 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Modified
Monday, December 2, 2002
Archived bird sightings: October 2002 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Beaver County On October 4, Eric Huish and KC Childs reported the following birds at Wah Wah Ranch: Wood Duck, Blue Winged Teal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-throated Sparrow, Common Yellow Throat, Wilson's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. Box Elder County Tuesday, Oct 29, Patrick White observed three adult Tundra Swans on the South end of Harold Crane Waterfowl Management Area, which is located just South of Willard Bay. Saturday, Oct 26 at Willard Bay State Park, the participants on the regular Saturday bird walk from the Wild Bird Center in Layton observed a White-throated Sparrow. It was just East of camping/picnic spot 31 & 32 on the North side of the picnic table in a thicket of Red-osier Dogwood. Also observed were an Orange-crowned Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker and American Crow. Saturday, Oct 26, Glenn Barlow, KC Childs and Eric Huish observed Sharp-tailed Grouse in Whites Valley and a Short-eared Owl. Saturday, October 19, 2002, Julie VanMoorhem observed a White-throated Sparrow at Willard Bay. It was along the boardwalk near the fallen tree on the West side of the semicircular, former campsite. Along the boardwalk area from the East with fragmites (there's a Red-winged Blackbird nature signpost there) there were two White-throated Sparrows. Other birds observed at Willard Bay were Orange-crowned Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, Hermit Thrushes, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hairy Woodpecker, Double-crested Cormorants and White Pelicans. This afternoon (Monday Oct. 14) Joel and Kathy Beyer reported a first winter White-throated Sparrow at Willard Bay State Park. It was found along the marsh boardwalk, which is located in the Northwest corner of the main campground (now closed). The White-throated was with several White-crowned Sparrows. An Orange-crowned Warbler was also seen there. Earlier at White's Valley they saw a flock of about 20 Gray Partridge, 3 Sharp-tailed Grouse and many American Pipits. Cache County Saturday, Oct 26, Glenn Barlow, KC Childs and Eric Huish observed three Surf Scoters and 15 Common Loon at Hyrum Reservoir. They also enjoyed a fly over of a Bald Eagle. At Mantua Reservoir they saw a Horned Grebe. Davis County The Eastern Blue Jay reported earlier continues to be seen at Martha Ann Albretsen's backyard feeder. Detailed directions to see the Eastern Blue Jay are available on the Bird Sightings link on the DWR Web Site or by calling Martha Ann at 544-1771. Wednesday, Oct 30, Martha Ann Albretsen of the Wasatch Audubon has an Eastern Blue Jay visiting feeders in her Layton, backyard. Martha Ann welcomes birders who would like to see the Jay. Directions: Take Fairfield Road to Mutton Hollow Road and turn East on Mutton Hollow. Go to the 1st right turn, 50 East (church on corner). Travel South on 50 East to the 1st left turn at 1050 North. Go East on 1050 North to house number 167 on North side of 1050 North. Walk to the end of the drive and watch the feeder on the deck. A Northern Shrike was observed on Antelope Island, along the road leading to Fielding Garr Ranch. — J & K Beyer Saturday, Oct 26, Sunday, Oct 27, Martha Ann Albertson saw an Eastern Blue Jay near her home on Mutton Hollow and Fairfield in Layton. She can be reached at 544-1771 for those interested in seeking the Eastern Blue Jay. Saturday morning, October 19, during the regular Wild Bird Center Saturday Bird Walk a White Throated Sparrow was first observed by Jack Rensel at the Spring East of the Ranch house at Field Garr Ranch on Antelope Island State park. The Wild Bird Center group also saw a Red-naped Sapsucker, Logger-headed Shrike and a Swainson's Thrush. Saturday, October 12, Matthew Thorum, Letitia Lussier, and Donna Thorum reported seeing a Red Phalarope on the Antelope Island Causeway. It was alone on the North side of the causeway just as the road turns south. Saturday, Oct 5 Tony Jones and Bob Bradley reported seeing an Egyptian Goose at Farmington Bay at the first bridge South of the Gate. They were able to observe it with binoculars and scopes for five or more minutes as it fed along the bank of the small stream. It was not banded and did not have either hallux cut. They also saw four Red-naped Sapsuckers and both Swainson's Thrush and Hermit Thrush. Garfield County Tuesday, October 15, Dennis and Carolyn Shirley saw an ACORN WOODPECKER along UT Hwy. 12 between mile post 93 and 94, just north of the town of Boulder. It was seen in a large dead ponderosa pine snag west of the road. The snag was the only tree in a small grassy meadow and will be easy to recognize. The tree was riddled with rows of woodpecker "cache" holes. The Acorn Woodpecker was observed storing food in holes in the tree. The tree has been used for a food cache for sometime, evidenced by the number of holes drilled into it. The birds will likely stay in the area for sometime. Other birds seen along the UT Hwy. 12 included Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch and Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pinyon Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, Brown Creepers, and a Goshawk. Iron County Sunday, October 13, Steve Summers saw an immature Golden-crowned Sparrow along the Coal Creek Trail in Cedar City. On Thursday Oct 3, Rick Fridell relocated the Lawrence's Goldfinch originally reported by Steve Summers. It was in the large sunflower patch at the Chekshani Cliffs. The Lawrence's Goldfinch often perched in the large shrubs/small trees along the North edge of the field (on both sides of the road) between flights out into the sunflowers. On Sunday, October 6, at Chekshani Cliffs, Steve Summers saw an immature Golden-crowned Sparrow and a Green-tailed Towhee. The Golden-crowned was in the same area as the Lawrence's Goldfinch reported earlier. Joel and Kathy Beyer also saw Golden-crowned Sparrow and the Green-tailed Towhee, as reported earlier. Wednesday afternoon, October 2, a little before 2 p.m. Steve Summers saw a winter adult male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH at Chekshani Cliffs in Iron Co., Utah. He saw the distinctive bird briefly but well. Chekshani Cliffs is about 2.5 miles south of Kanarraville, in Iron County. Turn on 1925 South off Old Hwy. 90. Turn right on Chuwl Path and follow this to Tu-ee Trail. Turn right on Tu-ee Trail and you will almost immediately go through a field full of sunflowers. This is where the bird was seen. There were large numbers of Pine Siskin's and Lesser Goldfinches and sparrows to sort through. The black face, both above and below the bill, yellow breast and gold in the wings were very evident. Millard County On Friday, October 4 Eric Huish and KC Childs reported the following birds at Gunnison Bend Reservoir: Common Loon, Clark's Grebe, Western Grebe, Eared grebe, COMMON TERN and Townsend Solitaire. At Clear Lake WMA they reported Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, American Pipit, Loggerhead Shrike and Sage Thrasher. At Kaufman Ranch they reported Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and several Coopers Hawks, as well as Cattle Egret, Osprey, Red-naped Sapsucker, Western Tanager, Lincoln Sparrow and Brown Creeper On October 5, in Kings Canyon they reported Pinyon Jays. Morgan County Oct 28, Monday, 1:30 p.m., Jack Torrey, Bob Huntington and Glenda Carter reported a Red-necked Grebe and Common Loons at East Canyon Reservoir. The Red-necked Grebe was in the Eastern leg of the reservoir, as you proceed toward Salt Lake City. There is a pull out by a 55 mph road sign. The bird was in this area. They photographed the bird too. Monday, Oct 27, Dennis Shirley reported that East Canyon Reservoir is still the place to be right now for winter water bird specialties. All species reported for Saturday were still there Monday. In addition to the Barrow's and Common Goldeneye, Hooded and Common Merganser, Common and Pacific Loon, and Surf Scoter, there is now a White-winged Scoter and the Red-necked Grebe is still there. Bald eagle have also arrived in the area. Sunday, Oct 27, Joel and Kathy Beyer reported an adult Pacific Loon in East Canyon Reservoir. It was located in the bay framed by highways 66 and 65, which junction at the head of the bay. The bird was hanging around the two buoys. Also on the Reservoir were approximately 100 Common Loons, 3 Surf Scoters, 4 Hooded Mergansers, 20 Common Mergansers, several Common Goldeneye and at least one male Barrow's Goldeneye. Along Highway 66, between Morgan and the Reservoir, they saw approximately 200 American Crows. Also seen along the highway was a flock of 50 Wild Turkeys. Thursday and Friday, Oct 24 and 25th, Arnold Smith observed a White-throated Sparrow at the Morgan Waste Water Lagoons at the feeder area. Arnold can be reached at (801) 829-3383 for more detailed directions. Salt Lake County Saturday, Oct 26, Jim McIntyre went birding at the Salt Lake Valley Solid Waste Management Facility (SLVSWMF) which welcomes birders. On the Lee Kay ponds there he saw a Horned Grebe. The SLVSWMF is 1/2 mile West of 5600 West on California Ave (1400 South). I was contacted today by Jill Fletcher who works for the Salt Lake Landfill. They wish to open up the landfill to birders and become listed as a spot for birding. She said that they have a Gazebo for viewing the manmade wetlands resulting from the landfill operation. Naturally, they have many birds using the site and they would like to open it up for birders to enjoy. Jill encourages contact at (801) 975-2375. She would be happy to give a tour of the area, so that birding groups would know where to go and enjoy the birds. — Bill Fenimore, Wild Bird Center, Layton, Utah Thursday, Oct 17, Eric Huish reported a Great Egret on the Jordan River Parkway, just South of 123rd South. October 9, DeeDee O'Brien, reported seeing two male Wood Ducks in the pond or the stream that feeds it at Wheeler Farm. They were seen during the Great Salt Lake Audubon's monthly field trip there, and were seen again on Saturday, Oct 12 by Jack Clark and Taz Harrington. Wheeler Farm is on 900 East at 6351 South. San Juan County Barker Gay made a report of a Northern Cardinal that was observed in a large stand of Cottonwood trees in Bluff in September by an acquaintance who is not a birder, hence the late report. Utah County Tuesday, Oct 22, KC Childs observed a Common Redpoll at his backyard feeder in Orem. KC welcomes birders who would like to call for an opportunity to see the Redpoll. He can be reached at 801-636-3684. Tuesday, Oct 22, Sid Westerman saw four Ross's Geese where the Provo River enters into Utah Lake at Utah Lake State Park. Three were white and one was the dark blue morph. Friday, 10/18/02, a Bewick's Wren was seen on the east and south, drive around Lincoln Point. It was on the left hand side following the green fence with many yellow tags ending at a cattle guard (row of poplar trees left of road). The Bewick's Wren was 0.1 mile beyond cattle guard with large flock of Juncos, lakeside in the tallest tree. A Great Egret was with Ring-billed Gulls and Snowy Egrets in the rushes at the edge of the lake at 0.5 mile. Sunday, October 13, Jack Binch saw a golden-crowned sparrow at east bay in Provo. Take the road by Camelot north to the very end. Just before you enter the circle turnaround, the bird was by the roadside. He also reported Green-tailed Towhee's at Burriston Ponds, and Lewis's woodpeckers and Stellar's Jay's at Salem. On Saturday, Oct 5, Tuula Rose reported a Vaux's Swift in Goshen Canyon. Stop at the parking area behind the cottonwoods where the stream crosses the road. On Sunday, October 6 Julie VanMoorhem and Kent Lewis reported Audubon's, Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers along the road south of the Lindon Marina. At Utah Lake along the South jetty, along with Dennis Shirley they reported Baird's, Pectoral, and Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Plover, a Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and Common Snipe. On Monday, October 7, Dennis Shirley reported the following birds: Band-tailed Pigeon in Spanish Fork on the railroad siding along I-15. At Salem Pond he saw Osprey, Common Grackle and Townsend's Warbler. A Merlin was reported at Utah Lake's Lincoln Point. A Cassin's Vireo in the Payson Cemetery. A Fox Sparrow in Goshen Canyon, near the canal shack at the South end. He reported a Ferruginous Hawk on the West side of the Goshen Cemetery and a Lewis' Woodpecker along the Salem Canal Road. On Tuesday, Oct. 8th. Dennis Shirley, Grant Jense and Bob Huntington, saw a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the under story of the cottonwood trees at the South end of Goshen Canyon. It was in a small flock of white-crowned sparrows. Wasatch County Friday, October 18, Bob Huntington observed 8 Common Loon at Deer Creek reservoir at Rainbow Cove. Washington County October 31, Dennis Shirley reported observing the following birds during his Big Month: Surf Scoter, Gunlock Reservoir; Canvasback, Southgate Golf Course; White-fronted Goose, Wood Duck and Greater Scaup, Green Springs Golf Course; White-winged Dove, Washington City; Merlin, Washington fields and Toquerville; EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE [4] — 2 in flock of white-winged doves and 2 in Washington fields. Friday, Oct 25, Charlie Sheard and Bill Hunter went birding at Gunlock Reservoir and relocated the Red Phalarope and the Surf Scooters reported earlier by Rick Fridell. There were 5 Wood Ducks on the shore at the very North end of the water just West of the inflow. A female Red-breasted Merganser was at the South end of the reservoir On Sunday, Oct 27 Kristen and Rick Fridell, along with Larry Tripp observed a Philadelphia Vireo at the Red Hills Golf Course, St. George. It was located in the mesquites and willows near the Club House parking lot. Larry also found a White-throated Sparrow in the mesquite thicket below the parking lot. Thursday evening, October 24th Rick Fridell observed and photographed a Red Phalarope at Gunlock Reservoir. It was located near the dam (boat ramp area). The phalarope was alone and feeding fairly close to shore near the boat ramp. Rick also reported that the Surf Scoters are still actively diving allowing in the same area as on 10/22 (north end of the lake). On October 15, the Varied Thrush reported earlier in the week (Oct 10, 11 and 12) was seen again by Hank Brinston, a visiting birder from the Netherlands. It was at Springdale Pond in Springdale, just outside of Zion National Park. The thrush was feeding with robins in a grassy field next to a gazebo on the South side of the Best Western Inn on Canyon Overview Road. Saturday, October 12, 2002, Dixie Willie reported from a field trip of the Dixie Birders their sightings at Sunbrook Golf Course, Pine Valley, and Southgate Golf Course. SUNBROOK: Greater White-fronted Goose and EURASIAN WIGEON. PINE VALLEY: VAUX'S SWIFT, Lewis's Woodpecker and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. SOUTHGATE: BLACK-NECKED SWAN and Ring-necked Duck. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 10, 11 and 12, Lonny Boring of the National Park Service at Zion National Park, observed a male Varied Thrush at the Springdale Pond in Springdale. The bird perched near the pond in the taller willow snags. He arrived around 6:00 PM each night and stayed for 10-20 minutes. Because this is a bird of uncertain occurrence in this vicinity, Lonny video taped the sighting on Saturday. Wayne County Julie VanMoorhem and Pomera Fronce birding near the town of Grover observed Pinyon Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers and a Lewis's Woodpecker. The woodpecker was located less than 1/10th of a mile past the Grover city limit sign as you are traveling south on Highway 12. Look for a sign which reads Clark Country on the east side of the road and a lone dead tree on the west. The Lewis's Woodpecker was flying back and forth across the road in this general area. 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 |
