 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Modified
Thursday, January 2, 2003
Archived bird sightings: November 2002 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 11/16 — Ray Smith reported that a Great Egret and a Bonaparte's Gull were observed by the Great Salt Lake Audubon group on their field trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Cache County 11/2 & 11/3 — Keith Archibald and Sue Drown reported a White-winged Scoter, Hooded Merganser and Long-tailed Duck on Hyrum Reservoir. Davis County 11/28 — On the road to Garr Ranch on Antelope Island State Park Joel and Kathy Beyer reported a Northern Mockingbird and 3 American Tree Sparrows. They were in the trees near the "Springs and Wetlands" pullout. 11/28 — Bill Fenimore of the Wild Bird Center in Layton observed a Northern Shrike on the long south running Dike (midway) at Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area. 11/17 — Sid Westerman reported two Merlins at Fielding Garr Ranch on Antelope Island State Park. 11/5 — Katherine Dahlset saw a Light morph Ferruginous soaring low overhead along the I-15 corridor at about Farmington/Centerville border. (Just south of Glover Lane overpass.) This bird had a very white underside — perfect dark crescent at wrist — bit of dark tips on primaries, a large bird, with a hint of rufous at end of large tail. 11/9 — Sid and Gail Westerman birding at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (FBWMA) reported that the Egyptian Goose is still in the canal along the Westerly dike. They also observed White-winged and Surf Scoters, as well as a Harlequin Duck in the waterfowl loafing area East of the North/South dike. Sid mentioned that DWR personnel at FBWMA reported Long-tailed Duck had been recently observed there too. 11/7 — Carol Gwynn observed a male Barrow's Goldeneye in the ponds at the end of Glover Lane, and Red-breasted (female) and Hooded (female) Mergansers at the bridges along the long dike road in Farmington Bay Waterfowl management Area (FBWMA), as well as an immature Black-crowned Night Heron. 11/5 — MarJean Mulhstein reported the Egyptian Goose still feeding in the canal at FBWMA. 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. Duschene County 11/12 — Brian D Maxfield, Sensitive Species Biologist Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Northeastern Region Office observed two long-tailed ducks on one of the ponds at Lower Stillwater in Rock Creek. One was an adult female and the other an immature female. They were both actively feeding along the edge of the ice in the pond. There were several ring-necked ducks, redheads, and common mergansers on the river. This area is approximately 30 miles north of Duchesne. Lower Stillwater is the area just north of the Ute Tribal land on Rock Creek. Grand County 11/3 — Damian Fagan, Colorado and Green Rivers Area Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy of Utah reported that a Merlin was sighted along Spanish Valley Drive in Moab. The bird was perched atop a Russian olive. Garfield County 11/3 — Julie VanMoorhem and Pomera Fronce observed the ACORN WOODPECKER previously reported 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. At Escalante State Park they saw a nice collection of ducks including Bufflehead, Redheads, Ruddy Ducks and Common Mergansers. At various stops along Highway 12, they saw Juniper Titmouse, Western and Mountain Bluebirds, both Chickadees, Red and White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper and Ring-necked Duck. Grand County 11/3 — Damian Fagan, Colorado and Green Rivers Area Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy of Utah reported that a Merlin was sighted along Spanish Valley Drive in Moab. The bird was perched atop a Russian olive. Morgan County 11/2 — during the regular Saturday Nature/Bird Walk from the Wild Bird Center in Layton several rare, uncommon and occasional birds were observed at East canyon Reservoir. These water birds are now migrating through the state. The Wild Bird Center group saw Pacific and Common Loon, White-winged and Surf Scoter, Red-necked Grebe, Western and Clark's Grebe, Common and Hooded Merganser, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye. Additionally, the group had great views of two adult plumaged Bald Eagles that have arrived for the winter, as well as a Bonaparte's Gull. 11/3 — Joel and Kathy Beyer went birding at East Canyon Reservoir. In addition to the rare and occasional water birds migrating through Utah in this vicinity reported earlier in the week, that are still present, they observed a female Long-tailed Duck. It was just north of the Taylor Hollow pullout. They also were treated to a fly over of 18 Sandhill Cranes and a White Pelican in formation with the Sandhill's. Salt Lake County 11/15 — Jack Holley reported thirteen Canada Geese with yellow neck tags at Decker Lake. Three neck tag numbers were TE06, TC90, and TA92. This report has been forwarded onto Phil Douglas of DWR who was involved in tagging Canada Geese over the last several years. The Ross's Goose is still present too. Utah County 11/30 — Eric Huish and KC Childs reported Evening Grosbeaks at Evergreen Cemetery in Springville. Near Lebarron Point on the East side of the road there is a road that takes off to some big leafless trees. In these trees they saw a Merlin and Northern Shrike. They saw Lewis' Woodpeckers in Woodland Hills. 11/17 — Evening Grosbeak's were observed at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville. The birds were in the West part of the cemetery, just past the little white utility shed. 11/14 — Great looks at a WINTER WREN occurred in Provo Canyon. The bird was found west of the new Canyon View Park. Directions: From the mouth of Provo Canyon (Provo/Orem end) travel to Canyon View Park (on left side of highway). Park at the far end of the parking lot after entering the park (going back toward the canyon's mouth). Walk west or toward the canyon's mouth on the asphalt trail until you cross the footbridge. A few feet after crossing the footbridge, the main walking/biking asphalt trail will be intersected where you will turn left. Walk (less than an estimated 100 yards) until you see a small sign on the left side of the trail reading "1/2 mile." The Winter Wren was seen in this area. 11/13 — An immature (probably second year) HERRING GULL was seen in the Utah Lake State Park boat harbor. 11/1 — KC Childs reported a Red-necked Grebe at the Utah County Landfill in Lindon. He also saw Tundra Swans at the Lindon Boat Harbor. At the Powell Slough accessed from the city of Orem's Waste Water Treatment Plant, there was a White Winged Scoter and a Peregrine Falcon. At the Provo Boat Harbor there was a lone Snow Goose flying around the Boat Harbor. 11/3 — Dennis Shirley reported seeing an Eurasian Collared Dove along the highway going north out of Salem. It was near the Salem Water Treatment Facility. Wasatch County 11/29 — Alton Thygerson observed a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL in Snake Creek Canyon. From Wasatch State Park take the left-hand road at the Visitor's Center. It was located two and one-half (2.5) miles from the Visitor's Center. A four-wheel drive is recommended now but if a snow storm comes, it will require a snowmobile or a long hike on snowshoes. The owl was being scolded by a sizable group of RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. On the same road, at 1.5 miles from the Visitor's Center, a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was located in a mixed flock of RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. This location is at the gated entrance to a private road on the left-hand side with a gate saying "Seymour Road." Washington County 11/17 — A Red-necked Grebe was observed at Quail Creek Reservoir by Rick Fridell. The grebe was a long way out, in the deep water area in front of the dam. So a scope is probably necessary for decent looks. 11/15 — Rick Fridell reported 4 Surf Scoters at Quail Creek Reservoir. 11/6 @ 5:45 p.m. — Rick Fridell relocated the Eurasian Collared-Doves in Washington City. They were perched on the tall power lines along Main Street, both East and West of Telegraph Road. Eurasian Collared-Doves seem to be rapidly expanding into Utah (and other western states). Several individual doves have been reported from various areas around Utah over the last couple of years and in June 2002, Steve Summers located several in nearby Fredonia, Arizona. However, these are the first Rick has seen in Washington County. Another was observed in September in Layton, Utah coming to a backyard feeder with Mourning Doves. Weber County 11/5 — Keith Evans of the Wasatch Audubon added a new bird to his backyard list today: a Northern Mockingbird! It came into his birdbath with a robin to drink. This is a rarity for this area. We had one winter on Antelope Island and one in Hooper during the last few years. 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 |
