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Modified
Monday, October 28, 2002
Archived bird sightings: September 2002 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Davis County Friday, September 13, Rod Scheidecker at 300 South 600 West in Layton has reported an Eurasian Collared Dove that has been coming to his backyard feeders. He brought photos of the bird to Bill Fenimore of the Wild Bird Center in Layton for identification. Jack Rensel, retired DWR Northern Regional Supervisor and local birding expert and Bill Fenimore identified the dove as an Eurasian Collared Dove. Directions to see the bird: from Main Street in Layton, go West on Gentile Street to Flint Street. Go South on Flint Street to 350 South. Go West on 350 South to 600 West. Park at the dead end on 350 South. Walk to the Farm Road and walk North. The area where the bird occurs is approximately 100 yards, adjacent to a gray home with a covered deck. Early morning or early evening seem to be the best viewing times. Wednesday morning, September 11, Chris Wood, a tour leader with Wings reported a McCown's Longspur along the road going to Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island State Park. The bird was feeding on manure on the southbound side of the road, near a cross walk with the #10 painted on it, as well as an information sign talking about the Utah Silk Industry. The bird was approximately 80 meters South of this sign. Tuesday, September 10, Perla Piper reported a roosting location of approximately a dozen Turkey Vultures. It is located at 900 East and 500 South along Davis Blvd. in Bountiful. The birds are seen in the morning leaving the roost and later in the afternoon returning to it. Saturday, September 7, the bird walk to the East Kaysville Wilderness Park led by the Wild Bird Center turned up a Cassin's Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a Calliope Hummingbird and the usual suspects. Sunday, Sept. 8 at Fielding Garr Ranch on Antelope Island, Kathy and Joel Beyer reported Townsend's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Cassin's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Rufous Hummingbird and Townsend's Solitaire. A juvenile Northern Mockingbird was seen along the road to the ranch, in the trees by the "Springs and Wetlands" pullout, which is a little more than a mile from the ranch. Duchesne County Saturday, Sept. 14, Alton Thygerson and Merrill Webb reported seeing the following birds in the Mirror Lake area: Gray Jays (Bald Mt. parking lot), Red Crossbills (Mirror Lake Campground), Three-toed Woodpecker (west of the Bald Mt. parking lot, 200+ yards), Clark's Nutcracker, Northern Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Common Raven, Townsend's Solitaire, American Pipit, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie, among others. Grand County Tuesday, Sept. 3, recent bird sightings in the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve Moab, Utah: greater yellowlegs; solitary and spotted sandpiper; western and least sandpiper; calliope hummingbird; olive-sided flycatcher; dusky flycatcher; warbling vireo; red-breasted and white nuthatch; house wren; Townsend's, Nashville, and orange-crowned warbler; American redstart; northern Waterthrush; green-tailed towhee; lesser and American goldfinch. Damian Fagan, Colorado and Green Rivers Area Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy of Utah, P.O. Box 1329, Moab, UT 84532, (435) 259-4629 phone, (435) 259-2677 fax Salt Lake County Wednesday, September 18, the Lewis's Woodpeckers continue to be seen at Dimple Dell. Five were seen today on the power poles. Sunday, September 15, DeeDee O'Brien, along with Jack Clark, Taz Harrington, June Ryburn, Kathy Roach reported 6 to 7 Lewis's Woodpeckers hanging out in Dimple Dell Park in Salt Lake County. They are on the telephone poles visible from the parking lot and on the trees next to the pond (a short walk along the trail from the parking lot). Also seen were: Gray Flycatcher, as well as Blue-gray Gnatcatcher's, Black-capped Chickadees, Flickers, Spotted Towhees and a Red-tailed Hawk. Dimple Dell Park is reached by turning east on 106 S from 1300 E. When 106th hits a T-intersection at 2000 E turn left and follow the road around past the small park headquarters to a large parking lot on the left. Donna Thorum located the birds again on Sunday, September 15 in the same area. She said it was the best Lewis's sighting she has ever observed. They saw at 6 or 7 birds and 4 were on the power pole at the same time. Monday, September 16, Alton Thygerson saw three Lewis's woodpeckers in the Dimple Dell location previously described. He suggests using a spotting scope for a great look from the parking lot. He acquired better looks by driving east beyond the large parking lot to a corral on the North side of the road and looked northward on the power line poles. Saturday, September 7 Bob Walters of DWR reported 11 Turkey Vultures at a roost at Knudsen Corner, approximately Holliday Blvd and 6200 South. A Lewis's Woodpecker was seen at the Old Mill Corporate Center #2 located at 6200 South Exit off I-215. Sept. 3, Waterbird survey — last one of the season! 7:00-10:00. South shore (east of Saltair, west of Airport — general vicinity of 10200 West and I-80) approximate 5 mile stretch. Bob Huntington, Deedee O'Brien, and Ann Neville Reporting: Eared Grebe 1000 (there were thousands more on the water far away); White Pelican 1; Great Blue Heron 1; Black-crowned night heron 6; White-faced Ibis 4; Canada Goose 1; Mallard 6; Snowy Plover 11; American Avocet 2,177; Willet 2; Long-billed curlew 2; Marbled Godwit 2; Spotted Sandpiper 1; California Gull 259; Ring-billed Gull 25; Franklin gull 248. Also saw a couple of nighthawks very near the beach and a Peregrine. Sanpete County September 28, Quinn Shurtliff reported a Red-naped Sapsucker at Oak Creek near Milburn. The bird was in a juniper tree approximately a quarter mile up the trail. Summit County September 26, Kelley Holtman of Park City reported a male Blue Grouse in her backyard! It is a life bird for Kelley. Not many birders would expect to have this bird on the backyard list, as Kelley's home is in a typical neighborhood setting, not in the woods. Friday, September 6, Tim Gorman reported 6 White-tailed Ptarmigan. The birds were at 11,400 foot elevation, 1/2 mile northwest of Cliff Lake on the upper Henrys Fork Drainage. The area is 9.5 miles from the trail head. Directions for those intrepid birders wanting to add a White-tailed Ptarmigan to their life list: take I-80 East to Fort Bridger Exit 34. Follow the signs to Mountain View and take Hwy 410 South approximately 6-7 miles. Go South onto a gravel road for another 12 miles to the road sign for Henrys Fork and National Forest Road #017, turn left onto #017, go 3 miles to National Forest Service Road #077, go 5 miles on #077 (West) to the Henry's Fork trail head. Utah County September 30, KC Childs reported that the Lewis's Woodpecker seen and reported on Sept 29 at the Provo Marina is still in the same location. Additionally, KC saw Pectoral Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Plovers and Blue Winged Teal. September 29, Carol and Nicky Davis reported a Lewis's Woodpecker on a telephone pole on the South side of the road just before you enter the Provo Marina (before the road that leads out to the dike). They also saw least sandpipers, pectoral sandpipers, and a Semipalmated plover at the marina. Wednesday, September 25, KC Childs reported 11 Cattle Egret's on the North side of the Provo River in the fields on the road to Utah Lake State Park. In the state park where the Provo River enters the lake were five Pectoral Sandpipers, Western, Least and Baird's Sandpipers. There were Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer and 15 Common Snipe in this same area. Wednesday, September 18, KC Childs reported many shorebirds staging at Utah Lake State Park. The area is accessed from Center Street in Provo. Go west to the southern dike where the river enters the lake. There he saw American Golden Plover, Black Bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plovers, Sanderlings, Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, Avocets, and Killdeer. Wednesday, September 18, KC Childs and Eric Huish reported seeing a Lark Bunting in Cedar Valley near the town of Fairfield. They also saw a Ferruginous Hawk in the town of Fairfield. To reach the area where the Lark Bunting was seen follow these directions: take the road going directly east through the town of Fairfield. It is the same road that Camp Floyd Stagecoach Inn is located. Go on this road until it turns into a dirt road. Turn North and drive along this dirt road. There is a sod farm on the East side of the road. It was along this road that they saw a female LARK BUNTING. She stayed along the road. There is some farm equipment on the East side of the road by the sod farm and a trailer home and other homes. Between these two areas is where the Lark Bunting was located. It was with a Lark Sparrow. It stayed close to the road. There were also Horned Larks, Brewers Sparrows and Loggerhead Shrikes in the area. Saturday, September 14, Eric Huish and KC Childs reported seeing Rock Wren, White-crowned Sparrows, Pink Sided Junco and a Wilson's Warbler at the mouth of Goshen Canyon. At Burriston Ponds they saw a female American Redstart. Take the road on your right as you enter and park where the trees start to get thick and walk the trail between the two ponds. Other migrants at Burriston Ponds were Wilson's, Orange-crowned, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and MacGillivray's warblers, Plumbeous, and Warbling Vireos, Western Tanagers and Red-naped Sapsucker. Along the Nebo Loop, at Ponderosa Campground there were Clarks Nutcrackers, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches and a Cassin's Vireo. Wednesday, September 11, KC Childs reported seeing Semipalmated Plovers, Western Sandpipers, and possible Baird's Sandpiper; also Black Necked Stilts, Western Grebes, Ring Billed Gull, Franklin Gull, California Gull, and Caspian Terns, where the Provo River enters Utah Lake at Utah Lake State Park. KC also had a new yard bird which was a White Breasted Nuthatch. Saturday, September 7, Sid Westerman (801) 553-2229 reported a variety of interesting birds in Goshen Canyon including a potential pair of Palm Warblers. Although he tried to video the birds, the weather didn't permit getting good video. Additionally, Sid reported a female Blue Grosbeak, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-Breasted Chat and Blue Gray Gnatcatcher at the mouth of Goshen Canyon. At the 1.5 mile into the Canyon (where the road crosses the stream) he saw Warbling Vireo, Wilson's Warbler, Cordilleran Fly Catcher, Green-tailed Towhee, and Nashville Warbler. At 2.2 miles into the Canyon on a small dirt road on East a Golden Eagle, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow Warbler, Hose Wren and the pair of potential Palm Warblers. To reach Goshen Canyon take I-15 to the Santa Quin Exit, go West to Goshen, then South to the fork in the road at the mouth of the Canyon. Go left on the main Hwy. into the Canyon. Washington County Sunday, September 29, Kristen Comella, Steve and Priscilla Summers, and Rick Fridell birded at Lytle Ranch. The highlight was seeing an immature Chestnut-sided Warbler. It was foraging in the large Velvet Ash along the road at the North end of the orchard (next to the large blackberry bushes). Other highlights included: Wood Duck (upper impoundment), Red-shouldered Hawk, Inca Dove, Vaux's Swift (seen by Steve), and two Cassin's Vireos. List of birds observed: Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Gambel's Quail, Inca Dove, Vaux's Swift, Red-naped Sapsucker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Hammond's Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Rock Wren, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak,, Western Meadowlark and House Finch. Saturday, September 28, The Red Cliffs Audubon Group went on a field trip to Quail Creek Reservoir, Red Cliffs Campground, Hurricane Sewer Ponds, Stratton Pond, and Sand Hollow Reservoir. The following lists are the birds they recorded: Quail Creek Reservoir: Common Loon, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Brewer's Sparrow, Rock Wren, Ring-billed Gull, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper and American Avocet. Red Cliffs Campground: Anna's Hummingbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Hammond's Flycatcher, White-crowned Sparrow, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Scrub-Jay and Common Raven Hurricane Sewer Ponds: Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper?, American White Pelican, Wilson's Phalarope and Pied-billed Grebe Stratton Pond: American Coot, Pied Billed Grebe and Ruddy Duck Sand Hollow Reservoir: Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, White-faced Ibis, American White Pelican, American Coot and Mallard September 27, Bruce and Lynn Robinson, along with Bill Hunter, reported the following birds at Mathis Park in St. George: Gambel's Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Verdin, Summer Tanager, Abert's Towhee. At Sunbrook Golf Course along the "middle Pond" they saw 2 Common Tern, one with an injured foot. Look for them atop the rock wall on the North shore of the pond, Belted kingfisher and Barn Swallow. "Creek Side" Gambel's Quail, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler and Abert's Towhee. At Dixie Red Hills Golf Course they reported a female Vermilion Flycatcher. On Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19 Christi Carmichael, Lonny Boring and Bob Showler reported seeing two Vaux's Swifts over Springdale Pond (behind the Switchback Restaurant in Springdale). They were mixed in with a larger group of White-throated Swifts. The swifts are more active flying over the pond from 5 p.m. till dusk. Saturday, September 14, 2002, Bill Hunter reported that the Red Cliffs Audubon (St. George) conducted their first field trip of the fall to Sawmill Springs in Zion National Park, up on the Kolob Plateau. The following is a count of birds seen. Virgin; just outside to the north on Kolob Road in a small swampy area: American Kestrel, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-crowned Sparrow Blue Springs Reservoir: Red-tailed Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow Lava Point: Turkey Vulture, Golden Eagle, Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker and Mountain Chickadee Sawmill Springs: Turkey Vulture, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Steller's Jay, Barn Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Dark-eyed Junco. Tuesday, September 10, Kirsten Dutcher and Stephen Jones reported seeing a Common Black-Hawk, near the inflow of Birch Creek along the North Fork of the Virgin River in Zion Canyon (across the street from the Court of the Patriarchs stop). Other good birds seen in Zion Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday included a Red-naped Sapsucker, Swainson's Thrush, American Dippers, Golden Eagles, Turkey Vultures, both Spotted and Green-tailed Towhees, and Wild Turkeys. On Tuesday, September 10, Lonny Boring and Bob Showler reported four Greater White-fronted Geese at the Southgate Golf Course main pond in St. George. September 7, Saturday, Charlie Sheard and Bill Hunter reported the following birds at SR-9 (Hurricane) Sewage Ponds: Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Semipalmated Plover: Bird: Foraging on southern shore of the middle "puddle" of what is called the Northwest sewage pond, at waters edge; Killdeer, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe and Wilson's Phalarope. At the inlet area of Quail Creek Reservoir they reported three species of wren: Bewick's Wren, House Wren and Winter Wren. Good observation and comparison of Wrens. All in same rocky habitat and at times, side by side on rock and in the Desert Almond. This was an excellent opportunity to compare three species of wrens within the same Chaparral habitat. Also, of interest: Gray Flycatcher and Verdin. Thursday, September 5, Rick Fridell reported a possible adult American Golden Plover in non-breeding plumage at the SR-9 Sewer Ponds (Northwest Pond), in Hurricane, Utah. Kevin Wheeler and Rick will look for it Friday morning in better light to make a positive identification. To report bird sightings and/or hear recorded information, please call the Utah Bird Line at (801) 538-4730. You may also send e-mail to: frnatent@earthlink.net or BirderB@aol.com. Wild Bird Center (801) 525-8400 |
