Recent additions to my state list and some rarities statewide

6/23/2024

Summer in Colorado is the time for BBS surveys among other searches for breeding birds across the state. I myself go out to corners of the state just to find some of these birds. Cuckoo’s and Bell’s Vireo’s in the northeast, Painted Bunting and Piping Plover in the Southeast, and Gray Vireo and Scott’s Oriole in the west.

So far this summer I was able to add Yellow-billed Cuckoo(#355), Bobolink(#351), and Red-eyed Vireo(#352) to my state list, along with rarities like Black-and-white Warbler(#353) and Laughing Gull(#354). All of these have been targets and it was satisfying to get them, even if some didn’t provide the best views(or none).

Each summer in Colorado has its own rarities. 2023 had amazing birds such as 7 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks(Third state record), and two Limpkins in Boulder and El Paso(first and second state records) with a cherry on top Western Gull(8th state record?). So far 2024 hasn’t had anything quite rare but it has had some treats.

So this summer we have had that Laughing Gull found by Joey Kellner and a group of birders at Chatfield. Joey noted that people had reported it at Swim Beach as a Franklin’s a few days before, so just remember to always check your Franklin’s. It is extremely rare to have one in breeding plumage in Colorado. My photo of it is attached below.

I have dipped on another rarity a Yellow-billed Loon in Arapahoe. Also, someone had a Black-chinned Sparrow in San Miguel County which is a mega for Colorado with only 4 previous records.

We’ll see what the rest of the summer has to bring, hopefully, some fun rarities.

Here is the awful Laughing Gull pic.