The beginning of a new year usually brings out birders who wish to record species for their annual lists, and 2009 was no exception. The unusually mild weather provided additional incentive. There was more open water in the county than is normal for January, and large numbers of gulls were reported. As these birds seem to visit many different reservoirs during the day, then return to a select few at night (most notably Valmont and Macintosh Reservoirs), it is difficult to estimate total numbers. Ring-billed Gulls were reported in the thousands. The next most common gull was Herring Gull with 52 reported in January. All the remaining gulls can be considered unusual and required careful observation among the large mixed flocks of gulls. The remaining six species of gull reported were Mew Gull, California Gull (less usual in winter), Thayer’s Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Glaucous Gull, bringing the total number of gull species seen to eight. Usually February is the peak time for gull viewing, but the mild weather seems to have moved this event to January this year.

A field trip to Valmont Reservoir in the middle of January not only provided good gull viewing but also produced many species of grebes and ducks. White-winged Scoters were reported in several locations (it is not clear whether these were all the same or different birds). This species was last reported in 2007. Other less usual ducks included Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Duck. Stern’s Lake in southern Boulder County produced many different species of geese including Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross’s Goose and Snow Goose. Blue-phase Ross’ Goose and blue-phase Snow Goose were reported as well as the more standard white geese.

Mountain species of birds were also well reported, partly due to the Indian Peaks winter bird count (IP), and partly due to the many feeder watchers who frequented the Fawnbroook Inn in Allenspark. A Common Redpoll reported in the foothills was the first report of this species since 2005.  A single Band-tailed Pigeon in Allenspark was reported throughout both months and is our first  record for this species in January and February. All three species of Rosy Finches were reported with 2 Black Rosy Finch, 80 Gray-crowned Rosy Finch including many Hepburn’s, and 450 Brown-capped Rosy Finch  in Allenspark. What was interesting was that birders had wildly different numbers of birds seen with Gray-crowned Rosy Finch sometimes outnumbering the Brown-capped Rosy Finch.

Other less usual winter sightings included Short-eared Owl, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, American Pipit, Great-tailed Grackle and Common Grackle. Mountain Bluebirds were reported in both January and February. Although the sighting on February 28th would be typical for returning spring migrants, it is not clear whether the January sighting was of migrants or of wintering birds. Altogether 101 bird species were seen in January and 89 in February. This was a respectable total for January, and average for February. More extended coverage of the county in February would probably have produced more species. TOP