[cobirds] Barr Lake Fall Banding Summary/Highlights
Hi COBirders, The middle of winter – a time when bird banders and many other field biologists have a chance to catch up. So, a perfect time to share highlights of the 2018 fall banding season at Barr Lake! It was a big year for migrating songbirds. We caught 1,902 individual birds, the most in any year in over a decade. It was comforting to have such an excellent season after a dismal 2017 fall (we caught 75% more in 2018) and an equally terrible 2018 spring. Almost every “regular” species did well. Wilson’s Warblers, almost always our most frequently caught species, again led the parade. We caught 626, which is more than any year since 2006, when we caught 647. However, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers (mostly Audubon’s) – at 213 and 232 respectively - were off the charts compared to normal years. These three species (out of 61 total) accounted for over half of the birds we caught. If we throw in Ruby-crowned Kinglets at 78 (another high number), we get four species producing 60 percent of the birds caught. Sparrows generally did well, with our three most commonly caught species – Song, Lincoln’s, and White-crowned (Gambel’s) - all coming in well above average. We also caught more Clay-colored Sparrows (39) than in any prior year, but that was primarily because we caught 27 on September 5, the morning after a rain storm hit during the night. The most interesting thing about those CCSPs was that almost all of them had plenty of fat – they stopped because of the rain, not to refuel. In the extra-special species category, the Broad-winged Hawk was the big adrenalin pumper and the Kestrel the personality award-winner. (This was the first-ever BWHA and the first AMKE in over a decade.) Among the species our nets are actually designed to catch, the closest to rarities were a Tennessee and Chestnut-sided Warbler, a Field Sparrow, and 3 Marsh Wrens (the first since 2007). No big storms blowing Eastern birds off course this year. Photos are posted on the Bird Conservancy website at birdconservancy.org/big-year-for-banding-at-barr-lake We are thinking about spring banding! I look forward to seeing many of you at Chatfield sometime between April 25 and May 31. Find details at www.denveraudubon.org Meredith McBurney Bander Bird Conservancy of the Rockies -- 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/45325e0d-df69-4cea-aded-0f65268d67a8%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Elbert and eastern Arapahoe counties Feb 5
I owled some across the north central tier of Elbert County early yesterday morning, encountering *Nor. Saw-whet Owl* in the pine forest block at Elizabeth (a cool but short visual of a bird perched on a roadside fence post), *Eastern Screech-Owl *at East Bijou Creek and Big Sandy Creek, *Barn owl *at East Bijou Creek and, of course, a number of *Great Horned Owls *holding forth. It was near calm and the dark starry skies were amazing, until the fog toward sunrise. I was impressed to encounter 3 winter *Loggerhead Shrikes*. One in northeastern Elbert at CR 178 east of CR 133 had no winter season precedent in eBird for the county. Two in Arapahoe County included one at CR 241 continuing from when I saw it on Jan 2, and another at CR 42. That's Three Loggerheads on Feb 5, but I did not find any Northern Shrikes all day! A *White-throated Sparrow* with juncos was a treat at the CR 241 shrike spot. There were several flocks of 30-250* Lapland Longspurs* eastern Arapahoe, all in grain stubble fields. Elbert had few raptors but a single *Rough-legged Hawk*, *Ferruginous Hawk *and *Golden Eagle*, but the wide expanses of Arapahoe seemed nearly raptor free, yielding only 3 *Red-tailed Hawks* and 2 *Am. Kestrels *up to me. Richmil Ranch Open Space in Arapahoe is a lovely spot, but don't go there now to practice counting birds. I made the 1.5 mile loop walk in good conditions, but had only four individual birds to count actually in the open space preserve: 3 *Eastern Bluebirds* (a treat) and one *Hairy Woodpecker.* David Suddjian Ken Caryl Valley Littleton, 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/CAGj6RopLcpYo5AxbSWg-z5r9rFP7QY-_A5jYno4TnjcTL%2B2j6Q%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Northern Goshawk, El Paso County
All, I just had an adult NOGO at the base of Cheyenne Mountain in El Paso Co., just below NORAD. It came in, presumably off the mountain right on the heals of a decent snow squall. Best,Tyler J. StewartColorado Springs Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT 4G LTE smartphone -- 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/5c5b4ba6.1c69fb81.ea708.9492%40mx.google.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Rusty Blackbirds at First Creek @ Denver, Denver County, yes
Yesterday I tried my luck at finding the Rusty Blackbirds that have been at First Creek park near the stable (east of the light rail bridge) and after spending twenty minutes I did get a photo of on bird that turned out to be a Rusty Blackbird. I had my doubts though since I lost the bird after getting two photos, one poor and the other from the back, and after thinking I refund it I found instead a Red-winged Blackbird male that disappointed me. However my photos on ebird have been confirmed. So these birds, while not reported for a few days are still present. They were mainly hidden in the cattails across from the stables. This is my check list link. Sorry for the later post, I wanted to make sure my photos were the right ones. https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52420194 Brian Johnson, Englewood 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/94100eab-03ce-4264-aabe-08358b7815f6%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Ward, Left Hand Res, Boulder Cty, 2/5
Yesterday I rode my bike up to the Brainard Lake gateway trailhead, then hiked up to, and around, Left Hand Reservoir in hopes of finding White-tailed Ptarmigan. The weather was close to ideal: temps around, or just below, freezing, wind gusts up to 15/20 mph mainly only right up at the reservoir, large gaps of beautiful blue sky, fresh snow, but snowshoes not necessary. Unfortunately, I didn’t come across any ptarmigan. I wonder if perhaps they were in amongst the pines, or maybe up higher on the windswept ridges. Or, maybe just very well camouflaged. I found a flock of 5-6 Pine Grosbeaks at a feeder in lower Ward around 11:15 am, and a pair of Am. Three-toed Woodpeckers on the jeep road to Left Hand Res about a quarter mile up from the trailhead. Also had a flock of rosy finches (75-100) fly overhead around 12:15 about 1/2 mi up the Brainard Lake road from the Peak to Peak highway. They were coming from lower elevations heading up, so possible they were coming from Ward. I did not see any while in town however. Great day to be up there. Thomas Heinrich Boulder, CO nyc...@aol.com -- 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/E9125B99-2664-463C-9FD6-E15F65559028%40gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, February 6 2019
Date: February 6 2019 Compiler: Lynne Forrester, lynne_forres...@msn.com (best), lforreste...@gmail.com Phone: not available at this time E-mail:r...@cobirds.org This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, February 5, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists. Observers have been diligent in reporting sightings and updates on CoBirds. Thanks! CAPITAL LETTERS are used for very rare species, as listed by the Colorado Bird Records Committee. (*) indicates new information on this species. Rare, out of place and out of season species include: PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (Weld) Brant (Weld) Trumpeter Swan (Grand, Mesa, *Pueblo) Tundra Swan (Pueblo) Black Scoter (*Arapahoe, Pueblo) Long-tailed Duck (*Weld) Mew Gull (Pueblo) Glaucous-winged Gull (Pueblo) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Denver, Garfield, La Plata, Larimer) GYRFALCON (Larimer) Winter Wren (Jefferson, Prowers, Pueblo) Carolina Wren (Pueblo) Varied Thrush (*Boulder) Field Sparrow (Baca, El Paso) Lark Bunting (*Boulder) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Jefferson) Northern Cardinal (Larimer) Rusty Blackbird (Arapahoe, Chaffee, *Denver) Note, several more winter/very early spring Gull species are being seen, primarily in Pueblo and Larimer Counties (e.g. Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Greater Black-backed Gull). For more information on these Gull species, as well as other birds not on RBA list, please check cobirds.org, scroll down to the very bottom “Bird Trax” and click on “sightings”. It will list ALL birds reported on e-bird for the day. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: --On February 5 the overwintering (f) Black Scoter continued at South Platte Reservoir continued. --On February 3 the overwintering Rusty Blackbird continued, north of the Swim Beach in Cherry Creek SP. BACA COUNTY: --On January 30 a Field Sparrow was reported from Baca CRs G & 36 by Kathy Mihm-Dunning. BOULDER COUNTY: --On February 5 a Lark Bunting was reported at Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve by Art Reisman. There are no eBird records north of Pueblo in February. --On February 5 a Varied Thrush was reported on Bosque Ct (and Palo Neighborhood) in Boulder. First reported by Ernest Crvich Jan 23. CHAFFEE COUNTY: ---On February 3 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at Mt Ouray SWA by Christian Hagenlocher. DENVER COUNTY: --On February 5 a Rusty Blackbird was reported at First Creek at DEN Open Space. First reported by Denver Urban CBC on Jan 1. --On February 3 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported in Rocky Mountain Lake Park (possibly same one seen in January, same locations) by Matt Gray. EL PASO COUNTY: —On February 4 the overwintering Field Sparrow continued at Red Rock Canyon Open Space. GARFIELD COUNTY: ---On February 3 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported from Centennial Park in Carbondale. First reported by Vic Zerbi on Feb 2. GRAND COUNTY: ---On February 1 (3) Trumpeter Swans were reported at the hotspot “Confluence Recreation Area”. First reported by Alicia Arnold on Jan 30. JEFFERSON COUNTY: ---On February 3 a Golden-crowned Sparrow was reported at Morrison Park by David Tonnessen. ---On February 3 a Golden-Crowned Sparrow was reported on private property in Morrison on 2nd Street. Visitors are required to stay on the road and not wander onto the private parking lot just south of the house. ---On February 3 the overwintering Winter Wren continued at Morrison Park. LA PLATA COUNTY: ---On February 2 the overwintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continued at Animas River—Huck Finn Pond. LARIMER COUNTY: --On February 3 a GYRFALCON was seen from Trilby Rd at the Larimer County Landfill. Seen periodically this winter too. If you visit the Larimer County Landfill be sure to check in at one of the pay windows (or the main office) and follow instructions for parking from landfill employees. ---January 31 the GYRFALCON was photographed by Scott Bailey and reported by Dave Leatherman at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. ---On February 2 a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was reported from Grandview Cemetery on the adjacent golf course midway along the cemetery’s southern border that runs east-west; approx. 50 yds east of the port a potty. First reported by David Leatherman on Jan 8. —On January 30 a Glaucous Gull at Windsor Lake was seen again. Reported by Ryan Graves on Jan 26. —On January 30 a (f) Northern Cardinal was reported by Steve Martin at his home SW of Wellington. It has been visiting his feeders since July. Email for current status and directions: falconridge AT cowisp.net. MESA COUNTY: ---On February 4 a Trumpeter Swan was reported along I-70 at De Beque. First reported by David Prove approx. Jan 30. PROWERS COUNTY: ---On February 1 a Winter Wren was reported at Lamar Community College by Dorothy Russell. PUEBLO COUNTY: --On February 5 a Trumpeter Swan was reported Valco Ponds State Wildlife Area by Rod Schmidt. --On February 4 a Trumpeter Swan was reported at Pueblo Res -
