[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, March 22, 2012

Compiler: Mary Driscoll
Date: March 22, 2012 
e-mail: rba AT cfobirds.org 
phone: 303-659-8750

 

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, March 22, 2012, 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 this species in this report)

 

TUNDRA SWAN (Logan)

Red-necked Grebe (Weld)

Barrow's Goldeneye (La Plata, Garfield)

WESTERN GULL (Washington)

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Boulder, Washington)

Glaucous Gull (Washington)

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Logan)

Thayer's Gull ( Larimer, Washington)

ICELAND GULL (Washington)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Boulder, Larimer, Washington,Weld)

SNOWY OWL (*Bent, Lincoln)

Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson)

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Boulder,*Jefferson)

Harris's Sparrow (Jefferson)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Summit)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Summit)

 
Please note, detailed directions to most of the following locations can be found on the Colorado County Birding Website: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/index.php  

 

Bent County: 

 --On March 21, Nelson reports the immature female SNOWY OWL still present at John Martin Reservoir on the north side.  It prefers cliff tops and areas of sand, rock and beach on the north side of the reservoir approximately one and one-half miles west of Point Overlook. So far, birders have given the Snowy Owl a wide berth while observing, and I'd like to say thanks for the cooperation shown so far with following my request to remain in vehicles while looking, and not approaching too closely. Snowy Owls this far south have enough problems without being flushed by birders.

Boulder County:

--The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues near the Teller Farm Parking lot on Valmont through March 11.

--On March 15, Mlodinow found a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Panama Reservoir.  It is present as of March 17.

--On March 17, Floyd reports a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Panama Reservoir.

 

Garfield County:

--On March 11, Filby reports 41 Barrow's Goldeneye at Coryell Ranch viewable from Hwy 82.

 

Jefferson County:
--The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at the Red Rocks Trading Post feeders continued to be seen thru March 20, as reported by Henwood.

--Schmoker reports the Greater Roadrunner cruised by the Hawkwatch on March 18, at Dinosaur Ridge. It appeared around 10:15 below Hawk

watch on the East side of the ridge and continued to move steadily to the South and out of view. 

--Henwood refound the adult and juv Harris's Sparrows on March 12, near the Boat Launch area at Bear Creek Lake Park.

La Plata County: 

--Barrow's Goldeneyes remain on the Animas River.  On March 17, as reported by Beatty, there was an adult female at the second fishing pull-out south from town as the road descends to near river level.  This section of the Animas has been fairly reliable for Barrow's this winter.  However, the mixed Goldeneye flock spooks easily and then flies up or down river for a quarter mile or more.

 

            Logan County:

            --On March 11, Mlodinow reports 2 TUNDRA SWANS at Red Lion SWA and Roller confirms they were present on the 12th.

            --On March 12, Roller reports a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL at Jumbo Reservoir.

    Lincoln County:

            --On March 18, Ackert reports a "very white" Snowy Owl just off of I-70 near exit 376 (Bovina). The Owl was on the north side of the highway

    between the towns of Bovina and Arriba.

            Summit County:

            --On March 17, Pieplow reports Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches at residential feeders in Silverthorne.

 

Washington County:

            --On March 18, Briggs reports an ICELAND GULL and a Thayer's Gull at Prewitt Reservoir at the southwest end of the reservoir, about 100 yds.   

            from the road's shoulder. The ICELAND GULL was a 1st winter female, white with faint brown carmel markings, and a black bill.  On March 17, 

            Mlodinow  reported a second cycle WESTERN GULL from Prewitt Reservoir, near the northwest cove, 1 ICELAND GULL  (1st year), 10 Thayer's  

            Gulls (some same, some different as last week as age-class mix different), 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2nd year birds), 1 GLAUCOUS-WINGED  

            GULL (1st year), 6 Glaucous Gulls (adult, 3rd year*, 2nd year*,  3 first year*) (*Indicates present one week ago)

    

            Weld County:

            --On March 19, Lefko reports a Lesser Black-backed Gull (ad) (WCR 31/80)--the Weld County gulls love chasing farmer's disced fields.

            --The Red-necked Grebe 1st reported by Plage is still at Union Reservoir as of March 15.

 

Upcoming DFO Field Trips:

                 

            Saturday, March 24 Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch:

                 Leader: Tim Smart Meet leader at 8:00 am at the Hawk Watch. Trip runs until mid-day. Directions - From I-70 exit 259 (the                                                                                      

                 Morrison Exit), Head south a short distance on CO 26, and turn left (east) into a Park-'n'-Ride parking lot (the "Stegosaurus" lot).               

     Follow the steep and  sometimes muddy trail through  a gate and switchbacks up to the top of the ridge.  At the top of the ridge turn   

     left and go through the gate.   smrr@juno.com  

Good Birding,

Mary Driscoll

Unincorporated Arapahoe County