[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, February 13, 2011
Date: February 13, 2011 e-mail: r...@cfo-link.org phone: 303-659-8759 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 5 am, 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 inclued: (* denotes that there is new information on the species in this report) Long-tailed Duck (Denver) Barrow's Goldeneye (Douglas) MEW GULL (Boulder) Thayer's Gull (Boulder, Broomfield) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Boulder, Broomfield) Glaucous Gull (Boulder, Broomfield) White-winged Dove (Arapahoe, Herfano) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Larimer) Chihuahuan Raven (*Boulder) Curve-billed Thrasher (Jefferson) PINE WARBLER (Larimer) White-throated Sparrow (Delta, JEfferson) Harris's Sparrow (Adams, Broomfield, Herfano, Jefferson, Las Animas) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson) Gray-crown Rosy-Finch (*Gunnison, Huerfano, Jefferson, Routt) Black Rosy-Finch (*Gunnison, Huerfano, Jefferson) Adams County: --A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Alcock at the Rocky Moutain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge feeding station near the Visitor's Center on February 6. Arapahoe County: --A White-winged Dove was reported by Leigh in the Willow Creek Drainage on January 19 and was seen most recently on February 4. The drainage area is a southeasterly extension of Willow Creek Park. Walk south along the trail from the park - cross the small bridge and then it is about 400 ft to a junction and a bridge across the main creek. Continue on the trail approximately 1200 feet to the area where the birds has been seen. Boulder County: --Floyd reported the following at Valmont Reservoir: Thayer's Gull (5 first -cycle on Feb 4; 2 ad and 8 first-cycle on Feb 6) Lesser Black-backed Gull (7 on Feb 4 and 7 on Feb 6 2 ad, 5 first-cycle) Glaucous Gull (1 ad, 1 first-cycle on Feb 4) MEW GULL (1 ad on Feb 4 and Feb 6) --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Vanderpoel at Thomas Reservoir (on N 119th Street in Erie) on February 5. --A probable Chihuahuan Raven was reported by Klaver in Boulder County at 63rd St between Oxford and Plateau on February 12. Broomfield County: --2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (first-cycle), 2 Glaucous Gulls (1 first-cycle, 1 2nd-cycle), and several Thayer's Gulls were reported by Chavez at Parkside Center Pond (south of Hwy 8 and east of Lowell) on February 10. --Vanderpoel reported the following at Anthem Pond (Intersection of Indian Peak and Lowell) on February 5: 2 first-cycle Glaucous Gulls, 1 first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 ad Thayer's Gull. --A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Burke at an office feeding station (121st and Perry St) on Febuary 1 and was seen again on February 8. Delta County: --A white-throated Sparrow was reported by Garrison at the Forest Service Office in Paonia (403 N. Rio Grande) on January 27, 28 and 30, and February 5. Denver County: --A Long-tailed Duck was reported by Thornton-Kolbe and found by Roller on the Platte River, about 60 yards north of the Florida Avenue bridge on February 5. Douglas County: --2 Barrow's Goldeneyes (1m, 1f) were reported by Spellman in Parker at Twenty Mile Pond in Parker on January 30 and were seen again by Kingery on February 3 and Henwood on February 5. Directions to Twenty-Mile Pond: From the main intersection in Parker, go west toward Cherry Creek on Parker Main Street; at Twenty-Mile Road, just before Cherry Creek, turn left, and then right into the parking lot. Gunnison County: --All 3 species of Rosy-Finches were reported by McConnell at feeders at 5th and Hwy 149 in Gunnison on February 12. Huerfano County: --All 3 species of Rosy-Finches and a White-winged Dove have returned the the yard of Beverly Jensen in La Veta and are being see regularly. If you would like to try to see these birds, call her at 719-989-1398. --1 Harris's Sparrow and 2 White-winged Doves were reported by Nelder at her yard in La Veta on February 9, please e-mail her for further information/directions at pollyw...@gmail.com Jefferson County: --On February 8, Henwood reported that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, Curve-billed Thrasher, 2 White-throated Sparrows, Harris's Sparrow and all 3 species of Rosy-finches were seen at Red Rocks Trading Post. Larimer County: --A PINE WARBLER was reported by Bol on private property in Fort Collins on February 3. Please call Sklyer at (970-282-5393) if you would like to look for the bird. Note: several birders have gone looking for the bird without permission and have disturbed the neighbors, so do not go without first calling. --An adult YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported by Mammoser on January 26 or 27th and by Leatherman on February 7 at Grandview Cemetery. Note: the
[cobirds] Huerfano County: Northern Pygmy Owl, Dipper, Pinyon Jays, Rosy-Finches, etc.
Always interested in promoting birding in SoCo, here is what I and a couple groups who came to visit saw in this area: My yard in La Veta: 100s of Rosy-Finches including Blacks and the Hepburn's version of Gray-crowned. Other birds included my new Yard Bird...a stunning male Spotted Towhee as well as a rather rufus Song Sparrow who sung his heart out. Spring is coming? Also present in numbers approaching a dozen were the jaunty Cassin's Finch that look like hot little embers when the sun back-lights their spiky, red heads. And oddly, crows have been coming in large numbers to pick up on the multitude of seed I toss to encourage Rosy-Finches. Somehow I feel I'm going to regret this... Other yard birds here were American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco (Slate, Oregon, Pink-sided, Gray-headed, and Cassiar), House Finch, Mtn and Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker (red- shafted), White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jays, Black-billed Magpies, White-winged Dove as well as dozens of Eurasian-collared Pigeons...er doves...a few Red-winged Blackbirds and a couple House Sparrows. A Sharp-shinned Hawk zoomed in and took a Junco...hurriedly, before one of the big crows noticed his actions and took the prize from him. And the crows routed out a Red-tailed Hawk and sent him on his way. At Polly Wren and Paul's home across town were: most of the above plus easily 60 Pinyon Jays (unusual, Polly Wren says...only about 30 have been coming usually), the Harris's Sparrow, several Spotted Towhee, and a couple of Harry Woodpeckers joined the 4-5 Downy Woodpeckers that regularly come to their feeders. It is so interesting to notice the difference in birds and numbers of birds in our yards...so different in habitat, while close in distance. Driving out Hwy 12 to find the American Dipper which we regularly find under the only bridge with actual clear, running water, we also found half a dozen Lewis's Woodpeckers, watched an adult Bald Eagle, a young Golden Eagle and a whole flock of roosting Wild Turkeys in a tree! And...several of us got a lifer: a stunning little Northern Pygmy Owl posed for us some distance off the road and then flew from tree to tree for perhaps five minutes. Pictures by Jeannie Mitchel are on my blog: http://ruralchatter.blogspot.com/ ...more to come, I'm sure. It was a very long day for some of us. But what a day it was! -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] report of a Harris's Hawk at Red Rocks. ? Escaped or wild?
The report of the Harris's Hawk reportedly photographed at close range yesterday at Red Rocks is interesting. I am trying to get more information. In my limited experience, Colorado Harris's Hawks do not allow close approach, so I wonder if the bird could have escaped from a falconer? I understand that they are commonly kept by falconers. Anyone who sees this hawk at Red Rocks should try to get a photo, determine if the bird seems wild and wary and look for signs of captivity - jesses or wingtip wear from being caged. There are only a handful of valid records of that bird in Colorado, and that hand may not have all five fingers. Joe Roller, 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
Re: [cobirds] Differentiating Chihuahuan from Common Ravens
While looking at ravens on a recent southeastern Colorado CBC, a very experienced birder commented to me that these were likely Chihuahuan as they were in a flock (12-15 birds), and that Common Ravens were generally more solitary in nature. Birds of North America Online touches on this briefly, calling Chihuahuan an extremely social bird and that Common Ravens tend to be found solitary or in pairs. I've been thinking about this lately as I look at ravens in my part of the state where both species occur, and now this recent Cobirds thread prompts me to ask: Is this something we can reliably consider in addition to the other characteristics we use in trying to separate the two species? And this leads me to a broader question: How much weight can we give behavior in identifying birds generally? Margie Joy 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
Re: [cobirds] Differentiating Chihuahuan from Common Ravens
While it may be that common ravens are most often seen in small groups, I've come across conventions of up to 40+ of them hanging out carrying on together atop a knoll at around 11,400' on the south slope of Pikes Peak (in late May)... Marty Wolf -Original Message- From: mar1joy mar1...@juno.com To: cobirds cobirds@googlegroups.com Sent: Sun, Feb 13, 2011 4:15 am Subject: Re: [cobirds] Differentiating Chihuahuan from Common Ravens While looking at ravens on a recent southeastern Colorado CBC, a very experienced birder commented to me that these were likely Chihuahuan as they were in a flock (12-15 birds), and that Common Ravens were generally more solitary in nature. Birds of North America Online touches on this briefly, calling Chihuahuan an extremely social bird and that Common Ravens tend to be found solitary or in pairs. I've been thinking about this lately as I look at ravens in my part of the state where both species occur, and now this recent Cobirds thread prompts me to ask: Is this something we can reliably consider in addition to the other characteristics we use in trying to separate the two species? And this leads me to a broader question: How much weight can we give behavior in identifying birds generally?Margie JoyPueblo 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 cobi...@googlegroups.com.to unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.for more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Harris's Hawk - Red Rocks
Hi All, In the past couple of years I have noticed on several occasions a group(I believe a photography class) in Bear Creek Lake Park with a number of captive raptors including a Harris's Hawk. I don't know for sure, but presume the Harris's Hawk could have been photographed in a workshop session at Red Rocks or else the bird has escaped. Mike Henwood Morrrison, Jefferson County -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Browh Thrasher Chico Basin Ranch (el Paso)
I visited Chico Basin Ranch (fee area) for the first time in a month and found a reclusive Brown Thrasher there in the banding station grove. FYI, the majority of Russian olives have been hydroaxed in August and the only significant riparian area in the El Paso portion of the Ranch is an isloated stand where the RMBO/Chico net lanes have been placed in the past. There is a tiny open patch of water at Rose Pond but not much using it and no open water on Headquarters Pond. Ladder-backed Woodpeckers were findable in both El Paso and Pueblo counties. Bill MaynardColorado Springs Kill Your Wrinkles Mom Reveals Shocking $5 method for erasing wrinkles#46;#46;#46;Doctors hate her http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d583851c7b9232f75bst01duc -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Red Rocks Feeders - Jeffco
Hi All, Just returned from out of town and went to Red Rocks early this morning and threw out some seed. Between 8 and 8:30 A.M. the White- throated Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow came in to feed. A flock of 25 -40 Rosy-Finches arrived around 8:30 A.M. Most of the Rosy's were Gray-crowned with maybe 20-25% Gray-cheeked (Hepburn's) and one Brown- capped. I did not see any Black's. While the Rosy-Finches were feeding on the wall, the Curve-billed Thrasher came in and fed beneath the lower apple tree. I did not see the Golden-crowned, but hopefully Peter Gent or some of the other folks that were there when I left got a glimpse of the Golden-crowned Sparrow. Mike Henwood Morrison, Jefferson County -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins, on 2/13/2011
I saw both the juvenile and the adult male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER today at Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins (Larimer). It is a rare day, indeed, when multiple sapsuckers are seen at one site in northern Colorado in winter. Although it is a very mild day today, this isn't Banana Belt, Colorado (aka Canon City). The juvenile was in the Scots Pine it frequented 10 days or so ago in northeast corner of the portion of the cemetery north of the entrance and west of the ditch. The adult male was in the Austrian Pine grove just out on the golf course from the southwest corner of the cemetery (find the green porta potty and the bird was in the third pine due east of the porta potty along the fence line just out on the course, usually in the upper 1/3 of the tree on the north side). The female Great Horned Owl should have laid her second egg today and looked content on the nest. So far, so good, as far as photographers bothering the situation. If anybody need directions to the tree, email me privately. The two Golden-crowned Kinglets were active in some spruce next to a big hackberry. These spruce, in the northeast corner of Section 1, are about as reliable as any for these secretive birds (map of the cemetery is posted just west of the entrance office (i.e., between the office and the ditch bridge) at the west end of Mountain Avenue). Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
