[cobirds] recent gull watching at Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe County)

[David Dowell]

We've heard much about the gull and goose magnet that is Aurora Reservoir 
this winter, and I'm providing a more recent update.  I've been there 
during afternoons once or twice a week during the past month to practice 
observing gulls.  (Last year, it was Teller Lake #5 in Boulder County, this 
year it's Aurora Reservoir in Arapahoe County.)  Many of the gulls there 
look quite familiar now.

During the past month, gull watching has been good any time during the 
afternoon.  (I haven't been during the morning so don't know what it's like 
then.)  As reported previously, gulls come and go during the afternoon, 
typically passing over the curved part of the dam on the north side of the 
lake, going to and from the landfill.  Some of the better viewing has been 
in the early to mid afternoon, when the gulls calmly assemble in groups 
that are good for viewing.  Late in the afternoon, the gulls are frantic, 
but that's when the big numbers are there, and often I see gulls then that 
I didn't see earlier.  Each time I've lingered until sunset, the gulls have 
suddenly shifted to a different part of the lake and piled into a heap that 
makes identification of individual birds impossible except for gulls along 
the edges.

The more I look at gulls, the more I appreciate the variability within each 
species (size, appearance, etc.).  A point of recent frustration has been 
how hard it is to judge leg color.  I don't understand how legs can appear 
pink from one angle and yellow from another.

The lake fared well during the last cold snap, keeping some open water and 
good ice shelves for the gulls.  I'll be interested to hear any reports of 
whether the lake manages to get through the upcoming cold snap without 
icing over completely.  Fog has been a problem when the air temperature has 
been about 20 Fahrenheit or less and/or when the humidity has been high. 
 Otherwise, viewing has been good -- from the marina in early January and 
from the dam more recently.  Once or twice, gulls have accumulated on more 
southern ice shelves, far from parking lots, when a bicycle would have been 
handy for getting around the lake.

Some recent gull highlights have included:
* adult ICELAND GULL on January 29

* 2 immature GLAUCOUS GULLS which really seem to like the place, observed 
as recently as yesterday (February 2)

* an apparent first winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED x HERRING hybrid on January 29, 
perhaps seen previously during the past month or two

* LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 2 yesterday (February 2) but as many as 4 on 
February 1 (2 adults, 1 juvenile, 1 2nd/3rd winter)

* THAYER'S GULLS, at least 4 yesterday (February 2), adults challenging to 
pick out as always, juveniles including one very pale one

* at least one adult California Gull (February 1) already showing breeding 
type plumage

* still dozens of Herring Gulls

* still thousands of Ring-Billed Gulls

I haven't had any luck with the Slaty-Backed Gull during the past month but 
congratulate those who have seen it.  There is also what appears to be a 
first year GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL visiting the lake now and then, but I 
haven't had a good enough view to say for sure.  There are certainly other 
goodies that I've missed.

The geese have been interesting, too -- mostly Cackling, but also Canada, a 
few Snow, the occasional Ross's, and a hybrid or two.  Geese are sometimes 
there during the day, sometimes not, but they always seem to arrive in 
force around sunset.

A day pass for Aurora Reservoir is $10.

David Dowell
Longmont, CO

-- 
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/cbd923ec-7127-44e2-a619-c21fbedb2546%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

[cobirds] Tundra Swan at Hillcrest res (Valmont complex), Boulder County

[Cheryl Teuton]

With essentially all of the ponds at the Walden/Sawhill complex pretty much
completely frozen over, Boulder's Tundra Swan has relocated to its usual
position  in Hillcrest reservoir, the pond that is in front of the Valmont
Complex, and was easily seen from Legion Park overlooking the water.
Numerous Red-breasted Mergansers (and other birds) were there to help keep
it company.

Cheryl Teuton

Aurora, CO

-- 
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/002a01cf214d%2459d82690%240d8873b0%24%40earthlink.net.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, February 3, 2014

[Ira Sanders]

Compiler: Ira Sanders

Date: February 3, 2014

email: rba AT cfobirds.org  

phone: 303-659-8750  

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, February 3, 2014 sponsored
by the 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 (* indicates new information on this species in

this report):

 

BRANT (Douglas, Douglas/Jefferson*)

TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder, Rio Grande)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams, Boulder, Delta, Douglas, Garfield, Pueblo)

RED THROATED LOON (Pueblo)

MEW GULL (Arapahoe, Pueblo)

Thayer's Gull (Boulder)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Boulder, El Paso)

Glaucous Gull (Douglas/Jefferson)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Bent, Pueblo)

Greater Roadrunner (Pueblo)

SNOWY OWL (Lincoln)

Winter Wren (Larimer)

VARIED THRUSH (Huerfano*)

Bohemian Waxwing (Larimer, Routt)

Swamp Sparrow (Baca)

Harris's Sparrow (Delta, Huerfano*)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson)

Lapland Longspur (Adams*)

Rusty Blackbird (Adams*)

Rosy-Finch (Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer)

 

ADAMS COUNTY:

--2 Rusty Blackbirds were reported by the DFO Field Trip led by Hundertmark
at Barr Lake SP below the dam on January 26.  Teuton and Breitsch report
that up to 4 continue at this location as of February 3.

--Lapland Longspurs were reported by Breitsch on the DIA Owl Loop which
starts .5 mile east of Tower Rd on 96th Ave.  Every flock of Horned Larks
had some longspurs and on February 3, he found them on Trussville Rd between
114th and 120th Aves. 

--5 Barrow's Goldeneye were reported by Rurik near the Teal Water tank south
of 88th and Platte February 1.

 

ARAPHOE COUNTY:

--On January 28, Suddjian reported 1-st cycle MEW GULL and ad Lesser
Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek SP.

 

BACA COUNTY:

--A Swamp Sparrow was reported by Dowell in Cottonwood Canyon on January 26.

 

BENT COUNTY:

--An ad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Duane Nelson at John Martin
Reservoir on ice shelf in Clayton Bay on January 24.  On January 26, Dowell
reported GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and 2 imm Glaucous Gulls on ice shelf in
Clayton Bay at John Martin.

 

BOULDER COUNTY:

--A pair of Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Waltman at Clover Basin
Reservoir in Longmont on January 25.

--A 1-st cycle Glaucous Gull, ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 2 ad Thayer's
Gulls were reported by Floyd at Boulder Reservoir on January 25.

--40 Brown-capped and 1 Black Rosy-Finch were reported by Shade at Fawn
Brook Inn in Allenspark on January 29.

--An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Floyd at Waneka Lake in
Lafayette on January 29.  Best viewing is from the dam on the east side from
0800 - 1000 with the sun at your back.

--On February 1, Wilberding reported a TUNDRA SWAN at Cottonwood Marsh.

 

DELTA COUNTY:

--20 Barrow's Goldeneye were reported by McConnell on the Gunnison River at
Confluence Park on January 26.

--A 1-st winter Harris's Sparrow was reported by Garrison at the Forest
Service Office in Paonia on January 28.  On February 1, Garrison reported
that the Harris's Sparrow continues at the Forest Service Office in Paonia.

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY:

--The BRANT was reported by Crooks at Redstone Park in Highlands Ranch on
January 27.  It was at the furthest S baseball field next to houses.  On
January 29, Breitsch reported the BRANT at Redstone Park at the far east end
in front of Lebsack Tennis Center off of Aspen Creek Drive.

--A BRANT was reported by Kellner at Chatfield State Park at the south
marina with 1200 Cackling Geese on February 2.

--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Walbek at Parker Regional Park on
January 31.

 

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:

--On February 1, Crooks and Teuton reported that the BRANT has returned to
Chatfield SP.

--On February 1, Teuton reported a juv Glaucous Gull on ice on the west side
of the reservoir at Chatfield.

 

EL PASO COUNTY:

--A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Hinds at Big Johnson on January
25.

 

GARFIELD COUNTY:

--5 Barrow's Goldeneye were reported by Baron 0.1 mile downriver from the
west end of Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs on January 26.

 

HUERFANO COUNTY:

--A VARIED THRUSH has been visiting a private yard in La Veta.  The owners
welcome visitors but the bird is best seen from inside the home.  If you
would like to try to see the bird please contact Polly Neldner at pollywren
AT gmail.com   and she will help you make arrangements to
see the bird.   On February 2, Nelder reports the VARIED THRUSH and Harris's
Sparrow continue in La Veta.  

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--On January 27, Suddjian reported there were 2 Gray-crowned and 2
Brown-capped Rosy-Finches at Red Rocks Trading Post.  On January 31, Wood

[cobirds] Rusty Blackbirds still at Barr Lake - Adams County

[JBreitsch - Denver]

Thanks to Chuck and his group for finding these birds, and for everyone 
posting their continued presence.  I re-found two of them this morning. 
 Lapland Longspurs continue to be present on Trussville Rd between 114th 
and 120th Aves.

John Breitsch
Denver, Colorado
http://www.flickr.com/photos/breitschbirding/

-- 
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/ef2321f5-6890-481b-8f5f-ad7cc83cb40b%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.