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Colorado Birds | Fall 2019 | Vol. 53 No. 4 167

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News from the Field: Fall 2018 (August-November)

DEAN SHOUP

SEASON OVERVIEW

“News from the Field” contains reports of rare or unusual birds found in Colorado. The reports contained herein are largely vetted by eBird review and in some cases the Colorado Bird Records Committee (CBRC). In addition, some reports have not been vetted by these groups, and the editors don’t necessarily vouch for their authenticity. Species and/or counties in capitals are those for which the CBRC requests documentation. Please submit your sightings of these “review” species through the CFO website at coloradobirdrecords.org.

Colorado temperatures were near normal with below average precipitation for August. September finished with above average temperatures and below average precipitation. October had slightly below average temperatures with near-normal precipitation. Mid-October brought the first snowfall of the season on the evening of the 13th and made for some interesting sightings the following day. November was a contrast of cold in the first part of the month followed by more mild conditions in the second half.

Western Colorado had quite a few first county records this season including Red-necked Grebe, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Sedge Wren, Summer Tanager, Rusty Blackbird, Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Palm Warbler. Western Colorado also had its first Philadelphia Vireo with photos. A Mexican Whip-poor-will was found for the state’s third record of this elusive species.

Rare waterfowl included two Eurasian Wigeon and a Mottled Duck. Scoters were widespread this season along with the rarer Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which was seen more frequently than in recent years. The Front Range experienced a fallout of American Golden-Plover on the 14th of October following a weather event that seemingly funneled the birds right into our locale. A Red Knot was a highlight for shorebirds this season.

White-eyed Vireo, Jefferson, 09 November 2018. Photo by Rob Raker.

168 Colorado Birds | Fall 2019 | Vol. 53 No. 4 Colorado Birds | Fall 2019 | Vol. 53 No. 4 169

It was a great year for Parasitic Jaegers, as there were four different reports around the state. Long-tailed Jaeger was seen with typical frequency. Absent was Pomarine Jaeger.

Loons were prevalent this season, including scattered reports of Red-throated, Pacific, Common, and two reports of the rare Yellow-billed Loon. Tricolored and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron both made appearances, along with a rare White Ibis. A Harris’s Hawk was found again in the Fort Collins area after one had been seen the previous winter. Both an adult and a second-year Zone-tailed Hawk were found in Otero, with just the second-year bird continuing and seen by many. Only a few other sightings in the state have been seen by multiple observers.

Perhaps the most exciting news from the fall of 2018 were three rare tyrant-flycatcher reports, including the state’s third Tropical Kingbird and the state’s first, then second Fork-tailed Flycatchers. Other notable rarities included reports of Vermilion Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Snow Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Baird’s Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and many fall warblers. Warbler highlights included Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Cape May Warbler, and unprecedented numbers of Palm Warbler.

In the list of reports below, county names are italicized, and the following abbreviations are used: CFO – Colorado Field Ornithologists; DFO – Denver Field Ornithologists; m.ob. – many observers; NA – Natural Area; NWR – National Wildlife Refuge; OS – Open Space; RA – Recreation Area; Res. – Reservoir; SP – State Park; SWA – State Wildlife Area; WTP – Water Treatment Plant.

Snow Goose: The earliest record of the season, one was found off US 50 north of the Arkansas River, Prowers, 31 Aug (Steven Mlodinow). Rare until the first of November, one at Nucla WTP, Montrose, 26 Oct supplied an early western Colorado record (Coen Dexter, Brenda Wright).

Greater White-fronted Goose: Five at Parque de Vida in Cortez, Montezuma, 21 Nov (Jason St. Pierre). Three at Vallecito Res., La Plata, 29 Nov (Jason St. Pierre, Ryan Votta), rare in migration and winter for western Colorado.

Trumpeter Swan: One at Denver Botanic Gardens—Chatfield Farms, Jefferson, 23 Nov (Frank Farrell, Aaron Shipe, m.ob.). One at Plum Creek wetland at West Titan Road, Douglas, 25 Nov (Mackenzie Goldthwait, Doug Kibbe), possibly the

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Blue-Headed Vireo, Holly, 04 October 2018. Photo by Tony Leukering,

Eastern Towhee, Douglas, 30 September 2018. Photo by Glenn Walbek.

Blackburnian Warbler, Boulder, 08 Septem-ber 2018. Photo by Mark Chavez.

American Golden-Plover, Jefferson, 15 October 2018. Photo by Rob Raker.



same bird as reported from Chatfield Farms location. Other reports from Garfield, Mesa, and Moffat, 10-26 Nov.

Tundra Swan: Seven at Timnath Res., Larimer, 9 Nov (Josh Bruening, m.ob.). Five at Highline SP, Mesa, 14-18 Nov (Deb Mallory, m.ob.). Two at Delta Co G50 Road area, Delta, 16-23 Nov (Betty Fenton, Rick Harner, Bruce Ackerman). Four at Eleven Mile SP, Park, 10 Nov (David Tønnessen, Jim Merritt). One at John Martin Res., Bent, 30 Nov (Duane Nelson). Other reports from Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Moffat, Morgan, Park, and Prowers, 13 Aug-30 Nov.

Wood Duck: One near Gypsum, Eagle, 28 Sep (Eric Culbertson). One near Telluride, San Miguel, 18-22 Oct (Eric Hynes). Three near Eagle, Eagle, 3 Nov (Gerald Fedrizzi), rare species above 6500 feet in western Colorado.

EURASIAN WIGEON: One at Industrial Park Pond, Montezuma, 18 Oct-21 Nov (Erik Hendrickson, m.ob.). One at Neenoshe Res., Kiowa, 6 Aug (Steven Mlodinow), continuing from 22 July.

MOTTLED DUCK: One at Neegronda Res., Kiowa, 4-6 Aug (Steven Mlodinow, m.ob.). Refound on 4 Aug after being discovered about a month prior on 22-23 Jul (Steven Mlodinow, Tony Leukering). Second state record if accepted by the CBRC. First state record found by same observer (Steven Mlodinow) at Andrick Ponds SWA, Morgan, 28 Jul 2013.

Surf Scoter: A female and five young were noted at Bolin Res., Grand Mesa, Mesa, 20-29 Aug (Denise and Mark Vollmar). No breeding records exist in Colorado. Six female/immature were at Antero Res., Park, 13 Oct (Steven Mlodinow, Chris Wood). Many other reports from Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Custer, Delta, Douglas, Fremont, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Ouray, Park, Rio Blanco, Routt, Sedgwick, and Weld.

White-winged Scoter: One at Coors Ponds, Jefferson, 14 Oct (Chris Wood). A high count of 11 at Neenoshe Res., Kiowa, 20 Oct (David Tønnessen, David Dowell), was down to one at the same location, 10 Nov (Steven Mlodinow, David Ely). As many as three at Aurora Res., Arapahoe, 20 Oct (Matt Hofeditz). Two were at Cherry Creek SP, Arapahoe, 24 Oct (Cynthia Madsen). Rare fall migrant for western Colorado, one was found at Elkhead Creek Res., Moffat, 9 Nov (Jan Leonard). As many as nine at Eleven Mile SP, Park, 3-18 Nov (Joey Kellner, m.ob.). As many as six at Timnath Res., Larimer, 10 Nov (Nick Komar, Jay Breidt, m.ob.). Three were noted at Neegronda Res., Kiowa, 10 Nov (Steven Mlodinow, David Ely). Two at Bear Creek Lake Park, Jefferson, 11 Nov, (Mark Chavez, m.ob.). One at Sands Lake SWA, Chaffee, 18-19 Nov (Sally Waterhouse, Jack Harlan).

Black Scoter: One western Colorado record at Colorado River SP—Fruita section, Mesa, 31 Oct-7 Nov (Ryan Claar, m.ob.). One at Cherry Creek SP, Arapahoe, 2-10 Nov (Myron Gerhard, Mark Chavez, David Starbuck, m.ob.). One, presumably the same bird, was at both Clear Creek Valley Park and nearby Jim Baker Res., Adams, 20 Oct (Bruce Snyder, Lorraine Lanning). Two were at Bear Creek Lake Park, Jefferson, 11-20 Nov (Mark Chavez, m.ob.) One at Marston Res. complex, Denver, 2-9 Nov (Doug Kibbe, m.ob.). One at South Platte Res., Jefferson, 10-30 Nov (James McCall, m.ob.). One at Boulder Res., Boulder, 10 Nov (Nathan Pieplow, Okamoto Keita Sin, Peter Burke). As many as eight at Eleven Mile SP, Park, 10-18 Nov (Glenn Walbek, m.ob.). One at Brush Hollow Res., Fremont, 10-11 Nov (Jerry DeBoer, m.ob.). Two at Pueblo Res.—South Marina area, Pueblo, 10 Nov (Brad Steger, Mark Peterson, Lisa Edwards).

Long-tailed Duck: One at Cherry Creek SP, Arapahoe, 9-29 Nov (Ben Sampson, m.ob.). One at South Platte River—88th Ave area, Adams, 11 Nov (Michael Lester). One at Lake Loveland, Larimer, 13-17 Nov (Josh Bruening, m.ob.). One at Jumbo Res., Logan/Sedgwick, 16 Nov (Sue Riffe, Mary Stuber). A high count of five was found at Twin Lakes—Whistler Point, Lake, 18 Nov (Kathy Mihm Dunning, Joey Kellner, David Dowell). Two at Spinney


Mountain Res., Park, 18 Nov (Kathy Mihm Dunning, Joey Kellner, David Dowell). One at Eleven Mile SP, Park, 18 Nov (Kathy Mihm Dunning, Joey Kellner, David Dowell). One at Frederick Lake (Milavec Res.) & RA, Weld, 22-27 Nov (Steven Mlodinow, Peter Gent).

Red-necked Grebe: First county record was found at Totten Res., Montezuma, 15 Sep (Jim Beatty). Other nearby reports included one at Miramonte Res., San Miguel, 30 Oct-14 Nov (Brenda Wright, Coen Dexter, George Steele, Victor Zerbi), and one at Vallecito Res., La Plata, 25-29 Nov (Jason St. Pierre, Ryan Votta). Two at Lake Catamount, Routt, 5 Oct (Tresa Moulton), provided the only report for the northwest corner of the state. Other reports from Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer, and Park, 15 Sep-16 Nov were more typical.

LESSER NIGHTHAWK: A male flushed from the tamarisk, northwest side of Upper Queens/Neeskah Res., Kiowa, 4 Aug (Steven Mlodinow). This is only the second county record and first fall county record for the species. First being in May 2003.

White-winged Dove: One in Telluride (8800 feet), San Miguel, 6 Oct (Kelly Grace), set an elevation record for fall migration.

MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL: With only two accepted records for the state, one, found three miles below the dam at Dolores River Lone Dome SWA, Montezuma, 2 Aug (Steve Larson), was extraordinary.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: It was an exceptional year for this species. With eBird tallying higher frequency percentages (0.74 the week of 22 Oct), high counts (3 on 15 Sep), and totals (22 - week of 15 Sep and 19 - week of 15 Oct), than in previous years. As many as two at a private residence 26 Aug-11 Sep (Janeal W. Thompson, m.ob.). One visited a farm yard near Lamar, Prowers, 6 Sep (Jane Stulp). One was at a private residence near Colorado Springs, El Paso, 9-10 Sep (Mark Peterson). One was in the town of Eads, Kiowa, 9 Sep (Tony Leukering), and also nearby at Plainview School, Kiowa, 9 Sep (Tony Leukering). As many as three were coming to feeders near Lamar, Prowers, 17-18 Sep (DFO field trips). As many as two juvenile males showed up at a private residence near Marston Lake, Denver, 20-23 Oct (Tina Jones, m.ob.). One was at a private residence in North Boulder, Boulder, 23-25 Oct (David Haskell, Christian Nunes, m.ob.).

American Golden-Plover: One at Prewitt Res., 4-8 Sep (Bob Shade, Pablo Quezada). One at Neegronda Res., Kiowa, 18 Sep (Steven Mlodinow). On 14 Oct, Colorado experienced a fallout of the species. Eleven sites reported at least one and as many as three around the Front Range. This was due to an interesting weather pattern that funneled the migrating birds right into our locale. More detailed information was shared on COBirds via Bryan Guarente. Beginning with one at Waneka Lake, Boulder, 14 Oct (Ted Floyd), reports started piling up; continuing with as many as two at Cherry Creek SP, Arapahoe, 14-15 Oct (Ken Wat, m.ob.); two at Golden Ponds, Boulder, 14 Oct (David Dowell); one at Lagerman Res., Boulder, 14 Oct (Nathan Pieplow, m.ob.); as many as two at Prince Lake #2, Boulder, 14-21 Oct (Peter Burke, m.ob.); as many as three at Valmont Overlook, Boulder, 14 Oct (Christian Nunes, Peter Burke, William Kaempfer); one at Bear Creek Lake Park—Boat Launch area, Jefferson, 14 Oct (Reed Gerdes); one at Harriman Lake Park, Jefferson, 14-16 Oct (Chris Wood, m.ob.); one at Robert A. Easton Regional Park, Jefferson, 14-16 Oct (Mackenzie Goldthwait, Doug Kibbe, m.ob); one at Sheridan Lake, Kiowa, 14 Oct (Tony Leukering); and one at Lonetree Res., Larimer, 14-15 Oct (Nick Komar, Jay Breidt, m.ob.). Other reports included one at Dillon Res. SUMMIT, 16-23 Oct (Reed Gerdes, Misty Walters, Adam Vesely); one at Barr Lake SP, Adams, 18-29 Oct (David Dowell, m.ob.); one at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Adams, 19-20 (Sarah Leavesley, m.ob.). After the initial wave from mid-Oct, there were two at Neenoshe Res., Kiowa, 31 Oct-6 Nov (Tony Leukering, Glenn Walbek, Mark Peterson); two at Upper Queens/Neeskah Res., Kiowa, 10 Nov (Steven Mlodinow, David Ely); and one at Neenoshe Res., Kiowa, 14 Nov (DFO field trip led by David Suddjian).



Piping Plover: One at Jumbo Res., SEDGWICK, 5 Aug (David Dowell). Two at Upper Queens/Neeskah Res., Kiowa, 11 Aug (Logan Kahle). One at 18 Island Res., JACKSON, 19 Aug (Steven Mlodinow, Sean Walters). One at Prewitt Res., WASHINGTON, 1-8 Sep (Charles Hundertmark, m.ob.).

RED KNOT: One was found at Prewitt Res., Washington, 22-26 Aug (DFO field trip led by David Suddjian, m.ob.).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: One at Prewitt Res., Washington, 21 Aug- 2 Sep (Doug Faulkner, m.ob.). One at Timnath Res., Larimer, 4-5 Sep (Irene Fortune, m.ob.). One at Clear Creek Valley Park, Adams, 24 Aug (Tyler Wilson, Alicia Arnold). One at Van’s Marsh, Bent, 31 Aug (Steven Mlodinow, Mark Peterson). Two at May Ranch, Prowers, 31 Aug (Steven Mlodinow). As many as three at Jackson Res.—North, Morgan, 3-16 Sep (Tony Leukering, Kathy Mihm Dunning, David Dowell, Kevin DeBoer). Two at John Martin Res., Bent, 25 Sep (Duane Nelson).

Short-billed Dowitcher: One at Red Lion SWA, Logan, 5 Aug (David Dowell). One at Upper Queens/Neeskah Res., Kiowa, 25 Aug (Steven Mlodinow). Three at Clear Creek Valley Park, Adams, 30 Aug (Chris McCreedy, Sean Fitzgerald). One at Neenhose Res., Kiowa, 30 Sep (Steven Mlodinow, Sean Walters). One at Blue Mesa Res., Gunnison, 21 Oct (Arden Anderson), first county record.

Red Phalarope: One at Jackson Res.—North, Morgan, 31 Aug (Joey Kellner, et al.); one at the same location on 24 Aug (David Dowell). Two were found at Neenoshe Res., Kiowa, 18 Sep (Steven Mlodinow). One at Chico Basin Ranch, El Paso, 26-27 Sep (Bill Maynard, Brandon K. Percival, m.ob.). One at McPhee Res., Montezuma, 27 Sep (Glenn Dunmire). One at Eagle Cove at Chatfield SP, Jefferson, 30 Sep (Michael Lester, Glenn Walbek).

PARASITIC JAEGER: One at Chatfield SP, Jefferson/Douglas, 9-30 Sep (Myron Gerhard, m.ob.). One at Pueblo Res., Pueblo, 20-22 Sep (Mark Peterson, m.ob.). One at Cherry Creek SP, Arapahoe, 1 Oct (Karl Stecher). One at Lagerman Res., Boulder, 6-10 Oct (Peter Burke, m.ob.).

LONG-TAILED JAEGER: Typical sightings are late August, peaking in mid-September. A very early report was one at Chatfield SP, Jefferson, 1 Aug (Megan Miller). First reported as one, then two continued, then one again at Chatfield SP, Jefferson/Douglas, 9-30 Sep (Myron Gerhard, m.ob.). One at Pueblo Res., Pueblo, 15-20 Sep (Mark Peterson).

Parasitic Jaeger, Boulder, 06 October 2018. Photo by Christian Nunes.

Palm Warbler, Jefferson, 28 November 2018. Photo by Tony Leukering.

Philadelphia Vireo, Lamar, 01 October 2018. Photo by Tony Leukering.

Philadelphia Vireo, Ouray, 01 September 2018. Photo by Steven Rash.

Zone-tailed Hawk, Otero, 04 August 2018. Photo by Kathy Mihm Dunning.



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Black-legged Kittiwake: One at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs, El Paso, 30 Oct (Jim Merritt), was most likely seen later in the day at Pueblo Res., Pueblo, 30 Oct (Brandon K. Percival). An adult was seen at Spinney Mountain Reservoir, Park, 3-5 Nov (DFO field trip led by Joey Kellner, m.ob.).

Mew Gull: Just the third record for western Colorado, one was at Stagecoach Res., 11 Sep, Routt, (David Suddjian, Dale Pate). Other reports from Arapahoe, Boulder, Kiowa, Larimer, and Logan, 13 Aug-27 Nov.

Great Black-backed Gull: One at Pueblo Res., Pueblo, 10-30 Nov (Brad Steger, Mark Peterson, Lisa Edwards, Brandon K. Percival, m.ob.). One at Upper Queens/Neeskah Res. Kiowa, 18 Nov (Steven Mlodinow, Mark Peterson).

Common Tern: Early for the season, two were well described at Timnath Res., Larimer, 6 Aug (Joe Mammoser). A high count of 17 was at San Luis SP, Alamosa, 19 Sep (David Antieau). Other reports from Adams, Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Custer, Douglas, Jefferson, Kiowa, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Park, Pueblo, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, and Yuma, 18 Aug-13 Oct.

Red-throated Loon: One at Lake Ladora at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Adams, 11 Oct (Bob & Nancy Bierling). One at Adobe Creek Res., Kiowa, 20 Oct (David Dowell, David Tønnessen). One at Union Res., Weld, 23 Oct (Steven Mlodinow). One at Chatfield SP—North Boat Ramp area, Jefferson/Douglas, 23-27 Nov (Joey Kellner, m.ob.).

Pacific Loon: One along Delta Co G50 Road area, Delta, 23-25 Oct (Bruce Ackermann). Other reports from Adams, Boulder, Custer, Denver, Douglas, Huerfano, Jefferson, Kiowa, Larimer, Park, Pueblo, Summit, and Weld.

YELLOW-BILLED LOON: One at Dillon Res.—Blue River Inlet area, Summit, 30 Sep (Ryan & Jack Bushong). One juvenile at Pueblo Res., Pueblo, 30 Nov (Brandon Percival, John Drummond).

American Bittern: One in Ridgway, Ouray, 9 Nov (Coen Dexter, Brenda Wright), was unexpected.

TRICOLORED HERON: One at Neegronda Res., Kiowa, 6 Aug (Jeannie Mitchell, Lynne Miller, John Drummond, Janeal W. Thompson). One at Thurston Res., Prowers, 13 Aug (Nathan Pieplow).

Prothonotary Warbler, Jefferson, 09 Sep-tember 2018. Photo by Rob Raker.

Prothonotary Warbler, Jefferson, 21 No-vember 2018. Photo by Daniel Horton.

Rusty Blackbird, El Paso, 08 November 2018. Photo by Aaron Driscoll

Snow Bunting, Grand, 27 November 2018. Photo by Burke Angstman.

Winter Wren, Larimer, 07 November 2018. Photo by David Leatherman.



YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON: A juvenile at Main Res., Jefferson, 17 Aug (Santi Tabares), was just the second county record. As many as three were found at Stalker Lake SWA, Yuma, 24 Aug-7 Sep (Kathy Mihm Dunning, Joey Kellner, m.ob.). On 1 Sep, a DFO field trip led by Gregg Goodrich documented two juveniles and one adult at this location.

WHITE IBIS: One at Van’s Marsh, Bent, 28-31 Aug (DFO field trip led by David Suddjian, m.ob.)

Mississippi Kite: Two at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Adams, 5 Sep (Cathy Sheeter).

HARRIS’S HAWK: One at Arapahoe Bend NA—Rigden Res., Larimer, 13 Oct-27 Nov (Andy Bankert, Carrie Olson, m.ob.).

ZONE-TAILED HAWK: One adult and one second-year bird were found on along Higbee Valley Road, Otero, 4 Aug (Kathy Mihm Dunning). Just the second-year bird continued through 13 Aug (m.ob.).

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER: One was found a quarter mile west of the sewage treatment plant along Greenhorn Creek, Pueblo, 29 Aug (Dave Silverman).

Gray Flycatcher: One at Northstar Preserve, Pitkin, 13 Aug (Catherine Hagan), rare above 7500 feet elevation.

Cordilleran Flycatcher: One at Horsethief SWA, Mesa, 4-9 Oct (Drew Kelly), record late date by eight days. Two were at Ridgway SP, Ouray, 13 Oct (Bruce Acherman), record late by 12 days, becoming rare by the first of October. Past record late date was 1 Oct.

Black Phoebe: Rare for the county, one was found at Clear Creek Trail—Golden to I-70, Jefferson, 21 Nov (Daniel Horton).

Vermilion Flycatcher: A long staying bird was seen by many at Cottonwood Marsh at Walden Ponds, Boulder, 29 Sep-25 Nov (Peter Burke, m.ob.).

TROPICAL KINGBIRD: Third state record was found at South Platte Park—South Platte Res. entrance road, Jefferson, 5-13 Oct (Frank Farell, Michael Lester, m.ob.).

FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER: Amazingly, after no reports in the state’s history, two were found this season. First, a single observer sighting with photo became the first state record, east of Hamilton Res., on a two-track road north of Buckeye road and west of I-25, Larimer, 14 Sep (Jim Fortune). Many searched for this bird to no avail. To many birders’ delight, another was found at Prince Lake #2, Boulder, 21-23 Oct (Laura Steadman, m.ob.), for the state’s second record.

WHITE-EYED VIREO: As many as two were at Boyd Lake SP, Larimer, 29 Oct-2 Nov (Judie Wright, Nick Komar). A first-winter bird was at Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson, 8-9 Nov (Frank Farell, Aaron Shipe, m.ob.).

BLUE-HEADED VIREO: One at Roselawn Cemetery, Pueblo, 2 Sep (Mark Miller).

PHILADELPHIA VIREO: One at a private residence in Rye, Pueblo, 24 Aug (Dave Silverman). One in Box Canyon, Ouray, 1 Sep (Steven Rash), was the first western Colorado record with photos.

WINTER WREN: Two individuals within a mile of each other in Larimer. One at the Environmental Learning Center, Larimer, 31 Oct-8 Nov (Joe Mammoser, m.ob.) and one at Poudre River/Prospect Ponds NA, Larimer, 7-25 Nov (Dave Leatherman, m.ob.).



SEDGE WREN: One at Rose Pond at Chico Basin Ranch, 21-26 Sep (David Tønnessen). One at Neenoshe Reservoir, Kiowa, 30 Sep (Steven Mlodinow, Sean Walters). One at Lake Creek Village Wetlands, Eagle, 16-23 Nov (Eric Culbertson, m.ob.), provided a first county record and second accepted record for western Colorado.

Carolina Wren: One at Van’s Marsh, Bent, 4 Sep (Mark Peterson).

Purple Finch: One at South Platte Park—South Platte Res., Jefferson, 28-30 Nov (Doug Kibbe, Elaine Wagner).

Chestnut-collared Longspur: Rare for the county, a flyover was detected at Antero Res., Park, 13 Oct (Chris Wood, Steven Mlodinow). Also seen and heard at both Spinney Mountain Res. and Eleven Mile SP, Park, 13 Oct (Chris Wood, Steven Mlodinow). Other reports from Baca, Bent, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Morgan, Pueblo, and Weld, 3 Aug-25 Nov.

SNOW BUNTING: One was seen and photographed at Shadow Mountain Lake, Grand, 27 Nov (Burke Angstman).

EASTERN TOWHEE: A juvenile female was photographed at a private residence near Castle Rock, Douglas, 30 Sep (Glenn Walbek). One at Pueblo Res., Pueblo, 30 Nov (Brandon Percival, m.ob.).

BAIRD’S SPARROW: First breeding record for the state, birds continued into early August from early June. As many as four, then three were still being seen at Soapstone Prairie NA, Larimer, 6-10 Aug (Andy Bankert). Birds were also seen at the Meadow Springs Ranch Area (restricted access), Weld, 3-10 Aug (Andy Bankert, et al.), also continuing from previous season.

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW: One at Smith Park, Boulder, 24-26 Oct (Peter Gent, William Kaempfer). One at University of Colorado Boulder—South Campus, Boulder, 13-18 Nov (Matt Hofeditz, m.ob.).

Rusty Blackbird: One at Centennial Park, Arapahoe, 27 Sep (Edward Donnan). One at North Gateway Park (limited access during waterfowl season), Prowers, 4 Oct (Kathy Mihm Dunning, Tony Leukering). One at McCabe Lane Wetlands, Gunnison, 14 Oct (Jason K. Pietrzak, Anne Winters), first county record. One near Minturn, Eagle, 19-21 Oct (Eric Culbertson) and one at Lake Creek Village Wetlands, Eagle, 18 Nov (Eric Culbertson) provided the only other reports for western Colorado. One at Neenoshe Res., Kiowa, 20 Oct (David Tønnessen, David Dowell). One at Manitou Lake, Teller, 27 Oct (Cinnamon Bergeron, Robb Hinds, Richard Bunn, Jan Albright). Two were at Cherry Creek SP, Arapahoe, 31 Oct-30 Nov (Edward Donnan, Bob Righter, m.ob.). One at Prospect Ponds NA, Larimer, 3 Nov (Lori Zabel, John Shenot). One at Memorial Park, El Paso, 8 Nov (Aaron Driscoll). One at Walden Ponds, Boulder, 10 Nov (Matthew Webb). One out on the eastern plains southwest of Haxtun, Logan, 16 Nov (Glenn Walbek, Mark Peterson). One at Willow Spring Open Space, Arapahoe, 18 Nov (Mike Lee). Two at Fountain Creek—South Circle Dr to South Academy Blvd, El Paso, 30 Nov (Terence Berger).

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER: Rare for the county, first and only known county record at Fairview Cemetery, Chaffee, 4 Aug (Jack Harlan). One at Bonny Res.—Foster Grove area, Yuma, 2 Sep (David Dowell), was one of just five fall reports in the last ten years.

Black-and-white Warbler: One at Roselawn Cemetery, Pueblo, 2 Sep (Mark Miller). One at Grandview Cemetery, Larimer, 11 Nov (Matthew Webb).

Prothonotary Warbler: One in Grand Junction, Mesa, 23 Sep (Mike Henwood), first county record. One along Clear Creek Trail—Golden to I-70, Jefferson, 21 Nov (Daniel Horton).



Hooded Warbler: One at Cherry Creek SP—12 Mile Trail, Arapahoe, 30 Aug (Gwen Moore). One young male/female type was found in a small ditch north of Valmont City Park, Boulder, 2 Sep (Nick Moore). One at Welchester Tree Grant Park, Jefferson, 6-10 Sep (Mark Chavez, m.ob.). One near Minturn, Eagle, 13-21 Oct (Eric Culbertson), first county record.

CAPE MAY WARBLER: One at Pueblo City Park, Pueblo, 17-25 Nov (Van Truan, Brandon K. Percival, m.ob.).

Northern Parula: One at Empire Bard Creek Wetland, Clear Creek, 26 Aug (Bruce Snyder). One at Pastorius Res., La Plata, 30 Aug-4 Sep (Henry Detwiler), casual fall migrant in western Colorado. One at Gateway Mesa OS, Douglas, 20 Sep (Iván Mota). One at Medano-Zapata Ranch Preserve (private-restricted access), Alamosa, 27 Sep (David Mehlman). One at Old Saint Vrain Road, Boulder, 7 Oct (Mark Chavez, David Starbuck). One at Skunk Creek—Broadway to 27th Way, Boulder, 11-12 Oct (David Dowell). One at Bear Creek Nature Center, El Paso, 31 Oct (Chris Brobin). One along Arkansas River downstream from Pueblo City Park, Pueblo, 25 Nov (Paul Hurtado).

Magnolia Warbler: One at Upper Queens/Neeskah Res., Kiowa, 18 Sep (Steven Mlodinow). One at DeWeese Res., Custer, 28 Sep (Rich Miller). One at Pleasant View Marsh, Boulder, 29 Sep (Steven Mlodinow). One at Old Saint Vrain Road, Boulder, 6-12 Oct (Carl Bendorf, Leslie S, Dan Zmolek, m.ob.). One at Golden Ponds, Boulder, 10 Oct (David Dowell). One at Boulder Creek—University of Colorado campus, Boulder, 19 Oct (Nathan Pieplow).

Blackburnian Warbler: One along Bobolink Trail, Boulder, 8 Sep (Ryan Bushong, m.ob.) One in the neighborhood near Kristen Schaal Greenspace, Longmont, Boulder, 13-22 Nov (Scott Severs, m.ob.). One at Stalker Lake SWA, Yuma, 26 Aug (Steven Rash).

Chestnut-sided Warbler: One at Pawnee National Grassland—Crow Valley Campground, Weld, 21 Aug (Amy Darling). One banded at Barr Lake SP, Adams, 31 Aug (Colin Woolley). One at Brett Gray Ranch (restricted access), Lincoln, 2 Sep (Steven Mlodinow, David Ely). One at Walden Ponds—Cottonwood Marsh area, Boulder, 6 Sep (Nathan Pieplow). One at Lamar Community College, Prowers, 18-24 Sep (DFO field trip led by David Suddjian, Jill Smith). One at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR—First

Townsend's Warbler, Rio Grande, 31 August 2018. Photo by John Rawinski.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Boulder, 23 October 2018. Photo by Rob Raker.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Boulder, 21 October 2018. Photo by Mark Chavez.

Hooded Warbler, Jefferson, 06 September 2018. Photo by Mark Chavez.



Creek, Adams, 29 Sep (Michael Lester). One banded and recaptured twice at Connected Lakes SP, Mesa, 8-12 (Adam Cupito, m.ob.). One at Ryssby Church & Cemetery, Boulder, 9-12 Oct (Norm Erthal, David Dowell, m.ob.).

Blackpoll Warbler: One at Plaster Res., Broomfield, 1 Sep (Matt Hofeditz). One at Holyoke, Phillips, 4 Sep (Steven Mlodinow). One at Quincy Res., Arapahoe, 6 Sep (Rob Woodward). One at Belmar Park, Jefferson, 6-7 Sep (Mark Chavez, m.ob.). One at Dixon Res., Larimer, 6-16 Sep, (Brad Biggerstaff, m.ob.). One banded at Clear Spring Ranch, El Paso, 14 Sep (Steven Brown). One at Van’s Grove, Bent, 16 Sep (David Dowell). One at Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Jefferson, 27 Sep (Kevin DeBoer). One at Chatfield SP—Deer Creek, Jefferson, 30 Sep (Michael Lester). One in the neighborhood near Kristen Schaal Greenspace, Longmont, Boulder, 27 Nov (DFO Field Trip led by David Suddjian).

Palm Warbler: A banner year for the species this fall. Beginning in mid-August and lasting through the end of the season, reports were many throughout the state. A first county record in a remote location near Telluride, San Miguel, 13 Sep (Eric Hynes) was notable. Also, one at Miramonte Res., San Miguel, 20 Oct (Brenda Wright, Coen Dexter, George Steele) was of interest. Two were seen at Brown Dog Coffee in Buena Vista, Chaffee, 3 Nov (Mele Avery). Western Colorado had just 13 previous records before this year. Totals during the week beginning 8 Oct were an astounding 38! These are unprecedented numbers for Colorado. As many as two were seen in the Denver West Office Park, Jefferson, 18-28 Nov (Mark Chavez, m.ob.), including the rarer (Yellow) or eastern subspecies, hypochrysea. Other reports from Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Morgan, Prowers, Pueblo, Teller, and Yuma, 16 Aug-30 Nov.

Summer Tanager: An adult male was present in Silverton, San Juan, 16-20 Aug (Lori Nixon), first county record. One at Yampa River Botanic Park, Routt, 11-15 Sep (DFO field trip led by David Suddjian, m.ob.).

Western Tanager: One at Chico Basin Ranch, El Paso, 7 Nov (John Drummond), set an all-time late date for the species in the state.

Northern Cardinal: A female was at a private residence near Wellington, Larimer, 4 Oct-25 Nov (Steven Martin, m.ob.). Other reports from Logan, Prowers, Sedgwick, and Yuma, 11 Aug-28 Nov were more typical.

Long-tailed Jaeger, Douglas, 09 September 2018. Photo by Rob Raker.

Blackburnian Warbler, Boulder, 16 Novem-ber 2018. Photo by Christian Nunes.

Golden-crowned Sparrow, Boulder, 17 November 2018. Photo by Christian Nunes.

Mew Gull, Boulder, 17 November 2018. Photo by Christian Nunes.



Rose-breasted Grosbeak: One at Grand Junction Wildlife Area, Mesa, 7-15 Aug (Kathleen McGinley, Carol Ortenzio). One in Eagle, Eagle, 1 Oct (JoAnn Potter Riggle). One in Nucla, Montrose, 12 Oct (Brenda Wright, Coen Dexter). One in Midland Park, Aspen, Pitkin, 17-23 Oct (Matt Kuhn). This species is rare in western Colorado. Other reports from Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer, Lincoln, and Morgan, 3 Sep-22 Oct.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The sightings reported by contributing observers to eBird, COBirds, and the West Slope Birding Network are greatly appreciated. Volunteer compilers contributed significantly to this report: Coen Dexter (west), Forrest Luke (northwest), Brandon K. Percival and David Silverman. Joey Kellner: for review of the article and technical support. Much of the information in this report was obtained from the eBird Basic Dataset from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.

LITERATURE CITED

COBirds. 2018. Colorado Birds Google Group by Colorado Field Ornithologists [Google Group]. Available: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/cobirds

eBird. 2019. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org

West Slope Birding Network. 2018. WSBN [Yahoo Group]. Available: https://groups. yahoo.com/neo/groups/wsbn/info?guccounter=1

ADDITIONAL NOTES

If you know of any rare or unusual sightings that have not been reported to the above-mentioned organizations, and would like them to be included in this report, please email them to me directly. Thank you.

AUTHOR

Dean [email protected]

Tropical Kingbird, Jefferson, 13 October 2018. Photo by Christopher Wood.

Trumpeter Swan, Jefferson, 23 November 2018. Photo by Rob Raker.

Vermillion Flycatcher, Boulder, 02 Septem-ber 2018. Photo by Mark Chavez.

Sabine’s Gull, Costilla, 26 September 2019. Photo by John Rawinski.

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