Colorado Rare Bird Alert

Thursday, 31 May 2012

[cobirds] FOS Blue Grosbeak and Common Nighthawk in Canon City, Olive-sided Flycatcher & Mississippi Kite in Otero Co

Yesterday I saw my first of the season Blue Grosbeak, actually one male in each of two locations in the Canon City area. This evening I heard my first of the season Common Nighthawk call. That is late for both of these species. I have not seen an empid one though I may have a heard one call late today. I did see my first of the season Olive-sided Flycatcher when I traveled to the lower Arkansas Valley last Friday, surprisingly in the limited 'forest' edge around Lake Holbrook. I have uploaded photos to my Birds and Nature blog of the Olive-sided Flycatcher as well as a Mississippi Kite I also found in a tree in La Junta on that trip.

SeEtta Moss
Canon City
Blogging for Birds and Blooms magazine @ http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/author/seetta-moss/
Personal blog @ BirdsAndBlooms.blogspot.com

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[cobirds] Crow Valley, Weld, warblers and vireos

Greetings All,

Glenn Walbek, Loch Kilpatrick and I headed out to Crow Valley this morning. Migrants were few, but we did find a female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, an AMERICAN REDSTART, 2 RED-EYED VIREOS, and a PLUMBEOUS VIREO. Also of note was a late migrant White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) and 2 Least Flycatchers

We also had 4 White-rumped Sandpipers and 3 Stilt Sandpipers at the Weld Co Rd 59 ponds se of Kersey.

Before meeting up with my esteemed colleagues, I stopped at the river side park at Fort Lupton, just n. of CO 52 on the west side of the river. There was an adult BROAD-WINGED HAWK.

At Barr Lake, I had a NORTHERN PARULA whilst Glenn and Loch were ogling the now-famous Chatfield vireo pair.

Union Reservoir has some shorebird habitat at the NW corner, and today there were 8 White-rumped Sandpipers and 2 Willets there

Good Birding

Steve Mlodinow

[cobirds] Yellow-throated and Plumbeous Vireos Chatfield

This afternoon, I was able to watch the Yellow-throated and Plumbeous Vireos. Most the time they would forage high in the cottonwoods before announcing their presents near the nest. Every once in a while they would forage low and collect nesting material. I only witnessed the Yellow-throated in the nest while the Plumbeous would sing nearby. Thank you to everyone on the Wild Birds Unlimited/RMBO field trip for finding these birds and to Larry, Norm, and Joe for getting the word out! Photos of this pair can be seen in the rare to uncommon gallery below:

Mark Chavez
Lakewood-Green Mtn
http://jaeger29.smugmug.com/

[cobirds] Bushtits, Longmont, Boulder County and White-throated Swift

This evening I had 9 Bushtits circumnavigate my yard moving from spruce to ponderosa to locust to aspen before heading across the street.

Also, on Sunday, 5/27, I had a White-throated Swift flying around my neighborhood.

--
Todd Deininger
Longmont, CO

[cobirds] CFO Convention photos - Mesa de Maya

Here are a few photos from the Mesa de Maya field trip.

--
Todd Deininger
Longmont, CO

[cobirds] RMBO Chatfield Banding Station Report, 5/31/12

Interesting to note the differences from day to day – yesterday the majority of our birds were previously-caught-this-season breeding Yellow Warblers; today we had more species and no clearly breeding Yellows. Here’s the breakdown:

Downy Woodpecker 1 banded earlier this season; male with full brood patch

Willow Flycatcher 2 FOS

Gray Catbird 1 banded earlier this season

Cedar Waxwing 2

Yellow Warbler 3 new, 1 banded earlier this season

Yellow-breasted Chat 1 new, 1 banded earlier this season

Spotted Towhee 1

Song Sparrow 1

American Goldfinch 1

Open through Sunday – 3 more days!

Meredith McBurney

Bander, Chatfield Banding Station

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

[cobirds] Grandview Cemetery (Fort Collins, Larimer) on the last day of May 2012

The cemetery was beautiful and full of interesting things today:

Confirmed the very recent hatch of two young in the tripledecker Broad-tailed Hummingbird nest

Watched a different female hummer near her first-time nest flycatching for mosquitoes

FOY fledged American Robin and Chipping Sparrow

Youth gangs of European Starlings with too much time, everywhere in the grass

Got photos of the last Chipping Sparrow nestling in the nest at the end of a low Colorado Blue Spruce branch

Photographed parent Chipping Sparrow feeding a recently fledged youngster a combination of vegetable matter (new leaf?) and yellow insect larvae

Found all three sibling Great Horned Owls from this year's nest together on a green ash branch some 100 yards from their birthplace elm (wonder when they'll split up?)

Saw a Common Grackle carrying something big from the flowing ditch to the base of a lilac (shooed off the bird and found a live, medium-sized crayfish! Once I saw a grackle eating a crayfish but suspected it was an act of scavenging. Maybe grackles routinely catch live crayfish.)

FOY young fox running across the golf course

Western Wood-Pewee working over the ditch for millers (about every other year pewees nest at Grandview)

Watched newly-fledged Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches work on their foraging skills

FOY White-spotted Sawyer (large longhorned beetle) landed on me (my trunk must look dead or dying, or else it sensed every woodpecker in the place would love to eat it for lunch and I represented a safe haven)

Eurasian Collared-Doves nest-building

Mourning Dove gathering nest material

Great Blue Heron at nearby Sheldon Lake (at City Park) caught and immediately ate a nice 10" rainbow trout about 20 yards from two fishermen

American Crow took a big robin nestling from a nest and ate it (major protest from not only the parent robins but also grackles)

Cedar Waxwings eating almost-ripe mulberries

Red-winged Blackbirds finding moths (not Army Cutworms = the miller) down in fairly tall park grass

Two-tailed Swallowtail laid a light green egg on a darker green ash leaflet

Heard both American and Lesser Goldfinches singing (and a starling mimicking an American)

Fox Squirrels fornicating at the onset of Brood #2 for 2012

The rooster down the alley accepted my offering of a big black field cricket today (a couple days ago, for the first time ever, it refused, preferring instead some rough-looking corn on the cob provided by its owner.)

Total of 36 species, just 2 shy of the all-time high (conceivable misses today were Red-tailed Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Cooper's Hawk, and Black-billed Magpie)

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

[cobirds] Yellow-throated and Plumbeous Vireos Chatfield

While it took some patience both vireos were seen from the paved path at about 3:30.

After the "scraped off area" it's about 85-100 yards to a fallen log on the right that Joe Roller has placed three sticks across.

This is the point from which I saw both birds on either side but close to the path.

Bob Brown

Highlands Ranch

[cobirds] More info Yellow-Throated Vireo, Chatfield

Folks,

Loch and I went to look for the Yellow-throated Vireo at Chatfield (following an interesting morning at CVCG) and found her within seconds of arriving at the spot described by Joe Roller. The Plumbeous Vireo was singing and the Yellow Throated Vireo was never far from the Plumbeous. It appeared they were gathering food, but after inspecting photographs I am convinved they were gathering nesting material. As Larry said, tapes/ipods aren't needed as the birds are always close together and active and the Plumbeous is singing. I look forward to the young 'Cassin's Vireos' in a few weeks!

Glenn Walbek

Castle Rock, CO

http://www.pbase.com/gwalbek/2012_birds

[cobirds] More info yellow-throated vireo Chatfield

Cobirders,

Thanks to Wild Birds Unlimited and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory for hosting this hike. Thanks to Joe for posting the info, to Becky Campbell for seeing the yellow-throated first and Nathan McAdams for then re-spotting it. We were alerted to the birds by the singing of the plumbeous vireo, among all of the warbling vireos. The plumbeous was easier to see because of the singing. Both stayed high in the treetops, but were visible, especially when going to the nest. DO NOT use recordings of either vireo. It is not necessary, and it would be harmful. It is no longer just another bird. This is a very rare pairing. We are hopeful we can document if hybrids can occur, and what they look like. Leaving the trail is not a good idea, as the woods are RAMPANT with POISON IVY. We also were able to see northern rough-wing swallows exploring a cavity in a stream bank. Downy woodpeckers and house wrens are going into nest cavities. A pair of eastern phoebes were frolicking near the creek, and can be seen from BOTH sides of the river from Kingfisher Bridge, for you county listers. Finally, Meredith McBurney, RMBO bander, who is still banding through Sunday, has a nest near the banding area (can be reached from the Audubon Center) of a black-chinned hummingbird.

Larry Modesitt
Chairman, Board of Directors

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

[cobirds] Eastern Wood-Pewee (Chico Basin Ranch - Pueblo Counthy)

COBirders,

I first heard (peee-a-weee) and eventually saw an Eastern Wood-Pewee in a small cottonwood grove inside the fenced alfalfa field on the Chico Basin Ranch (fee area). This area is at the very south end of the alfalfa field (recently cut) and about ½ mile south of Rose Pond. The bird was mostly seen high in a very tall cottonwood snag and also in a tall live cottonwood.

The only other migrants I found were 6 continuing White-rumped Sandpipers at Headquarters Pond (PUE) along with a Semipalmated Sandpiper, unusual looking because of an enlarged throat area. Also there were two Swainson’s Thrushes in the headquarters willows but sadly no other migrants were seen or heard.

Bill Maynard

Colorado Springs

[cobirds] Lagerman Res--Boulder Cty 5/31

Hi All,

We made a quick stop at Lagerman Res this morning. Nothing extraordinary, but a Turkey Vulture and Black-billed Magpie feasting on a roadkill Black-tailed Prairie Dog, a pair of Clark's Grebes, and a flyover Great-tailed Grackle were nice. The Ospreys were on their nesting platform on the south side of the lake. No shorebirds beyond Killdeer, despite an ample amount of shoreline.

Canada Goose 45
Gadwall 4
American Wigeon 2
Blue-winged Teal 2
Green-winged Teal (American) 2
Western Grebe 1
Clark's Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1

Osprey 2
American Coot 1
Killdeer 1
Mourning Dove 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Black-billed Magpie 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 1
American Robin 2
European Starling 4
Cedar Waxwing 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Lark Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Western Meadowlark 6
Common Grackle 1
Great-tailed Grackle 1
Bullock's Oriole 1

Marcel and Joel Such
Lyons, CO
mpsuch@gmail.com

suchbros.blogspot.com

[cobirds] More on the Yellow-throated - Plumbeous Vireo pair at Chatfield S.P. (Jefferson County)

Thanks, Norm, for posting the information.

Here are some details.

A group of about ten birders on a combined Wild Birds Unlimited/Rocky Mountain Bird

Observatory field trip this morning studied the breeding birds

at Chatfield S.P. The expected species (House Wren, Least Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler,

YB Chat, etc, etc) were in full voice, and we found several nests.

At about 11 AM while the group heard and saw a singing male Plumbeous Vireo

near a nest and sitting on the nest, two of the group, Becky Campbell and Nathan

McAdam, spotted a different vireo high in the trees right above the path. They saw field marks compatible with

Yellow-throated Vireo, so we all started searching the treetops. After initial skepticism, everyone had good looks at a Yellow-throated

Vireo. It was interacting as a pair with the Plumbeous Vireo, coming to the nest site without being

chased away. Larry Modesitt saw it right at the nest, and as I recall, saw it sitting on the nest at one point.

Scott Menough, I and the others saw the birds well.

The Yellow-throated Vireo was moving about sluggishly high in the tall cottonwood trees, offering multiple adequate views.

It had the sturdy vireo habitus, a heavy vireo type bill, and we saw a bright yellow throat and

breast, fading to white on the belly and vent. It had prominent yellow "spectacles," olive back,

darkish wings with two white wing bars and a dark tail. These features separated it from other vireos,

and although it was superficially similar to a Pine Warbler, that warbler has far less distinctive spectacles,

a thinner bill and is virtually unknown during our spring migration. As you may recall, Becky Campbell showed a Pine Warbler to 58 birders in her

back yard last December, and was recognized at the recent CFO Convention with the coveted Homeowner's

Appreciation Award. Becky knows Pine Warblers, and this was not a Pine Warbler.

On my way home I called Doug Kibbe, who did a little research on-line at Birds of North America.

There he found no previous records of Yellow-throated Vireo pairing up or nesting with Plumbeous

Vireo. The two species have no overlap in their usual breeding ranges, as they are separated by parts

of the Great Plains. Even in the Northeast, where both Blue-headed and Yellow-throated Vireos breed in the same

states, there was only one record of YT Vireo pairing with Blue-headed. (from North Carolina, BNA)

CAUTION: This is a unique situation, and the pair could produce viable hybrid young. What might they look like?

The nest will be monitored closely, and up-dates will be posted on-line at RMBO.org.

I urge birders strongly to AVOID PLAYING RECORDINGS of either

vireo's song or calls. You don't need to do that and the birds are conspicuous.

This paved path is open to the public, so birders on it are far outnumbered by other

visitors. Vehicles are on this trail during "improvements" of the trail farther south. Adequate commotion,

although it is a pretty serene spot most of the time. The birds chose to nest right over the trail. So the extra

impact by birders, compared to other human activities will be low.

Joe Roller, Denver

RMBO

[cobirds] Yellow-throated Vireo Chatfield SP

A Yellow-throated Vireo is at Chatfield SP nesting with a Plumbeous
Vireo. It was found by a Wild Birds Unlimited/RMBO field trip. Go
south from Kingfisher Bridge on the west side of the Plattte River for
5 minutes until you come to a scraped-off bare area on the right.
Continue for 50 yards where they are visiting the nest.
Norm Erthal
Arvada, CO

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[cobirds] more on Mississippi Kites in Security, Colorado

Hello,
I initially reported the breeding pair of Mississippi Kites last year
near Watson Jr. High in Security. They had two young.
They returned this year on May 6th and while she isn't on it all the
time, the same nest seems to be in play.

I am now wondering if there may be a colony of Mississippi Kites in
the works here, or that at the least that the two young or another
pair came back with the parents and are nearby but not in the exact
same area.

On May 8th, I observed one flying over the Security post office, about
a mile east northeast of the nesting area. Earlier this week, I and
two other birders observed 4 at once soaring in the air above the
original nest site. Today I observed one flying over the Catholic
church by Widefield HIgh School, which is about 1.5 miles north of the
original nesting area. I suspect these might be different birds
because the parents can usually be found much closer to the nesting
area, but I can't say for certain.

Diana Beatty
Security
El Paso County

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[cobirds] Ovenbird Count - WSOS - Jeffco

Hello All,

On May 29 and 30, Chuck Aid, Audrey Boag, Michael Kiessig, Rob Raker
and myself did the annual Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space
(WSOS). Willow Springs Open Space is private open space and this is
the 5th year for my survey. Each of the annual surveys have been
during the time frame of May 28 - June 3. During the past two days, we
recorded 24 singing Ovenbirds, which is a new high for the WSOS
count. As you may recall, there was an article in the October, 2009,
issue of the CFO Quarterly COLORADO BIRDS detailing the ovenbirds in
WSOS. The records for the past 5 years:

2008 - 20 singing Ovenbirds
2009 - 21 singing Ovenbirds
2010 - 23 singing Ovenbirds
2011 - 19 singing Ovenbirds
2012 - 24 singing Ovenbirds

Mike Henwood
Morrison
Jefferson County

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, May 31, 2012

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: May 31, 2012

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, May 31, 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)

Green Heron (Logan)

Glossy Ibis (*Logan)

Dunlin (Logan)

LAUGHING GULL (Bent)

Caspian Tern (*Delta)

White-winged Dove (*Douglas, Otero)

Greater Roadrunner (Baca)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Larimer, Logan)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (*Eagle)

Black Phoebe (Las Animas)

Eastern Phoebe (Las Animas, Yuma)

Great Crested Flycatcher (Yuma)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Phillips, Washington)

Chihuahuan Raven (Huerfano)

Purple Martin (Mesa)

Carolina Wren (Logan, Yuma)

Magnolia Warbler (Washington, Yuma)

Yellow-throated Warbler (Lincoln)

Blackpoll Warbler (Weld)

Black-and-white Warbler (Larimer)

Prothonotary Warber (Phillips)

Ovenbird (Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Weld)

Northern Waterthrush (Larimer)

HEPATIC TANAGER (Huerfano)

Scarlet Tanager (Sedgwick)

Summer Tanager (*Boulder, El Paso, Logan)

Northern Cardinal (Logan)

Indigo Bunting (Baca, *Boulder, Huerfano, Weld)

Painted Bunting (Baca)

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

Baca County:

--At Two Buttes Peterson reported Painted Bunting and Greater Roadrunner at end of road where sign saying service vehicles only on May 27.

At the entrance to Two Buttes Peterson reported Indigo Bunting on May 27.

Bent County:

--An ad LAUGHING GULL was reported by Sanders at John Martin Reservoir on May 27.

Boulder County:

--A f Summer Tanager and singing Indigo Bunting were reported by Nunes at Doudy Draw on May 30

--A singing Indigo Bunting was reported by Nunes at the South Mesa Trail Parking Lot on May 30.

Delta County:

--A Caspian Tern was reported by Garrison flying around Confluence Lake on May 29.

Douglas County:

--A White-winged Dove was seen by Baumunk S of Chatfield SP along the Highline Canal on May 26. The White-winged Dove was seen again by Wait on May 28.

Eagle County:

--A f American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by Filby on May 28 on Basalt Mountain.

El Paso/Pueblo Counties:

Chico Basin Ranch (Fee area)

--A first yr m Summer Tanager was reported by Percival near the banding station on May 24.

Huerfano County:

--Wilberding reported HEPATIC TANAGER at Santa Clara Creek on May 16. Take Road 310 west, cross the RR tracks and continue for about 300 yards. This is private land so bird from the road. On May 24, Parsons reported the HEPATIC TANAGER, Indigo Bunting, and Chihuahuan Raven at the Santa Clara Creek site.

Larimer County:

--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Nelson at Lake Estes on May 25.

--A singing m Black-and-white Warbler was reported by Sparks about 450 ft W of the Poudre Bike Trail and N College intersection in Fort Collins on May 28.

Las Animas County:

--On the west side of Trinchera, Peterson reported 3 species of phoebes together on May 27.

Lincoln County:

--A Yellow-throated Warbler was seen by Bankert at the Karval Cafe on May 24.

Logan County:

--A Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Kaempfer at Tamarack Pond on May 25.

--At Red Lion on May 26, Mlodinow reported a Dunlin just before US 138.

--Between CO 55 and pond near "Manager's house" Mlodinow reported on May 25 Ovenbird, Green Heron and Summer Tanager.

--Between both sides of Tamarack Mlodinow reported on May 25 10 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wren and a couple of Northern Cardnals.

--A Glossy Ibis was reported by Tina Jones at Tamarack SWA, S of Hwy 138 on CR 55 on a small pond on May 28.

Mesa County:

--8 Purple Martins on a line were reported by Korte on May 28 on 330 Rd E past the Vega Lake turnoff. Vega Lake is near Collbran.

Morgan County:

--An Ovenbird was reported by Mlodinow at Jackson Lake SP on May 24.

Otero County:

--A White-winged Dove was reported by Parsons in Rocky Ford on May 24.

Phillips County:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Linfield at the Holyoke Cemetery on May 24.

--A Prothonotary Warbler was at the east end of Akron St in Holyoke on May 24 as reported by Lindfield. Mlodinow refound the Prothonotary Warbler on May 25.

--Linfield reported an Ovenbird just east of Holyoke fishing pond on May 24.

Sedgwick County:

--A singing m Scarlet Tanager was reported by Stachowiak at the Julesburg rest area on May 27.

Washington County:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Floyd at Last Chance on May 25.

--A f Magnolia Warbler was reported by Roller at Last Chance on May 27.

Weld County:

--An Ovenbird was reported by Leatherman at Crow Valley CG on May 24 and an Indigo Bunting was reported by Mlodinow on May 24.

--A Blackpoll Warbler and Ovenbird were reported by Kaempfer at Crow Valley on May 26.

Yuma County:

--At Beecher Island on May 26, Mlodinow reported a family of Eastern Phoebes, Magnolia Warbler and 3 Great Crested Flycatchers.

--At Bonny SWA near old Foster's Grove CG Mlodinow reported Carolina Wren on May 26.

The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, June 2 will be Creative Ways to Learn Bird Sounds led by Alison Kondler. You must PRE-REGISTER at 303-973-3959 during office hours. Space is limited. Meet the leader at Roxborough SP Visitor Center. Take south Wadsworth Blvd past Chatfield SP to Waterton Road on left. Take Waterton Road 1.6 miles east to North Rampart Range Road, turn right and go south 2.3 miles to Roxborough Park Road. Turn left and follow signs to the park (2.2 miles). Go to top parking lot. Bring binoculars, water and snacks. State Parks Pass or Day Fee required. Visit BirdingByEar.com for more details.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

[cobirds] Late post, Yuma & Login County

Paula Hansley and myself birded a bit in NE CO. this past memorial day weekend.

To add to the already birds seen by Joe Roller, at Last Chance, Paula [I missed this bird], saw an American Redstart on 5/27, Washington County.

On 5/27, in Yuma County at Bonny Lake State Wildlife Area, we both saw and heard several Bell's Vireo. Several Baltimore Orioles, and Orchard Orioles were also seen. Red-bellied Woodpecker and many Red-headed Woodpecker were seen and heard. The lake is totally, totally, dry now, with Turkey hunting still going on.

On 5/28, in Login County, just before highway 138 at Tamarack Ranch SWA, in a small pond were 10 White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 Stilt Sandpiper, [thank you Steven] and 6, White-faced Ibis and ONE, Glossy Ibis.

At the SWA, ONE, Field Sparrow was seen and heard. We did not see any Cuckoos, unfortunately.

Happy Birding!!

Tina Jones

Littleton, Jefferson County, CO.

[cobirds] Stratton Open Space banding news! recaptures!

Subject: Stratton Open Space banding news!

Today (Tuesday 5/29/12) at Stratton Open Space*, I recaptured AfterSecondYear (ASY) F Tree Swallow (TRES) in bird box SOS 10A, a female that we trapped and banded in box SOS 2 as a ASY F 06/02/10.

Also, I recaptured an ASY F TRES in bird box SOS 15A that we trapped and banded in box SOS 19A as an ASY F 06/10/09. This bird is at least 6 years old!

Best wishes,

Dave

*Stratton Open Space is in SW Colorado Springs just north of North Cheyenne Canyon

[cobirds] RMBO Chatfield Banding Station Report, 5/30/12

The upside of this early spring for plant life is that we are getting to experience early breeding among at least some bird species – today we caught 7 female Yellow Warblers (all caught previously this season) with brood patches. I went back through our old records, and found a few late May YEWA brood patches (from 06, 07, and 08) but nothing like this. If we’ve caught 7 today, how many breeding YEWAs must there be in the banding station area?!

Only 9 new birds banded today…..

House Wren 1

Gray Catbird 1

Cedar Waxwing 2 (They have been in the area for 4 days now; catching a couple every day…..)

Yellow Warbler 2

Lincoln’s Sparrow 1

Brown-headed Cowbird 1

American Goldfinch 1

Open through Sunday.

Meredith McBurney

Bander, Chatfield Station

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

[cobirds] Grace's Warbler and Veery, Chaffee County

Hi all,

While birding in southeastern Chaffee County, Tayler Brooks and I found a singing male Grace's Warbler, along FR 148 where it crosses Spring Gulch. Actually, Tayler tells me that I should point out that she was actually the one who found it... It was a very territorial bird, and in pretty much perfect habitat for the species, so it wouldn't surprise me if there were more in the area. In case anyone tried for it, note that FR 148 is a 4x4 road only.

Today while walking down Spring Gulch towards the Arkansas River I found a single Veery in a grove of Cottonwoods, about 0.5 miles above the river. There was also about the highest density of Hammond's Flycatchers I've seen anywhere, but little else of interest.

Good birding,

Andrew Spencer
Centennial, CO

[cobirds] CFO Photo Quiz

Hi all:

I have posted the solutions to the past two CFO Photo Quizzes (cfobirds.org).

Enjoy,

Tony Leukering

Villas, NJ

[cobirds] rose-breasted grosbeak, Boulder

The breezy conditions made birding a little challenging along Boulder Creek over the lunch hour, but a singing male rose-breasted grosbeak made the effort worthwhile. He was about 250m downstream of 30th St right along the creek path. Other birds visible among the thrashing branches included common grackles, bullocks orioles, yellow warblers, black-capped chickadees, and a possible wood-pewee.

-Peter Ruprecht
Superior

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[cobirds] Boulder Co. Summer Tanager, etc.

At Doudy Draw early this morning, there was a female SUMMER TANAGER, 1 singing WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and 1 singing INDIGO BUNTING. There was a second singing INDIGO BUNTING over at the South Mesa Trail parking lot. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was back on territory on the burned hogback at the Eldorado Mountain Open Space up the street.

Christian Nunes
Boulder, CO

[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: May 30, 2012

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, May 30, 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)

Green Heron (Logan)

Dunlin (Logan)

LAUGHING GULL (Bent)

Caspian Tern (*Delta)

White-winged Dove (*Douglas, Otero)

Greater Roadrunner (Baca)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Larimer, Logan)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (*Eagle)

Black Phoebe (Las Animas)

Eastern Phoebe (Las Animas, Yuma)

Great Crested Flycatcher (Yuma)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Phillips, Washington)

Chihuahuan Raven (Huerfano)

Purple Martin (Costilla, Mesa)

Carolina Wren (Logan, Yuma)

Magnolia Warbler (Washington, Yuma)

Yellow-throated Warbler (Lincoln)

Blackpoll Warbler (Weld)

Black-and-white Warbler (Larimer)

Prothonotary Warber (Phillips)

Ovenbird (Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Weld)

Northern Waterthrush (Larimer)

HEPATIC TANAGER (Huerfano)

Scarlet Tanager (Alamosa, Sedgwick)

Summer Tanager (El Paso, Larimer, Logan)

Northern Cardinal (Logan)

Indigo Bunting (Baca, Huerfano, Weld)

Painted Bunting (Baca)

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Boulder)

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

Alamosa County:

--A Scarlet Tanager was reported by Simmons at Alamosa NWR on May 23.

Baca County:

--At Two Buttes Peterson reported Painted Bunting and Greater Roadrunner at end of road where sign saying service vehicles only on May 27.

At the entrance to Two Buttes Peterson reported Indigo Bunting on May 27.

Bent County:

--An ad LAUGHING GULL was reported by Sanders at John Martin Reservoir on May 27.

Boulder County:

--An EASTERN MEADOWLARK was heard by Floyd in Greenlee Preserve in Lafayette on May 23.

Costilla County:

--2 Purple Martins were reported by Simmons at Smith Reservoir on May 23.

Delta County:

--A Caspian Tern was reported by Garrison flying around Confluence Lake on May 29.

Douglas County:

--A White-winged Dove was seen by Baumunk S of Chatfield SP along the Highline Canal on May 26. The White-winged Dove was seen again by Wait on May 28.

Eagle County:

--A f American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by Filby on May 28 on Basalt Mountain.

El Paso/Pueblo Counties:

Chico Basin Ranch (Fee area)

--A first yr m Summer Tanager was reported by Percival near the banding station on May 24.

Huerfano County:

Larimer County:

--A molting m Summer Tanager was reported by Core at Dixon Reservoir on May 22. Look in Cottonwoods in NW corner. The Summer Tanager was reported by Komar in the same location on May 23.

--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Nelson at Lake Estes on May 25.

--A singing m Black-and-white Warbler was reported by Sparks about 450 ft W of the Poudre Bike Trail and N College intersection in Fort Collins on May 28.

Las Animas County:

--On the west side of Trinchera, Peterson reported 3 species of phoebes together on May 27.

Lincoln County:

--A Yellow-throated Warbler was seen by Bankert at the Karval Cafe on May 24.

Logan County:

--A Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Kaempfer at Tamarack Pond on May 25.

--At Red Lion on May 26, Mlodinow reported a Dunlin just before US 138.

--Between CO 55 and pond near "Manager's house" Mlodinow reported on May 25 Ovenbird, Green Heron and Summer Tanager.

--Between both sides of Tamarack Mlodinow reported on May 25 10 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wren and a couple of Northern Cardnals.

Mesa County:

--8 Purple Martins on a line were reported by Korte on May 28 on 330 Rd E past the Vega Lake turnoff. Vega Lake is near Collbran.

Morgan County:

--An Ovenbird was reported by Mlodinow at Jackson Lake SP on May 24.

Otero County:

--A White-winged Dove was reported by Parsons in Rocky Ford on May 24.

Phillips County:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Linfield at the Holyoke Cemetery on May 24.

--A Prothonotary Warbler was at the east end of Akron St in Holyoke on May 24 as reported by Lindfield. Mlodinow refound the Prothonotary Warbler on May 25.

--Linfield reported an Ovenbird just east of Holyoke fishing pond on May 24.

Sedgwick County:

--A singing m Scarlet Tanager was reported by Stachowiak at the Julesburg rest area on May 27.

Washington County:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Floyd at Last Chance on May 25.

--A f Magnolia Warbler was reported by Roller at Last Chance on May 27.

Weld County:

--An Ovenbird was reported by Leatherman at Crow Valley CG on May 24 and an Indigo Bunting was reported by Mlodinow on May 24.

--A Blackpoll Warbler and Ovenbird were reported by Kaempfer at Crow Valley on May 26.

Yuma County:

--At Beecher Island on May 26, Mlodinow reported a family of Eastern Phoebes, Magnolia Warbler and 3 Great Crested Flycatchers.

--At Bonny SWA near old Foster's Grove CG Mlodinow reported Carolina Wren on May 26.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

[cobirds] Basalt birds (Eagle County)

Hi all

This evening I headed up Basalt mountain and had at least 1 Flammulated Owl after dark.

Yesterday, Memorial Day, Denise and I were up there late afternoon, and whilst it wasn’t too birdy, we did find a female Three-toed Woodpecker at 8,200 feet, enjoyed hearing several Hermit Thrushes singing, got great looks at a MacGillivray’s Warbler, and later found a basic plumaged Common Loon on Spring Park reservoir on the way home.

Good birding all

Dick Filby

Carbondale, CO

[cobirds] Dickcissel around southeast Colorado

A few days ago I drove down to the lower Arkansas Valley in search of a few specialty species including Dickcissel as I had not found any around Canon City this year. I was concerned that they would have difficulty finding habitat this year as they use hay fields since we have converted most of the grassland. And this year the hay grew very quickly due to the warm spring temps and is being mowed earlier than usual. I checked some fields in eastern Pueblo County where I have had them previously but no luck. Indeed I found a lot of hay fields that had already been mowed but further east I found 3-4 male Dickcissels singing their hearts out in some uncut hay fields. I got some extra nice photos of them and have uploaded them to my Birds and Nature blog.

Ironically today I found a male Dickcissel singing in one of the few uncut hay fields in the Canon City area. However, it was quite distant and it's a good thing their distinctive song carries a long distance as I could not locate it visually.

SeEtta Moss
Canon City
Blogging for Birds and Blooms magazine @ http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/author/seetta-moss/
Personal blog @ BirdsAndBlooms.blogspot.com

[cobirds] McCown's Longspur, Boulder County, May 29th

Hello, Birders.

County birding is such a funny thing.

If I'd been a few miles to the east (i.e., across the Weld-Boulder County line) this morning, Tuesday, May 29th, a McCown's Longspur would have been unremarkable. The species is common most summers in parts of Weld County. But McCown's Longspur is a red-hot bird for most Boulder County birders. And I found one earlier today on Gunbarrel Hill, in blessed Boulder County. The bird was at 40.063260 N, 105.145747 W. Looks like that would be about 3000 feet south of Lookout Road, and about 3750 feet west of 95th Street. Best access would be from 95th Street, at the intersection with W. Phillips Road. The bird was flying around (the longspur way!), so be alert for the rattling flight call.

FYI, I found no Lark Buntings in the area, even though I know they'd been reported here by several birders for the past coupla weeks. Dunno if they've moved on, or if I just missed 'em. Grasshopper Sparrows and Blue Grosbeaks everywhere. And down by Boulder Creek, the Eastern Warbling-Vireo, (Eastern?) Willow Flycatcher, Bullock's x Baltimore Oriole, and male Orchard Orioles (plural, nice) continue.

Ted Floyd
tedfloyd57@hotmail.com
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

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[cobirds] Bobolink - Pineridge Natural Area - Fort Collins

Bobolink observed today in a fallow ag. field at Pineridge Natural
Area. Unfortunately, this portion of the property is closed to the
public. This is the same spot I observed an individual last year.

Aran Meyer
Old Town Fort Collins

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Compiler: Joyce Takamine

Date: May 29, 2012

email: rba AT cfobirds.org

phone: 303-659-8750

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, May 29, 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)

Green Heron (Logan)

Dunlin (Logan)

LAUGHING GULL (Bent)

White-winged Dove (Douglas, Otero)

Greater Roadrunner (Baca)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Larimer, Logan)

Black Phoebe (Las Animas)

Eastern Phoebe (Las Animas, Yuma)

Great Crested Flycatcher (Yuma)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Phillips, Washington)

Chihuahuan Raven (Huerfano)

Purple Martin (Costilla, *Mesa)

Carolina Wren (Logan, Yuma)

Magnolia Warbler (Washington, Yuma)

Yellow-throated Warbler (Lincoln)

Blackpoll Warbler (Weld)

Black-and-white Warbler (*Larimer)

Prothonotary Warber (Phillips)

Ovenbird (Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Weld)

Northern Waterthrush (Larimer)

HEPATIC TANAGER (Huerfano)

Scarlet Tanager (Alamosa, Sedgwick)

Summer Tanager (El Paso, Larimer, Logan)

Northern Cardinal (Logan)

Indigo Bunting (Baca, Huerfano, Weld)

Painted Bunting (Baca)

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Boulder)

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

Alamosa County:

--A Scarlet Tanager was reported by Simmons at Alamosa NWR on May 23.

Baca County:

--At Two Buttes Peterson reported Painted Bunting and Greater Roadrunner at end of road where sign saying service vehicles only on May 27.

At the entrance to Two Buttes Peterson reported Indigo Bunting on May 27.

Bent County:

--An ad LAUGHING GULL was reported by Sanders at John Martin Reservoir on May 27.

Boulder County:

--An EASTERN MEADOWLARK was heard by Floyd in Greenlee Preserve in Lafayette on May 23.

Costilla County:

--2 Purple Martins were reported by Simmons at Smith Reservoir on May 23.

Douglas County:

--A White-winged Dove was seen by Baumunk S of Chatfield SP along the Highline Canal on May 26.

El Paso/Pueblo Counties:

Chico Basin Ranch (Fee area)

--A first yr m Summer Tanager was reported by Percival near the banding station on May 24.

Huerfano County:

Larimer County:

--A molting m Summer Tanager was reported by Core at Dixon Reservoir on May 22. Look in Cottonwoods in NW corner. The Summer Tanager was reported by Komar in the same location on May 23.

--A Northern Waterthrush was reported by Nelson at Lake Estes on May 25.

--A singing m Black-and-white Warbler was reported by Sparks about 450 ft W of the Poudre Bike Trail and N College intersection in Fort Collins on May 28.

Las Animas County:

--On the west side of Trinchera, Peterson reported 3 species of phoebes together on May 27.

Lincoln County:

--A Yellow-throated Warbler was seen by Bankert at the Karval Cafe on May 24.

Logan County:

--A Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported by Kaempfer at Tamarack Pond on May 25.

--At Red Lion on May 26, Mlodinow reported a Dunlin just before US 138.

--Between CO 55 and pond near "Manager's house" Mlodinow reported on May 25 Ovenbird, Green Heron and Summer Tanager.

--Between both sides of Tamarack Mlodinow reported on May 25 10 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wren and a couple of Northern Cardnals.

Mesa County:

--8 Purple Martins on a line were reported by Korte on May 28 on 330 Rd E past the Vega Lake turnoff. Vega Lake is near Collbran.

Morgan County:

--An Ovenbird was reported by Mlodinow at Jackson Lake SP on May 24.

Otero County:

--A White-winged Dove was reported by Parsons in Rocky Ford on May 24.

Phillips County:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Linfield at the Holyoke Cemetery on May 24.

--A Prothonotary Warbler was at the east end of Akron St in Holyoke on May 24 as reported by Lindfield. Mlodinow refound the Prothonotary Warbler on May 25.

--Linfield reported an Ovenbird just east of Holyoke fishing pond on May 24.

Sedgwick County:

--A singing m Scarlet Tanager was reported by Stachowiak at the Julesburg rest area on May 27.

Washington County:

--A Yellow-throated Vireo was reported by Floyd at Last Chance on May 25.

--A f Magnolia Warbler was reported by Roller at Last Chance on May 27.

Weld County:

--An Ovenbird was reported by Leatherman at Crow Valley CG on May 24 and an Indigo Bunting was reported by Mlodinow on May 24.

--A Blackpoll Warbler and Ovenbird were reported by Kaempfer at Crow Valley on May 26.

Yuma County:

--At Beecher Island on May 26, Mlodinow reported a family of Eastern Phoebes, Magnolia Warbler and 3 Great Crested Flycatchers.

--At Bonny SWA near old Foster's Grove CG Mlodinow reported Carolina Wren on May 26.

Good Birding,

Joyce Takamine

Monday, 28 May 2012

[cobirds] RMBO Chatfield Banding Station Report, 5/28/12

Spent a very mellow Memorial Day morning, with a handful of cool birds and a fun mix of RMBO &/or ASGD board members, staff, volunteers, and master birders and other visitors. Yellow Warblers continue to dominate, particularly since there are so few other species around. We caught 2 of the many Cedar Waxwings that have been hanging around the southeast corner of the pond acting like swallows, appearing to be taking tiny insects out of the air low over the water. We watched the Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s nest, but did not see her visit today. Searched in vain for the Yellow Warbler nest right below the net on the ridge; we are wondering if the wild wind yesterday did it in.

Here’s the breakdown:

Western Wood-pewee 1

Warbling Vireo 2

Gray Catbird 1

Cedar Waxwing 2

Yellow Warbler 5 new, 7 caught previously this season. 2 had brood patches, bringing the total to 3 already on eggs before the end of May (compared to none in years past)

Wilson’s Warbler 1 (an adult F, only the 2^nd of the year; we banded 30 last year)

Spotted Towhee 1 (F with brood patch)

We are open daily, weather permitting, through Sunday, June 3.

Meredith McBurney

Bander, Chatfield Station

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory