just seen a Glossy Ibis with the 200 or so White-faced Ibis at the west end of the causeway at Fruitgrowers reservoir, and the Snowy Plover is still there this afternoon also. Also, in addition to the birds Jason reported earlier, Marbled Godwit. Good birding all Dick Filby Carbondale -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Union Res Glossy Ibis-YES @ 1:15
Adult bird is present now along north shore of Union. Christian Nunes Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
Re: [cobirds] GLOSSY IBIS and SNOWY PLOVER Fruitgrowers resr12:45pm (Delta County)
A Glossy Ibis was with other ibis along the east shore of the lake at Crawford State Park also in Delta County back on 19 April. This could perhaps be the same bird now being seen at nearby Fruitgrowers Res., though could just as easily be a 2nd bird. Observers included Bob Evans, Linda Vidal, Scott Seltman et.al. We should have reported this earlier. Scott Seltman 1968 155th Ave. Larned, KS 67550 Two wrongs don't make a right, but oddly enough, three rights do make a left. - Original Message - From: Dick Filby To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 2:04 PM Subject: [cobirds] GLOSSY IBIS and SNOWY PLOVER Fruitgrowers resr12:45pm (Delta County) Hi all, Bill Kaempfer called to say he has just seen a Glossy Ibis with the 200 or so White-faced Ibis at the west end of the causeway at Fruitgrowers reservoir, and the Snowy Plover is still there this afternoon also. Also, in addition to the birds Jason reported earlier, Marbled Godwit. Good birding all Dick Filby Carbondale -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Adams County Wild Turkey and more
Driving s. on Riverdale Rd. s of Quebec a female Wild Turkey crossed the road. Outside Barr Lake 2 Swainson's Hawks were flying together. Linda Powers Denver -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Broomfield, Adams and Denver Counties
Decided to make a loop this morning to see if anything got grounded by the storms. Broomfield County was my first stop. The little pond next to Stearn's lake had three Bufflehead and Northern Shovelers. There were Common Ravens flying around the bagel shop off of 287. Two American White Pelican were in a small overflowing pond NE of E 10th Main. Nissen Res. had two Snowy Egret and Ring-necked Duck . Brunner held two Common Merganser and Lesser Scaup . Plaster was loaded with Bufflehead , rough count of 50. Also two Ruddy Duck to add to my county list. McKay Lake in Adams County was void of anything except Western Grebes. Decided to check out Westerly Creek in Denver County area that Ben Kemena posted about and saw a lot of things red. Redhead, Cinnamon Teal, House Finch, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and a basketball plus some Mallards, Gadwall, Turkey Vulture and Eurasian Collared-Dove were in and around the pond. Next stop was Bluff Lake with only a pair of Mallards. Todd Deininger Longmont, CO Only the muddy fox lives -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Northern Parula -- Pueblo County 4/24
Van Truan and I went to Colorado City this afternoon, hoping to re-find a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO that David Silverman found earlier in the day, below the dam at Lake Beckwith. We weren't able to find it, though we saw a male Black-chinned Hummingbird. Then we over to Greenhorn Meadows Park in Colorado City, and saw a female NORTHERN PARULA. Brandon Percival Pueblo West, CO -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Evening Grosbeaks Larimer County
I have had 3 Evening Grosbeaks at my feeders today, 14 miles west of Livermore. First time in a few years to see them here. Tom Hall Livermore, CO -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Black-throated Gray Warbler -- Pueblo 4/24
Sorry I not posting this eariler, though since this is just of local interest, it probably doesn't matter. This morning, I saw a male Black-throated Gray Warbler, just west of the Pueblo Nature Center in Pueblo in tall cottonwoods, with some Yellow-rumped Warblers. Other warblers present this morning around the Pueblo Nature Center, were Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers. I saw a Hermit Thrush and an Orange-crowned Warbler along the creek on the west side of Pueblo City Park. Brandon Percival Pueblo West, CO -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Birds at Fountain Creek Park, El Paso County
Cobirders, Despite the wind, our Birding for Beginners 101 group had a nice assortment of birds (55) today at Fountain Creek Regional Park. What caught my eye most was the number of hawks that were slowly migrating into the strong north headwind. I surmise that the wind provided lift and they still could almost effortlessly continue with their migration. We saw Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, and Peregrine Falcon moving north. In the sheltered areas of the riparian woodlands, there were many Yellow-rumped Warblers. I saw somewhere between 50 - 70 warblers - all YRWA, but it made us hopeful that we would find some other warbler species and of birds to soon come. Other good birds included Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Black-crowed Night-heron. The Yellow-crowned Night-heron could not be relocated. We had a good variety of dabbling ducks including all three teal species. At the nature center pond north bridge we saw a Sora. Also saw Franklin's Gull, two Wilson's Snipe, a Great Horned Owl with two owlets, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Say's Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chipping Sparrows, and still a few straggling winter White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Based on past records at Fountain Creek Park, migratory passerine birds should really start showing up this coming week - April 30 on through the third week of May. Good birding, Ken Pals Colorado Springs -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] RMBO banding - CBR Saturday
Hi COBirders, This morning started out in the all-too-familiar pattern - few birds, high winds. The school group that came got to see only three birds, and left for the next part of their ranch visit about 9:45. Of course, that's when the dam finally broke. Starting about then we started seeing lots of birds moving through the grove, heading NW into the wind, and into the nets. As Ken Pals said about Fountain Creek, these were also mostly Yellow-rumped Warblers - an even mix of Audubon's and Myrtles, and a few intergrades, too - probably about 25 were caught, all but about 2-3 were males. A good diversity of warblers were netted, with singles of Com Yellowthroat (f), Orange-crowned Warbler (m), Virginia's Warbler (m), and Wilson's Warbler (m). The Hooded Warbler male was not seen, but a N Parula was seen several times, although not caught. Also, flocks of new Blue Jays and Am Robins came, resulting in four new banded of each, and a few returns from previous years. Rounding out the picture were sparrows, with a single Lincoln's Sparrow, and three Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows, and a male Spotted Towhee. The highlight of the day may have been the one Cedar Waxwing caught and banded - a first for me, anyhow. Also seen in the area - Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, and flocks of Cedar Waxwings and Red-winged Blackbirds. Many good songbirds, waders, and shorebirds at the HQ it sounded like, too. Despite VERY high winds all day, we were busy until 2:30, and ended up with about 42 new birds, all from the nine nets we hadn't closed due to wind. This at the end of a week where Nancy had banded 10 birds since Monday! After a day like this, you can't wait to go back and see what arrives next! Good birding! Steve Brown Colorado Springs for Nancy Gobris, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] White- faced Ibis
Bob Nancy Bierling There were 3 White-faced Ibis flying over the swollen pond across from the airfield at Cherry Creek Res at about 4 o'clock P.M. Bob Nancy Bierling -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Northern Parula, Chico Basin Ranch [El Paso County]
Hello CO-Birders, The word of the day at Chico was WIND. Despite the annoying breeze, the Northern Parula at the RMBO banding station was very cooperative to being photographed today. I've posted a photo at the ABA image gallery: http://gallery.aba.org/displayimage.php?pos=-1215 To expand on Steve Brown's post: At HQ Ponds (fee area), Bill Maynard and I observed a few notables including 30+ White-faced Ibis, Semipalmated, Western, and Least Sandpiper, and a Marbled Godwit. A wind-blown Hermit Thrush was laying low at Rose Pond. Good birding, Bryan Patrick Woodland Park, CO -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] Barrow's etc Spring Park resr, Eagle County
Hi all, Visited Spring Park Reservoir (nr El Jebel) 2x today, first with Denise Landau and later with Bill Kaempfer. The light was especially good late afternoon, (not too many heat waves), allowing for good birding. Highlights included 4 Common Loons 3 White-faced Ibis 27 Western Grebes (influx today) 1 Bonaparte's Gull 1 Franklin's Gull 4 Ring-billed Gulls c50 Barrow's Goldeneyes Many (100's) of other ducks Tens of Tree Swallows (still very few hirundines around here!) 1 Wilson's Phalarope c6 American Pipits nearby Great Horned Owl on the nest Prolonged looks at a Badger out and about late morning several Red-tailed Hawks on nests 1 White-faced Ibis flying over Cerise Ranch towards Carbondale Good birding all Dick Filby Carbondale -- 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 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
