Date: April 21, 2011, updated at 3:37 AM e-mail: r...<http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?_done=/group/cobirds/browse_thread/thread/43de0ce1681d054c&msg=a4b399c584793893> @cfo-link.org
phone: 303-659-8750 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, April 21, 2011, updated at 0610, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name. Highlight species include: (* denotes that there is new information on the species in this report) RED-NECKED GREBE (Arapahoe) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (*Arapahoe) Glossy Ibis (*La Plata) Broad-winged Hawk (Jefferson) HUDSONIAN GODWIT (*Kiowa) Dunlin (Arapahoe) Short-billed Dowitcher (LaPlata) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Weld) Curve-billed Thrasher (*Jefferson) LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (*Bent) PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Prowers) EASTERN TOWHEE (Broomfield) BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (*Mesa) White-throated Sparrow (*Jefferson) Harris's Sparrow (El Paso, *Jefferson) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (*Jefferson) Arapahoe County: --Andrews reported a Long-billed Curlew and a breeding plumage RED-NECKED GREBE at Cherry Creek Reservoir on April 16th; they were seen again on the 17th. --A juv NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was reported by Asteriades at the marina at Cherry Creek State Park on April 8. It is associating with Double-crested Cormorants. It has been seen daily through the 20th. Bent County: --A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was reported April 20 by Nelson from Tempel Grove. To get there, travel on Highway 287 to Bent County road A. This is south of the Great Plains Reservoirs (NeeGrande, etc). Go west on A and then south on the first road. The mature trees at Tempel Grove will loom up in front of you. Park and look up and down the canal from the bridge. The Tempel Ranch property is off limits, but you may walk on the path along the canal. As always, please do not disturb this very rare warbler by approaching too closely or playing tapes. Photographs of the bird were said to confirm the ID as Louisiana Waterthrush. Broomfield County: -- A male Eastern Towhee was reported by Zorawowicz from the southeast corner of Plaster Reseroir on April 19. Sanders saw it in the same place later in the day. This is a first county record, I believe. Jefferson County: --On April 9, Henwood reported Curve-billed Thrasher, White-throated Sparrow, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and Harris's Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post. Bob Spencer reported these again on April 17, and they were there on the 20th. -- On April 16 the Schmokers reported 4 Broad-winged Hawks including one dark morph at the Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch site, southeast of the intersection of I-70 and Morrison Road. Now is prime time to see these and other raptors there. Kiowa County: -- A trio of Hudsonian Godwits was reported by Duane Nelson from NeeNoShe on April 18. One of these was color banded. Duane learned from several helpful researchers that the banded bird was a male, banded on Chiloe Island, CHILE, 15 months ago, January, 2010. This is stunning news. Access is from US 287 between Wiley and Eads. The west boat ramp entrance is signed and is north of Cottonwood Road (Kiowa County Road 41.2). Go east until it is clear that you will get stuck in the mud by proceeding farther. These birds were one day wonderful, as at mid-day April 19, they were NeeNoMore. HOWEVER, Nelson reported 3 Hudsonian Godwits, probably different individuals, not color banded, at nearby NeeGronda (aka NeeGrande) Reservoir on the 20th. LaPlata County: --Beatty reported a Short-billed Dowitcher from Pastorius SWA on 4/19. Allerton reported that Reynolds, Rees and Rees found a Glossy Ibis among many White-faced Ibis on the 20th at Pastorius. Mesa County: --A BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW was reported by Frid (an Ontario birder) on Devil's Kitchen Trail in Colorado National Monument on April 9. On April 11 Stigen and Arnold were able to relocate a singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW about 300 m up the Devil's Kitchen Trail in a wash beyond Big Sage in an open area with native bunch grasses. On April 12, Trappett and many other birders were able to see the bird. On April 13, Shoffner reported the BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW in late afternoon. On April 13, Wild reported hearing another BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW across the road from the trail parking area. On April 14 Tischbein reported flushing the sparrow from bunch grass. On April 15, Gent reported the BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW in the usual spot. On April 16, McConnell reported that the sparrow was seen by many birders. Still there on 20th. Parking is limited in the area. Please do not park along the road or off road. Please stay on trails and use restraint in approaching the bird. Dogs are not allowed in the monument. Directions courtesy of Larry Arnold: use the East entrance to CNM. After passing through the East Entrance station go about .2 miles and you will see a road to the right leading to the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area. Stay on the main road; on the left side there is a small parking lot at the Devil's Kitchen Trailhead. Use that lot if space is available. If space is not available there, use the picnic area parking. Take the trail. Look and listen for the bird where the trail levels off in a large sagebrush meadow. Prowers County: --Turnbull reported a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at the Holly Rest Area along Highway 50. It was found on April 16 by Andrea Perko and Marjorie Watson and seen by 18 people touring Colorado from Massachusetts. It was photographed. Mark Miller also saw and reported it. Weld County: --A 1st-cyc BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was reported by Wild at Windsor Lake- on April 7. It persisted at least through the 16th. The next DFO meeting is coming up soon -- Jeffrey A. Gordon - The New President of ABA What's New at the ABA? / Birding Quiz Show Monday, April 25, 2011, 7:30 p.m. Denver Museum of Nature and Science We appreciate the reports by birders visiting the Centennial State this month. Good Birding. Joe Roller, Denver Please call me at 303 204-0828 with reports or corrections. -- 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.