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Modified
Friday, October 31, 2003
Archived bird sightings: September 2003 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Beaver County 09/25 — Larry Tripp and Rick Fridell reported nine Eurasian Collared-Doves and a huge flock of 150+ Pinyon Jays in Minersville. They also reported a flock of 5–10 Gambel's Quail going to roost in an old Magpie nest near the North end of the campground at Minersville Reservoir. 09/27 — Larry Tripp and Rick Fridell observed a Winter Wren at Pine Grove. They met Steve and Priscilla Summers and visited the Wah Wah Valley Ranch (a private ranch and permission is required) where they saw a Blue-winged Teal, Slate-colored Fox Sparrow, and a Grasshopper Sparrow. Box Elder County 09/17 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted a Waterbird/Raptor Survey Count. She reported that a majority of avocets, black-necked stilts and white-faced ibis have migrated. Marbled Godwit numbers are high. Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and Gadwall numbers up over the last month. Water continues to be in short supply though we were able to begin filling another large interior unit. Some water is also being diverted to refill the tour route unit. According to the Refuge's water right, the Refuge will start to receive the entire Bear River water beginning October 1 which should help alleviate some of the drought conditions. 09/12 — Arnold Smith, Keith Evans and Jack Rensel conducting a migration survey at Lucin reported a Winter Wren, Red-naped Sapsucker, Long-eared Owl, Coopers Hawk and a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. 09/14 — Kris Purdy birding Locomotive Springs Waterfowl Management Area (25 miles northwest of Golden Spike) observed Yellow-rumped Warblers, Sage Thrashers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Savannah Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night Heron. Waterfowl observed included Northern Shoveler, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Wigeon, Common Merganser and Ring-necked Ducks. Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, and a vocalizing Virginia Rail. On the return trip from Golden Spike Kris saw American Kestrels, a Prairie Falcon, and a Peregrine Falcon. The Peregrine was on the line of double telephone poles that run parallel to and south of UT 83 near the junction with Highway 102. She heard Virginia Rails, Common Yellowthroat, and Marsh Wrens there too. 09/12 — Pomera Fronce birding White's Valley reported seeing Gray Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse and a Burrowing Owl. On the way to Lucin, she observed Ferruginous Hawks. Lucin held a Winter Wren and a Long-eared Owl. 09/06 — David Wheeler reported a Blackpoll warbler at the Box Elder Campground, next to Mantua. It was an immature individual working the tall willows near the creek toward the lower part of the lower loop. It stayed low in the trees, allowing extended views. Additionally he reported abundant activity from warbling vireos, Downy Woodpeckers, an immature sapsucker and waxwings. David observed a Black & White warbler at Mantua Reservoir, near where the creek enters at the eastern corner just before the perimeter road is gated off when one heads counterclockwise around the reservoir. 09/06 — Bruce Robinson birding at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR) along the North side of the auto tour loop observed two Great Egrets and quite a few Franklin Gulls. On the mud flat in the Southwest corner near the new observation stand was a Peregrine Falcon. Along the canal on the eastern part of the auto tour loop were Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (near enough to each other to afford a good comparison), and Solitary Sandpipers. 09/06 — Julie VanMoorhem birding at Willard Bay campground observed five Common Terns just west of the marina on a small rocky island. Julie also reported Wilson's, Nashville and Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as two Gray Catbirds. Cache County 09/06 — David Wheeler reported about ten White-winged Crossbill's at Tony Grove Lake in Logan Canyon. At the water treatment ponds on the north-south road leading to Cutler Reservoir were Baird's sandpipers and a large numbers of Swainson's Hawks. 09/03 — James Lofthouse birding at Hyrum Dam reported White Pelican, California Gull, Franklin's Gull, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, White faced Ibis, Killdeer, Avocet, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Merlin, Snowy Egret, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, and Shoveler present. 09/01 — Kris Purdy and Glenn Barlow returned to the Wellsvilles (behind Best Western Sherwood Hills Resort in Wellsville Canyon (Sardine) on 89/91 between Brigham City and Cache Valley) and reported an Olive-sided Flycatcher. It repositioned itself twice, responded to a CD rewarding them with great looks through a scope. Carbon County 09/01 — KC Childs and Eric Huish birding along the Price River near Wellington, observed Black Crowned Night Herons and Loggerhead Shrikes. Just before entering East Carbon at a small settling reservoir they saw Baird's Sandpipers, Red-Necked Phalaropes, Pinyon Jays, Western Sandpipers and Eared Grebes. In the town of Sunnyside they reported Rufous Hummingbirds and Red-naped Sapsuckers. At Grassy Trail Canyon, KC Childs believes that he may have seen a Scarlet Tanager. They both saw Western Wood-Pewee and Wilson's Warblers there. At the Price Canyon Recreation Area they saw Red Crossbills, Clarks Nutcrackers and a Prairie Falcon. Davis County 09/30 — Dave Abbott reported a Black-and-white Warbler at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. The bird was in a large Russian Olive tree on the fence line south of a brush pile in the field south of the spring pond area. 09/30 — Glenn Barlow and Pomera Fronce saw the Sabine's Gull previously reported, north of the Antelope Island causeway between mile markers 4 and 5. 09/28 — Joel & Kathy Beyer birding Antelope Island observed two Sabine's Gulls on the North side of the Antelope Island Causeway, near mile marker 4. Further east along the Causeway were hundreds of Dowitchers (presumably Long-billed) and about 30 Black-bellied Plovers. Just west of mile marker 1, on the South side, were 7 Long-billed Curlews. 09/27 — The regular Saturday morning bird walk from the Layton, Wild Bird Center went to the Utah Conservancy Great Shoreline Preserve in West Layton and turned up many migrating birds that one does not usually associate with the marsh habitat. Pat Bean of the Standard Examiner accompanied the Wild Bird Center Group, along with Jim Danzenbaker, Naturalist with Brunton Optic. The group saw a Red-naped Sapsucker perched on top of the center pole of the observation tower. The observation tower gave a hawk's view of the birds below in the marsh reeds, Jack Rensel pointed out. The group saw Orange Crowned Warbler, American Water Pipit's, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, all of the usual waterfowl species, as well as Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellow Legs, White-faced Ibis, Northern Harriers, Marsh Wrens, 09/28 — Tony Jones and Bob Bradley birded Antelope Island and had very good looks at the Sabine's Gull previously reported. It is an adult still in breeding plumage. The bird was observed in the North side of the causeway between mile markers 1 and 2. There were Yellow-rumped Warblers at Garr Ranch, as well as many Hermit Thrushes. 09/28 — Alton Thygerson made a quick afternoon trip to the Antelope Island Causeway, after seeing the report of the Sabine's Gull. Fortunately, at mile marker #4, the gull flew by. The wing configuration was its ID. 09/21 — Carol Davis birding on Antelope Island reported Long-billed Curlews, Horned Larks, Sage Thrashers, American Kestrel and Northern Harrier. 09/23 — Steve Coleman, Volunteer Naturalist at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, reported that the birds were very busy at Farmington Bay, as they stage for migration. Birds seen in the trees near the classrooms were Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, White Crowned Sparrows and Townsend's Warblers. The rest of the area was busy with birds too. Steve reported Avocets, American White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, White-faced Ibis, Eared, Western and Clark's Grebes. There was a beautiful silver and black male Northern Harrier and American Kestrel. 09/21 — Carol Davis birding on Antelope Island reported Long-billed Curlews, Horned Larks, Sage Thrashers, American Kestrel and Northern Harrier. 09/21 — Ross Rassmussen, birding along the Antelope Island Causeway observed a Sabine's Gull. He observed it just before mile marker 4, flying North by Northeast from approximately 500 meters until it flew out of sight. The bird was in view for approximately 25 minutes, coursing along the area. Ross said that the bird exhibited the classic wing pattern with white wedge. The white tail with black terminal band was also observed. 09/18 — Alton Thygerson birding Fielding-Garr Ranch and the Causeway on Antelope Island observed Sanderlings, Baird's Sandpipers, Townsend's Warblers and Wilson's Warblers. 09/14 — Arnold Smith along with his sons Aaron, Westin and daughters-in law Shauna and Louise birding Antelope Island reported Sanderlings, Horned Grebe, Semipalmated and Baird's Sandpipers along the causeway near the 2nd bridge on the North side of the causeway. At Field-Garr Ranch they observed Cassin's Vireos and Catbirds. 09/06 — The Layton Wild Bird Center regular Saturday morning birding group observed two Great Egrets at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (FBWMA). One stood alongside of a Great Blue heron which offered great comparisons of size, etc., in the same field of view. Others birds of note at FBWMA were Osprey, Sage Thrasher, Loggerhead Shrike, Clark's and Western Grebes, Baird's and Least Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs, as well as many arriving waterfowl: Pintail, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal in the thousands. Duchesne County 09/26 — Betsy Beneke birding the Mirror Lake area observed robins and solitaires, White-crowned Sparrows, Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pine Siskin's and a Cassin's Finch. 09/10 — Tom Gorman reporting back from his birding excursion to the Kings Peak area in the Uinta Mountains observed 26 White-tailed Ptarmigan in three days. He reported that the flock looks as good as last year's 23 Ptarmigan that he saw. Approximately half of the birds appeared to be young of the year. The birds are about 50% white. Other birds of note from the hike: Northern Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Ruff and Blue Grouse, Semipalmated Plover, Three-toed Woodpecker, Rock Wren, American Dipper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, MacGillivray's Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow,Black Rosy-Finch and Townsend's Warblers. Grand County 09/15 — Damian Fagan, Colorado and Green Rivers Area Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy of Utah reported several Lincoln's sparrows at the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve in Moab, along the trail to the Colorado River. At least three barn owls were observed on 9/14/03 near the Moab Golf Course. It is a family of Barn Owls nesting near the Moab Man petroglyph along the road to Hidden Valley. The owls were foraging in the residential construction area just north of the golf course. Iron County 09/27 — Steve Coleman birding the canyon walking trail east of Cedar City observed Blue Gray Gnat Catchers, White Crowned Sparrows, Scrub Jays, Steller's Jays, Canyon Wrens (heard), Spotted Towhees, Turkey Vultures, Ravens and Crows, Northern Flickers, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Dark Eyed Juncos, and a Plumbeous Vireo a life bird for Steve. Juab County 09/26 — Larry Tripp and Rick Fridell birding in Callao reported Yellow-rumped Warblers and a possible Blackpoll Warbler, but they were unable to confirm it. At Miller Spring (Snake Valley) they observed a male Wood Duck, Sora Rail and a bright Cassin's Vireo. 09/25 — Merrill Webb reported a Merlin at Mona Reservoir. He also saw a female Wood Duck at Burriston ponds just south of Mona. 09/19 — Julie VanMoorhem, Kent Lewis, Pomera Fronce, and Glenn Barlow birding at Fish Springs Waterfowl Management Area reported MacGillivray's, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cordilleran and Willow Flycatchers, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, Red-naped Sapsucker, Townsend's Solitaire; Chukar, Great Horned Owl, Lincoln's Sparrows, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night Herons, Rock Wren, and Savannah Sparrow. Millard County 09/26 — Larry Tripp and Rick Fridell birding at Foote Reservoir (Bishop Springs) observed a Short-eared Owl roosting in the Russian Olives. 09/27 — Larry Tripp, Rick Fridell, Steve and Priscilla Summers visited the Kaufman Ranch (permission required) saw three Lewis's Woodpeckers and a Swainson's Thrush. 09/14 — Pomera Fronce, reported a Northern Parula at Kaufman Ranch. Other birds of interest were a Short-eared Owl, Ring-necked Duck, Yellow-breasted Chat, MacGillivray's Warblers, lots of beautifully colored Nashville Warblers, Wilson's Warblers and one Townsend's Warbler. Salt Lake County 09/27 — Eight Utah County Birders birding at Brighton produced a life bird for seven of the birders. At the loop road next to the church the group observed a flock of White-winged Crossbills in the tops of the tall spruces. 09/18 — Alton Thygerson birding at Silver Lake/Brighton area saw a White-winged Crossbill west of the Silver Lake boardwalk, past the bridge, in the top of the spruce trees, with several Red Crossbills. A second sighting of a White-winged Crossbill was near a bed & Breakfast with a large "for sale" sign on the North part of the Brighton Ski Resort loop road. The bird was seen south in a tree top after which it flew off in a southeast direction. The white in its wings was distinctive both while sitting and flying. A Northern Pygmy Owl responded to my owl imitation, but was never seen on the Desolation Trail in Mill Creek Canyon. The Spruce Campground in the same canyon as Brighton had Red-breasted Nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, Juncos, etc. 09/05 — Bob Bradley birding in the Brighton area observed a White-winged Crossbill along with Red Crossbills. A juvenile Goshawk was observed in the same area on 9/6. San Juan County 09/19 — Todd black observed an adult drake Wood Duck atSouth Long Point pond east of the bears ears on San Juan Elk Ridge in an acorn patch. Tooele County 09/19 — Julie VanMoorhem, Kent Lewis, Pomera Fronce, and Glenn Barlow observed a Great Egret at James Fitzgerald Waterfowl Management Area. 09/08 — Eric Huish reported a Northern Waterthrush at Clover Springs under the first fallen tree down from the spring. There was lots of bird activity around the spring and many sparrows and warblers in the field of rabbit brush bellow the camping area including Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-throated Gray, Nashville, Orange-crowned, MacGillivray's, Wilson's and Yellow-rumped warblers. 09/06 — Pomera Fronce, and Julie VanMoorhem observed the Reddish Egret (performing its canopy "dance") at the Fitzgerald WMA (near Faust, Utah). Traveling through Tooele County on the way they saw Wilson's, Black-throated Gray, Townsend's, Orange-crowned, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped, Nashville and Virginia's Warblers, as well as Wild Turkeys, Western Tanager; Plumbeous and Warbling Vireo; Cordilleran and Gray Flycatchers, Osprey, Pinyon Jays and Virginia Rail. 09/04 — Bruce Robinson traveled to James Walter Fitzgerald WMA and observed the Reddish Egret reported earlier by Milton moody. Other birds of note at James Walter Fitzgerald WMA (JWFWMA) were an Eastern Kingbird and a Says Phoebe working the Russian Olives near the Quonset hut. 09/04 — KC Childs, Alton Thygerson and Eric Huish also went to JWFWMA and saw the Reddish Egret with a Great Egret. 09/03 — Merrill Webb and Milton Moody birding at James Walter Fitzgerald WMA reported a juvenile Reddish Egret. There were also Red-necked Phalaropes, Baird's and Western Sandpiper, and American White Pelicans present. At Harker Canyon (south of Vernon in the Sheep Rock Mountains), they saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The road up Harker Canyon is pretty rocky. They found the bird about "2 blocks" beyond the first turnoff in the road after you cross the stream. Uintah County 09/12 — Alton Thygerson birding the Ouray Wildlife Refuge flushed an American Bittern along the canal in the Leota Bottoms section of the refuge. Utah County 09/30 — Eric Huish birding along the Provo Airport Dike observed a Merlin at the Eastern end of the dike, as you come to the first bend in the road. Eric also observed several variety of sparrows including Lincoln's, White-crowned and Chipping. For those who enjoy butterflies, Eric highly recommends the Provo dike now. It appears to be the peak of migration and the Rabbit brush is in full bloom. There Monarchs, Queens, Painted Ladies, Purplish Coppers, Hoary Commas, Mourning Cloak, Western Pygmy-Blues, Checkered White, Cabbage White, Clouded Sulfur, and several Crescents and Skippers. 09/25 — Merrill Webb reported a Merlin just south of the Utah Lake State Park in Provo. 09/09 — KC Childs birding at Utah Lake State Park on the South dike reported Pectoral, Solitary, Western, Semipalmated and Baird's Sandpipers, as well as Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Marbled Godwit. 09/05 — Jacque Northcott, Shelley Stokes, and Josh Kreitzer birded the airport dike area on the East side of Utah Lake and observed Swainson's Hawk, Osprey, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, many Caspian and one Forster's Tern, and a pair of Sage Thrashers. Wasatch County 09/27 — Kris Purdy birding at the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Wetlands below Jordanelle Dam observed a Nashville Warbler. She also reported an astonishing numbers of American Robins, Northern Flickers, Belted Kingfishers, Song Sparrows, Marsh Wrens, American Magpies, Cedar Waxwings, Red-winged Blackbirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Kris also saw Black-capped Chickadees, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, an American Dipper, an Osprey, several Red-tailed Hawks, two Osprey, an American Kestrel, Mallards, Great-blue Herons, American Goldfinches and a Downy Woodpecker. Washington County 09/25 — Larry Tripp and Rick Fridell observed a Common Tern at Quail Creek State Park. 09/28 — Kristen and Rick Fridell visited Kolob Reservoir and counted 27 Lewis's Woodpeckers and also saw their first Bald Eagle of the fall season (an adult flying near Blue Springs Res). 09/20 — Alton Thygerson observed a Rufous-crowned Sparrow east of the town of Virgin. Merrill Webb and Alton birding at Gunlock Reservoir observed a flock of Pinyon Jays, Lewis' Woodpecker, and a Green Heron. Larry Tripp had previously reported a male Vermilion Flycatcher, a brilliant male that Alton managed to see. 09/23 — Alton Thygerson birding at Lytle Ranch observed Gambel's Quail. At the South end of the town of Gunlock he saw two Greater Roadrunners. Mathis and Tonaquint Parks in St. George had Abert's Towhee. Birding Red Cliffs Campground Alton observed a Downy Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 09/07 — Larry Tripp birding above Gunlock Reservoir reported a Tennessee Warbler and a Vaux's Swift. At Gunlock Reservoir he observed a there was a juvenile Sabine's Gull. The "Reddish Egret" is still there. 09/06 — Merrill Webb reported a female Vermilion Flycatcher at the westernmost edge of Bloomington Hills Golf Course about 150 yards east of the bridge over Fort Peace. Other birds seen at the same locations were: Crissal Thrasher, Lucy's Warbler, Black Phoebe, Gambel's Quail, Abert's Towhee and Summer Tanager. 09/01 — Alton Thygerson and his son observed a Crissal Thrasher along the Bloomington-Virgin River Trail thanks to a tip from Milton Moody. Additionally they saw a Greater Roadrunner outside the Wildlife Museum. At Gunlock Reservoir they observed another Greater Roadrunner. The Reddish Egret was among a dozen Black-necked Stilts at Gunlock Reservoir which they observed with Merrill Webb. Along Snow Canyon Parkway at the Dixie Downs softball/baseball fields Lesser Nighthawks and Common Nighthawks were flying around the lights catching insects. It was a good opportunity to compare the two species. Larry Tripp, Merrill Webb and Alton then went to Lytle Ranch to see the Dickcissel previously seen by Larry. This may be only the third report of the Dickcissel in Utah. Weber County 09/21 — Carol Davis birding the North arm of Pinewiew Reservoir reported Downy Woodpeckers, Lincoln's Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Goldfinches, Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhees, and Song Sparrows. In the trees near the Monastery were Yellow-rumped Warblers. In the Ogden Valley were Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-naped Sapsucker, and Western Tanager. 09/21 — Carol Davis birding the North arm of Pinewiew Reservoir reported Downy Woodpeckers, Lincoln's Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Goldfinches, Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhees, and Song Sparrows. In the trees near the Monastery were Yellow-rumped Warblers. In the Ogden Valley were Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-naped Sapsucker, and Western Tanager. 09/14 — Aaron Smith reported a female Hooded Warbler that responded to pishing on the South end of the loop trail at the North Arm of Pineview Reservoir. The location where he saw the warbler is where a tree has fallen onto a bench. 09/01 — Kris Purdy birding Glasmann Park (bordered by McKay-Dee on the North, Harrison Blvd. to the East, and 4600S. to the South) reported Nashville, Wilson's, and an Orange-crowned Warbler, as well as a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 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 |
