Re: [cobirds] Barr Lake
Wow. If I read correctly the report that Michael linked, this work at Barr Lake is being funded by you and me (state taxpayers) for $278,000. And who gets the water? Says the report:"Barr Lake provides water to industrial water users such as Anadarko Petroleum Corp and Nobel Energy for their fracking operations. Additional storage at Barr Lake will increase the amount of water potentially available to meet the current and future demands associated with those industrial entities." State tax dollars to help oil giants ala Anadarko and Nobel boost fracking and bulldoze one of the state's most studied bird habitats. Your tax dollars at work. Good birding. Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 11:20:34 AM MDT, M T wrote: Reality is sometimes very distasteful, especially in this situation for those of us who love wildlife and the places that this wildlife lives. However, in the grand scheme of things decisions are made in favor for the many rather than the few. As a wildlife rehabilitator, researcher and defender of wildlife I have dealt with many land use issues over the years. The battle over these issues have left me angry, frustrated and weary. Water is becoming more and more valuable in our region and the value of that commodity is going to weigh heavily in favor of how it benefits the "owners" of said water. This plan was approved in 2021 by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Humans and their lifestyle is what this water is being managed for. Agriculture, oil and gas, industry and municipal use is what most of the impoundments in the region are in existence for. Those are the heavy hitters that drive our economy and our lives. Wildlife does benefit from this water, but takes a backseat when infrastructure needs repair, upgrades and expansion. The challenge for most of us in regards to these issues is that we usually don't find out until the 11th hour. Wildlife that isn't consumed by humans is loved, but is it truly valued? How do we get everyone to value wildlife is the $64 question. Here is a link to the approved plan which explains the full scope of the project: https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/CWCB/0/edoc/215078/FarmersReservoirIrrigationCompany-BarrLakeMaximumNormalOperatingWaterLevelRaise_Application.pdf Respectfully,Michael TincherLoveland, CO -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2e16e598-b1c4-47f6-a684-56915a150dbbn%40googlegroups.com. -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1313870342.5246899.1695324045833%40mail.yahoo.com.
[cobirds] Woo hoo to this excellent Grand County birding story by Jack Bushong
Yay Jack Bushong. One of the young brothers who found that wowza purple sandpiper a few years ago at Dillon Reservoir in Summit County, he explains in this cool story how he became king of eBird in Grand County. Lots of wisdom and fun here -- wish birders did more stories like this for general audiences. Why Grand County is a birder’s paradise | | | | || | | | | | Why Grand County is a birder’s paradise Not long ago, my brother Ryan and I decided to drive from Frisco to Kremmling on the ineffable intuition that it might be holding a yellow-bellied sapsucker. This despite the fact that there are only... | | | | Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver CO -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1119574816.3162744.1657293313660%40mail.yahoo.com.
Re: [cobirds] SE Colo 4/25 to 28
This is a great report, Dan. Thanks so much for posting. Several Cobirds posts have noted the low level of reservoirs in the lower Arkansas River basin. Is SE CO in drought? Yes. But there is one other issue at play: Farmers violated the Arkansas River Compact for years by taking too much water for irrigation, and they have been forced to stop it. In the case of Kansas v. Colorado, the US Supreme Court ordered Colorado to use a new hydrologic model to stop illegal water use. The court also ordered a $35 million penalty against Colorado. Love to hear a water engineer or water lawyer weigh in on this, but I believe this means the Arkansas River farmers gained the benefit of water overuse for years, but statewide taxpayers picked up the bill for the penalty in the end. The upshot for birders (and birds) is that we had many years with more water in SE Colorado than was legal. Today, however, we have the double-whammy of drought and legal enforcement that prevents Colorado from taking more than its share of Arkansas River basin water. I know cobirds is about birding, but sometimes the outside world of government and politics matters to birds and birding. Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, 08:02:16 PM MDT, 'Dan Stringer' via Colorado Birds wrote: I went to SE Colorado with Michael Kiessig and Chuck Aid Sunday the 25th through today. Here's some info on how spring is progressing, in case anyone will be going there soon. In Bent County, Hasty Campground area was active with Chipping, Vesper, and Lark Sparrows, American Goldfinches, only 2 Western Kingbirds, only 1 Mountain Bluebird on the road in. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers, mostly Myrtle, one early Yellow Warbler and one Wilson's. Melody Tempel Grove was very quiet, the irrigation ditch is dry. The south shore of Adobe Creek Reservoir had 10 shorebird species, 51 Marbled Godwits being the highlight. In Kiowa County, Neegronda and Neenoshe reservoirs had few shorebirds, Upper Queens boat ramp area hosted 6 shorebird species, with an eye-opening 108 American Avocets shoulder-to-shoulder. Lower Queens reservoir was dry. In Otero County, I saw shoreline at Lake Cheraw for the first time in 4 years, there were 9 shorebird species including 2 Snowy Plovers, and a good number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds which seem to have shown up late this year. Holbrook Reservoir was bone dry, Rocky Ford SWA was very quiet. In Prowers County, Thurston Reservoir had no shoreline, good numbers of birds on the water and 5 swallow species. Lamar CC Woods early a.m. hosted Brandon Percival therefore it was productive, 2 vocal Carolina Wrens, 1 carrying nest material, were the highlight of my 4 days. A Common Poorwill, a Black-chinned Hummingbird, a few Chimney Swifts, only 1 Mississippi Kite so far, numerous Northern Cardinals, warblers were many Yellow-rumped, mostly Audubon, several Orange-crowned, 1 Yellow, 3 Wilson's, 1 Virginia's, 1 Nashville, 1 Northern Parula on the north end and 1 on the south end. In Baca County, on Road M 1 Common Nighthawk was heard, in Carrizo Canyon were 2 pair of Eastern Phoebe nest-building and the usual area specialties. Two Buttes Reservoir was completely dry, the Black Hole area below in hot mid-afternoon was very quiet. There were more dry areas than I've seen before, from small ditches / ponds / playas to large reservoirs, the years-long drought is continuing and the moisture on the front range etc. is repeatedly not making it down there. It's early for warblers, vireos, and many other birds but it's pretty fun to observe that the switch is being slowly flipped and there are daily changes in trees, plants, insects, and birds. Dan StringerLarkspur, CO -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/cedff21a-4fd2-4133-8b1d-c618bf0791cdn%40googlegroups.com. -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropria
[cobirds] Flush twice for warblers (Douglas County)
While chasing the pine warbler (yes) and northern parula (no) today at the beaver pond on the side channel below Chatfield Dam, I couldn't figure out why so much water was flowing down such a small and a seemingly dry wash in December. A few minutes on Google Maps tonight explained why. The primo birding spot owes its life, or at least its water, to the upstream residents of Highlands Ranch and their Marcy Gulch Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is run by the Centennial Water and Sanitation District. The daily average inflow is 6 million gallons per day. Good (sanitary) birding. Mark ObmascikDenver, 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1358149942.5143266.1607319103757%40mail.yahoo.com.
[cobirds] Roam vs. Home
Dave Cameron's post got me thinking: "Granted, this is the first spring I've been home every day, and the yard has been good for birds all along, but this year is so crazy, I have to pinch myself." I agree! This spring is the best I can remember along the populated Front Range for unusual songbirds, and I'm wondering: Is there something different about this year's migration, or do we just have more people with more quarantine time looking closer to home? In prior years, I loved driving to hotspots like Lamar Community College, Two Buttes, Tamarack Ranch, and Crow Valley, but now I'm thrilled to be within biking distance of Tucker Gulch in Golden, Harriman Lake in Littleton, and First Creek in Denver. Is there something different about this migration's weather that put more eastern species in our yards, or does covid mean we are giving the once-over twice to places we usually overlook? Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2015598620.897026.1589561640373%40mail.yahoo.com.
Re: [cobirds] Robert A. Spencer, March 31, 1924 - May 11, 2020
So sad to hear this. A few years back, Robert brought his dad in a wheelchair to see the tropical kingbird at South Platte Reservoir. On the roll back from the bird stakeout site to the car, it was hard to say who wore the bigger grin -- the son or the father, who, if I remember correctly, had just seen Colorado bird No. 453. That day, only joy was contagious. RIP Bob Spencer. Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 12:02:19 PM MDT, Joe Roller wrote: Today is a somber day, as long-time Denver area birder and friend, Bob Spencer, passed away yesterday. His son, Robert, asked me to post this brief obituary. There cannot be amemorial service anytime soon due to Covid-19, but we'll eventually find a wayto gather, share memories and mark his place in our lives. Joe Roller, Denver Dear members of the birding community:It is with sadness that I share with you that my Father, Robert (Bob) Spencer died peacefully yesterday while in recovery from a recent broken hip. He and his new bride, Shirley (died 2006) moved to Golden Colorado from Buffalo/Rochester New York in 1952. They lived in Golden ever since. My Father worked as a printer, but he lived to see birds and share birding with the regional birding community, especially members of the Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO) and Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO). While serving as a past president of DFO (circa 1990) he helped invent the Ptarmigan award, which the organization still gives out periodically. Some of his proudest moments was receiving lifetime achievement awards from both organizations. I am so grateful for all of the friendship and support that the birding community has shared with my Father throughout his long life (he was 96 years old!). Donations in his name may be sent to: Colorado Field Ornithologists (cobirds.org) OR Denver Field Ornithologists (dfobirds.org). Robert L. Spencer, Ph.D.Professor of Behavioral NeuroscienceDirector of Neuroscience MajorDepartment of Psychology and NeuroscienceUCB345University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO 80309office room: Muen D465Boffice phone: 303-492-0854robert.spen...@colorado.edu -- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUCn7eBPSZdqTYdkm_0gNrvqykkkVJN7GAH4CP1d%3DQHy9g%40mail.gmail.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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/543948438.111010.1589319789544%40mail.yahoo.com.
Re: Army medals [cobirds]
Hey Chris: Thanks for coming to the talk. I found your email on an old cobirds post. Silver Star is the third-highest Army medal behind the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross. Sorry to have blanked on that, and I hope this helps. Mark o. On Fri, Mar 17, 2017 at 3:14 PM, 'chrisblakeslee' via Colorado Birds wrote: COBIRDERS, We had a young sapsucker in our backyard this afternoon. It quickly flew off north toward Orchard Road just west of Quebec. I think it is an approx. 10 month old female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Please tell me if I am correct or if it is a Red-naped Sapsucker. Thanks much! Chris Chris A. BlakesleeCentennial, coloradocorvidc...@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/1E99789C-0A56-4773-AD7E-E73C144756F1%40aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/1E99789C-0A56-4773-AD7E-E73C144756F1%40aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1793548208.4477793.1569009523265%40mail.yahoo.com.
[cobirds] Painted bunting -- yes (Jeffco)
After circling the Audubon Nature Center for 90 minutes, I saw the painted bunting at 4:30 pm and learned two lessons: 1. The bird showed up only after I threatened aloud to leave in five minutes. Pretty sure I could have saved a lot of time if I'd issued my threat earlier. What a glorious bird. 2. South suburban rush hour traffic is not glorious. Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1456809239.3156624.1564448044254%40mail.yahoo.com.
Re: [cobirds] Yes, you can count the Pink-footed Goose (etc.)
Awesome, Ted. This means the Baikal teal that Bill Brockner showed me in 1993 behind the Baskin Robbins in Evergreen is good for my list? (Pause here to wait for heads to explode on Colorado Bird Records Commitee.) Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Monday, February 4, 2019, 11:02:21 AM MST, Ted Floyd wrote: Hey, all. I'm writing here in official ABA (American Birding Association) capacity. Andy Bankert's interpretation is correct. I have confirmed this with the chair of the ABA Recording Standards & Ethics Committee. As long as the bird is on the ABA Checklist, you may count it for your ABA list. Thus, the Weld County Pink-footed and Barnacle geese may be counted for your ABA list. Note that you are not compelled to do so. The decision is based on your own personal assessment of the birds' statuses. Which can lead to some interesting dilemmas, two of which I briefly describe below. 1. Two birders discovered a White-cheeked Pintail in Florida and, interestingly, it was a prospective milestone for both. (Definitely #800 for one birder, #750 as I recall for the other.) At the time the species was on both the ABA and the Florida lists. So it was countable. However, one of the birders wasn't satisfactorily persuaded that the bird was a natural vagrant; so he didn't count it. This is okay! It was the exact same bird; the identification was not in question; and the bird counted for one birder's list but not the other's. The two birders are still friends. Life goes on. 2. A glorious Smew near St. Louis delighted birders in the winter of 1999-2000. Some of us saw that very bird. Including Yours Truly. But here's the rather interesting thing. The bird was seen on both sides (Missouri and Illinois) of the Mississippi River, with one state's committee accepting the record and other rejecting it. We are talking about the same bird! Accepted by one committee, rejected by the other. Missouri and Illinois birders are still friends. Life goes on. Back to the Weld County geese. You are 100% allowed to count them for your ABA list--right now, without waiting for the records committee. You are also 100% allowed to exclude one or both species from your list. If the Colorado Bird Records Committee accepts, say, the Pink-footed Goose, you are *still* 100% allowed to exclude the species from your list--for example, if you feel that the bird was not satisfactorily demonstrated to be a natural vagrant. Okay, that's the end of my official response. The rest is my own personal opinion. The moral of this story, if you ask me is this: There are two kinds of people in this world, those who can accept ambiguity and uncertainty in life, and those whose heads explode. I, personally, delight in the diverse, and sometimes incompatible, approaches we bring to birding. Some folks don't count heard-only, exotic, and Hawaiian birds for the personal lists; that truly doesn't bother me. One listing authority (the ABA) excludes the Mexican Duck from its list, but another (eBird) not; that doesn't bother me, either. And some folks have cheerfully ticked the Weld County Pink-footed Goose off their bird lists, whilst others are taking a wait-and-see attitude; and that, too, is perfectly fine with me. My take, which doesn't have to be yours, is that birds are cool and that I'm inclined to err on the side of inclusivity when it comes to counting birds for my personal list. Even feral peafowl. (By the way, the Indian Peafowl was recently added to the ABA Checklist. I'm just saying.) And as with the Florida pintail and Missouri/Illinois Smew: We're still friends; life goes on. Ted FloydLafayette, Boulder County -- 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/7db58046-4a53-4737-825e-29eee1f86f94%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/1342332497.2827953.1549303738689%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Re: What is this goose? [Weld]
Sibley says oilfield waste pits kill up to 2 million birds a year: https://www.sibleyguides.com/conservation/causes-of-bird-mortality/ More info from US Fish and Wildlife Service here: https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/contaminants/documents/COWDFBirdMortality_000.pdf Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Thursday, January 24, 2019, 1:51:14 PM MST, DAVID A LEATHERMAN wrote: Joe, Gary, et al,I have seen a few geese lately, particularly at Milavec Res in Frederick, that appeared oil-stained. That is another possibility with this bird. Feathers look "wet". Without seeing the bird up close, or actually inspecting it in-hand, may be tough to tell which it is for sure, melanism or oil. If aquatic insects land on my blue Honda all the time, thinking it's a pond, I would imagine waterfowl can land in pools of oil thinking they are clean water. Just a thought. Dave LeathermanFort Collins From: cobirds@googlegroups.com on behalf of joe.kippe...@gmail.com Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2019 11:47 AM To: Colorado Birds Subject: [cobirds] Re: What is this goose? [Weld] Hello Gary,If you look closely at the face of the goose in your photos (especially the photo where the goose is facing sideways), you can see the outline of the "cheek patch" that occurs on Canada and Cackling geese. On an ordinary cackling goose, that patch would be white; on this goose it seems to be a lightish brown which contrasts with the dark color of the rest of the goose. Once you see it, the cheek patch is quite obvious and because of that field mark I would call this goose a melanistic cackling goose. (I'm assuming it's cackling based off of the stubby bill, but lesser Canada is not out of the question.) There have been recent reports of a couple different melanistic cackling geese in Northern Colorado, and the goose you photographed appears very similar to the pictures from those other reports. This is just my opinion, and other people might have different opinions, but I would confidently ID it as a melanistic cackling goose. Joe KipperFort Collins On Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 10:29:49 AM UTC-7, The "Nunn Guy" wrote: Hi all Domestic or hybrid? Photos here: http://www. friendsofthepawneegrassland. org/albums/view/65/35th-ave- gravel-pit-ponds-greeley Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunnhttp://www. friendsofthepawneegrassland. org/ -- 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 tocobirds+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/6429ca60-aba4-46a7-bf89-7559ab9f57c3%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/CY4PR0601MB3603751C94D65492DEC6085BC19A0%40CY4PR0601MB3603.namprd06.prod.outlook.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/1840707374.741998.1548368945305%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Boulder Co
Upon our arrival this morning at Carbonate Lane, Peter Gent had the best birding line ever. "Have you seen the bird? Where is the bird?" I asked. "In the scope," he replied. And it was. Good birding (though it doesn't get any easier than that), Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Tuesday, October 23, 2018, 10:43:44 AM MDT, Peter Gent wrote: All, Following Michael King's post from yesterday, at 7:40 I parked immediately south of 982 Carbonate Lane, which is a little way northeast of Prince Lake #2. The F-t Flycatcher was in the Russian Olive about 50 yards due west of where I parked, and nicely visible. This seems a good location for the bird in the early morning before there are any insects flying around. It is also well away from any construction going on. Later in the day, the bird may be back just north of the lake where it has been the last two days. Then Thomas Heinrich's suggestion of looking north from the south side of Prince Lake is probably a good idea, if one is stopped from going round the lake into the road construction area. Cheers, Peter Gent. Boulder. -- 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/CADEFvCdKrJMdpkLKA8GJaTF98tUqwmzhmddQh9o7UKe76X77CA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/1218826348.235703.1540313929807%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] California quail -- new state bird?
Kenny Frisch's documentation of a California quail this weekend at Dinosaur National Monument (Moffat County) made me wonder two things: 1. How big is Colorado's state list these days?2. Whatever happened to the group of ruffed grouse in the aspen grove above Browns Park a few years back? The most recent record on ebird is 10 years ago. Has anyone tried for them since? Here's Kenny's ebird list with the quail: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44389097 Mark ObmascikDenver, 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/979543579.734262.1523285321061%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Coors Ponds security (Jefferson) No RNGR or LTDU
Pretty amazing that a company doesn't want to show off actual wild creatures living on its property after the same company twice killed almost all fish (tens of thousands) on seven miles of Clear Creek with its industrial spills; pleaded guilty to two criminal violations of state environmental law; and paid more than $1 million of federal fines for leaking toxic solvents into groundwater. Business News: The Denver Post | | | | | | | | | | | Business News: The Denver Post | | | Good birding. Mark ObmascikDenver, CO On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 8:12:16 PM MST, Ira Sanders wrote: Birders,Here is a little more on the subject: Photography may be prohibited or restricted by a property owner on their property. However, a property owner generally cannot restrict the photographing of the property by individuals who are not within the bounds of the property.Photographing private property from within the public domain is not illegal, with the exception of an area that is generally regarded as private, such as a bedroom, bathroom, or hotel room. Krages II, Bert P. http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf Retrieved 2009-06-17 Ira SandersGolden, CO On Wed, Jan 10, 2018 at 6:59 PM, 'Migrant' via Colorado Birds wrote: Several years ago (before I realized that it was controlled by a hunting club) I was headed up the dam at Riverside Reservoir (out near Jackson, in the middle of nowhere, for those who might not be familiar) when a guy roared up in a beat up pickup and asked what I was doing. I attempted to give the usual “birdwatching” while attempting to look as harmless as possible. He informed me that I could not go on the dam. When I inquired what might be the harm in a quick look at the reservoir, he told me that they were on “High Terror Alert” (the capitals are my interpretation of the way I was informed of this).So now we know- if ISIS or Al Tapeworm attacks, be sure you are nowhere near Coors Ponds or Riverside Reservoir. You might pick a safe place, like, oh say, the U.S. Mint or some such. Norm LewisLakewood Sent from my iPad On Jan 10, 2018, at 5:03 PM, W. Robert Shade III wrote: I too was questioned by Coors Company security. I was standing outside the fence (of course!) on the west side scoping the lake for Red-necked Grebe and Long-tailed Duck and found neither. Two drake Red-breasted Mergansers and four Ruddy Ducks. I had only been there fifteen minutes or less when the security truck stopped. She was nice enough but I was informed that this is private property and that Coors does not want people taking photographs. I assured her that all I had were binoculars and scope (thinking "Don't you know the difference?"). All birds were way too far away for the camera and lens in my car anyway. So two points:1. If you go there best not to have a camera in view.2. Is it legal to prevent photography of private land that is visible from public property? Does Coors Security really have jurisdiction over people on public property or are they just trying to intimidate us? What are they worried about? That some ISIS ninjas will blow up the pond? Bob ShadeLakewood -- 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+unsubscribe@ 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/CAFwvYHp% 3DirrmgtLzaiobyBt% 2B8rFFZ0zL2YSTyzTrSwMtY4mc5g% 40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ optout. -- 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+unsubscribe@ 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/EE7709CF-8C27- 4E15-A981-08DD8C6ECEB7%40aol. com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ optout. -- Ira SandersGolden, CO"My mind is a raging torrent flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." -- 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/CABF3siG_BwzAk8kNtk54fTY1Kf4JXDdnZBEoocHFcsQOmNVLPQ%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop rece
Re: [cobirds] Tønnessen's next?
If a Baikal teal shows up behind a Baskin Robbins in Evergreen, would it be a first Colorado record? (Picking scab off festering wound.) Mark Obmascik Denver CO On Thu, Dec 28, 2017 at 3:52 PM, Ted Floyd wrote: Okay, so he found Colorado's first Tropical Kingbird in September, then Colorado's first Red-breasted Sapsucker earlier this month. At this pace, he's due 3 or 4 more state firsts in 2018. Any guesses? Ted FloydLafayette, Boulder County -- 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/dc771176-8bb0-4395-a5d6-027a5c095b84%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/107709737.5763224.1514502361272%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] State Bird Records Committee
In an age of Ebird, CObirds, and even Facebook bird ID groups, why do Colorado and other states still have state bird record committees? After John Ealy found the hooded oriole in his Douglas County backyard, many excellent birders asked to have documentation submitted to the Colorado Bird Records Committee, which decides whether rare-bird reports are legitimate. I submitted, but the process is a hassle. The website crashed, and instructions weren't always clear. I know this an all-volunteer effort, and money is short, and I'm always in favor of something that increases interest in and knowledge about birds, but what does the committee do that isn't already being done elsewhere in a more convenient way? In my experience, Ebird reviewers do an excellent job of screening entries. (They've found a bunch of my mistakes.) Ebird and CObirds make it easy to add photos. And with its international reach, Facebook allows fast access to ID experts whose yardbirds are our vagrants. It's also tough for me to forget how the committee decided that Bill Brockner's Baikal teal, seen by me and hundreds others behind the Baskin Robbins in Evergreen a few years back, was not actually a real Baikal teal. If there's a good reason to keep submitting to bird records committees, I'd like to hear it. Good birding. Mark ObmascikDenver, 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/243757657.4730579.1461944140443.JavaMail.yahoo%40mail.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Re: Larimer Woodcock
In most of its home range, the American woodcock is considered a game species and is legally hunted. The Larimer County bird may be lucky to be visiting Colorado. Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, CO From: 'Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds To: "colorado.bir...@gmail.com" Cc: "cobirds@googlegroups.com" Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:46 AM Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: Larimer Woodcock Educating is helpful knowing that many people will make the right choice when they understand the repercussions of their actions. Unfortunately, this isn't always true. When I reported a saw-whet owl in Littleton, I only gave the location info to a few people after getting permission from the owner. They were to call the owner if they wanted to come over. Ultimately, certain experienced birders came back repeatedly for pictures without asking the owner and the bird left after having been there for months. I, too, felt responsible and wondered what I should have done...Deb Carstensen, Littleton , Arapahoe county Sent from my iPhone On Jan 20, 2015, at 10:07 AM, The Nunn Guy wrote: Hi all I must say I am always surprised at the ugly discourse that follows when informal rules are violated. Mirroring the likes of our Congressional leaders--by "name calling", etc--is not the way to correct any problem. I think setting our emotions aside and using a sense of civility and thoughtfulness in how we might want to resolve these type problems might get us closer to the "birding nirvana" we all desire. How might we better educate and reinforce good birder behavior on what birding ethics are and the importance of them? Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.com/ Mobile: http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m On Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 3:40:46 PM UTC-7, Dave Leatherman wrote: Birders and photographers and others with binoculars and cameras, In case it needs to be said, and apparently it does, IT IS NOT OK TO WALK DOWN THE CREEK EDGE TRYING TO FIND AND FLUSH THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK!! This constitutes clueless, and/or rude, unethical behavior and is the kind of thing that gives us birders and photographers bad names with neighbors, enforcement rangers, and other birders. Come on, people. A tick mark isn't worth being idiots, to use a moderate label. Sometimes it takes a little skill and patience to see a bird, even one that is pinned down to an area of 50 yards. This bird evolved its special camouflage over eons and is remarkable in this respect. If one doesn't see this bird or any bird, as often happens with ethical birding, you hope to see the next one. This isn't like going to the zoo where you have a map, the cage has a name on it, and it is fairly reasonable to expect seeing the animal for which the cage is named. Outdoors people usually don't give up the location of their favorite fishing hole, a morel patch, or an owl cavity. Screwing up viewing for everybody who might follow you by stomping around for a woodcock is what leads to decreased sharing on public media about other kinds of situations like this one. It happened with the Fountain Creek bird last year. One guy with a lot of saliva thwarted untold others from seeing that bird, some of whom drove hundreds of miles. I knew when this bird was beautifully discovered by Fawn Simonds that it was special enough to perhaps warrant special protocols (limited viewing times, guided group visits, or something along those lines), particularly since the parking lot at Bobcat was closed due to mud. But the word was innocently put out on COBIRDS. The first couple days went OK. Things tend to come unraveled on Day 3 of a "Happening" and apparently that's what is going on. The unraveling can cease with simple considerate behavior on the part of visitors from here on. Please. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- 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/3f59c6e9-1d76-456b-9a23-322158959da5%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/9600A1DA-93B0-41B4-AAA5-6CE715881491%40aol.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Bir
[cobirds] Sage-grouse protections blocked in Congress
A sneaky, last-minute rider added to the federal government's 1,603-page spending bill blocks federal endangered species protections to the Gunnison sage-grouse and the greater sage-grouse. I know COBIRDS isn't for politics, but it's not for putting our heads in the sand, either. Colorado is the last best place on Earth for the Gunnison sage-grouse. Eight years ago, our state had 6,220 Gunnison sage-grouse in eight separate areas. Last year, biologists counted 4,773 birds in seven areas. Numbers go up and down year-to-year. Colorado has had two decades to protect the bird, but the species remains in deep trouble. Several colonies of Gunnison sage-grouse have gone extinct in the years that Colorado state officials have promised to protect the species. Now that the feds are stepping in, pols in Washington slipped in an unpublicized paragraph this week to head off federal protections of the birds. It would be awful to have a home-state species go extinct on our watch. There are real conflicts between the greater sage-grouse and oil-and-gas development across the West. However, the Gunnison sage-grouse does not face a similar conflict. The Gunnison sage-grouse once lived in Four Corners areas that now have much petroleum development, but those bird colonies are now extinct. Here is a link to one of many of tonight's news stories on the last-minute congressional rider: Bye bye birdie | | | | | | | | | | | Bye bye birdieBefore lawmakers could agree to a $1.1 trillion, last-minute deal to avoid shutting down the U.S. government, they first had to deal with a couple of birds. The res... | | | | View on www.politico.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | Good birding, Mark ObmascikDenver, 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/2036367205.8233470.1418273959563.JavaMail.yahoo%40jws10608.mail.bf1.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Re: 499 & 500 [or 503] ?
Several colonies of monk parakeets have lived on the South Side of Chicago for more than 30 years. I think Ira Sanders would back me up in agreeing that Chicago winters are far more harsh than anything in Denver. There may be other reasons to not count monk parakeets in Denver, but hardiness is not one. Mark Obmascik Denver, CO On Sunday, July 27, 2014 5:38 PM, drchartier wrote: A pair of monk parakeets built a nest in a Colorado Springs neighborhood in the mid 90s. Escapees, I'm sure. I believe they were captured and incarcerated at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Sent with the Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone. Chuck wrote: A pair of Monk Parakeets inhabited our Potter Highlands neighborhood and frequented our feeders for at least two years in the late eighties until a neighbor, tired of their calling, shot them with her BB gun. Gail had called the Rare Bird Alert when we first noted them and was told that they were not reportable because they were escapees unable to survive and breed in our climate. - Chuck Lowrie, Denver On Sunday, July 27, 2014 3:30:10 PM UTC-6, ouzels wrote: None of the speculators about Colorado’s 500th bird(s) addressed one possibility: It already happened. > > Over the years the CFO Records Committee has looked at 1000s of >records with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and thoroughness.To crack the >barrier the Records Committee only has to re-visit some rejected records. > > CAROLINA PAROQUET: 1805. >When the Pike expedition (was it Pike?) saw these birds along the Arkansas >River, had they crossed that magic line? > > PILEATED WOODPECKER: 1940s or 1950s. >Reported near the Maroon Bells by Justice William O. Douglas. Can you doubt >the word of a Supreme Court justice? But – he didn’t submit a Rare Bird Form. > > MONK PARAKEET: 1983-1985. >When we lived in Denver, a Monk Parakeet spent a whole winter in the Congress >Park neighborhood. This wary bird even built a nest along the alley at 11th & >Clayton. It showed up at our feeder on a 20-below-zero winter morning. > 1970’s: Two seen along Platte River bikeway for a couple of months. > > RED-BACKED HAWK: 1987-1994. >For eight years a Red-backed Hawk/Buzzard summered on a ranch north of >Gunnison. It mated with a Swainson’s Hawk and produced at least one young. >Observed by dozens (hundreds probably) of people including former President & >wife, Jimmy & Rosalind Carter. > > BLACK-HOODED CONURE: 1995. >No RBF, probably. Attended feeders in a subdivision south of Chatfield for 2 >months in 1995. Observed on a Fall Count. > > > >Hugh Kingery >Franktown, 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/5c47aa38-81ce-454b-885c-56097960189c%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/SNT406-EAS360F404D6C0B7ABE5DE0860C1FA0%40phx.gbl. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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/1406562018.99806.YahooMailNeo%40web142802.mail.bf1.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] The business of sage grouse (Moffat County)
Front page Wall Street Journal story today on the rise of sage grouse tours in the West. The story starts on a lek in Craig. Bird-watchers flock to observe the sage grouse's odd mating dance, a drama of conflict, comedy and sex Bird-watchers flock to observe the sage grouse's odd mat... Every spring, bird lovers gather in the American West to watch the Greater sage grouse puff his chest in a unique, comical mating dance that ornitholo... View on online.wsj.com Preview by Yahoo Good birding, Mark Obmascik Denver, 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/1400078852.15301.YahooMailNeo%40web142806.mail.bf1.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Northern pygmy-owl, Chaffee County
After years of searching, I finally discovered the secret to finding a northern pygmy-owl in Colorado: I stopped looking for it. While loading up the car today at 9 a.m. after a nice visit with friends near Salida, I heard poot-ing, then saw the bird, atop a Ponderosa in a snowy gully at 8,000 feet filled with a mix of aspen, spruce, and pines. Over the years, I have tried but failed to see a non-staked-out northern pygmy-owl near Dolores, Pagosa Springs, Montrose, Aspen, and Fraser. The northern pygmy-owl now joins the white-tailed ptarmigan atop my list of Colorado birds that are easiest to find when I'm not specifically looking for them. Next time I want to find a northern pygmy-owl, I will throw a suitcase into the car, slam shut the trunk, and wait for the bird to call back. If anyone wants to see the limits of a Canon SX-50 at 1200mm on a backlit subject with about a 1/32 crop, a pic is linked below. This bird is so magical that it displays a vivid blue halo. http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mobmascik/media/Moab%20scan/Northernpygmy-owlbest1of1_zpse51cade0.jpg.html?filters[user]=107152405&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1 Good birding, Mark Obmascik Denver, 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/1392673976.64289.YahooMailNeo%40web142805.mail.bf1.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Barr Lake (Adams County) being drained
Division of Wildlife has lifted bag limits for anglers at Barr Lake while irrigators drain 75 percent of its water. Hello, shorebirds! http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23984898/fishing-bag-limits-lifted-barr-lake-is-drained?source=rss Good birding. Mark Obmascik Denver, 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/1377903230.60840.YahooMailNeo%40web142804.mail.bf1.yahoo.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] SW Colorado / Cortez mini big day
For CFOers headed to Cortez for the convention, here's a heads-up about some birds seen this weekend at the fantastic Ute Mountain / Mesa Verde Birding Festival in Cortez. This may be the only festival on the planet with a list that includes Lucy's warbler, whimbrel, northern saw-whet owl, and the inimitable Brenda Wright. I was part of a Big (Half) Day on Saturday that saw 94 species, though not a single shorebird. We started at Bradfield Bridge across the Dolores River and ended 10 miles away on the rim of the canyon at Ferris Reservoir. Best local specialties were at least two Grace's warblers, four Lewis's woodpeckers, nesting black phoebes, nesting peregrine falcon, plus a finch-a-palooza of evening grosbeaks, black-headed grosbeaks, and red crossbills. On my drive to Cortez, I saw two acorn woodpeckers on the dead ponderosa at the staked-out site between two mobile homes west of Durango. Thanks to Joe Roller for directions. Good birding. Mark Obmascik Denver, 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. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Aurora Reservoir: Snowy Owl -- no
Did two laps around Aurora Reservoir after 3:30 p.m. yesterday on my bike, and saw a great horned owl in a cottonwood in the NE cove and a Walmart bag in a low bush that, from 100 yards, looked like the snowy owl. Alas, no bird. I parked a half-hour near the building in SE reservoir cove where the bird had been seen, and was shooed out by a park ranger at 5:30 p.m., when the reservoir closes to the public. The ranger told me the bird hadn't been seen there in two days. By the way, a bike is a fun way to cover a lot of ground out there on a good path. Mark Obmascik Denver, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
RE: [cobirds] AZ NM Birding Tips?
Connie: I just did that trip last week. A few recs: * For directions to birdy places in NM, check out the bottom of the home page of NM big year champ Jerry Oldenettel: https://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage/ * Sandia Crest above Albuquerque is probably the easiest place in the U.S. to see all three rosy-finches these days. * Bosque del Apache NWR near Socorro, NM. 45,000 snow geese and 9,000 sandhill cranes flying out at dawn and flying in at dusk. Wow -- spectacular! (I liked the fly out better.) * If you like chiles, stop in Hatch, NM. Terrific food (actually, Mexican food is great along this whole route) and lots of ristras and wreaths. * If you like hiking, a short but gorgeous walk with dozens of black-chinned and black-throated sparrows is to Dripping Springs east of Las Cruces, NM. The Organ Mountains there are a desert version of the Flatirons and Red Rocks. Really beautiful. * West along I-10 to Tucson, I'd recommend the ABA Lane Guide by Richard Cachor Taylor -- A Birder's Guide to Southeastern Arizona. Depending on how much time you have, I vote yes on Portal, AZ in the Chiricahua Mountains (Mexican chickadee); the Willcox, AZ sewage lagoon (hundreds of cranes and waterfowl, plus quail nearby); Scheelite Canyon in Fort Huachuca near Sierra Vista for spotted owl; and the whole Patagonia area, especially Patagonia Lake State Park for southwestern specialties (more specifics in Lane Guide). * Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to spend in Tucson, but I found a lot more birds in the the western outpost of Saguaro National Park than the eastern facility. Have fun! Mark Obmascik Denver, CO -Original Message- From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Connie Kogler Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 10:40 AM To: COBirds COBirds Subject: [cobirds] AZ NM Birding Tips? My sister and I are planning on a trip to Tucson via New Mexico and are wondering if any of you have tips or ideas as to southern New Mexico and AZ birding? Thanks! Connie Kogler Loveland,CO Birds O' The Morning .com Aslan's Own .com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Arctic tern -- Boulder Reservoir
The Arctic tern was hanging out with ring-billed gulls this morning on the mud flats along the cove at the NW corner of Boulder Reservoir. At 10:15 a.m., though, it flew south and left the reservoir. Good birding. Mark Obmascik Denver, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] White-tailed ptarmigan, Clear Creek County
Several visitors have asked lately on COBIRDS about ptarmigan. We had three almost walk across our boots today about 100 feet short of the top of Mount Edwards, which we hiked via the Waldorf Mine/Argentine Pass road. The birds were on the eastern slopes, and still in summer plumage. Mark Obmascik Denver, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] White-tailed ptarmigan -- Berthoud Pass
This morning on Berthoud Pass (Grand County), we were thrilled to find a single white-tailed ptarmigan sauntering up the skin track just 10 feet beyond our ski tips. The bird was off the northeast side of the false summit of Mount Russell (where the old West Side chairlift used to top out.) First time I've ever seen a ptarmigan up there in winter. Good birding. Mark Obmascik Denver, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
RE: [cobirds] How rare is it?
One other measure of the rarity of the Ross's gull: Right now a Virginia birder is making a big run at an ABA big year. Last month, he flew to Alaska with hopes of seeing a pink gull. He found it 340 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in Barrow, Alaska, near the spot where natives were butchering three bowhead whales. The Ross's gull was bird No. 710 of his big year. (He's now at 718 species for the year.) More info on Bob Ake's big year at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ Tis a privilege to live - and bird -- in Colorado! Mark Obmascik Denver, CO From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobi...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of William H Kaempfer Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 6:47 PM To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Subject: [cobirds] How rare is it? So, if you need to convince a spouse, child, parent, friend or boss of just how rare a Ross's Gull is, let me guide you to the latest CBC issue of American Birds. There have been 110 years of Christmas Bird Counts. In 2009/2010 there were 2,160 different counts conducted (which was, admittedly, a record). But in the precious 10's of thousands of CBCs undertaken across North America here are the totals for Ross's Gull reports: 86th Count (1985-86) Reelfoot Lake, TN-1 95th Count (1994-95) St. Catherine's ON (Canada) -1 Two individuals, 110 years and probably 150,000 CBCs-two birds. So, to all 150 or so of us who have relished this bird in the last two days-cheers! Thanks to you Joe, Glenn and Cole. Bill Kaempfer Boulder -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Bummer: Campo lek closed
Hadn't seen this posted yet, so I thought I'd pass along this e-mail saying the Campo lek in SE Colorado for lesser prairie-chicken is in trouble and will remain closed during this year's mating season. Here's the message: The Campo viewing area is closed again this year due to low numbers and no birds using that lek last spring. Sorry for the bad news. There will be viewing areas open to the public on the Cimarron National Grasslands (a bit over an hour to the east out of Elkhart, Kansas) available for the public this year, if all goes as planned. Their phone number is 620-697-4621. Thanks, Stephanie Stephanie Shively Wildlife Biologist Comanche National Grasslands Springfield, Colorado (719) 523-6591, FTS #3511 sshiv...@fs.fed.us --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
