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Modified
Friday, October 3, 2003
Archived bird sightings: August 2003 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 08/21 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, reported that the shallow waters remaining in the wetland management unit inside the tour loop are rapidly vanishing. It will be dry without rainfall by weekend. In the meantime the mud flats offer excellent shorebird habitat. Teal have moved into the area in large numbers. Observed one brood of snowy plover chick still in down. First observation of Red-necked Phalarope. Pink Floyd can also be observed from the tour route from time to time. 08/23 — Dana Green and Kris Purdy observed Short-eared Owls, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Gray Partridge at Whites Valley. At Willard Bay they saw a Northern Waterthrush behind campsite 84 and a Nashville Warbler on the boardwalk. They reported lots of Black Crowned Night Herons on the pond to the North. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge produced a Peregrine Falcon and a Black Tern in winter plumage. 08/12 — Pomera Fronce and Julie Vanmoorhen birded Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR) and reported that the Solitary Sandpiper was there still, as well as Black terns, Wilson's Phalaropes, Baird's Sandpiper, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons and an audible on Sora Rails. 08/07 — Pomera Fronce reported a great day of birding at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR). She reported two Solitary Sandpiper, many Black-crowned Night Heron, six Semipalmated Plovers, as well as Snowy Plovers and Black Terns. She had a great look at six Virginia Rails feeding in the open. 08/08 — Betsy Beneke birded BRMBR focusing on the tamarisk and weedy edges of the dikes. She reported good numbers of song, savannah, vesper, white-crowned, chipping and many lark sparrows. Also recorded yellow, Wilson's and common yellowthroat warblers. More interesting was the rock wren and rufous hummingbird on the back side of the auto tour. But the most interesting find of the day was a lark bunting. It too was on the back side of the auto tour — very loosely associated with a few sparrows. It was larger than the other birds, more on the size order of a Zonotrichia sparrow, but it was very darkly streaked (black-looking) on the breast and sides, with a brown-gray and black-striped back. It had both black and white malar stripes and a white patch on the wing. But the clincher for me was the thick, stubby blue-gray colored bill. 08/03 — Alton Thygerson, Glenn Barlow and Mark Stackhouse birding at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR) reported large numbers of shorebirds in migration resting at BRMBR. They saw a pair of Stilt Sandpipers, still in breeding plumage with a small group of Long-billed Dowitchers on the East side of the auto tour, just north of the first bridge. Additionally they reported Snowy Plover, Semipalmated Plover both species of Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope. 08/02 — Kris Purdy birding at BRMBR and enjoyed most of the bird species others have reported lately, as well as a Great Egret, Black Terns and Semipalmated Plovers all on the North leg of the auto tour loop. Cache County 08/30 — Kris Purdy reported wonderful birding in Wellsville today. She birded the trails behind the Best Western Sherwood Hills Resort in Wellsville Canyon (Sardine) on State Hwy. 89/91 between Brigham City and Cache Valley. During her hike Kris observed Townsend's, Wilson's, Black-throated Gray, MacGillivray's, Nashville, Yellow and Yellow-rumped warblers. Additionally, Kris observed Plumbeous Vireo's, Black-capped Chickadees, Warbling Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Juncos, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Pine Siskin's, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Cordilleran Flycatcher and Western Wood-pewee. Along McMurdie Hollow Road, Kris added Mountain Bluebird, Western Kingbird, Vesper Sparrow and Cooper's Hawk. On Highway 101 from Hyrum to Paradise she saw Swainson's and Red-tailed Hawks. Kris finished the day birding Perry Nature Park on Highway 89 in Perry. Here she saw Rufous Hummingbird, Virginia's and Sora Rails and Common Yellowthroat. Davis County 08/31 — Carol and Nicky Davis birding Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island observed a Cassin's Vireo, Western Tanager, Prairie Falcon, Green-tailed Towhee, Orange-crowned warbler and Wilson's Warblers. At Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area they saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher foraging in the trees on the top of Egg Island. 08/31 — Kathy and Joel Beyer birding at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island saw a Red-eyed Vireo east of the spring house. They also reported Nashville and Townsend's Warblers, and Cassin's Vireos. 08/30 — the Layton Wild Bird Center took its regular Saturday bird walk at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and reported two Great Egrets and two Eastern King Birds, among the other usual suspects. There were four Greater Yellow Legs and one Lesser Yellow Leg. The birds were in the pond North of the Bountiful dump. 08/25 — Pomera Fronce birding at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island, saw the Northern Waterthrush reported earlier. It was east of the spring house, she also reported a Red-eyed Vireo, lots of Wilson's and MacGillivray's Warblers, a Townsend's Warbler, one Nashville Warbler and a Cooper's Hawk. 08/21 — Bob Huntington reported a Winter Wren and a Northern Waterthrush at Fielding-Garr Ranch. They were in the water east of the spring house. 08/17 — Pomera Fronce birding Antelope Island reported both Wilson's and Red-necked phalaropes, one Sanderling and one Long-billed Curlew along the Antelope Island Causeway. At Fielding-Garr Ranch there were lots of Lark Sparrows along with Wilson's, MacGillivray's and Nashville Warblers, as well as Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers. Pomera also saw the Burrowing Owls and Chukars previously reported near the Visitors' Center. 08/12 — Kris Purdy birding Antelope Island State Park reported Franklin's and California Gulls, along with Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes feeding on brine flies and shrimp along the Causeway. She also reported an albino grebe, likely an Eared Grebe on the north side of the causeway between mile marker 1 and the next bridge going west. American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, and Willets were there too, along with five Long-billed Curlews standing on the road across from the marina. Kris observed a Gray Flycatcher actively foraging and regularly teed up on sage brush around the Visitor's Center. Rock Wrens were very active, as well as a female Bullock's Oriole, Sage Thrashers and she saw TEN Burrowing Owls. 08/14 — Carol Davis also found Antelope Island to her liking on her birding trip. She reported seeing 11 Burrowing Owls while parked near the visitors center at one of the picnic tables on the hill below the visitors center. She saw two more Burrowing Owls below the Buffalo Point hill (southwest). One mile down the road to Fielding-Garr Ranch on the right side of the road (West) she saw another Burrowing Owl standing on a rock about two-thirds of the way up the hill. At Fielding-Garr Ranch Carol reported Wilson's Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Lark Sparrows, Western Kingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, a Plumbeous Vireo, Song Sparrows, and Sage Thrashers. 08/03 — Glenn Barlow reported Red and Wilson's Phalaropes on the Antelope Island Causeway. Grand County 08/14 — a group of Dixie birders reported at 7 Clark's Grebe, Golden Eagles and a Prairie Falcon at Newcastle Reservoir. 08/19 — Damian Fagan reported gray catbird being observed along the Colorado River trail, near the cottonwood self-guided trail marker, on August 19th, in the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve, in Moab. 8/15 — Damian Fagan reported a Green Heron observation at Cottonwood Bend Ranch, upstream of Dewey Bridge. Iron County 08/14 — a group of Dixie birders reported at 7 Clark's Grebe, Golden Eagles and a Prairie Falcon at Newcastle Reservoir. Juab County 08/04 — Cindy Orten reported an adult Semipalmated Plover on the dock shore at Mona Reservoir. Salt Lake County 08/21 — LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen birding at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island reported the following birds East of the Spring House: Virginia Rail, Lark Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Western Wood Pewee, Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, Winter Wren and a Red-eyed Vireo. Additionally, they viewed the Burrowing Owls in the area below the visitors center. 08/23 — Dana Green reported a Common Tern at Lee Kay ponds. 08/11 — Julie Vanmoorhen and Kent Lewis birding about three-fourths of the way to the Twin Lakes pass from the Lake Solitude side at Brighton saw Clark's Nutcrackers and Red Crossbills, as well as Warbling Vireos, Hairy Woodpecker and Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers. 08/04 — Bob Walters, DWR Watchable Wildlife Coordinator, reported a Ferruginous hawk perched close to the top of a UP&L lattice-type power line support structure between 2200 No. and 3300 No., just west of 3200 W. in Salt Lake City. Summit County 08/23 — Joel & Kathy Beyer birding in the Brighton/Lake Solitude/Twin Lakes area this past weekend observed Northern Goshawks, Three-toed Woodpecker, Red Crossbills, Townsend's Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatch and White-breasted Nuthatch, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-tailed Hawk and Clark's Nutcrackers. 08/17 — Joel and Kathy Beyer reported birding in the Mirror Lake area where they saw three Gray Jays at Bonny Lake, which is reached via the High Line Trail from Mirror Lake. They also reported Three-toed Woodpecker, Red Crossbill and Golden-crowned Kinglet along this trail. 08/17 — Joel and Kathy Beyer reported birding in the Mirror Lake area where they saw three Gray Jays at Bonny Lake, which is reached via the High Line Trail from Mirror Lake. They also reported Three-toed Woodpecker, Red Crossbill and Golden-crowned Kinglet along this trail. 08/15 — Julie Vanmoorhen and Colleen Cox birding at the Trial Lake/Washington Lake area saw Pine Grosbeak, and Orange-crowned Warbler. Pomera Fronce and Julie earlier birded Smith-Morehouse Reservoir Road and found MacGillivray's and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Tooele County 08/22 — Jack Binch went to the Stockton area and observed a Black-throated Gray Warbler. Just before reaching the Stockton area he saw a good sized flock of Pinyon Jays. The Reddish Egret is still at JWFWMA. Utah County 08/15 — Jay Robertson saw a Green Heron at the Provo Airport Dike. He was west of the extension in the moat. Wasatch County 08/18 — Pomera Fronce, Kent Lewis, Alton Thygerson and Julie VanMoorhem went to the BOR area below the Jordanelle Dam to look for the Red-eyed Vireo reported by Joel and Kathy Beyer. They found it at the South end of the 2nd boardwalk in a large, tall berry bush on the right side of the trail as you come off the boardwalk. It was with a group of Warbling Vireos. 08/17 — Joel and Kathy Beyer reported a Red-eyed Vireo at the Jordanelle Wetlands (the area below Jordanelle Dam in Heber Valley), as well as Warbling Vireos at the northernmost end of the boardwalk/gravel nature trail. Washington County 08/31 — Larry Tripp birding at Lytle Ranch reported a first winter Dickcissel. The bird didn't have any rectrices but was still able to fly. The bird was on the East side of the orchard feeding on the seeds of the tall grass with a group of Lazuli Buntings. There was also a Male Indigo Bunting in the orchard and a Cassin's Vireo near the first pond. 08/30 — Larry Tripp reported that the Reddish Egret was still at Gunlock today, along with a Common Loon. He observed an Eastern Kingbird just North of Enterprise. 08/27 — Arnold and Aaron Smith reported seeing the Reddish Egret at Gunlock Reservoir directly across from the boat launch ramp and later on the North end of the Reservoir at the Dam. They also saw Lesser Nighthawks at the top of Bluff Street in St. George near Red Cliffs Golf Course, along with Greater Road Runner, Blue Grosbeak and 67 of the other usual suspect species of the St. George area. 08/22 — Julie VanMoorhen reported that the Reddish Egret is still at Gunlock Reservoir, as well as a Short-billed Dowitcher. Julie also observed Cassin's Kingbirds at HWY. 191 and Gunlock Junction. There was a Stilt Sandpiper at Sun River golf course and Hermit and Townsend Warblers at Pine Park. The Red-shouldered Hawk previously reported was still in the area north of Gunlock Reservoir on Sunday, August 24. 08/23 — Larry Tripp located a Red-shouldered Hawk approximately 3/4 of a mile North of Gunlock Reservoir along the Santa Clara River. He also reported an adult with one and possibly two juvenile Common Black-hawks in the same area. Larry also observed a female Hermit Warbler there too. The Reddish Egret is still at the North end of Gunlock Reservoir. 08/19 — Alton Thergenson, Glenn Barlow and Reed Stone went to Gunlock Reservoir where they were able to see the Reddish Egret previously reported. They also saw a Red-eyed Vireo below the dam. At Lytle they observed White-winged Dove, Hooded Oriole and Scotts Oriole. At the Red Cliffs Golf course Reed Stone spotted a Lesser 08/16 — and 8/17, a group of Dixie birders reported seeing the Reddish Egret still hanging out at the North end of Gunlock Reservoir and still there on August 17. They described the bird as a dark morph. The feathers are turning cinnamon on its head and neck, with more "reddish" on the head. It has a pale eye with dark pupil. The rest of the bird is gray. It did exhibit the characteristic "sprint" chase of prey once, with wings partially extended and spread in a canopy. They estimate it to be between a first and second year bird (immature). Its mandible is dark, but in particularly good light you could see that it was darker at the tip and lighter at the base. The picture in the American Bird Conservancy's field guide, "All The Birds of North America" shows an immature bird which most closely resembles this bird. 08/14 — the Dixie Birders observed two Green Herons at Baker Reservoir, 13 Bushtits and a Lesser Yellowlegs. At Pine Valley Reservoir and around the campgrounds they saw Bushtits, Western Tanagers, both Chickadees, Hairy Woodpecker, five White-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Grosbeaks, and a couple of Steller Jays. Near Enterprise they found eight Lazuli Buntings, an Orange-crowned Warbler and Logger-headed Shrike. 08/18 — Bruce Robinson saw the Reddish Egret at Gunlock Reservoir previously reported by Larry Tripp. At Lytle Ranch he saw Hooded and Scott's Orioles and White Winged Doves. 08/17 — Dana Green made a quick day trip to see the Reddish Egret at Gunlock Reservoir. It was straight across from the dam at 8:00 a.m., and around 11:00 a.m., it was right across from the inlet parking. 08/17 — Larry Tripp reported that the Reddish Egret is still at Gunlock Reservoir, as of 11:00 a.m. 08/15 — Larry Tripp reported the Reddish Egret is still at Gunlock Reservoir. It was in the Shallows at the North end of the lake and later near the dam. 08/14 — Larry Tripp reported an immature Reddish Egret at Gunlock Reservoir. The bird was near the inflow at the North end of the Reservoir. He as able to get some photos of the bird standing next to some Avocets for size comparison. Larry reported observing the bird dashing around in typical Reddish Egret fashion. Weber County 08/23 — Mort and Carolyn Somer saw a Summer Tanager on the new stretch of the Ogden River Parkway and were able to photograph it. They had seen it on 8/18 but were not able to photograph it then. It is using the Cotton Woods along the Ogden River. To reach the area of the sighting: it is between Keisel and Childs Avenues on the new stretch of the Ogden River Parkway west of Washington Blvd. Turn North on Childs from 20th Street and go to the end and park there by the river. It was seen in the tree with tire swing on south side of the river and in the cottonwoods along the river on both sides, as far east as Keisel. 08/09 — The Wild Bird Center birded the North Ogden Divide Sky line trail and saw a Townsend's and Virginia's Warblers. Kris Purdy continued on the Skyline Trail and saw another Townsend's Warbler between 6500' and 7000' of elevation. The bird was hopping through outer boughs of a Douglas fir. It was a female or first-year bird based on the lack of black throat and paler appearance of the remainder of the head plumage. The broad supercillium and malar stripe was bright yellow and the breast was yellow as well. The bird also had two distinct white wing bars on gray wings that continued to a gray tail. 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 |
