[cobirds] CO Williamson Sapsuckers

COBirders, In the did you know category... The 19 individual Williamson’s Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) on the Penrose CBC is the highest total ever recorded for the species anywhere in the U.S. or Canada during the 111 seasons of CBCs. The previous high count was 15 individuals on a Lak

[cobirds] 2 winter wrens, Fountain Creek Regional Park (El Paso)

COBirders, There are for sure two different "winter wrens" at Fountain Creek Regional Park. I saw and photographed them both and they are noticeably different visually. Both were calling, the Winter Wren two-noted but the other bird gave 5-6 note calls, neither sounding to me like either a Song

Re: [cobirds] Help with bird ID, Larimer Co

Gooney Bird for sure. Bill On Sun, 5 Dec 2010 08:35:16 -0700 Connie Kogler writes: > Can anyone tell me what this bird is? My Wingscape bird cam captured > it some time ago.. still working out the id.. > > > Connie Kogler > Loveland,CO > Twitter @ConnieKogler > Fac

Re: [cobirds] California Gull Question (no sighting)

California Gulls in Colorado, This is such a great two part question and I only have a partial answer to it, and I admittedly mostly suck at gulls but..., L.c. californicus, the nominate subspecies, breeds in central Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, and west to areas like Mono Lake, CA (Gulls of t

[cobirds] Ross's Gull (CO vs. Nebraska)

COBirders, Although my earlier post suggests the Nebraska bird could be the missing Colorado bird, the real time difference of about an hour and the distance between the two locations, over 500 miles, makes it much more likely that two birds are present in the Lower 48 so anyone birding reservoir

[cobirds] Ross's Gull - Nebraska

COBirders, For anyone still hoping to see the CO Ross's Gull, within a few hours of the Colorado Ross's Gull reported as missing from Cherry Creek Reservoir yesterday, an adult Ross's Gull was spotted at ~11:25 A.M. Friday at Lake Yankton in Cedar County, northern Nebraska. Bill Maynard Color

[cobirds] Ross's Gull and the "sand spit"

COBirders, If you aren't tired of hearing about the Cherry Creek Ross's Gull, I watched this bird for a few minutes on the marina sand spit early this morning with Ira and Tammie Sanders before it flew. This spot was reported as one of this bird's favorite locations. In a spotting scope you can

[cobirds] New field guide you may want to check out

COBirders, This is off topic, but... I wanted to let you know about a new field guide, The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America that I have recently checked out. The usual disclaimer, I have no financial involvement with the authors, the publisher, or anyone else. I like this field g

[cobirds] Red-throated Loon (Pueblo)

Brandon Percival reports the Red-throated Loon he found yesterday in the Pueblo Res SWA is still present today, Tuesday. Bill Maynard Colorado Springs Moms Asked to Return to School Grant Funding May Be Available to Those That Qualify.

[cobirds] Black-legged Kittiwake (Pueblo)

COBirders, Brandon Percival just texted to report the adult Black-legged Kittiwake is present in the same location as reported yesterday in the Pueblo Res SWA just west of Pueblo Reservoir State Park. No admission fee if you are just going to the SWA. A dirt road heads west a few hundred yards

[cobirds] Big Johnson Res (El Paso)

COBirders, I checked for birds using the low water levels in Big Johnson Reservoir this A.M. Probably only of local interest were: Greater White-fronted Geese - 3 Red-breasted Merganser - 4 Common Loon - 1 or 2 Bald Eagle - 2 adults chasing Common Ravens and putting waterfowl into flight Merlin

[cobirds] Big Johnson Res (El Paso)

The Sandhill Cranes, first reported by Cole Wild yesterday afternoon, flew south at about 9:15 A.M. today and I estimated the flock at about 230 birds. Seven individuals remained until about 9:40 A.M. when they too took flight. Near the Bluestem Openspace parking lot, three Chestnut-collared Long

[cobirds] "Red" Fox Sparrow (El Paso)

COBirders, Laurie, Lori, and Harriet from Denver Audubon, and I found a confiding "Red" Fox Sparrow along the ditch leading southeast from the huge crack willows near the Chico Basin Ranch banding station. It was with a load of White-crowned Sparrows. In a flock of Horned Larks by Headquarters

[cobirds] Black Scoter (Boulder)

COBirders, Dan Maynard called to report a male Black Scoter at Boulder Reservoir this afternoon. He said it was seen from Dream Cove in the southwest quadrant. Bill Maynard Colorado Springs Obama Urges Homeowners to Refinance If yo

[cobirds] CFO Field Trip - Fox Ranch

COBirders, The scheduled CFO field trip to the TNC's Fox Ranch property produced lots of migrant sparrows in the tallgrass prairie, in brush piles, and in the rolling hills with horseweed, cholla, and little bluestem grasses. Highlights from 2 hours on Friday and from Saturday morning included:

[cobirds] Cape May Warbler - Chico Basin Ranch (El Paso)

COBirders, A BANDED Cape May Warbler was just caught at the Chico Basin Ranch RMBO banding station (Free demo, fee to bird). Bill Maynard Colorado Springs Mortgage Rates Hit 3.25% If you owe under $729k you probably qualify for Obama

[cobirds] American Golden-Plover (Boulder)

COBirders, Ted and Andrew Floyd just called to report a juvenile American Golden-Plover at the northwest corner of Boulder Res. (Boulder) at 3:30 P.M. Bill Maynard Colorado Springs Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat! http://

[cobirds] Jaeger Spuh Big J (El Paso)

COBirders, The jaeger that WAS at Big Johnson Reservoir has left, last seen flying against the head winds to the south. Brandon Percival has been alerted for the possibility that it might seek out Pueblo Res. The jaeger was distantly photographed but still needs to be researched as to its I.D.

[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch (Pueblo only)

COBiriders, I birded the Chico Basin Ranch this morning (banding demo free, all other areas fee). Although I birded at the Banding Station too, the banders will describe their considerable haul there. The Headquarters Pond has very good shorebird habitat (never a great shorebird area however) as

[cobirds] Big Johnson Res (El Paso)

COBirders, Watching the predicted weather forecast for last night and seeing it was still raining this A.M. I visited Big Johnson Reservoir, walking to a high point on the south side. From my vantage point, I heard the migrant shorebirds long before I could spot them. At about 0900 a series of

[cobirds] Rich Levad's ebook, The Coolest Bird

COBirders, Karen Levad wanted to be sure that Rich Levad's book, The Coolest Bird, A Naural History of the Black Swift and those Who Have Persued It, Rich's exhaustive research about the discovery and natural history of Black Swift, was made available for all birders (and others) to read. The Am

Re: [cobirds] AOU online checklist now updated with changes

COBirders, If you are following the recent splits of Black Scoter and Whip-poor-will, the AOU website corrects the error it made in the naming of (Melanitta americana). As posted previously, the Old and New World “races” of Black Scoter have been split. The North American breeder will continue t

[cobirds] Acorn Woodpecker (El Paso) YES

COBirders, The Acorn Woodpecker female, reported by Barbara Schaefer from her feeder area at 1203 Vega Dr in Colorado Springs (80906) was fairly cooperative this A.M., Tuesday. I arrived at about 10:00 A.M. and I heard a single call when I first got out of my car. I was invited to sit on the de

[cobirds] ABA at Chico Basin Ranch

COBirders, Seventeen kids (four female) aged 13-17, from across the U.S. and Canada, many amazingly talented, attended the American Birding Association birders' camp this week. On Thursday, I was invited to show them some of the habitats on Chico Basin Ranch. Michael O'Brien and Louise Zematis

[cobirds] recent articles by Dave Leatherman

COBirders, If you are interested learning more about what natural foods birds eat (not suet and seeds), you are invited to read two excellent articles by Dave Leatherman in the June on-line version of the American Birding Association's publication, Winging It. You can find them both here, http:/

[cobirds] Tricolored Heron (Fremont) YES

COBirders, The previously reported Tricolored Heron was still at the Holcim Marsh (signed), about a mile west of the Holcim cement plant, formerly Vaclo, on SR 120, near Penrose around 10:00 A.M. Bill Maynard Colorado Springs Penny Sto

[cobirds] Common Black-Hawk (El Paso)

COBirders, I just received a phone call from Bob Gooycolea who was at Fountain Creek Nature Center between 6:45 and 7:15 P.M. He told me the hawk was perched in a tree directly above the feeders at the nature center during those times. I agree with Brandon that this bird might be chaseable tom

[cobirds] Highlights - Chico Basin Ranch (Pueblo and El Paso Counties)

COBirders, Here are some of the birds I saw, but did not necessarily find, from Chico Basin Ranch (fee area) on a birdy morning. There were more birds around other than the few species being reported by me. I birded with Dan Maynard and for part of the time with Dawn Moon. Warblers- Pueblo Cou

[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch (Pueblo & El Paso)

COBirders, There were some signs of migration and returning breeders at Chico (fee area) this morning. PUEBLO COUNTY HQ Pond Cinnamon Teal - 14 Greater Yellowlegs - 3 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Barn Swallow - 2 Tree Swallow - 5 American Pipit - 1 Bewick's Wren - 1 singing Savannah Sparrow - 1 Marsh

[cobirds] Yellow-throated Warbler - Crow Valley Campground (Yes)

Dan Maynard called to report the previously reported white-lored Yellow-throated Warbler is still in the same area of CVCG at Pawnee National Grasslands as described yesterday, today seen at 0930 and being seen by others at 1000. Bill Maynard Colorado Springs _

[cobirds] Chico Days - Chico Basin Ranch (El Paso & Pueblo)

COBirders, Permission was given so I can tell you about: The annual event, Chico Days, May 8th, is fund-raiser to support Chico Basin Ranch education programs including the RMBO Bird Banding Station. There will be events for the whole family to enjoy including a bike ride, a bird walk with me,

[cobirds] Tundra Swans Chico Basin Ranch (Pueblo)

COBirders, At Chico Basin Ranch (fee area) the ice is mostly gone with the big two ponds being ice-free. Two TUNDRA SWANS were at HQ Ponds (they flew and landed at Rose Pond later), both mostly white 1st year birds with a little gray left on their hindnecks. Tundra Swan is a new species for Chic

[cobirds] FOS Sage Thrashers (Chico Basin Ranch - Pueblo)

COBirders, On Saturday, I saw my first Sage Thrashers of the spring, a group of four birds on the Pueblo portion of Chico Basin Ranch (fee) foraging in the cholla grassland. In addition I saw: Mountain Bluebirds - 40, mostly males, moving north Bill Maynard Colorado Springs, CO ___

[cobirds] Results - Chico Basin Ranch Winter Bird Count

COBirders, A winter bird count was held at the Chico Basin Ranch (fee area) located in parts of southern El Paso and northern Pueblo Counties on Friday the 15th. Of the 54 species recorded, highlights included: Northern Goshawk, Long-eared and Western Screech-Owls, eastern White-breasted Nuthatch

[cobirds] Snowy Owl (El Paso)

COBirders, At least 30 people saw the El Paso County Snowy Owl today, Sunday, first spotted this A.M. perched atop a roof by Susan Craig and Dave Elwonger. The bird spent much of the day in a new and lightly populated neighborhood with big houses, perched on fence posts and roof tops, occasional

[cobirds] Red-shouldered Hawk (Weld) update

COBirders, My nephew, Dan, just called to say the previously reported juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk is currently, 0945, in a tree 3/4 to one mile south on Hwy 257 of the designated parking lot, to the west of the highway on private property and not along the Poudre River Trail. The location on HW

[cobirds] Snowy Owl (El Paso)

COBirders, The El Paso Snowy Owl was seen and photographed yesterday by the original finder, Snook Cippoletti. It was in the same place he saw it before, northeastern El Paso County - on Hwy 24 between the turnoff for Elbert (Elbert Road) and the green RR trestle about a mile farther east on Hwy

[cobirds] Winter Wren (El Paso)

COBirders, I glimpsed and heard a Winter Wren at Fountain Creek Regional Park in the area where I recently reported a pacificus type bird. This one I will leave as Winter Wren. The area is best reached by parking in the far north, Willow Springs, entrance to the park and then driving as far sou

[cobirds] Varied Thrush - Chico Basin Ranch (Pueblo County)

COBirders, This A.M. I found a Varied Thrush (1st Ranch record, #323) in the yard of the ranch house next to Chico Basin Ranch Headquarters (fee area). In the early afternoon, Brandon Percival and I found it again just south of the little headquarters pond, this time midstory. Brandon was able

[cobirds] Re: Fox Ranch, Yuma County, Oct. 3rd

Groupo de Fox Ranch, I have been thinking about the strange kingbird too. I looked at the shade of gray on the head and hindneck over-and-over, and at the time I was thinking something was not right for a typical WEKI. Photo boys, please send any photos of that bird this way too, especially if

[cobirds] Free Searchable Ornithological Research Archive

COBirders, SORA, or Searchable Ornithological Research Archive, now includes content of all 1973-2008 issues of North American Birds (formerly Nat'l Audubon's American Birding and ABA's Field Notes). Although you should subscribe to ABA's North American Birds to read the excellent accounts of t

[cobirds] Black Vulture stuff

COBirders, It was great to observe the Castlewood Canyon Black Vulture soaring for 15 minutes with Turkey Vultures yesterday, so thanks to those who provided daily updates. In the did you know category, Black Vultures, unlike Turkey Vultures, have a poor sense of smell so they often fly higher,