[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 6 December 2015

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:   Joyce Takamine
e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date:  December 6, 2015
This is the Rare Bird Alert, Sunday, December 6, sponsored by Denver Field
Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

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

BRANT (Pueblo)
Trumpter Swan (Grand, Larimer, Mesa)
Tundra Swan (Arapahoe, Delta, Douglas, Jefferson, Garfield, Larimer)
Surf Scoter (Arapahoe, Douglas/Jefferson, Jefferson, Larimer)
White-winged Scoter (Boulder, Logan, Otero)
Black Scoter (Pueblo)
Long-tailed Duck (Logan, Pueblo, Sedgwick)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Arapahoe, Moffat, Routt)
Red-throated Loon (Arapahoe, Logan, Weld)
Pacific Loon (Boulder, Douglas, Larimer)
Red-necked Grebe (Douglas,Jefferson)
Dunlin (*Larimer)
Thayer's Gull (Boulder, Larimer)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (*Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder,*El Paso,  *Larimer,
Pueblo, Weld)
Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe, Weld)
Great Black-backed Gull (*Douglas/Jefferson, *Larimer, Pueblo)
SNOWY OWL (*Adams)
Greater Roadrunner (Larimer)
White-throated Swift (*Pueblo)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Logan)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Bent)
Black Phoebe (Mesa)
Eastern Phoebe (Weld)
Winter Wren (El Paso, Pueblo)
Varied Thrush (El Paso, Grand)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Bent, Weld)
Tennessee Warbler (Larimer)
Northern Parula (Weld)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (El Paso)
Canyon Towhee (Bent)
Field Sparrow (Logan)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Boulder)
Rusty Blackbird (Adams, Pueblo)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (San Juan)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (El Paso, Larimer, San Juan, Weld)
PURPLE FINCH (Bent)
Common Redpoll (Larimer, Logan)

ADAMS COUNTY:
--A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Ira Sanders at Barr Lake SP on
November 28.  A Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Kevin Keirn at
Barr Lake SP on Decenber 5.
--2 f Rusty Blackbirds were reported by Norm Erthal below the dame at Barr
Lake SP on November 30.  On December 1, Gregg Goodrich reported 2 f Rusty
Blackbird at Barr Lake SP.
--A SNOWY OWL was reported by Bill Hutchinson and Jonnie Thompson somewhere
in Adams County on December 5.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:.
--On November 24, Glenn Walbek reported m Barrow's Goldeneye at Cherry
Creek SP.
--On November 27, Gene Rutherford and Craig Rasmussen reported Glaucous
Gull at Cherry Creek SP.
--On November 28, C Warneke reported 2 Surf Scoters at South Platte
Reservoir on the Arapahoe/Jefferson County line.
--On November 28, Gene Rutherford reported 13 Tundra Swans at South Platte
Reservoir in South Platte Park.
--On November 30, Karl Stetcher reported Red-throated Loon at Cherry Creek
Reservoir seen from picnic tables S of the marina.
--On November 30, David Suddjian reported 3rd-cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull
at Cooley Lake.
--On December 2, Bob RIghter reported ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry
Creek SP.

BENT COUNTY:
--On November 16, Duane Nelson reported that he has had f-type PURPLE
FINCH, m Red-bellied Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Canyon Towhees
visit his feeders in Las Animas.  Birders are welcome if you notify Duane
in advance at dnelson1 ATcenturytel.net  On November 19, Duane Nelson
reported that the f-type PURPLE FINCH returned and the other birds
continue.

BOULDER COUNTY:
--On November 24, Stephen Knox reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller
Farm.On November 27, Ted Floyd and Tracy Pheneger reported Golden-crowned
Sparrow at Teller Farm.
--On November 24, David Dowell reported breeding plumaged Pacific Loon and
ad Thayer's Gull at Terry Lake.
--On November 27, Bill Kaempfer reported a winter plumaged Pacific Loon at
Six Mile Reservoir.
--On November 28, Peter Gent reported a f-type White-winged Scoter at
Baseline Reservoir.  On November 29, Tom Behnfield and Gregg Goodrich
reported White-winged Scoter at Baseline Reservoir.
--An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Peter Gent at Baseline
reservoir seen from Cherryvale Road on December 2.
--Ted Floyd reported an ad Lesser Black-backed Gull at Waneka Lake on
December 2.

DELTA COUNTY:
--3 Tundra Swans were reported by Scott Jorgensen at Sweitzer Lake on
December 2.

DOUGLAS COUNTY:
--A juv plumaged Pacific Loon was reported by Gleen Walbek from the
Handicapped Fisherman's pier on November 24.
--2 Red-necked Grebes were reported by Joey Kellner and Glenn Walbek from
Marina Sandspit at Chatfield on November 28.
--19 Tundra Swans (11 ad, 8 juv) were reported by Gregg Goodrich and many
others from Marina Sandspit at Chatfield on November 28.

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTIES:
--2 f-type Surf Scoters were reported by David Suddjian at Chatfield SP on
December 1.
--An ad Great Black-backed Gull was reported by Jesse Casias at Chatfiled
SP on December 5.

EL PASO COUNTY:
--On November 21, David Chartier reported Winter Wren and 1-st winter F
Chestnut-sided Warbler at Mile Marker 18 at Fountain Creek Regional Park.
On November 22, Gwen Moore reported Chestnut-sided at Warbler Fountain
Creek RP.  On November 23, Christ Knight reported Chestnut-sided Warbler at
Fountain Creek RP.  On November 24, dale and J

[cobirds] Snowy Owl DIA Owl Loop (Adams County I think)

[Tom Behnfield]

This morning shortly after 7AM, several of us got great views of the Snowy Owl 
reported yesterday by Bill Hutchinson. It was just East of 112th & Trussville 
Road, and could be viewed from 112th, and from a building just east (at the end 
of a private access road) of Trussville Road where 114th would be if it kept 
going. 

The Owl seemed not to be upset by the attention, and flew from place to place 
within a small range. I'm sure we'll see a flurry of photos soon on the various 
social media outlets

Good birding,

Tom Behnfield
Lakewood, CO
behnfi...@q.com

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[cobirds] WARNING - Adams [and other]

['Hugh Kingery' via Colorado Birds]

 We had a group of birders yesterday at & 74th & the South Platte, with 6 cars 
or more.. One of the people left her purse in the back seat, and a passenger 
left his scope. While we explored the area, 11:00 am to 1 pm, someone threw a 
rock through her window, grabbed the purse, and left the scope.

So -- anywhere you park, hide everything. And take your wallet and personal 
valuable with you.

 

Hugh Kingery 
Franktown, CO

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[cobirds] Carolina Wren - Jefferson

['Hugh Kingery' via Colorado Birds]

Patty Echelmeyer saw a Carolina Wren at her home in Wheat Ridge -- 10 feet from 
the window. She described it well, but saw it only twice, Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. 
Not since. She alerted several neighbor-bird-watchers, but they had no luck in 
finding it. She hasn't seen it since Wednesday (Dec. 2). 

 

 

Hugh Kingery 
Franktown, CO

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[cobirds] Owl feeding

[Tom Wilberding]

Hello birders,

Here’s a controversial topic: Is it okay to feed a Snowy Owl to get a 
better look, get a better photo? Seems cruel to throw live mice toward an 
owl, at least for the mice. And obviously one should not feed an owl a 
poisoned rodent. But apparently there are arguments on the other side, 
because the ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethic Committee has not ruled one 
way or the other, as far as I know. Here’s from the October, 2015 “Birder’s 
Guide to Listing & Taxonomy.” Nick Block of the RSEC said, “….Another issue 
concerns the feeding of owls, particularly wintering Snowy and Great Gray 
owls. As you may know, the debate over this practice is a giant can of 
worms, but it may be one the at RSEC needs to open. We shall see.”


I don’t plan to feed or bait a Snowy owl. Regarding an owl near DIA, I 
don’t think anyone should encourage it to stay near the airport by feeding 
it. Airport managers don’t want them around.

I think we can all agree that it is wrong to flush any owl by approaching 
too closely. Let’s give Snowy Owls as much room as they want. If the owl 
stirs, back off. And of course, stay off private property.

Best,

Tom Wilberding

Boulder

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[cobirds] Eurasian Wigeon

[Gwen Moore]

The Comanche Power Plant pond is not viewable from the roads, and may be 
visited only if accompanied by power plant personnel. 

Gwen Moore
In Pueblo County

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Re: [cobirds] Owl feeding

[Christy P]

I would agree, but there are two arguments to support not feeding the
owls,or any bird, that are often over-looked.  Where would you get live
mice?  From a  pet store? AS a wildlife manager, I would certainly caution
against introducing domestic mouse populations into the wild. They can have
drastic and unpredictable consequences on wild populations of mice and
other rodents, which are the prey source for these birds we all know and
love.  Further, the airport (and all airports) can and will remove wild
animals, owls and other raptors included, if they pose a threat to human
health and safety. Encouraging one to hang around an airport often ends
dramatically, and during the snowy owl irruption in 2012-13 I personally
collected a snowy owl from an airport in the midwest after it was injured
in an attempt to remove it for safety reasons.  The owl did not survive.

I think it's wonderful to get an opportunity to have a look at these rare
and fascinating critters. My personal snowy and great grey owl encounters
are the reasons that I really got involved in birding and the bird
community.  Colorado has a fantastic network of people willing to share
their sightings and give others that opportunity, but all ethical birders
start to question sharing their sightings and locations of rarities when
that sharing becomes a threat to the well-being of the birds themselves.  I
think we should all make an effort to keep this a safe and encouraging
community locally by not giving each other reason for pause when we want to
share a sighting. Please keep the well-being of the animals your number one
priority.

Thanks for sharing,
Christy
Denver

On Sun, Dec 6, 2015 at 1:32 PM, Tom Wilberding 
 wrote:

> Hello birders,
>
> Here’s a controversial topic: Is it okay to feed a Snowy Owl to get a
> better look, get a better photo? Seems cruel to throw live mice toward an
> owl, at least for the mice. And obviously one should not feed an owl a
> poisoned rodent. But apparently there are arguments on the other side,
> because the ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethic Committee has not ruled one
> way or the other, as far as I know. Here’s from the October, 2015 “Birder’s
> Guide to Listing & Taxonomy.” Nick Block of the RSEC said, “….Another issue
> concerns the feeding of owls, particularly wintering Snowy and Great Gray
> owls. As you may know, the debate over this practice is a giant can of
> worms, but it may be one the at RSEC needs to open. We shall see.”
>
>
> I don’t plan to feed or bait a Snowy owl. Regarding an owl near DIA, I
> don’t think anyone should encourage it to stay near the airport by feeding
> it. Airport managers don’t want them around.
>
> I think we can all agree that it is wrong to flush any owl by approaching
> too closely. Let’s give Snowy Owls as much room as they want. If the owl
> stirs, back off. And of course, stay off private property.
>
> Best,
>
> Tom Wilberding
>
> Boulder
>
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> .
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>

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[cobirds] Fun with Flickers

[David Suddjian]

This is not a report of unusual birds, but I've had three recent
observations of interesting *Norther Flicker *behavior that I thought would
be fun to share.

In my yard a few days ago a flicker was attracted to suet hanging in a cage
from the end of a branch. Apparently deciding he didn't want to, or
couldn't, land on the cage itself, he perched directly over it, more than a
body length away. He hung down and pointed his body and neck straight down
and extended his tongue to the suet. The tongue darted in and out to a
length that appeared to be over two lengths of the bill as he licked the
suet. I'm not sure how much he got from the licking, but he stuck at it for
several minutes. Other times flickers simply land on the cage and get bill
fulls of suet; I'm not sure why this one did other wise. But it was fun to
see that long pink tongue darting out so far!

About a week ago two flickers spent most of two hours foraging under the
eaves of two moderately large buildings on the grounds of St.Mary Catholic
Church in Littleton. They were after some morsels where vertical outside
walls met roof overhangs. I've seen flickers work such niches before, but
never in such a dedicated fashion over such a long period.

Lastly, yesterday a young female Cooper's Hawk perched in a tree near my
home and was mobbed by three flickers that came to gather round its perch,
taking a variety of aggressive postures, with much bobbing and bill
pointing, some wing flashes, and a bunch of raucous calls. They never came
less than 2 feet from the hawk, which seemed annoyed but unmoved.

David Suddjian
Littleton, CO

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[cobirds] David Suddjian's flickers

[Leon Bright]

COBirders,

  Like many of you I enjoyed David's latest post.  Certainly not all
COBirds reports must be about unusual birds, since a large number of our
subscribers are not yet highly experienced birders.  David's interesting
vignette does help promote the development of more dedicated people with a
passion for the avian world.

Leon Bright, Pueblo

 

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[cobirds] DIA Snowy Owl

[Peter Gent]

All,

The Snowy Owl northeast of DIA was sitting on the ground this afternoon
halfway between 112th Ave and 114th Ave about a 1/4 mile east of Trussville
St. between 2:15 and 3:45.  It will probably be in that same location early
tomorrow morning.

Cheers,  Peter Gent.
Boulder, CO.

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[cobirds] David's Flickers

[Egseagle171 via Colorado Birds]

CoBirder's
 
I rarely post, but I wanted to second Leon Bright's comments about David's  
Flickers. Interesting vignette's are sometimes more helpful in eventually  
locating birds I'm looking for than just giving precise locations because 
there  is something about "finding it myself" that gives me an extra thrill.
 
Thank you Leon and David for your posts.
 
Buzz  Schaumberg
303.478.4641 (cell)

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[cobirds] Northern Larimer County 12/6

[Andrew Bankert]

Since my original plans of going to the CSU basketball game didn't work
out, I only had a scope and neither binoculars or a camera when I decided
to run around the northern part of the county this afternoon.  A quick walk
around the Plant Environmental Research Center on campus failed to produce
the Tennessee Warbler or American Woodcock that most of us assumed had
moved on.  It is always a good idea to check though.  College Lake
(restricted access on the CSU Foothills Campus) had a Lesser Black-backed
Gull yesterday, but nothing too exciting today.

After a quick stop at the office, I decided to keep birding and head north
to Douglas Reservoir.  On my third scan of the lake I spotted an adult Mew
Gull within a reasonable range of shore.  Other interesting birds present
included several Bonaparte's Gulls and a Pied-billed Grebe.  After Douglas
I decided to take a gamble and see whether Rawhide was open.  Luckily, it
was open and well worth the drive!  While counting the many Eared Grebes, a
Red-necked Grebe swam in front of the flock I was watching.  I also found a
Pacific Loon up against the shore that was straight out from the
observation deck looking towards the big tower.  Overall, there were decent
numbers of ducks and grebes, but not too many gulls.

Good Birding!
Andy Bankert
Fort Collins

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[cobirds] Rough Legged Hawk, Neva Rd., Allenspark Birds, Boulder County

[Carl Starace]

Hi All,  On the way to Allenspark to look for Rosy Finches/ Crossbills
we observed a low flying Rough legged Hawk crossing  Neva Rd.,[ western
extension of Niwot Rd.] and landing on a post. Arriving at Allenspark at
10:30, we soon had flocks of both Evening Grosbeak,[16], and Pine
Grosbeak,[7], as well as 3 Brown capped Rosy Finches.  Good December
Birding,Carl Starace and Sally Swain   Niwot

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Re: [cobirds] Fun with Flickers and Fun with House Wrens

['Norm Lewis' via Colorado Birds]

Inspired by David's post highlighting the interesting things one can see and 
learn by watching common birds, I thought I'd pass along a tidbit from my 
resident house wrens- considerably after the fact, of course. I have three wren 
houses in my yard, and usually have at least two families of wrens and quite a 
bit of double-brooding. I also have two flicker boxes that A) give the flickers 
a place to nest, and B) more importantly, keeps them from excavating giant 
chunks out of the side of my house.
Sometime in the late fall I undertake the job of cleaning out the wren houses 
to prepare them for occupancy in the spring. Those who have cleaned out wren 
nests know that they are a masterpiece of effort, if not artistic 
accomplishment. Those little rascals make an unbelievable number of trips to 
get hundreds of twigs into the nest cavity, often struggling for several 
minutes to fit a long stick in a small hole. Anyway, after clearing the wren 
houses, I recalled that one of the wrens had co-opted a flicker box for its 
second round of nesting. The flicker box is high enough that I need a ladder to 
get to it, so I had procrastinated a bit. I finally got up there, wondering 
what I would find when I opened the box. When I opened the box, I gasped with 
amazement! Well, not really, but it was pretty interesting: the wren had filled 
that entire box with twigs, and it is a big box. There were so many packed in 
there that it took me five minutes to pry them all out. If I had a little more 
time on my hands, it would have been interesting to count them. It would 
probably have taken only a year or so. There had to be thousands. And every one 
of them represents a round trip by a tiny bird.


Birds never fail to amaze, do they not?


Norm Lewis
Lakewood, CO




-Original Message-
From: David Suddjian 
To: Colorado Birds 
Sent: Sun, Dec 6, 2015 3:33 pm
Subject: [cobirds] Fun with Flickers



This is not a report of unusual birds, but I've had three recent observations 
of interesting Norther Flicker behavior that I thought would be fun to share.


In my yard a few days ago a flicker was attracted to suet hanging in a cage 
from the end of a branch. Apparently deciding he didn't want to, or couldn't, 
land on the cage itself, he perched directly over it, more than a body length 
away. He hung down and pointed his body and neck straight down and extended his 
tongue to the suet. The tongue darted in and out to a length that appeared to 
be over two lengths of the bill as he licked the suet. I'm not sure how much he 
got from the licking, but he stuck at it for several minutes. Other times 
flickers simply land on the cage and get bill fulls of suet; I'm not sure why 
this one did other wise. But it was fun to see that long pink tongue darting 
out so far!


About a week ago two flickers spent most of two hours foraging under the eaves 
of two moderately large buildings on the grounds of St.Mary Catholic Church in 
Littleton. They were after some morsels where vertical outside walls met roof 
overhangs. I've seen flickers work such niches before, but never in such a 
dedicated fashion over such a long period.


Lastly, yesterday a young female Cooper's Hawk perched in a tree near my home 
and was mobbed by three flickers that came to gather round its perch, taking a 
variety of aggressive postures, with much bobbing and bill pointing, some wing 
flashes, and a bunch of raucous calls. They never came less than 2 feet from 
the hawk, which seemed annoyed but unmoved.


David Suddjian
Littleton, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Fun with Flickers

[Peter Burke]

Just this morning my yard flicker brought to my attention that the suet
feeder was empty. I noticed the bird as it got up underneath my gas grill
where it no doubt found some disgusting, sooty remnants of past dinners!

Peter Burke

Editor, *Colorado Birds*

*Colorado Field Ornithologists*

935 11th St. Boulder, CO 80302

(973) 214-0140

CFO   Flickr
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On Sun, Dec 6, 2015 at 3:33 PM, David Suddjian  wrote:

> This is not a report of unusual birds, but I've had three recent
> observations of interesting *Norther Flicker *behavior that I thought
> would be fun to share.
>
> In my yard a few days ago a flicker was attracted to suet hanging in a
> cage from the end of a branch. Apparently deciding he didn't want to, or
> couldn't, land on the cage itself, he perched directly over it, more than a
> body length away. He hung down and pointed his body and neck straight down
> and extended his tongue to the suet. The tongue darted in and out to a
> length that appeared to be over two lengths of the bill as he licked the
> suet. I'm not sure how much he got from the licking, but he stuck at it for
> several minutes. Other times flickers simply land on the cage and get bill
> fulls of suet; I'm not sure why this one did other wise. But it was fun to
> see that long pink tongue darting out so far!
>
> About a week ago two flickers spent most of two hours foraging under the
> eaves of two moderately large buildings on the grounds of St.Mary Catholic
> Church in Littleton. They were after some morsels where vertical outside
> walls met roof overhangs. I've seen flickers work such niches before, but
> never in such a dedicated fashion over such a long period.
>
> Lastly, yesterday a young female Cooper's Hawk perched in a tree near my
> home and was mobbed by three flickers that came to gather round its perch,
> taking a variety of aggressive postures, with much bobbing and bill
> pointing, some wing flashes, and a bunch of raucous calls. They never came
> less than 2 feet from the hawk, which seemed annoyed but unmoved.
>
> David Suddjian
> Littleton, CO
>
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[cobirds] White-throated Sparrow at Moose Visitor Center, Jackson County

[Kevin Keirn]

This afternoon Brent Thordarson and I found a tan-striped adult 
White-throated Sparrow at the feeders at the Moose Visitor Center (just 
went of Cameron Pass) in Jackson County. 

Thanks,
Kevin Keirn
Fort Collins, CO

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[cobirds] Cherry Creek SP Gulls

[Scott Somershoe]

After showing my 3 yr old her lifer Snowy Owl mid-day, we went to Cherry
Creek SP (Arapahoe).  From the swim beach, I finally lucked out with the
gulls and had 7 species, incl. 2 Mew (one juv, and an adult), at least 1
Thayer's Gull, 14+ Bonaparte's, and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. I
spent almost no time scanning the lake proper. Lots of gulls loafing on the
ice on the west side south of the marina, but didn't have time to look
through them.

A 4th year Bald Eagle perched by the playground the entire time we were
there (about an hour) and never budged after several amusing attempts by
crows and a raven to drive it off.

eBird checklist with photos:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26162116

Good birding,
Scott Somershoe
Littleton CO

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