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Modified
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Archived bird sightings: April 2003 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 04/23 — Betsy Beneke observed 300+ Marbled Godwits, a dozen Sandhill cranes, a dozen long-billed curlews, a couple of Willets and a couple of cattle egrets on the edge of the road going to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, approximately 3.5 miles from I-15. There were also a large number of California and Franklin's gulls and good numbers of American avocets, black-necked stilts, white-faced ibis, long-billed Dowitchers and waterfowl easily visible along the refuge road. Two black-crowned night-herons were also observed. 04/23 — Ed Conrad observed 3 Whimbrel just opposite of the Chesapeake Duck Club trailer which is a short distance past the first river crossing on the road to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. They were feeding in some long grass along with a couple of Long-billed Curlews and there were around 500 Marbled Godwits just a few feet off the road nearby. In the refuge itself Ed saw a Common Tern along the northern dike plus 2 more pairs of Blue-winged Teal. 04/17 — Brian Currie observed Blue-winged Teal at the blind over the water looking north by northeast at the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area. 04/06 — Bridget Olson, Biologist and Betsy Beneke, Education/Outreach Coordinator at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR) observed some new arrivals throughout the week at BRMBR. Avocets, Snowy Plovers, Dowitchers, Marbled Godwits, Mountain Bluebirds, Least Sandpiper, Clark's and Western Grebes, Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants, Black-crowned Night Herons, Tree Swallows, Golden Eagle and a Rough-legged Hawk. The chorus of marsh wrens is almost deafening! Sparrows, included Savannah, Vesper, White-crowned, Song and Juncos. Several turkey vultures have been in the area this week also. 04/23 — Pomera Fronce and Julia VanMoorhem went to Hyrum Reservoir on Wednesday afternoon and saw the Red-throated Loon previously reported. It is not in breeding plumage. It has a darkish cap and very white face and throat. There were also many Western and Clark's Grebes on the reservoir. They also saw a Caspian Tern. 04/23 — Ed Conrad relocated the Red-necked Grebe towards the upper end of Hyrum Reservoir. There was a Great Egret in the section of the valley called, "the Barrens" and in this same area there were 4 Short-eared Owls and a pair of Blue-winged Teal. Cache Valley has many Swainson's and Red-tail Hawks. 04/22 — Milton Moody, Bryan and Dennis Shirley, birding at Hyrum Reservoir observed a Red-throated Loon. It was in the middle of the lake. They saw it from the road above the beach area. 04/20 — Ron Ryel reported a Red-necked grebe on Hyrum Reservoir. The bird was mostly in breeding plumage and was seen from the overlook above the swimming beach. Also at the reservoir were about 100 loons and an Osprey. 04/20 — At the Oxbow, both yellowlegs, least sandpiper and Bonaparte's gull were seen. Marbled Godwits were seen at the Barrens. 04/03 — Todd Black reported several grebe species at Hyrum Dam: Clarks, Western and Eared grebes, as well as Common Loon and Red-breasted merganser. Davis County 04/30 — A small group of Great Salt Lake Audubon chapter members birding the Antelope Island Causeway observed a flock of 18–20 Semipalmated Plovers sitting on the South side about 20 yards east of the Mile 1 marker. Two Dunlin were with them! 04/24 — Bob Huntington, Roberta Wherritt and Deedee O'Brien enjoyed wonderful birding at Farmington Bay and along the Antelope Island Causeway. Along the Causeway they found one Black-bellied Plover, many Marbled Godwits, Willets, Avocets, Sanderlings, Western Sandpipers, and 5 Dunlin. Two were on the south side; then found three on north side. 04/23 — Ed Conrad on the causeway to Antelope Island, observed 26 Black-bellied Plovers and 5 Dunlin on the south side of the road at mile marker 6. 04/23 — a Caspian Tern was observed on the island of the northern most of the Kaysville Ponds, along I-15. 04/19 — Sparky Stensaas birding Antelope Island Causeway reported 323 Sanderlings, 91 Western Sandpipers, 17 Willets, 1 Dunlin and 1 Wilson's Phalarope. 04/20 — Joel and Kathy Beyer birding the Antelope Island Causeway between mile markers 2 and 3, on the north side, reported two Dunlin, along with several groups of Western Sandpipers and Sanderlings. There were also at least a dozen Baird's Sandpipers. Two Black-bellied Plovers were on the south side, between mile markers 4 and 5. 04/20 — On Antelope Island, two Long-billed Curlews were seen southeast of the visitors center. 04/20 — A Caspian Tern was flying around the Kaysville Ponds. 04/20 — At Farmington Bay WMA, just southeast of the locked gate on the west dike, were about 20 Marbled Godwits. 04/16 — David Lord observed and photographed what he reports as Ring-necked Turtle Doves coming to his Bountiful back yard feeders. He will continue to photograph and observe the birds to confirm whether they are Eurasian Collared Doves or indeed Ring-necked Turtle Doves. The Eurasian Collared doves have been reported in Utah in recent years and last year in Davis County. 04/16 — Pomera Fronce birding the Antelope Island causeway observed 2 Black-bellied Plovers on the south side of the causeway by the first bridge. Also along the causeway were 4 Western Sandpipers mixed in with a flock of about 30 Sanderlings. A Burrowing Owl can be seen from Buffalo Point Overlook below the pull out on the west side, looking down hill. 04/16 — At Glover Ponds, West of Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area Pomera Fronce reported 5 Ross' Geese. 04/18 — Edward Conrad saw 5 Ross's Geese at the Glover ponds. There was also a Peregrine Falcon perched in the "eagle" trees at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. 04/19 — Tony Jones observed two Dunlin with a flock of Sanderling on the Antelope Island Causeway. They were on the North side of the road about 1/10 mile from mile marker 3. The Dunlin were starting to get there black belly spots. There were 5 Western Sandpiper on the south side of the road about 3/10 mile past mile marker 3. Salt Lake County 04/29 — Denise Harges reported a Hooded Oriole that comes to her Humming Bird feeder has returned again this year. This is likely the same bird that Mark Stackhouse recently observed. Denise is located at 881 18th Avenue (Salt Lake City) near I Street intersecting 18th Avenue. She can be reached at 363-6017. 04/29 — Mark Stackhouse reported an adult male Hooded Oriole in the upper Avenues area of Salt Lake City. The bird was calling and moving around in the upper parts of several large trees in the yards of homes on both the North and south sides of 18th Avenue just west of the junction with Terrace Hills Dr. 04/25 — Arlene Sand and Shirley Wilson reported good numbers of Common Loons on Rock Port and Little Dell Reservoirs. 04/23 — a Horned Grebe was observed at Lee Kay ponds. He was in the center of the west pond. 04/20 — Sparky Stensaas birding Mill Creek Canyon reported a Northern Pygmy Owl (singing from 5 PM until I left at 7:30 PM). It was 1 mile up Desolation Trail where the junipers start. He was in the tip-tops of two firs. 04/21 — Bryan Shirley birding on the Antelope Island Causeway saw 2 Dunlin on the south side just after the sign for mile 2. Also 1 Semipalmated sandpiper in a group of Western Sandpiper's just before the second bridge. 04/21 — DeeDee O'Brien reported that the Band-tails are coming in everyday to feeders in her backyard in Holladay. The pigeons are often in the large Sumac tree on the NE corner of our backyard and that is visible from the street. Now is a good time before the leaves fill out and hide them. It seems that around 11:00 a.m. is a good time as is between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (lately 2:00 p.m. has been good). Last summer, they sometimes came to the magnum feeder in the front yard, so a drive by might work. DeeDee can be contacted at 272-8060. The address is 4527 S 2995 E Holladay. 04/18 — Steven Carlisle observed two Peregrine Falcons on the Joseph Smith building in down town Salt Lake City. Peregrine Falcons have successfully nested in nest boxes placed on the upper building ledges in the past. 04/08 — Bob Walters observed a Say's phoebe at 3325 S. 9200 W. in Magna San Juan County 04/12 — Joel & Kathy Beyer reported Common Loon, Greater Yellowlegs at Recapture Reservoir. Western and Mountain Bluebirds, and White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches at Devils Canyon area. Sage Sparrows and Sage Thrashers in the Church Rock area. Utah County 04/24 — Christian Peay observed a 2nd summer Common Tern fly back and forth along the Provo Airport Dike on the east side. 04/12 — Joel and Kathy Beyer reported a Harris's Sparrow, in breeding plumage and singing, 1/4 mile in from beginning of Provo Airport dike road (paved section, northeast end). Also Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs on the south side. 04/17 — Brian Currie reported a Great Egret in the moat along the Provo airport dike. 04/17 — Bryan Shirley reported 2 Bonaparte's Gulls in the moat along the Provo airport dike and Franklin's Gulls flying over the lake. Vesper sparrows and one Lincoln's Sparrow as well, at the SW corner along the Provo Airport Dike. 04/19 — Christian Peay spotted a White-Winged Dove near 600 North and 800 West In Orem. Washington County 04/30 — Rick Fridell saw a Zone-tailed Hawk at Silver Reef. It was flying along the sandstone cliffs immediately after crossing Leeds Creek on the road leading to the Forest Service property (and onto the Danish Ranch or Oak Grove Campground). 04/13 — JFC reported birding on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive a spectacular sighting of a California Condor! According to park officials there have been 4 Condors in the park for the last several days feeding on a deer carcass. The carcass is located on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive near the Wheeping Rock bus stop. Get off the bus and walk about 25 meters south, climb the embankment and look across the river. You can't see the carcass but look for Turkey Vultures in the area. If you are planning a trip ask park officials about the Condors. They have been keeping close tabs on them. 04/17 — Larry Tripp saw a Bendire's Thrasher just NW of Sand Hollow Reservoir. There was also Sage Thrashers, a few White-crowned and a Lark sparrows in the same area. 04/06 — Larry Tripp relocated the Painted Redstart reported earlier in Zion National Park, along the Weeping Rock parking area. Additionally, he observed a Common Black-hawk in Zion NP near the Court of the Patriarchs, along the river and a very nice Cassin's Vireo and quite a few Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. 04/05 — at Lytle Ranch, Larry Tripp reported a Bell's Vireo, a couple of Ash-throated Flycatchers, and several Blue-gray Gnatcatcher's. 04/03 — Kevin Shipp, a visiting birder from Indiana, reported a Painted Redstart along the Weeping Rock Trail in Zion National Park at 4:00 p.m., April 3. 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 |
