[cobirds] New Larimer County hotspot and possible Siberian Herring Gull

[quetzal65]

"Walmart Pond" is a relatively new birding location that apparently is 
under-birded. This is the gravel pit pond adjacent to the Walmart located along 
Interstate 25 at the Harmony Road/Timnath exit. On Sunday, it was well-stocked 
with over 10 species of waterfowl, including Greater Scaup and Red-breasted 
Merganser. A good number of goldeneye attracted numerous gulls, including a 
young Thayer's Gull. 
  
There is now a day-use parking area at the southeast corner of the pond that 
allows for easy and close viewing of the pond, and access to walking trails 
along the Cache La Poudre River which skirts the north and east side of the 
pond. I have not yet explored these trails so I don't know how extensive they 
are. This will also be a valuable birding spot during spring and fall migration 
in the riparian habitat along the river.    
A telescope will be helpful to see across the pond, but on Sunday, numerous 
birds were close to the parking area and easily identified using binoculars. 
This birding spot is very close to other famous birding hotspots such as 
Timnath Reservoir and Fossil Creek Reservoir, and should become a routine 
birding stop when  birding the Loveland-Windsor-Timnath-Fort Collins loop, or 
even if you are just passing through the area on Interstate 25. It is now 
recognized as a hotspot on ebird.org, so if birders routinely enter their 
sightings at Walmart Pond on ebird, before too long, we will have a profound 
knowledge of the birds of this pond and the adjacent section of the Cache La 
Poudre River. 
On Sunday, one of the juvenile gulls present was a candidate for the Siberian 
subspecies of Herring Gull ( Larus argentatus vegae ), also know as Vega Gull 
(considered a full species in Europe and Asia). This subspecies breeds in 
western Alaska and has its own page in the Sibley Guide to Birds. There are 
scattered winter records throughout the western USA. It undoubtedly occurs in 
Colorado, although has yet to be recognized by the CBRC for the state list. You 
can check out my (low-quality) photos of the bird from Sunday at 
www.pbase.com/quetzal/mysterygullai . 
  
So, if you are out birding in eastern Larimer County over the Thanksgiving 
holiday, be sure to stop by Walmart Pond, and then enter your sightings at 
ebird.org. If any unusual birds are present, post a report to Cobirds. And if 
you have a camera, please get better photos of this gull (if present) so that 
we might document a possible first state record of Vega Gull.  
  
Nick Komar 
Fort Collins CO 

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[cobirds] CFO holiday gift ideas

[Tom Wilberding]

Hello birders,

Here are some holiday gifts for your friends and family, and to give 
yourself, too:

   - A $25 gift membership to CFO, which includes a subscription to *Colorado 
   Birds*: http://cobirds.org/CFO/Gift.aspx 
   - A donation to help CFO study and conserve Colorado birds. This year 
   CFO gave over $10,000 in various grants and scholarships to very worthy 
   causes in Colorado. Help us do it again in 2015: 
   http://cobirds.org/CFO/Donate.aspx  
   - Some nifty CFO logo items like shirts, caps, mugs and more from our 
   new store at Zazzle.com , which will pay CFO 10% of 
   your purchase: http://www.zazzle.com/cfo_merchandise 

Thanks for supporting Colorado Field Ornithologists, and good holiday 
birding!
|
Tom Wilberding
Treasurer

*Colorado Field Ornithologists *P. O. Box 643
Boulder, CO 80306-0643
cfotreasu...@gmail.com

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Re: [cobirds] Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson 11/25

[Glenn and Laurie]

I agree with Dave Sujihad there were likely more LBBGs at Cherry Creek than 
Greg and I reported.  The overall mix has not changed much in the past few days 
however.  Huge groups of geese are coming and going from the lake.  Keep your 
eyes peeled for a goody.

Glenn Walbek
Castle Rock, CO


From: David Suddjian 
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 5:17 PM
To: Colorado Birds 
Subject: [cobirds] Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson 11/25

I began at Cherry Creek Reservoir early this morning, apparently 2-3 hours 
ahead of ahead of Kathy and Greg's visit. I had some of the same birds, missed 
some and added some others. Interesting gulls included 1 1st cycle Glaucous 
Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 1st cy, 1 3rd, and 4 adults), and 4 
Thayer's Gulls (2 1st cy, 2 ad.). 18 Snow Geese were at the northeast corner. 
Also a male and female Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 2 Long-tailed 
Ducks, and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers. 

Chatfield Reservoir did not have much, but an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull 
was my 1st there this season, with an adult Thayer's, too. Aurora Rampart 
Reservoir has only the continuing Pacific Loon among species of interest, with 
no scoters in evidence. A Bald Eagle overlooking the reservoir may have spooked 
the waterfowl, as there were few.

An Am. Three-toed Woodpecker was at the top of High Grade Road in the Deer 
Creek watershed of JeffCo, and another was in Douglas near CR 67 x Rampart 
Range Road. An American Dipper was along the South Fork of the South Platte 
upstream of the confluence with the North Fork. I was surprised there were not 
more dippers along the several miles of river that I looked at up there, as 
conditions appear prime to me for non-breeding season dippers.

David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
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[cobirds] Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson 11/25

[David Suddjian]

I began at Cherry Creek Reservoir early this morning, apparently 2-3 hours
ahead of ahead of Kathy and Greg's visit. I had some of the same birds,
missed some and added some others. Interesting gulls included 1 1st
cycle *Glaucous
Gull*, 7 *Lesser Black-backed Gulls* (2 1st cy, 1 3rd, and 4 adults),
and 4 *Thayer's
Gulls* (2 1st cy, 2 ad.). 18 *Snow Geese* were at the northeast corner.
Also a male and female *Barrow's Goldeneye*, 1 *Red-necked Grebe*, 2
*Long-tailed
Ducks*, and 3 *Red-breasted Mergansers.*

Chatfield Reservoir did not have much, but an adult *Lesser Black-backed
Gull* was my 1st there this season, with an adult *Thayer's*, too. Aurora
Rampart Reservoir has only the continuing *Pacific Loon* among species of
interest, with no scoters in evidence. A *Bald Eagle* overlooking the
reservoir may have spooked the waterfowl, as there were few.

An *Am. Three-toed Woodpecker* was at the top of High Grade Road in the
Deer Creek watershed of JeffCo, and another was in Douglas near CR 67 x
Rampart Range Road. An *American Dipper* was along the South Fork of the
South Platte upstream of the confluence with the North Fork. I was
surprised there were not more dippers along the several miles of river that
I looked at up there, as conditions appear prime to me for non-breeding
season dippers.

David Suddjian
Littleton, CO

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[cobirds] eastern Larimer and western Weld today, 11/25

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

I attempted birding some lakes today, hand-holding my scope against the car 
window without a tripod (long story involving a strong gust of wind and the dam 
rocks at Douglas Reservoir that has a $3.75 happy ending, thanks to the 
invention of polycarbonate tube materials and recent arrival of the right brass 
replacement bushing).

Timnath Reservoir
Barrow's Goldeneye (1m) far western side against the rocks, eating crayfish
Dead White Pelican (way across the res on the far northern shore)
Double-crested Cormorant (1) on western shore rocks
Very few birds, in total, and nothing else of major interest (that I could see 
with my hampered set-up)

Windsor Lake (on the eastern end of downtown Windsor)
225+ Common Goldeneyes
Snow Goose (1 white, 1 blue)
Common Merganser (ONE!)

Woods Lake (3 miles east of Severance on Weld CR74)
Always a frustrating and dangerous place to check
Lots of white geese, mostly Snow, some Ross's
Tons of Mallards

Drake Lake (Weld CR23 just s of Highway 14)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1a, 1 subadult (2nd-year?))
California Gull (several dozen)

Grandview Cemetery (Fort Collins)
Golden Eagle (flyover with a very full crop)  FOY at this location

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
  

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[cobirds] This Morning at Cherry Creek State Park

[Kathy and Jeff Dunning]

Greetings -

This morning Glenn Walbek and I spent about an hour and a half
scanning the lake, picking through all the waterbirds and gulls in the
hopes of finding a tasty rarity.

No megas, but a few nice birds were hanging out:
2 Snow Goose (one very pretty blue-phase)
1 White-winged Scoter
2 Barrow's Goldeneyes (males, there were probably some females out there also)
2 Long-tailed Ducks
1 probable adult Thayer's Gull
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 ad, 2 imm)
At least 30 Bonaparte's Gulls, possibly 50 or more

A nice morning to be out.

Good birding,
Kathy Mihm Dunning
Denver

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 25 November 2014

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
Date: November 25, 2014

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert Tuesday, November 25 sponsored by
Denver Field Ornithologists and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species).

Trumpeter Swan (*Delta)
Tundra Swan (Douglas, El Paso, Larimer)
Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe, Bent, *Boulder, El Paso, Garfield, *Huerfano,
Larimer, Las Animas, Weld)
Surf Scoter (Arapahoe, El Paso, Fremont, Las Animas, *Mesa)
White-winged Scoter (Arapahoe, Douglas/Jefferson, El Paso, Larimer, Las
Animas, Mesa)
Black Scoter (*Douglas, El Paso, Garfield, Larimer)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Douglas, Garfield, Huerfano, Larimer, Routt, *Weld)
Red-throated Loon (Las Animas)
Pacific Loon (Douglas, Larimer, *Weld)
Red-necked Grebe (*Huerfano, Las Animas, Pueblo, Prowers)
Dunlin (Pueblo)
American Golden-Plover (Weld)
Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe, Larimer, Pueblo, *Weld)
Lesser  Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Bent, Larimer, Ouray, Pueblo, Weld)
Glaucous Gull (*Weld)
Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Mesa)
Black Phoebe (Mesa)
White-eyed Vireo (Pueblo)
Lapland Longspur (*Kiowa)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (*Kiowa)
McCown's Longspur (*Kiowa)
Fox Sparrow (Jefferson)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Jefferson)
Rusty Blackbird (Douglas/Jefferson, Mesa)


ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
--At Aurora Reservoir on November 16, Dowell reported 2 Surf Scoters, 1 ad
Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 1-st cyc Thayer's Gulls.  On November 21 at
Aurora Reservoir, Walbek reported 2 Surf Scoters and 1 ad Lesser
Black-backed Gull.
--A f Long-tailed Ducks was reported by Hopping at Cherry Creek Reservoir
on November 18.
--At Cherry Creek Reservoir on November 19, Righter reported 2 ad Lesser
Black-backed Gulls and 1 ad Thayer's Gull.  On November 20, Walbek reported
imm Long-tailed Duck, ad Thayer's Gull, and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At Cherry Creek on November 21, Walbek reported 1 White-winged Scoter, 1
Long-tailed Duck, and 1 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull.

BENT COUNTY:
--At John Martin Reservoir on November 17, Duane Nelson reported m
Long-tailed Ducks from Overlook and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.   Duane
reported most of reservoir is frozen.  On November 18, Stulp reported
Long-tailed Duck at John Martin Reservoir.

BOULDER COUNTY:
--A f Long-tailed Duck was reported by Waltman at McIntosh Reservoir in
Longmont on November 23.
--A f Long-tailed Duck was reported by Dowell at Lagerman Reservoir on
November 24.

DELTA COUNTY:
--A juv Trumpter Swan was reported by Robinsong at Confluence Lake on
November 24.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:
--At Aurora Rampart Reservoir at Roxborough on November 18, Suddjian
reported 2 f Black Scoters and a Pacific Loon.  On November 19 at Aurora
Rampart Reservoir, Kellner reported 1 imm Black Scoters and a Pacific
Loon.  On November 20, Clark reported Black Scotter at Aurora Rampart
Reservoir.  On November 23 at Aurora Rampart Reservoir, Kellner reported
Pacific Loon and 3 f-type Black Scoters.  On November 23, Tina Jones
reported 4 ad Tundra Swans at Aurora Rampart Reservoir.  ON November 24,
Ira Sanders reported 5 Black Scoters at Aurora Rampart Reservoir.
--At Platte Canyon Reservoir, Kellner report 1 m Barrow's Goldeneye on
November 23.

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:
--A White-winged Scoter was reported by Matt Clark at the Swim Beach at
Chatfield SP on November 18.
--A f Rusty Blackbird was reported by Gillilan at Chatfield SP on November
21.

EL PASO COUNTY:
--On November 14, Bill Maynard reported f Black Scoter and 3 White-winged
Scoters at Prospect Lake in Colorado Springs.  On November 21, Tina Jones
reported 2 Surf Scoters, 1 f Black Scoter, and 1 f-type White-winged Scoter
at Prospect Lake.  On November 23, Kilpatrick reported all three species of
scoters at Prospect Lake
--2 White-winged Scoters, 1 Long-tailed Duck and a juv Tundra Swam were
reported by Peterson at Big Johnson on November 16.  A White-winged Scoter
and Long-tailed Duck was reported by Farese at Big Johnson on November 18.
Percival reported White-winged Scoter and f Long-tailed Duck at Big Johnson
on November 19.

FREMONT COUNTY:
--A f-type Surf Scoter was reported by Rich Miller at Valco Pond W of
Mackenzie Ave in Canon City on November 17.  The Surf Scoter was reported
by Moss on November 19 at Valco Pond.

GARFIELD COUNTY:
--At Rifle Gap SP on November 17, Dunning reported 1  Barrow's Goldeneye, 1
Long-tailed Duck, and 3 Black Scoters.  On November 19, Zerbi reported 2
Long-tailed Ducks at Rifle Gap Reservoir.  On November 20, Potter reported
Long-tailed Duck and 3 Black Scoters at Rifle Gap Reservoir.  On November
21, Trappett reported 3 Black Scoters at Rifle Gap Reservoir.  On November
22, McConnell reported  2 Long-tailed Ducks and 3 Black Scoters at Rifle
Gap Reservoir.

HUERFANO COUNTY:
--At Lathrop SP on November 21, Rich Miller reported 1 Barrow's Goldeneye,
2 Red-necked Grebes, and 1 Long-tailed Duck.  On November 24, Neldner
reported Long-tailed Duck and 2 Red-necked Grebes at Martin Lake 

[cobirds] Surf Scoter, Colorado River SP, Mesa Co.; Nov. 24

[Scott Baron]

Hi,

I did some birding on the Western Slope on Sunday and Monday.  On Monday
afternoon I found a female Surf Scoter on the south end of Bookcliff Lake.
She was associating with 3 Ruddy Ducks.  Checking ebird I see that this
species has been present here for over 2 weeks.

Scott Baron
Loveland, Colo.

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