Date: February 13, 2011 e-mail: r...@cfo-link.org phone: 303-659-8759
This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 5 am, 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 inclued: (* denotes that there is new information on the species in this report) Long-tailed Duck (Denver) Barrow's Goldeneye (Douglas) MEW GULL (Boulder) Thayer's Gull (Boulder, Broomfield) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Boulder, Broomfield) Glaucous Gull (Boulder, Broomfield) White-winged Dove (Arapahoe, Herfano) YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Larimer) Chihuahuan Raven (*Boulder) Curve-billed Thrasher (Jefferson) PINE WARBLER (Larimer) White-throated Sparrow (Delta, JEfferson) Harris's Sparrow (Adams, Broomfield, Herfano, Jefferson, Las Animas) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Jefferson) Gray-crown Rosy-Finch (*Gunnison, Huerfano, Jefferson, Routt) Black Rosy-Finch (*Gunnison, Huerfano, Jefferson) Adams County: --A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Alcock at the Rocky Moutain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge feeding station near the Visitor's Center on February 6. Arapahoe County: --A White-winged Dove was reported by Leigh in the Willow Creek Drainage on January 19 and was seen most recently on February 4. The drainage area is a southeasterly extension of Willow Creek Park. Walk south along the trail from the park - cross the small bridge and then it is about 400 ft to a junction and a bridge across the main creek. Continue on the trail approximately 1200 feet to the area where the birds has been seen. Boulder County: --Floyd reported the following at Valmont Reservoir: Thayer's Gull (5 first -cycle on Feb 4; 2 ad and 8 first-cycle on Feb 6) Lesser Black-backed Gull (7 on Feb 4 and 7 on Feb 6 2 ad, 5 first-cycle) Glaucous Gull (1 ad, 1 first-cycle on Feb 4) MEW GULL (1 ad on Feb 4 and Feb 6) --An ad Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported by Vanderpoel at Thomas Reservoir (on N 119th Street in Erie) on February 5. --A probable Chihuahuan Raven was reported by Klaver in Boulder County at 63rd St between Oxford and Plateau on February 12. Broomfield County: --2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (first-cycle), 2 Glaucous Gulls (1 first-cycle, 1 2nd-cycle), and several Thayer's Gulls were reported by Chavez at Parkside Center Pond (south of Hwy 8 and east of Lowell) on February 10. --Vanderpoel reported the following at Anthem Pond (Intersection of Indian Peak and Lowell) on February 5: 2 first-cycle Glaucous Gulls, 1 first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 ad Thayer's Gull. --A Harris's Sparrow was reported by Burke at an office feeding station (121st and Perry St) on Febuary 1 and was seen again on February 8. Delta County: --A white-throated Sparrow was reported by Garrison at the Forest Service Office in Paonia (403 N. Rio Grande) on January 27, 28 and 30, and February 5. Denver County: --A Long-tailed Duck was reported by Thornton-Kolbe and found by Roller on the Platte River, about 60 yards north of the Florida Avenue bridge on February 5. Douglas County: --2 Barrow's Goldeneyes (1m, 1f) were reported by Spellman in Parker at Twenty Mile Pond in Parker on January 30 and were seen again by Kingery on February 3 and Henwood on February 5. Directions to Twenty-Mile Pond: From the main intersection in Parker, go west toward Cherry Creek on Parker Main Street; at Twenty-Mile Road, just before Cherry Creek, turn left, and then right into the parking lot. Gunnison County: --All 3 species of Rosy-Finches were reported by McConnell at feeders at 5th and Hwy 149 in Gunnison on February 12. Huerfano County: --All 3 species of Rosy-Finches and a White-winged Dove have returned the the yard of Beverly Jensen in La Veta and are being see regularly. If you would like to try to see these birds, call her at 719-989-1398. --1 Harris's Sparrow and 2 White-winged Doves were reported by Nelder at her yard in La Veta on February 9, please e-mail her for further information/directions at pollyw...@gmail.com Jefferson County: --On February 8, Henwood reported that the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, Curve-billed Thrasher, 2 White-throated Sparrows, Harris's Sparrow and all 3 species of Rosy-finches were seen at Red Rocks Trading Post. Larimer County: --A PINE WARBLER was reported by Bol on private property in Fort Collins on February 3. Please call Sklyer at (970-282-5393) if you would like to look for the bird. Note: several birders have gone looking for the bird without permission and have disturbed the neighbors, so do not go without first calling. --An adult YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported by Mammoser on January 26 or 27th and by Leatherman on February 7 at Grandview Cemetery. Note: the previously reported juvenile YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER has not been seen since January 30. Leatherman reported that the adult bird moves around quite a bit, but he suggests checking an American Linden (which is loaded with old sap wells). Directions: From the cemetery Entrance at the west end of Mountain Ave, cross the bridge over the ditch, make an immediate left, go south along the ditch about 50 yards to the road dividing Sections G and 8, turn right (west) and go another 50 yards to the second back security light pole on your left. The American Linden of interest to the sapsucker is the large-diameter shade tree several feet south of the second light pole. Both times Leatherman has seen the bird, it has been in the upper half of this tree, but has not stayed put very long. Routt County: --Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches (and a few Brown-capped Rosy-Finches) were reported by Merrill visitng the feeders at the Steamboat Spring ski are feeding station on top of Mt Werner (just off the Bar UE Chairlift) on January 20 and continue to be observed daily. The DFO Field trip for Sunday, February 13, is to the South Platte River and Overland Pond Park and will be led by Casey Davenhill. Should see interesting behaviors along this stretch of the S. Platte that is the pride of the Overland Park and Ruby Hill neighborhoods. Meet at 0800 at Overland Pond parking lot on Florida Avenue just east of the S. Platte RIver in Denver. Will go from Overland to Grant Frontier Park. Half day trip. The Overland Golf Course Club House is a great place to have lunch for those interested. The DFO Field Trip for THURSDAY, February 17 is to Canon City and wll be led by Charles Thornton-Kolbe (720-320-1974). Meet ten minutes before 6 AM at the Park n' RIde off of I-25 at Yale Avew (from I-25 take Yale Exit and turn right at Yale, then an immediate right turn to the parking lot. We will form carpools at the Park 'n Ride in the parking lot area farthest from Yale Ave. Please get there by 0550. THis is a DFO trip no RSVP, but we will leave on time 0600. In year's past, we have found Golden-crowned Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, all three blue birds, and Juniper Titmouse. Rufous-crowned Sparrow is possible along with a lot more. We may even sneak in Lewis' Woodpecker at Louviers, but need to be back in Denver by 1700. Bring: Layers of clothing and coats (including rain gear), binoculars, scope (if you have one, lunch, snack, beverages. Bring breakfast if have not eaten before leaving. Also two way radio and cell phones can be helpful to support car-to-car communication. Bring about $25.00 for your gas share. If bad weather, come to parking lot, and we will go for it or find an alternative plan. Good Birding, Joyce Takamine Boulder, 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.