[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, Friday, November 16, 2012
Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: November 16, 2012 email: rba AT cfobirds.org phone: 303-659-8750 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Friday, November 16, 2012, 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 include: (* denotes that there is new information on this species in this report) Tundra Swan (El Paso, *Rio Blanco) Surf Scoter (Las Animas) White-winged Scoter (Chaffee) Long-tailed Duck (Mesa) Barrow's Goldeneye (Boulder, Chaffee, Garfield, Lake, Pueblo) Red-throated Loon (Pueblo) Pacific Loon (Douglas/Jefferson, *Huerfano, Pueblo) Red Phalarope (Douglas/Jefferson) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Douglas/Jefferson) Sabine's Gull (El Paso) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Huerfano) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Fremont, Larimer) Bohemian Waxwing (Boulder) Swamp Sparrow (El Paso) White-throated Sparrow (El Paso) Harris's Sparrow (Douglas/Jefferson, El Paso) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson, Larimer) Lapland Longspur (Douglas/Jefferson, *Weld) Rusty Blackbird (Douglas/Jefferson) Black Rosy-Finch (Montrose) Common Redpoll (Boulder, Larimer, Lincoln, Routt, *Weld) Boulder County: --An ad male Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Floyd at Baseline Reservoir in Boulder on November 12. --Chris Owens reported that the DFO field trip found a pair of Common Redpolls at McIntosh Lake on November 11 around noon. They were on the S shore near the W end of Lakeshore Drive. They were on the shore then flew into bushes and then to trees. --5 Bohemian Waxwings with Cedar Waxwings were reported by Mark Miller near 63rd and Gunbarrel Ave on November 13. Chaffee County: --At Ice Lake in Buena Vista on November 10, Nick Moore reported 2 White-winged Scoters and 20 Barrow's Goldeneyes. Douglas/Jefferson Counties: --On November 11 at Chatfield SP Walbek reported Red Phalarope, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Harris's Sparrow, Lapland Longspur and Stachowiak reported Pacific Loon and Rusty Blackbird. El Paso County: --A juv Sabine's Gull was reported by Pals at Quail Lake in Colorado Springs on November 10. It was near the shore near the parking lot. --At Fountain Creek Regional Park on November 10, Pals reported ad Harris's Sparrow at the nature center feeders, White-throated Sparrow near the Culvert at Duckwood Road Parking Lots, and Swamp Sparrow by the bridge in NW end of nature center pond. On November 11 at Fountain Creek RP, Gloria Nikolai reported White-throated Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow. They were W of the Gazebo. --A Tundra Swan was found by Bill Maynard at the S end of Rice's Pond in Fountain Creek RP on November 13. Fremont County: --A juv YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported by Moss at Centennial Park in Canon City on Novmeber 14. Garfield County: --2 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by McConnell at Rifle Gap SP on November 13. Huerfanco County: --On November 13 an ad basic BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was reported by Rich Miller at Lake Martin in Lathrop SP. On November 14 Miller reported a juv BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Lake Martin. --On November 14 at Martin Lake in Lathrop SP, Neldner reported a juv Pacific Loon. Jefferson County: --Breitsch reported on November 12 that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues at Red Rocks Trading Post. Lake County: --Nick Moore reported Barrow's Goldeneyes at Mt Elbert Forebay on November 10. Larimer County: --Common Redpolls were reported by Judie Wright on November 8 at Lily Lake in Rocky Mt NP and Rashid refound 21 of them at 4:30 pm on the S side of the trail that goes around the lake. On November 9, Pautsch relocated the Common Redpolls on the S end of the lake. Stay near the small bridge and watch for movement near the bridge. On November 10, Starrett reported that the Common Redpolls had moved to the N side of the lake towards the west end near water's edge. On November 12, Henwood reported that the Common Redpolls were on the S side of the lake near the footbridge. On November 13, Pieplow reported 7-8 Common Redpolls at Lily Lake about a couple hundred yards S of the parking lot under construction near lakeshore. On November 14, Kilpatrick reported 28-30 Common Redpolls on the S side of the lake. --A juv GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW has been visiting the yard of Sean Walters in South Loveland since November 10. If you would like to try for the bird please contact him at waltersintherockies AT gmail.com. The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW returned on November 13 and was observed by several birders. Walters reported that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW returned to the yard on November 14. --A probable juv YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported by Mammoser at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins on November 14.
Re: [cobirds] Redpoll Sightings -- Logan Co.
Good idea Steve! I had a pair of Common Repolls on Wednesday morning south of Haxtun in northern Logan Co., also feeding on Common Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) along the roadside. They were in a mixed flock, including American Tree Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow, juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, and American Goldfinch. Kirk Huffstater Castle Rock, CO From: Steve Stachowiak Melody Egge Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 10:05 PM To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Subject: [cobirds] Redpoll Sightings Cobirders, It looks like it might be a good winter for redpolls here in Colorado. It would be nice if observers would include the type of habitat the birds are being observed in, if they are associating with other species and the types of plants the birds are feeding on when the birds are reported. That would be both educational and provide others clues for what to look for when out searching for redpolls. Good birding, Steve Stachowiak Highlands Ranch, 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Sandhill Cranes, Boulder County yesterday
Finally! After spending the last few weeks as one of very few remaining holdouts who had not seen sandhill cranes this fall, I figured it just wasn't gonna happen for me this year :(. Then yesterday I took a lunchtime walk and saw four just after noon, flying southwest about 1.5 miles east of Hwy 36 and Yarmouth Ave in north Boulder :). At first I figured they were probably geese as I wasn't very close, but raised my binocs and Voila! After I saw them, they vocalized just a little. They circled a couple of times but didn't seem to be gaining much altitude and kept flying southwest. Bev Baker Louisville, 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/cobirds/-/MFRjAaebTUkJ. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Golden-crowned Sparrow - Red Rocks - Jeffco
Good morning, Threw some seed out early this morning and Chuck Aid, Michael Kiessig and myself were able to observe the Golden-crowned Sparrow at the feeders behind the Red Rocks Trading Post 3 different times between 7 and 7:30. 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] redpoll food items
Emails received so far result in the following list of plants we know Common Redpolls in Colorado like, or could be predicted to like: 1) Shrubby Cinquefoil (Pentaphylloides floribunda (also goes by the scientific name of Potentilla fruticosa) seeds - tall shrubs south of Lily Lake. 2) Wood's Rose (Rosa woodsii) - the photo by the observer at Lily Lake shows the bird very near the fruits (rose hips) but it was unclear whether the redpolls were actually picking at the hips (they are too big for the birds to consume in one gulp) or possibly removing the less-conspicuous buds (which would not be red but rather more the color of the stems) [Both of the above plants are in the Rosaceae family, which may be helpful in predicting other plants to which these birds might be attracted.] 3) Birch (Betula) seeds from catkins - two people commented on seeing redpolls in the past back East (Michigan, etc.) associating with birch catkins. This was one of things that seems logical for Lily Lake, although I didn't notice any of these trees while walking its south and west shores. Of course, nearby on the peninsula and shore of the west end of Lake Estes (Matthews-Reeser Sanctuary), River Birch (Betula fontinalis) (also called Water Birch - B. occidentalis, by authors other than Weber) is abundant and has been the source of bird interest in the past, but seemingly more so by migrant insectivores seeking insects like Birch Catkin Bugs, which in turn are interested in the birch seeds in the catkins. 4) Thinleaf Alder (Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia) would be another logical tree in which to find redpolls, having catkins that are very similar to birch. 5) Additional reports were received of feeding on seeds of Wild Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) on the prairie. 6) As stated earlier, I have seen them in the past in Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) and Engelmann Spruce (P. engelmannii) getting seeds from attached cones. 7) They are also known to occur in deciduous trees feeding on buds (probably flower buds preferentially). It would be nice if observers could flesh out which species of deciduous trees (or conifers other than spruce) over the next several months. Thanks again to Steve for the suggestion and to those who have contributed observations. In the future if you see them on a plant you don't recognize, take a sample and send it to me (612 Stover Street #7, Fort Collins, CO, 80524) and I would be happy to try to figure it out (or take it to a botanist who actually could). Dave Leatherman -- 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] NRCS Ken Burn's documentary The Dust Bowl Nov 18-19
This should be of interest to all birders everywhere, especially in hard-hit CO (see map in URL below). Soil Conservation Service is featured in the new Ken Burns' documentary, The Dust Bowl from Nov. 18-19, 2012 on PBS. Learn more about the http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=clickenid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkP TIwMTIxMTE1LjEyMjA5MzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEyMTExNS4xMjIwOTM5M SZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjY5OTc1JmVtYWlsaWQ9Z2FyeS5iYWhyQGFncmkua WRhaG8uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1nYXJ5LmJhaHJAYWdyaS5pZGFoby5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpd mFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==102http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ national/home/?cid=STELPRDB1049437 Dust Bowl and SCS, now called NRCS. Kay Kayleen A. Niyo, Ph.D. Niyo Scientific Communications Kay Niyo Photography mailto:k...@kayniyo.com k...@kayniyo.com http://www.KayNiyo.com www.KayNiyo.com __ 5651 Garnet Street Golden, CO 80403 Phone: (303) 679-6646 Fax: (866) 849-8013 -- 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] CFO's Colorado Birds magazine, October, 2012
Congrats to CFO for another very interesting issue, and a good reason to join CFO. For annual dues of only $25 you get 4 issues per year of this great magazine with color photos, a discount for the CFO annual convention, and the satisfaction of supporting the study, conservation, and enjoyment of Colorado Birds. Here’s where to join CFO: http://cfobirds.org/business/contribute.php In October’s issue I especially liked SeEtta Moss's article titled Fledgling American Kestrels Climb Tree Trunks. It reminded me of the theory that this is how some dinosaurs evolved into birds--by running up tree trunks, then gliding down on their developing wings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scansoriopterygidae And if that's the case, then I thought of the catchy $1,000 phrase guaranteed to confound your non-birding friends: “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny—a biological hypothesis that in developing from embryo to adult, animals go through stages resembling or representing successive stages in the evolution of their remote ancestors. I am a very amateur ornithologist and welcome hearing from other’s more in the know. Thanks to SeEtta Moss for her observations, research, and interesting article. Cheers, Tom Wilberding Boulder, 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/cobirds/-/cEdoEaIVJGsJ. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Late Greater Yellowlegs, El Paso Co and warning to birders
Monday (11-12) I saw a Greater Yellowlegs picking insects from the ice at Meadowlake Pond in Falcon. First I thought it was a little late for that bird but especially unsusual to see it on the ice; not at the edge of the pond but well unto the ice. I did not see it the rest of the week until this morning, still walking (and sliding) on the ice, picking insects. Photo available. Now for the warning : on the 14th, we went to the Fountain Creek Regional Park to look for the Swan. Our car was broken in through the small back/side window in the parking lot south of the Willow Springs Pond. The thief (s) smashed the window. Wished we had parked at the Visitors Center ; we usually do! Cecile Lee Elbert, CO Consolation prize : American Dipper and Harris Sparrow! -- 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Huerfano County Update: Pacific and Common Loon - no Kittiwakes
Went out to Lathrop State Park to search for Black-legged Kittiwakesdid not find those...just two Bonaparte's Gulls mixed in with all the Ring-billed Gulls. One was at Martin Lake, the other was at Horseshoe. Re-located the Pacific Loon...in almost the exact same spot as yesterday. 2 Common Loons were seen Polly Wren Neldner La Veta, 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] At BCLP, southeast corner beneath Mt. Carbon, today 12-2pm, Jefferson County
Common Goldeneye, 8-10 Common Merganser, 4 Western Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 2 N. Shoveler, 4 A. Coot, 2 Canada Geese. 200-300 also, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Scrub Jay at my feeder Regina King Littleton, 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/cobirds/-/kLzzMamrvBcJ. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Pueblo birding this week
I scoped the middle of Pueblo Reservoir mid-day today (11/16), and there were at least 12 loons present. At least 9 Common Loons, 2 Pacific Loons, and 1 Red-throated Loon. I hadn't seen a Red-throated Loon since 11/09 and I hadn't seen a Pacific Loon since 11/11, so maybe these are new birds, or maybe they have been avoiding me. I saw an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull today at South Shore Marina tires, one or two seem to be there regularly. I walked around inside the Pueblo Zoo this morning, and saw a Common Grackle, and a good flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers, without anything else with them. Earlier in the week I saw a few birds at Pueblo Reservoir, that I haven't seen again, so far: A Red-necked Grebe in the middle of the reservoir on 11/14. A female Barrow's Goldeneye at the SWA on NW Side of Pueblo Reservoir on 11/12. A juvenile Thayer's Gull was flying around the Reservoir on 11/11. Below the dam, a nice flock of around 15 or more Eastern Bluebirds seem to be hanging around the Osprey Picnic Area in Rock Canyon, the last time I've been there was 11/12, and they were there. An immature Snow Goose is hanging out with Canada Geese at the Rock Canyon Swim Beach pond, I saw it on 11/12 11/14. I saw a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Rock Canyon, near the swim beach pond while looking at the geese on 11/14. A Swamp Sparrow was calling west of Valco Ponds parking on 11/12. I had several latish birds in the Rock Canyon/Valco Ponds area on 11/12: an immature Black-crowned Night-Heron, a Cinnamon Teal, three Lesser Goldfinches, an Osprey, a Savannah Sparrow, and a Say's Phoebe. Some other birders have seen some birds of note recently too: A Greater White-fronted Goose was seen on 11/11 at Pueblo City Park pond and an adult Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen on 11/10 11/11 in Pueblo City Park. Two adult swans were seen at Runyon Lake in Pueblo today, though didn't stay long. A late Broad-winged Hawk was at Runyon Lake on 11/15. When it isn't windy, the birding has been pretty good here in Pueblo recently. 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Common Redpolls, Pawnee National Grasslands, Weld County
Kinda took Dave Leatherman's route today from Timnath Reservoir out to the Norma's Grove area. Along County Rd. 57 a little north of the Hwy 14 intersection there were more then 20 Common Redpolls in some brush along the road right under the barb wire fences. Saw several of them feeding on dead sunflower seeds. Also heard a good amount of Lapland Longspurs along County Rd. 57 and County Rd. 100..only got quick glimpses. At Timnath Reservoir I was a little surprised to find a late Say's Phoebe hanging around the parking lot, flying all over the place. There were 2 Ross's Geese and a Blue Morph Snow Goose mixed in with a very large group of Canada Geese clear across the reservoir. Typical waterfowl was seen...Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Canvasbacks. Barely any raptors anywhere today. Austin Hess 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Marston Reservoir, Denver Cty
HI ALL,Late this afternoon I stopped at Marston for a quick look. I have been checking the lake out almost every day, but I have not found Pacific Loon yet. Today there were at LEAST 500 Common Mergansers, with more flying into the lake.5, Red-breasted Mergansers11, Hooded Mergansers2, Horned Grebe, there were 27 Horned Grebe, 2 days ago12, Pied-billed Grebe21, Western Grebe12, Lesser Scaup2, Common Loon, There were 4, 2 days ago26, Gadwall7, American Widgeon28, Northern Shoveler12, Common Goldeneye12, Redhead8, Buffleheadmany Ring-billed Gulls and Canada Geese Happy Birding !Tina JonesLittleton, Jefferson County, 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 https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.