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Sunday, March 7, 2004
Archived bird sightings: January 2004 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 01/20 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist for the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR), conducted a Waterbird/Raptor Survey at the BRMBR and reported the following: The Refuge is 99 percent frozen over. Only a few pockets of open water where the Refuge canals run into the Great Salt Lake. A few hardy birds persist. Birds sighted from the tour loop include Rough-legged Hawk, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Coot, Great Blue Heron, Prairie Falcon, and Short-eared Owl. See complete bird count. 01/16 — Jim Lofthouse reported the following waterfowl at Mayors Pond in Brigham City: Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Mallard, Canada Goose, Greater Scaup, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Flicker, Rock Pigeon, and Bufflehead. 01/15 — Tim Avery and Colby birding at Mayor's Pond in Brigham City reported seeing: See complete bird count. 01/14 — Glenn Barlow and Merrill Webb birding at Mayor's Pond, observed Barrow's Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe and Wilson's Snipe. At Salt Creek WMA they reported Rough-legged Hawks, American Kestrel, a Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Common Raven and 7 swans. On Highway 93 going west from Salt Creek WMA they saw Prairie Falcon, American Pipit and Northern Harrier. Going toward the Golden Spike National Monument they had a great view of a Northern Shrike. At the turn of the road to Golden Spike they spotted a Merlin (Columbarius) sitting on a low fence post, next to the road. On the way to Tremonton, via Riverside and Fielding, where the road crosses the Bear River, they saw 3 Common Merganser near the bridge. 01/12 — Glenn Barlow and Kris Purdy observed up to 20 Greater Scaup at the pond on UT 90 on the East side of Brigham City Lesser Scaup were also present, providing a unique opportunity to study both birds while in the same field of view. They were able to compare every field mark, including the white stripe on the primaries and secondaries. As Kenn Kaufman's recommends in his book Advanced Birding: "If you are fortunate enough to visit a pond or bay where both species are present, it would be most worthwhile to spend a few hours with a telescope studying their head and bill shapes from all angles, watching the apparent changes in head shape in both species." Comparing the male Greater Scaup to the Lesser, Kris Purdy noted: a lower, more rounded and arching crown, a bigger and broader bill with a more extensive black tip, cleaner and sometimes immaculate white sides, and larger overall size. Glenn Barlow picked up the overall body size difference. Kenn Kaufman mentions in Advanced Birding that "the size difference is not strikingly obvious even when the two are together..." Kris Purdy aptly recommends, "if you think the Greater ought to look greater than the Lesser and the Greater doesn't really look greater, don't fuss over it greatly." They noticed that at no time did the Greater Scaup ever appear to have a point on the crown aft of the eye. The light conditions were so good that they even picked up the green metallic cast to the Greater Scaup's head. The Lesser Scaup never really showed a metallic color—they just looked dark, as if their head plumage absorbed light instead of reflected it. The Greater female's head was more rounded and sloped in a low arch. The color of the plumage was a darker, more chocolate brown, and the white 'kidney bean' aft of the bill was more distinct. The white stripe on the primaries on a female Greater, obviously extended along her secondary flight feathers and well into the primaries, observed when stretching a wing. The Lesser Scaup female white wing stripe appeared truncated in comparison. Here's the other birds they saw: a male and a female Barrow's Goldeneye, 35 Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneye's, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, a Canada Goose, a Pied-billed Grebe, one female Northern Shoveler, Great-blue Heron and 3 Wilson's Snipe. Here's how to get there. From points along the Wasatch Front, take I-15 to exit 364 (Brigham City, Logan, and UT 91). Turn east. UT 91 intersects Main Street in about 2 miles. Turn left (north) on Main Street and drive to the Brigham City Tabernacle. Turn right (east) after the tabernacle on UT 90. Drive .9 miles and look for the pond on your left. If you're driving from Cache Valley, take US 89/UT 91 past Mantua and take the first Brigham City exit (UT 90). You'll find the pond on your right in approximately .2–.3 miles. 01/11 — Eric Huish and KC Childs reported observing the following birds while birding in Box Elder County: See complete bird count 01/04 — Kris Purdy reported 2 Lapland Longspur's on UT 83 from Corinne to Stinky Springs. The first one in a roadside flock just west of mm 3 and east of 6800 W. and the second one along the road at Stinky Springs between mm 6 and 7. She also observed a covey of 11 Gray Partridge along a berm parallel to and south of 83. They were on the South side of the berm. She was able to park on 6800 W. and scope the east down the sunny south side of the berm, where the partridge were picking grit. Other birds along UT 83: Bald Eagles of all ages, a second-year Golden Eagle, a Rough-legged Hawk, many American Kestrels, two Prairie Falcons, several Red-tailed Hawks, Common Ravens, American Magpies, Killdeer, American Pipits, a Song Sparrow, six American Tree Sparrows and a White-crowned between mm 7 and 8 right at the point where the black volcanic rock of Little Mountain slopes down to the road, and American Goldfinches working over the sunflower heads. 01/01 — Cliff Weisse birding at Bear River Migratory Bird refuge reported a Lapland Longspur, approximately one mile east of the Refuge entrance with Horned Larks. He also reported two Bonaparte's Gulls and eleven Herring Gulls, two-first year, one-second year, and the rest adults. Cache County 01/11 — Eric Huish and KC Childs reported observing the following birds while birding in Cache County: See complete bird count 01/11 — James Lofthouse reported observing the following birds in and around Paradise and up Mcmurdie Hollow and Charlieville: Meadow Lark, Red-winged Blackbird, Junco, Kestrel, E. Sparrow, Magpie, House Finch, Ring-necked Pheasant, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Flicker, Horned Lark, Gray Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Am. Goldfinch, Starling Daggett County 01/31 — Mike Jensen and Tim Gorman birding while floating the Green River from Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole saw 45 American Dippers, Eared Grebe, Bufflehead, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, 6 Bald Eagles and 2 Golden Eagles, Horned Larks with Snow Buntings in mixed flocks. Davis County 01/28 — LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen birding on Antelope Island observed the Northern Shrike previously reported. It is approximately one mile north of the Fielding-Garr Ranch, near the last road gate before the ranch. They also saw the wintering Virginia Rails previously reported that are east of the spring house at the Fielding-Garr Ranch. They reported a Prairie Falcon in flight near the restrooms/picnic tables along the beach below the visitor's center. 01/29 — Ed, birding at Bountiful Landfill observed the Lesser Black-backed Gull previously reported. He saw a juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull in flight. At Antelope Island, the three Virginia Rails were still east of the Spring House at the Fielding Garr Ranch, as well as a bobcat resting in the Russian olives. There were two Barn Owls flying into the barn at the end of the causeway returning to the mainland. 01/26 — Bill Fenimore of the Layton Wild bird Center birding at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (FBWMA) reported quite a bit of birding activity observing 37 species in an hour's birding this morning. In addition to the usual suspects he reported Barn Owl, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle (70), Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Common Raven, American Coot, Canvasback, Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck (some beginning to show development of blue on the upper mandible), Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Barrows Goldeneye, Northern Shoveler, Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, American Tree Sparrow, Herring Gull, Ring-necked Pheasant, Song Sparrow, Horned Lark, White Crowned Sparrow, and American Tree Sparrow. Justin Dolling, Manager of the FBWMA was starting a Rotenone drip which will begin to produce Utah Chub and Carp for the birds. Bald Eagles will begin to build in numbers from this point onto March. 01/24 — Bill Fenimore leading the regular Saturday morning Layton, Wild Bird Center bird walk reported the following birds on Antelope Island: along the causeway, Snow Bunting (between mile marker 4 & 5), Least Sandpiper near the bridge at the marina (on the north side of the causeway), Long-tailed Duck (south side of the causeway at the bridge by the marina), Prairie Falcon, Chukar and Loggerhead Shrike on the road starting toward Field-Garr Ranch; Northern Shrike on east side of road one mile north of Field-Garr Ranch and great looks at a Virginia Rail just east of the Spring House at Fielding-Garr Ranch. Karen Hardman and Paul Higgins both photographed the rail. 01/23 — Jack Binch birding Antelope Island reported a Snow Bunting at the bridge between mile 4 & 5 along with a Red Fox, Least Sandpipers on the North where the open water is. There is still a male and female Long-tailed Duck at the bridge by the marina. A Northern Shrike about a mile north of Garr Ranch. A Hermit Thrush, two Virginia Rails at the spring on the ranch and a Marsh Wren at the spring south of the ranch. 01/23 — Pomera Fronce, Glenn Barlow and Colby Neuman birding at the Bountiful Landfill reported a possible 2nd year Lesser Black-backed Gull, a juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull and Glaucous-winged Gull. 01/23 — Glenn Barlow birding at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area reported Red-tailed Hawk, Green-winged Teal, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron and a Barn Owl. 01/18 — Colby Neuman and has Dad birding along the Antelope Island causeway reported a Snowy Plover. Here's a list of the causeway birds:
There was a Virginia Rail foraging in the mud in the spring area at Fielding-Garr Ranch. 01/17 — Colby Neuman reported the following Gulls at the Bountiful Dump: Ring-billed Gull: 1000s, California Gull: 100s, Herring Gull: 100s of all ages, Thayer's Gull: several first winter birds and a couple of adults, Glaucous Gull: 1 adult, Glaucous-winged/Western Hybrid: 1 second winter, Glaucous-winged Gull type: 1 first winter 01/15 — Tim Avery and Colby birding Antelope Island Causeway reported seeing: See complete bird count 01/14 — Glenn Barlow and Merrill Webb birding at the Bountiful Landfill, observed Herring Gulls, Thayer's and Glaucous Gulls. At the Kaysville North Pond, they saw Northern Pintail, Hooded Mergansers and a Belted Kingfisher. 01/15 — Cole Larsen reported 8 bald eagles in a large tree near the Bountiful Landfill everyday for the past week now. They are in a very large tree behind a house on Pages Lane about a block from the landfill entrance. 01/10 — Leena Rogers reported observing the following birds while birding Davis County Saturday: ANTELOPE ISLAND: Along the Causeway, Horned Lark, Ring-billed Gull, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Least Sandpiper, Long-tailed Duck, Northern Harrier, Prairie Falcon, Loggerhead Shrike, European Starling, Killdeer, Snow Bunting ANTELOPE ISLAND VISITORS CENTER AREA: White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Chukar BOUNTIFUL LANDFILL: Rock Pigeon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Brewer's Blackbird, American Pipit KAYSVILLE PONDS: Canada Goose, Northern Pintail, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, American Widgeon, Wilson's Snipe 01/07 — Lu Giddings birding along the causeway to Antelope Island reported observing two snow buntings on the South side of the causeway between mile marker 1 & 2. 01/05 — KC Childs and Eric Huish birding at the Bountiful Landfill reported an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gulls too. At Kaysville Ponds they observed 6 Hooded Mergansers. On Antelope Island Causeway they reported a Lapland Longspur, which was in a large flock of Horned Larks on the South side of the causeway. They also observed the Snow buntings previously reported by Paul Higgins, as well as 17 Least Sandpipers. The 3 Long-tailed Ducks are still near the bridge by mile marker one. On the island, Chukar's were gathered near the feeders at the visitor center. They reported a Loggerhead Shrike. 01/04 — Pomera Fronce reported Lapland Longspur's and a Snow Bunting mixed in with a large flock of Horned Larks on the Antelope Island Causeway, as well as the Long-tailed Ducks previously reported, many Bufflehead's and a pair of Prairie Falcons. She reported Hooded Mergansers and a Wilson's Snipe at Kaysville Ponds. 01/03 — Cliff reported fifty or more Herring Gulls (all ages), at least five Thayer's (two-first year and three adults), and one-first winter Glaucous Gull roosting on the ice to the north of the Bountiful landfill. 01/01 — Joel and Kathy Beyer observed a Snow Bunting and a Lapland Longspur feeding together on the South side of the Antelope Island Causeway, at the first bridge. They were with a small flock of Horned Larks. The Lapland Longspur was in first winter plumage. On Antelope Island, there was a Merlin (richardsonii race) at the beach pavilion area (west of the visitor center, across the road from the dunes). 01/06 — Tim Avery birding along Antelope Island Causeway, reported three Long-tailed Ducks, just past mile marker one at the bridge before the marina on the South side of the causeway. On the north side of the causeway, there were hundreds of Common Goldeneye, two male Barrow's Goldeneye, several female Barrows Goldeneye and many Bufflehead. At mile mark 6 there was a single American Pipit with the many Horned Larks present. Grand County 01/12 — Damian Fagan observed a Harris' sparrow at a feeder in the Barlett Circle subdivision in Moab. 01/12 — Damian Fagan observed a Merlin stooping on 400 North near the Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab. Juab County 01/27 — KC Childs reported several Rough-Legged Hawks along the south Santaquin exit #245 road. In Mona along Main Street and just north of Center Street he observed were 3 Eurasian Collared Doves. Along the road to Goshen Canyon on the west side of Mona Reservoir there was a Ferruginous Hawk. Near the wooden shack in Goshen Canyon was an adult Northern Shrike. Around Goshen he saw several Bald Eagles. At Warm Springs KC saw Cedar Waxwings. At Spring Lake he had wonderful looks at a Virginia Rail. The Wood Duck was still at Salem Pond and so were the Canvasbacks. 01/04 — Highlights from the Fish Springs Christmas Bird Count:
The Pony Express Road is currently closed due to snow. Until it warms up or the county decides to plow the Pony Express Road, one must go up through Delta and Sand Pass (4-WD is needed on the Sand Pass portion due to deep snow drifts) in order to get to Fish Springs NWR. Morgan County 01/31 — Bill Fenimore leading the regular Saturday morning nature/bird walk from the Layton, Wild Bird Center reported the group observing the following birds along the Weber River Walkway in Morgan: Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, American Dipper, Bald Eagle, and the other usual suspects. Near Stoddard they saw an Eurasian Collared Dove and a Sora Rail near the old fish hatchery. They group watched an immature Red-tailed hawk dive for a muskrat which it missed. Along the railroad tracks parallel to I-84 near Peterson, they saw over 50 wild Turkey. Rich County 01/11 — Eric Huish and KC Childs reported observing the following birds while birding in Rich County: Gray Partridge in the town of Garden City on the shores of Bear Lake. See complete bird count Salt Lake County 01/29 — KC Childs birding at Alta saw 6 Black Rosy Finches at the upper end of Bypass Road, coming to feeders in the yard next to the cabin. Alton Thygerson saw them later that day, as well. There were some first winter and adult plumaged birds. 01/16 — Bill Hunt reported a Peregrine Falcon at 860 West Levoy Drive, in Taylorsville. The Peregrine was mostly on top of, and in the trees around, the building on the Northwest corner of 45th South and Riverboat Road, which is about 8th West. It perched in the tall tree closest to the 45 South 8 West intersection, on the Northwest corner. This location is about a block from the Jordan River. 01/15 — Jack Holley birding along the Jordan River by the Parley's Creek Outlet Area, saw an immature Snow Goose with Canada Geese in the river. Between the Parley's Creek Outlet and the Decker Canal Outlet, he saw Mallards, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye's, Bufflehead's, Lesser Scaup and one Ruddy Duck. At the Madison Park, Jack reported a Hermit Thrush, American Pipit and a Merlin. 01/15 — Bruce Robinson reported a male Wood duck in the Jordan River at 6600 South (Winchester Park), just north of the parking lot. 01/01 — Joyce Thorson and Vivian Schneggenburger reported a flock of Chukar in Joyce's driveway, west of Parleys Canyon. 01/05 — Tim Avery birding along the Jordan River just south of 2100 South observed a raft of about 250 ducks. The were both species of Scaup, Common Goldeneye, one female Barrows Goldeneye, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, and Canada Goose. Summit County 01/17 — Sandy Mitchell reported a White-tailed Ptarmigan along the road to Henry's Fork campground, at "the narrows." It was alone and about 15 feet off the road. Red Crossbills and Gray Jays were seen at the campground. Tooele County 01/13 — KC Childs reported 33 Bald Eagles at James Fitzgerald WMA and a Great Horned Owl in Faust on the South side of JFWMA. KC Observed a Virginia Rail at Benson Grist Mill near Stansbury Park. 01/03 — KC Childs, Eric Huish and Bruce Robinson conducted the Christmas Bird Count in Tooele under extremely rugged winter conditions (over 2 feet of snow). They recommend Stockton for anyone who wants to see Pinyon Jays, by checking out the local feeders, or just driving around town. Birds observed on the Christmas Bird County follow: Canada Goose, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Dove, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Loggerhead Shrike, Western-scrub Jay, Pinyon Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow Uintah County 02/10 — Diane Penttila conducting a bird survey for the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge reported the following birds and conditions: Temperature at 7:30 a.m.: –12 F°. The last snowfall pushed some geese back out and the elk moved off. The following birds were seen within the survey route:
01/23 — Diane Penttila of Ouray NWR conducted the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge General bird Survey and reported the following birds within the survey route:
Utah County 01/31 — Alton Thygerson reported seeing Canyon Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Pine Siskin, and Townsend's Solitaire in Rock Canyon (east of the Provo LDS Temple). Most of the birds were near where the trail forks (one to the campground and the other trail to Squaw Peak). 01/30 — Alton Thygerson reported seeing saw Chukar and Canyon Wren in Rock Canyon. Additionally, Merrill Webb saw Golden Eagles and Bushtits. 01/30 — KC Childs and Eric Huish birding at the South Springville exit off I-15 saw a two, perhaps three Prairie Falcon and a Rough-Legged Hawk. They also saw Eurasian Collared Doves at River Lane and in the town of Genola near the LDS Church in town on a haystack. 01/24 — Utah County Birders Field Trip Report from their Saturday outing included the Harris's Sparrow at the silage pit (previously reported), Eurasion Wigeon at Riverside Country Club (previously reported), Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks and Great Horned Owls in Mona Valley. Pied-billed Grebe, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Harriers and a Belted Kingfisher at Burriston Ponds. Canvasback, Wood Duck and Ruddy Duck at Salem Pond. Lewis's Woodpeckers in Woodland Hills. Common Merganser and Snow Goose at East Bay. 01/21 — Nicky Davis and her husband drove down Pole-line Road by the Young Family Farm and Goshen Canyon looking for hawks. They saw Red-tailed, Rough-legged, Ferruginous Hawks, Kestrel and Northern Harriers. 01/18 — Carol Nelson has an Eurasian Wigeon feeding with a flock of American Wigeon's in a pond alongside of her home. If anyone is interested in seeing it, she will be in and out the next couple of weeks, but will leave her south gate unlocked. If she is not at home, feel free to go through and see what you can find. It is in and out of the two golf course ponds west and a little south of her back yard. If she is there, you are welcome to come inside. Directions to Carol's home follow: address is 2831 North Marrcrest West, Provo. Turn west off University at 2900 N. Follow the circle around. Look for a one level red brick home with white shutters situated on the West side of the circle. Milton Moody has posted photos of the bird at http://utahbirds.org/FeaturePage4.htm 01/15 — KC Childs reported Sora, and Virginia Rails at Powell Slough. KC also observed Canyon Wrens singing in Rock Canyon. Hope all is well. 01/09 — Tuula Rose has a Harris' Sparrow visiting her backyard feeders with White-crowned Sparrows. Tuula welcomes anyone to come over and try for this bird. Give her a call at 377-5477 and she will give you instructions to her house. It's in south Provo but a bit hard to find. 01/04 — KC Childs observed the Harris Sparrow previously seen by Dennis Shirley. Directions to the silage pit where the bird is being seen follow: Take the main Springville I-15 exit and head west, (road to Swede's Lane and River Lane). At the "T" intersection before the River Lane turnoff, turn left. Take this road (East) approximately a mile or so, to the first junction and turn right (West). Travel approximately a quarter mile, to a bridge over the Spanish Fork River. Just before crossing the bridge you will see a cement silage pit on the left. This is the spot KC Childs birding at the ponds on the North Springville exit road, at 1400 north and Mountain Springs Parkway reported Eared and Pied-billed Grebe, Wilson's Snipe, American Pipit, Shoveler's and Common Goldeneye. At East Bay pond, KC reported 25 Yellowlegs, both Greater and Lesser, as well as Common Snipe. 01/06 — Cheryl Peterson observed 4 Juniper Titmouse at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville and a possible Ross's Goose at the East Bay Golf Course in Provo. 01/03 — Lu Giddings reported a male WOOD DUCK on Salem Pond. It was spotted in the open water off the boat ramp, swimming between the floating "Christmas trees." The other birds one commonly expects to find on Salem Pond in winter were also there - Common Goldeneye's, Mallards, Gadwall, Green-wing Teal, Canada Geese, Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, American Coots, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, and Pied-billed Grebe. A Cooper's Hawk was observed in the tall bare deciduous trees. 01/01 — Milton Moody reported that he, Tuula Rose and Leena Rogers observed Cedar Waxwings (a dozen of so) at the Provo Cemetery — NW corner, Greater (6) and Lesser (2) Yellowlegs near the "Night-Heron Island" at East Bay, American Tree Sparrows between the second Springville exit and Swede Lane on the North side of the road in tall bush by the fields. The Harris's Sparrow previously reported by Dennis Shirley. A Male Wood Duck at Salem Pond and a Hooded Merganser. Lewis's Woodpeckers (6) east of Salem. American Pipit at Valtec along the stream and Female Wood Duck at the pond at Valtec (NW of Springville) Wasatch County 01/29 — Ed, birding at Deer Creek observed the Eurasian Wigeon previously reported. It was higher up in the feeder stream with other Wigeons and was flushed down to the reservoir by a harrier. 01/29 — KC Childs birding at the Heber Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant observed a Harris's Sparrow. The Heber Valley Waster Water Treatment Plant is located just off of Utah Hwy. 100 South in Heber (Main St. in Midway — the road that connects the two cities). Heading south on the east side of the Provo River crossing, you will see the Heber Treatment Plant. It sits back approximately 100 yards off the road. The Harris's Sparrow was on the right side of the road under a group of trees, just before the gates to the treatment plant. It was feeding on seed that someone has scattered there. Washington County 01/30 — Dennis Shirley and Lu Giddings observed a Snow Goose at Sunbrook, along with an American White Pelican and various waterfowl. They reported a group of 10 Snow Geese at Bloomington Hills Country Club. They spotted a Crissal Thrasher and Gambel's Quail while driving the neighborhoods. At Confluence Park, they saw the Swamp Sparrow and Harris's sparrow previously reported. Verdin and Abert's towhees were common, and a Bewick's Wren was seen keeping company with a flock of white-crowned sparrows. They saw the Ross's Goose previously reported at Springs Park, as were Black Phoebes, Canvasbacks, and other waterfowl. They saw a Burrowing Owl in Washington Fields, and Great-tailed Grackles in a neighborhood tree. Near the intersection of 200 South and Main Street in Washington they observed two Inca Doves in a tree with several feeders, along with Eurasian Collared Doves, Mourning Doves, and a White-winged Dove in nearby trees. They saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers and two Double-crested Cormorant's at Quail Creek. Hurricane sewage lagoon was crowded with waterfowl including Snow Geese, a pair of Ross's Geese, and a Double-crested Cormorant. At Oak Grove campground, they saw spotted a White-breasted Nuthatch, heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch and saw 10 pygmy nuthatches. 01/30 — Larry Tripp reported an immature Red-shouldered Hawk in the North end of the town of Gunlock. 01/27 — Merrill Webb reported seeing a Brown Thrasher at Lytle Ranch in the area of the monument, upstream from the pond at 11:45 a.m. 01/26 — Charlie Sheard, in Leeds reported that Merrill Moody stopped by to see the male Anna's hummingbird that has been using the feeder in his backyard and was treated to two male Anna's! Both in adult plumage, gorgeous! 01/24 — As part of the Winter Bird Festival a field trip to Quail Creek SP, Stratton Pond, Sand Hollow SP, and the Hurricane Fields, turned up a Pacific Loon on Quail Creek and a Northern Shrike in the Hurricane Fields. A Lewis's Woodpecker was seen in an orchard in Hurricane. Larry Tripp and he showed Rick Fridell the Swamp Sparrow at the Virgin River Trail (in the ditch between the golf course and I-15) and the male Vermilion Flycatcher in the Davis' yard in Bloomington. Species observed on the Bird Festival field trip: Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback (10+ at Stratton Pond), Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup (14 at Stratton Pond), Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Pacific Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle (3), Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk (3), Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Lewis's Woodpecker (Hurricane), Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Shrike, Common Raven, European Starling, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch 01/18 — Jay Williams has a Vermilion Flycatcher visiting his property at 3264 Three Bars Road in St. George (Bloomington Ranches). He said anyone who wanted to come see it was welcome. His number is 628-7023. He sees it there in the mornings. 01/16 — Rick Fridell reported that the Pacific Loon is still at Quail Creek State Park (in the center of the reservoir with a Common Loon). He was also able to relocate the Harris Sparrow on 1/15, previously reported, along the Virgin River between the footbridge and the I-15 bridge. Rick also saw a Golden-crowned Sparrow in the large atriplex bushes upstream from the footbridge. Other birds in the area included: Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, Abert's Towhee, and White-crowned Sparrows. 01/13 — Rick Fridell reported a Pacific Loon and a Common Loon below the South dike of Quail Creek Reservoir. There also are 15-20 Greater Scaup, several Canvasbacks, and a dozen Hooded Mergansers on Stratton Pond. 01/13 — Charlie Sheard reported a male Anna's hummingbird has spent his time either foraging at a nectar feeder or perched in the adjacent creosote bushes at his home in Leeds. A female Anna's is also present and both birds are perched together in one of his leafless Ash trees. According to the Peterson Field Guide, Hummingbirds of North America, page 201 "Anna's nest mostly from February to June in the northern parts of its range." 01/11 — Steve and Priscilla Summers observed an immature Harris's Sparrow along the Virgin River Parkway (Three Rivers Trail) in St. George. The bird was below the footbridge across the Virgin River near the I-15 Parkway overpass, downstream from the confluence of the Santa Clara and Virgin Rivers. 01/08 — Marilyn Davis has a Vermilion Flycatcher using her yard, perching on an old plow decoration. The bird has been there every day since Jan 4th. She lives at 3287 Swaps Drive, Bloomington Ranches area, just north of the Bloomington Elementary School in St. George. Wayne County 01/24 — Bruce Robinson reported a Red Crossbill and Clark's Nutcrackers near the summit on the Boulder Hwy. Capitol Reef had many Pinyon Jays. He saw a flock of Wild Turkey's near Bicknell. Heplers Pond Road had a third-year Bald Eagle and a small Sharp Shinned Hawk. He found Ferruginous Hawks in three different counties, a Merlin at the Redmond Cemetery, Mountain Bluebirds all over the valley, and a Tundra Swan at the Redmond Reservoir (Sevier County). Weber County 01/17 — Bill Fenimore leading the regular Saturday morning Bird Walk from the Layton, Wild Bird Center to Beus Pond (behind Weber State University Campus, off 42nd Street going east) reported a Varied thrush in a Russian Olive on the west side of the lower parking area, between the parking area and the entrance road to Beus Pond. The group also observed Cedar Waxwings, Wood Ducks, and the other usual suspects. 01/17 — Bill Fenimore leading the regular Saturday morning Bird Walk from the Layton, Wild Bird Center reported a Varied thrush in a Russian Olive on the West side of the lower parking area, between the parking area and the entrance road. The group also observed Cedar Waxwings, Wood Ducks, and the other usual suspects. 01/05 — Carolyn and Mort Somer checked out Steve Federmann's backyard in North Ogden where the Anna's had been seen about a month ago. As hard as it is to believe, Carolyn spotted the bird sitting in a tree in the yard shortly after they arrived. The temperature has been down to 10° F., or so, of late around here and that hummer is still going. The homeowner now has two sugar-water feeders up. The one that has been there all along looked liquid but the other one looked pretty frozen. 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 |
