[cobirds] No scissor tail-Chatfield

['Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds]

I spent some time in the Plum Creek area at Chatfield, near the picnic tables, 
and couldn't find the scissor tailed flycatcher.

I did enjoy watching a pair of Cooper's hawks . I first saw the male Coopers 
hawk with a bird ( house finch?) in its talons. He was calling incessantly, 
which is how I found him. A female Coopershawk then flew in and either took or 
was given  the prey.
  She seemed to study the gift for some time and, after a few minutes, the 
male Cooper's hawk came back and mated with her while she stood on the prey. 
  I'm not sure if this would qualify for a dinner date…
Deb Carstensen, Littleton, Arapahoe County
Sent from my iPhone

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[cobirds] Plumbeous and Red-eyed Vireos, Yellow Warblers singing, phoebe update in Canon City

[SeEttaM .]

I spotted a first of the year Plumbeous Vireo this morning and heard a
Red-eyed Vireo singing yesterday, both on the Canon City Riverwalk near the
Sell's Lake parking lot. The Yellow Warblers quickly got on territory as I
saw the first on Monday and heard a couple of them singing on Thursday.
Today was a big push of Yellow-rumped Warblers with good numbers of both
Myrtle and Audubon's.  I have uploaded a couple of good pics of the
Plumbeous Vireo and one of the Myrtle Yellow-rumps onto my Birds and Nature
blog. 

The typical appearing Eastern Phoebe I noted that was attending a
previously used nest location near the Sell's Lake parking lot of the Canon
City Riverwalk is paired with a typical appearing Black Phoebe-this is the
same configuration as the pair that nested there last year.  The nest is
under the concrete structure over an irrigation return flow ditch almost
straight across the Arkansas River from the vault toilets near that parking
lot.  I also spotted a second typical appearing Eastern Phoebe at the
Sanitation District's enclosed area several hundred feet further east of
that vault toilet.  The pair of typical appearing Black Phoebes at Sell's
Lake continue though not as vocal (maybe starting to nest).  And the
typical appearing Eastern Phoebe that I have posted photos of last week
sitting on eggs is still on the eggs.

SeEtta Moss
Canon City
http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com

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[cobirds] RE: White-eyed Vireo Barr Lake/Adams County

[markchavez]

Today, I took a break and headed over to Barr Lake after Adam Vesely's report 
of a White-eyed Vireo at Barr Lake.  It didn't take long before hearing the 
bird calling in the general area of his post.  I got great views of the 
beautiful bird. Thanks Adam for posting this great sighting!! Yesterday, I was 
able to get distant views of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher before the skies 
opened up!  Tonight when I got home I had a male Black-chinned Hummingbird(FOS) 
and a male and female Broad-tailed Hummingbird.  You gotta love migration!  
Photos of both birds can be seen below:
 
http://jaeger29.smugmug.com/BIRDS/RARE-AND-UNCOMMON-2015/

Mark ChavezLakewood-Green Mtnhttp://jaeger29.smugmug.com/

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RE: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch El Paso and Pueblo Counties Closed to Birding and Birders

[Bill Maynard]

Duane,

You have posted incorrect information. The electric fence at Chico HQ is to 
keep lifestock in a selected pasture for a short period of time and it is not 
intended to be a restriction for birders.  Grab the plastic handle and unhook 
the electric cord, drive across and reattach. At different times there will be 
electric fences in various locations but they are all intended to delineate 
pastures not restrict access. The fee you mention is correct, but it has been 
this price for over five years and it is $10 with groups of 5 or more with a 
leader plus there is an optional yearly fee too. School groups, with prior 
arrangement with the education staff, is still free to school groups and the 
instruction is excellent.  

Bill Maynard
Colorado Springs 

-Original Message-
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Duane Rossford
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2015 5:58 PM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch El Paso and Pueblo Counties Closed to 
Birding and Birders

I went to Chico Basin today to try my luck at a little birding.  I found that 
the price of admission has gone up to $15.00 and the access has been restricted 
to just the bird-banding area.  I used to enjoy access to the entire complex, 
but the ponds area and headquarters area is now closed to birding.  The road is 
roped off to keep the cattle in and keep the birders out.  

If you have a long drive to get there (like I did) you might consider stopping 
somewhere else that still allows access to Birders. 

Duane Rossford
Thornton, CO

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[cobirds] Report of Banding 5/1/15 At Clear Springs Ranch* (El Paso County)

[David Elwonger]

Report of Banding At Clear Springs Ranch* (El Paso County) for 5/1/15

Chipping Sparrow 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow  1
House Wren 3
Lincoln's Sparrow 5
Orange-crowned Warbler 9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1
7 Species
21 Individuals

Good birding to you.

David Elwonger

* Clear Springs Ranch (CSR) (where our banding station has been now for 
over twenty years) is now an El Paso County Park. 
It is about 10 miles south of Colorado Springs, exit 123 off I25.
The area has previously been known as the "Hanna Ranch" and then the 
"Colorado Springs State Wildlife Area".
Not much has changed in the habitat over the years; however, limiting 
access (think: homeless campers, shooters, hunters and vandals) has been 
great for us banding.
The area is now open to the public on a walk-in basis.
The county has developed the area wtih a parking area, restrooms, picnic 
tables, and built a ~4.5 mile  multi-use recreational trail (hikiing, horse 
or bike, no OHV)

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[cobirds] Rose Breasted Grosbeak along Animas River Trail, La Plata County

[Beth Wolff]

First seen 4/30/15, male RBGR spotted high in the trees behind Four Corner 
River Sports along the Animas River bike path. Easy to find if he's still 
there. At the north end of the parking lot, there is a footpath leading 
toward the river... I saw him twice there yesterday and also this morning. 
Very good bird for this part of the world- as far as I can tell, no one has 
a decent photograph of a pure RBGR in Colorado.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/132100890@N05/

Beth Wolff
La Plata County
Durango, CO

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[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch El Paso and Pueblo Counties Closed to Birding and Birders

[Duane Rossford]

I went to Chico Basin today to try my luck at a little birding.  I found that 
the price of admission has gone up to $15.00 and the access has been restricted 
to just the bird-banding area.  I used to enjoy access to the entire complex, 
but the ponds area and headquarters area is now closed to birding.  The road is 
roped off to keep the cattle in and keep the birders out.  

If you have a long drive to get there (like I did) you might consider stopping 
somewhere else that still allows access to Birders. 

Duane Rossford
Thornton, CO

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RE: [cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Lynn, Chris, et al,
The incident described to Chris by Lynn does not sound like simple predation to 
me.  The crow did not make off with the grackle and didn't even kill it, at 
least not immediately.  My guess would be that this crow has some experience or 
instinct about grackles being egg predators that during the crow's nesting 
season triggered the observed agonistic behavior.  Maybe the grackle just had 
the misfortune of unknowingly flying within the crow's nesting territory.  
Maybe it was a more targeted act on the part of the crow against a species in 
the grackle commonly known by most birds to be a cold-blooded carnivore.  I 
just think the fact the crow didn't do anything after the assault identifies 
this action as something OTHER THAN simple predation on weaker birds (but which 
is certainly also worthy of notation).  

We will never know for sure what happened here, but I appreciate Lynn bringing 
this interesting behavior to our attention.   There is a great column by Pete 
Dunne in the current issue of Cornell Lab's "Living Bird" about listing, which 
includes the listing of moments such as the one Lynn describes.  

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County
Date: Sat, 2 May 2015 11:21:20 -0600
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com

Dear COBIRDS,   Yesterday afternoon Lynn Willcockson e-mailed me the following:
"About 20 minutes ago I witnessed a Crow attack a Grackle and kill it.  
The Grackle was hopping around on the ground and the Crow flew down on top of 
it.  There was a struggle but the Crow won.  After the Crow flew off I checked 
and the Grackle was still breathing but not able to move." “I have 
never seen this sort of behavior before or even heard of it - have you??”   Lynn
Has anyone had any similar experiences?
Thanks, Chris
Chris A. BlakesleeCentennial, coloradocorvidc...@aol.com

P.S.  Lynn added, some people have said to me — "Can I borrow your Crow to take 
care of the Grackles in my yard?" :-)




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[cobirds] Spring arrivals, Franktown, Douglas

['Hugh Kingery' via Colorado Birds]

 Spring arrivals in our yard:
May 1 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
May 2 - Common Poorwill & Lazuli Bunting

 
House Wrens have started building a nest in a box on the side of our house. 
Sticks all over the deck that they couldn't squeeze in. 



Hugh Kingery 
  Franktown, CO
  

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[cobirds] RMBO Chatfield Station, 5-2-15

[meredith]

Chatfield continues to be quiet; banded 5 new birds plus we caught 1 banded 
last year and 1 banded earlier this season:

House Wren 3
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1 (Banded 4/26/14)
American Goldfinch 1 F new, 1 M banded 4/28

When we caught the male AMGO the first time on 4/28, he was side-by-side in 
the net with a female.  After we banded him, he waited in a nearby tree for 
the female,and we watched the 2 go off together, thinking romantic human 
thoughts about courtship, etc.  Well, when we recaught the guy today, in 
the same net, he was side by side with the new female!  This guy seems to 
be gettin' around!

We will be open daily,weather permitting, through May 31, EXCEPT for May 
8-9. We will be opening nets at 6:30, and should have the first birds back 
at the station by 7:30. We will close by noon most days; earlier if it is 
too hot. On most days, you will see more birds if you come early, and will 
be more likely to avoid crowds. On weekdays, we have school groups visiting 
every day, and they usually arrive at the station sometime between 9:30 and 
10 a.m.
 
Meredith McBurney
Chatfield Banding Station
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 

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[cobirds] Re: 17 shorebird species in SE Colorado 5/1/15

[Dale Adams]

Christian Nunes nicely e-mailed us with a good possible explanation for the 
guy walking through the restricted plover nesting area.  Here is his 
explanation:

"There's a very good chance that any birder "cruising" through a plover 
closure is Duane Nelson, who is singlehandedly responsible for their 
protection. He actually hikes the perimeter of all the lakes in the region 
every year looking for nest sites. Maybe it was someone nefarious, but 
hopefully not."

Thanks Christian for the explanation, and hopefully it was Duane hiking the 
lake perimeter of the nesting area.  It was helpful to hear more about 
efforts that others are making to help protect endangered species.

Cheers,
Dale and Joel

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RE: [cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County

[Kay Niyo]

I watched a crow in IA raid a robin’s nest repeatedly and fly off each time (4 
times) with a nestling, probably to feed its own nestlings.  Poor robin parents 
harassed the crow each time, but not much they could do.  That was the end of 
that nesting effort.  Presumably they started over.  Common behavior for 
corvids.

 

Kay

 

Kayleen A. Niyo, Ph.D.

Niyo Scientific Communications

5651 Garnet St.

Golden, CO 80403

303.679.6646

k...@kayniyo.com; www.KayNiyo.com

 

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Charles Hundertmark
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2015 11:53 AM
To: corvidc...@aol.com
Cc: Cobirds
Subject: Re: [cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County

 

Early last month at the Moose Visitor Center (Jackson Co), as I was watching 
the feeders, a crow flew down to attack a small mammal, possibly a vole. The 
crow repeatedly jabbed at the mammal, picking it up and dropping it. The vole 
attempted to scramble away, but was apparently maimed by the initial thrust. 
The crow repeated the attacks multiple times and finally flew off with the 
critter.

 

Chuck

 

On Sat, May 2, 2015 at 11:21 AM, 'chrisblakeslee' via Colorado Birds 
 wrote:

Dear COBIRDS,

Yesterday afternoon Lynn Willcockson e-mailed me the following:

 

"About 20 minutes ago I witnessed a Crow attack a Grackle and kill it.  The 
Grackle was hopping around on the ground and the Crow flew down on top of it.  
There was a struggle but the Crow won.  After the Crow flew off I checked and 
the Grackle was still breathing but not able to move."

 

“I have never seen this sort of behavior before or even heard of it - have 
you??”   Lynn

 

Has anyone had any similar experiences?

 

Thanks, Chris

 

Chris A. Blakeslee

Centennial, Colorado

  corvidc...@aol.com

 

 

P.S.  Lynn added, some people have said to me — "Can I borrow your Crow to take 
care of the Grackles in my yard?" :-)

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-- 

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2546 Lake Meadow Drive

Lafayette, CO 80026

303-604-0531

Cell: 720-771-8659

chundertma...@gmail.com

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[cobirds] Nashville Warbler, Fountain Creek Regional Park, El Paso County

['Kara Carragher' via Colorado Birds]

 Hi CObirders,
This morning, Dan Carragher and I birded Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP) in 
El Paso County.  Flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere and they were 
actively feeding and moving around. 
The best bird was a Nashville Warbler at Hansen Nature Park.  This bird was in 
a flock of Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  
Other migrants observed at various locations within FCRP:
Green-tailed TowheeYellow WarblerVirginia's WarblerOrange-crowned 
WarblerYellow-bellied Sapsucker Green HeronBullock's OrioleBrown Thrasher 
Black-headed Grosbeak
Thanks and good birding!
Kara CarragherColorado Springs

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[cobirds] Warblers - El Paso County (private area)

[Gloria Nikolai]

Due to the location, the following are not birds that cannot be chased. 
However, it is an FYI that they are passing through the county and perhaps 
incentive to sign up for one of the Pinello Ranch guided bird hikes :-)  
http://www.ppcf.org/pinello-ranch/ 
 
Seen at Pinello Ranch (private area, only accessible during scheduled bird 
walks) during a guided hike on 5/2/2015:
Dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Myrtle and Audubon
4 Yellow Warblers
Many Orange-crowned Warblers
2 Black-and White Warblers
plus 52 other species
 
Seen after the scheduled hike by David Rudin and myself
Many more Yellow-rumped (and another Yellow) Warblers
Nashville Warbler
WORM-EATING WARBLER

 Happy spring migration to all!
Gloria Nikolai
Colorado Springs, Colorado (El Paso County)
 
  

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[cobirds] Yellow-throated Vireo Pueblo 5/2

['Brandon Percival' via Colorado Birds]

I saw Yt Vireo at Rose lawn Cemetery in Blende at 1pm.  Along trees by the pond 
in sw side of cemetery. Blende is east of Pueblo Along Business 50.

Brandon Percival
Pueblo West

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[cobirds] Flycatcher & flyover ID help, Cheesman Park, Denver Co

[Jared Del Rosso]

I spent much of this morning at Cheesman Park and the Denver Botanic 
Gardens in Denver. The highlight of the trip was an Osprey that flew over 
the park. I didn't believe myself when I first observed it and was badly 
out of place to get much of a view, peering at it, from a distance, and 
from between trees at the Gardens. Thankfully, the bird caught a thermal on 
the northeastern edge of Cheesman and I was able to catch up and get some 
poor photographs that revealed enough to show that it was, in fact, an 
Osprey. 

But I'm writing to solicit some help identifying a flycatcher that was 
around the playground on the western edge of the park. I did not hear the 
bird vocalize. It was foraging high (15-20 feet, it seemed to me) in 
mostly, but not exclusively, conifer trees. It stood still long enough for 
me to get some okay photographs. The bird has a fairly noticeable eye ring 
and, it seems to me, a beak too long to be a Least or Dusky flycatcher. My 
experience with flycatchers is limited, though, so I'd like to get some 
further input. Photographs of the bird can be viewed 
at: https://birderbyaccident.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/cheesman-park-flycatcher/

I also took some awful photographs, from a bad angle and a distance, of a 
bird that flew in with turkey vulture, but does not look to me to be one of 
them. I don't know if the silhouette contains a clue to the identity of the 
bird, but I'm at a loss. The wings appear, in the photographs, rather 
curved and pointed, but that, I suspect, might be an outcome of the angle, 
distance, and light. Again, they may not be revealing enough to lead to an 
id, but it seemed worth posting. Photos are here: 
https://birderbyaccident.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/cheesman-park-flyover/

Thanks,

Jared Del Rosso
Denver, CO

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Re: [cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County

[Charles Hundertmark]

Early last month at the Moose Visitor Center (Jackson Co), as I was
watching the feeders, a crow flew down to attack a small mammal, possibly a
vole. The crow repeatedly jabbed at the mammal, picking it up and dropping
it. The vole attempted to scramble away, but was apparently maimed by the
initial thrust. The crow repeated the attacks multiple times and finally
flew off with the critter.

Chuck

On Sat, May 2, 2015 at 11:21 AM, 'chrisblakeslee' via Colorado Birds <
cobirds@googlegroups.com> wrote:

> Dear COBIRDS,
> Yesterday afternoon Lynn Willcockson e-mailed me the following:
>
> "About 20 minutes ago I witnessed a Crow attack a Grackle and kill it.
> The Grackle was hopping around on the ground and the Crow flew down on top
> of it.  There was a struggle but the Crow won.  After the Crow flew off I
> checked and the Grackle was still breathing but not able to move."
>
> “I have never seen this sort of behavior before or even heard of it - have
> you??”   Lynn
>
> Has anyone had any similar experiences?
>
> Thanks, Chris
>
> Chris A. Blakeslee
> Centennial, Colorado
> corvidc...@aol.com 
>
>
> P.S.  Lynn added, some people have said to me — "Can I borrow your Crow to
> take care of the Grackles in my yard?" :-)
>
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-- 
Chuck Hundertmark
2546 Lake Meadow Drive
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-604-0531
Cell: 720-771-8659
chundertma...@gmail.com

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[cobirds] barn owl

[scott]

Hi All,

For those of you interested in the Barn Owls that we have live on 
camera,  The first egg hatched this morning. Each of the other 7 eggs 
should hatch in two day intervals from here on out.


Feel free to watch live at www.carriep.org

Scott Rashid
Estes Park

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[cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County

[Jennifer Hallam]

I can tell you that I saw a somewhat similar situation involving a Common Raven 
and an American Robin's nest. The raven was huge and he landed in a spruce 
where I know there is an active robin's nest and preceded to raid the nest, 
flying off with parts of the nest and clumps of something else which I'm hoping 
weren't the chicks. He came back 3 times and each time left with stuff in his 
beak. The robins were chasing him and scolding him each time but this raven 
didn't care and he was bigger than my toy poodle! The whole situation made me 
so angry but I guess it's the circle of life? 

Jennifer Hallam
Ken Caryl, CO

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[cobirds] White-eyed Vireo, Barr Lake SP

[Adam Vesely]

Hi all, I got good looks at a White-eyed Vireo at Barr Lake (Adams Co.) 
around 9:30 today.  It was about 150 yards north of the foot bridge across 
from the visitor's center.  

Adam Vesely
Thornton, CO

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[cobirds] A Murder of Crows (or by...) - Denver County

['chrisblakeslee' via Colorado Birds]

Dear COBIRDS,
Yesterday afternoon Lynn Willcockson e-mailed me the following:

"About 20 minutes ago I witnessed a Crow attack a Grackle and kill it.  
The Grackle was hopping around on the ground and the Crow flew down on top of 
it.  There was a struggle but the Crow won.  After the Crow flew off I checked 
and the Grackle was still breathing but not able to move."
 
“I have never seen this sort of behavior before or even heard of it - 
have you??”   Lynn

Has anyone had any similar experiences?

Thanks, Chris

Chris A. Blakeslee
Centennial, Colorado
corvidc...@aol.com


P.S.  Lynn added, some people have said to me — "Can I borrow your Crow to take 
care of the Grackles in my yard?" :-)

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[cobirds] N Waterthrush, Clear Springs Ranch, El Paso Co., Sat.

[Steven Brown]

Hi COBirders,

There were significantly fewer birds at CSR today, but some very interesting 
migrants passed through, nonetheless.

Banded today: 
Orange-crowned Warblers 2
Red-winged Blackbirds 2
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH 
and a recaptured Yellow Warbler male, banded 5/24/14

But the “visitors” were pretty cool, all FOYs. Black-chinned Hummingbird (f), 
Green-tailed Towhee, and a Rock Wren that hopped through the banding area, 15’ 
from where I was seated, and hung around for 30 minutes avoiding all nearby 
nets! 

There were still several Orange-crowned and Yellow-runped Warblers in the 
treetops, and several singing Yellow Warbler males, also watched fly-catching 
next to, but not in, nets.

Happy Migration,
Steve Brown
Colorado Springs

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[cobirds] Re: 17 shorebird species in SE Colorado 5/1/15

[Dale Adams]

Sorry, mistake above. The Semipalmated Plovers at John Martin Reservoir 
should have been Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Dale and Joel Adams
Fremont County


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[cobirds] 17 shorebird species in SE Colorado 5/1/15

[Dale Adams]

Joel and I set out yesterday to try for several new shorebirds at 
southeastern reservoirs and the day turned out to have a lot more in store 
than we anticipated.

As we were leaving the house at dawn we heard 7 species calling.  Along the 
drive to Holbrook Reservoir we picked up 11 more common species.

*Holbrook Reservoir*

We hoped to see the Snowy Plover, but after 2 hours of walking and scanning 
we didn't find it.  But the walk and driving along the dam produced 51 
species which added 40 species to add to the daylist!  Highlights included 
a singing Northern Mockingbird, a singing Brown Thrasher, Great Egret, 
Snowy Egret, Swainson's Hawk, Black Stilt, Scaled Quail and several 
shorebirds.  At least 5 Forster's Terns were fishing and 3 other were 
landed at the north side of the dam.

*Cheraw Reservoir*

We stopped along the west side of Cheraw Reservoir and scanned for activity 
which looked promising.  So we slogged through the mud to get closer and 
had good looks at at 7 Snowy Plovers, a Willet, and a couple of Marbled 
Godwits and other shorebirds.  Another singing Brown Thrasher added to the 
fun. 12 more species for day at Cheraw.

*John Martin Reservoir*

We didn't know where along the south side of John Martin to look for the 
Piping Plover and so drove west from the dam until we reached Point #6.  
>From there we hiked back east along the shore and did not see much until we 
came to the fenced off restricted area for nesting plovers and Least 
Terns.  As we were approaching we saw another birder cruising through the 
restricted area which was very disappointing.  He left before we came up to 
the restricted area.  We circled along the fence of the restricted area 
without seeing anything and then headed back.  Just as we were leaving the 
fenced off area, a Piping Plover came in and landed in the restricted area 
and gave us a nice look (a cool reward for staying out of it!).

Other fun birds included a couple of House Wrens, four more singing 
Mockingbirds, a singing Brown Thrasher, a Loggerhead Shrike, and 
Semi-palmated Plovers.  12 more species for the day list.

*Melody and Temple Grove*

Hoping to see a Harris's Sparrow, but did not have luck with that. Did not 
see any warblers beside several Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Western Kingbirds 
were everywhere along the drive throughout the day. Added 7 more species to 
the day list at the Grove and driving to it.

*Neosopah Reservoir*

Stopped in to see if there was anything and encountered a large group of 
experienced birders from Boulder and Denver.  We didn't want to disturb 
them viewing through their scopes and so were just scanning the shore for 
anything interesting when Joey Kellner came up and introduced himself.  He 
had his scope and said that they had found a Dunlin in breeding plumage and 
was wondering if we wanted to see it.  We gladly took him up on his offer 
as this was a lifer for us, and enjoyed seeing and photographing the 
Dunlin.  Joey epitomizes the best in really cool birders that we have 
encountered at numerous locations in Colorado. (6 more species for the day 
list including birds on the next reservoir to the north).

Neosopah had by far the largest numbers of shorebirds of any the 
reservoirs.  We saw 17 shorebird species over the course of the day.

*Lamar Community College*

We ended the day as light was fading at the College and saw the Red-bellied 
Woodpecker on a branch with a good sized hole in it, likely their nesting 
site.  Also the Broad-winged Hawk that had been previously reported made a 
showing.  Chimmny Swifts overhead were also a new bird for us.  A 
Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over as well

When we totaled up the day list, we had 99 species which is our best day so 
far.  My daughter also saw 6 more species at our birdfeeder during the day 
that we had not seen on the plains, and so the family total for the day was 
105 species.  Five new lifers for Colorado and 20 FOS birds also made it a 
great day.

Good Birding!
Dale and Joel Adams
Fremont County

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 2 May 2015

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:  Joyce Takamine
Date: May 2, 2015

This is the Rare Bird Alert, Saturday, May 2 sponsored by Denver Field
Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

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

BRANT (Rio Grande)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Eagle)
Green Heron (La Plata)
COMMON BLACK HAWK (Pueblo)
Broad-winged Hawk (Arapaoe/Douglas/Jefferson, Baca, Boulder, Jefferson,
Prowers, Weld)
Snowy Plover (El Paso, Otero)
Mountain Plover (Baca)
Whimbrel (Denver, El Paso)
HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Otero)
Laughing Gull (Prowers)
Thayer's Gull (Morgan)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larimer, Morgan)
Caspian Tern (Denver, El Paso)
VAUX'S SWIFT (Pueblo)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Prowers)
Least Flycatcher (Douglas, Jefferson, Kit Carson)
Gray Flycatcher (Boulder, Larimer)
Black Phoebe (Boulder, Pueblo)
Eastern Phoebe (Boulder, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (*Douglas)
White-eyed Vireo (Prowers)
ROCK WREN (Conejos, Gunnison, Larimer, Park)
Lapland Longspur  (Prowers)
Golden-winged Warbler (Jefferson)
LUCY'S WARBLER (La Plata)
Prairie Warbler (El Paso)
Canyon Towhee (Baca)
Field Sparrow (Kit Carson)
Sagebrush Sparrow (Conejos)
Fox Sparrow (Boulder, Gilpin, Jackson, Larimer)
Northern Cardinal (Prowers)
Baltimore Oriole (San Miguel)

ARAPAHOE/DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:
--On April 23, Suddjian reported an ad Broad-winged Hawk flying over
Douglas County into Jefferson County and then
into Arapahoe county.  He was at South Platte Reservoir.

BACA COUNTY:
--On April 18, Matt Clark reported 3 Canyon Towhees at Cottonwood Canyon.
On April 25, Bill Blackburn reported Canyon Towhee at Cottonwood Canyon.
--On April 25, Bill Blackburn reported Mountain Plover between Two Buttes
and Turks Pond SWA.
--A soaring Broad-winged Hawk was reported by Bill Blackburn over
Springfield on April 25.

BOULDER COUNTY:
--On April 12, Waltman reported Black Phoebe at 75th St Bridge over Boulder
Creek.  On April 15, Minner-Lee reported Black Phoebe at 75th St and
Boulder Creek.  On April 19, Burke reported Black Phoebe at 75th St and
Boulder Creek.
On April 24, Joan Coxe reported Black Phobe at 75th St and Boulder Creek.
On April 25, Bill Kaempfer reported Black and Eastern Phoebe at 75th St and
Boulder Creek.  On April 29, Kris and Robert King reported Black Phoebe at
75th St and Bolder Creek.
--A Slate-colored Fox Sparrow was reported by Dowell on Skunk Canyon Trails
on April 21.  On April 22, Minner-Lee reported Fox Sparrow at Skunk Canyon
Trails.  On April 29, Dowell reported Slate-colored Fox Sparrow on Skunk
Canyon Trails.
--On April 23, Ted Floyd reported a migrating Broad-winged Hawk over
Greenlee Preserve in Lafayette.
--A Black Phoebe was reported by Paula Hansley at Walden Ponds on April 25.
--A Broad-winged Hawk was reported by Carl Starace flying over Rabbit
Mountain on April 25.
--A Gray Flycatcher was reported by Mark Minner-Lee on the NW side of
Waneka Lake on April 25.

CONEJOS COUNTY:
--On April 27, Rawinski reported ROCK WREN and numerous Sagebrush Sparrows
in John James Canyon.

DENVER COUNTY:
--A Caspian Tern was reported by Suddjian at Marston Reservoir on April 27.
--A Whimbrel was reported by Matt Clark at Marston Reservoir on April 28.
On April 29 at Marston Reservoir at the west end Matt Clark reported 4
Whimbrel.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:
--A pair of Eastern Phoebe was reported by Suddjian at Plum Creek near the
picnic area at Chatfield on April 21.  An Eastern Phoebe was reported by
Kibbe at Plum Creek Detla on April 23.  On April 30, Norm Lewis reported
Eastern Phoebe at Plum Creek Delta at Chatfield SP.
--A Least Flycatcher was reported by Glenn Walbek at Chatfield SP
downstream of Kingfisher Bridge.
--3 Eastern Phoebes were reported by Joey Kellner at Chatfield SP on April
25.  An Eastern Phoebe was reported by Candice Johnson at Chatfield SP on
April 28.
--A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was reported by Paul Schlagbaum at Chatfield
near the Plum Creek picnic area on May 1.  The
flycatcher has been reported by many birders, most in the Plum Creek
Natural Area vicinity on May 1.

EAGLE COUNTY:
--5 Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Dick Filby at Spring Park
Reservoir on April 27.

EL PASO COUNTY:
--A Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew were found by Bill Maynard at Big
Johnson for comparison on April 28.  John Drummond reported a Caspian Tern
at Big Johnson on April 28.  On April 28, Mark Petrson reported a Snowy
Plover at Big Johnson.  On April 29 at Big Johnson, Cici Lee reported Snowy
Plover and Whimbrel.  On April 30, Sam Fason reported Snowy Plover at Big
Johnson.
--A Caspian Tern was reported by Dale Adams at Prospect Lake in Colorado
Springs on April 29.
--A Prairie Warbler was banded by Gobris at Chico Basin on April 38.  A
Prairie Warbler was reported by Monday Birders at Chico Basin Ranch (fee
area) in wooded areas on April 29.

GILPIN COUNTY:
--On April 25, Bill Kaempfer reported 3 singing Fox Sparrows on East Portal
Road heading west to Rollinsville.  2 where about