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Modified
Monday, May 24, 2004
Archived bird sightings: March, 2004 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 03/31 — Stephen Peterson birding Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge reported Tree Swallows, Yellow Headed Blackbirds, Red Winged Blackbirds, Marsh Wren, Long Billed Curlews, Snowy Plovers, Franklin Gull and a possible American Bittern flying low over the main auto tour route. American Avocets, Black Necked Stilts, Greater Yellowlegs, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Cinnamon Teal, American Wigeon, Redhead, Northern Pintail, Common Raven, Horned Lark, American Coot, Western Meadowlark, Killdeer, Sandhill Crane, American White Pelican, Double Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harriers, Western Grebe and Clarks Grebe. 03/25 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Refuge conducted a Waterbird/Raptor Survey and found the following birds and conditions: About 60,000 ducks, 2,000 shorebirds and 13,000 marsh birds. These counts are considerably up from the last two years but way down from the long-term average from the last 10 years for this time of year. New arrivals last week: Black-necked Stilt, Baird's Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Franklin's Gull, and Clark's Grebe. 35% of the birds observed were from the auto-tour route. The majority of the swans have already departed. Eared Grebe migration seems to be a little later than normal. See complete bird count 03/27 — Lu Giddings observed several thousand snow geese in a field southwest of Corinne. The birds are splitting their time between the fields in Corinne and the mud flats between the Bear River Gun Club, just east of the main shed on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and the Chesapeake Gun Club on 6800 W., north of the refuge. BRMBR has Greater Yellowlegs, American Avocets, Black-necked Silt and a Franklin's Gull was seen. Lu Giddings reported that Mantua is alive with waterfowl. He observed Horned Grebe, Barrow's Goldeneye and Greater Scaup. 03/05 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted the Waterbird/Raptor Survey for Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and filed the following report: Some wetland units are finally beginning to open on the Refuge. Swans, Sandhill Cranes and a Greater Yellowlegs were notable birds. The swans and yellowlegs were seen from the tour loop and the county road leading into the Refuge. Canada Geese are seen in pairs or threes scoping out nesting sites. Due to the amount of snow we've had in the valley this winter, the salt flats that are next to the county road leading to the Refuge have several inches of sheet water. These mud-flat areas should provide great viewing opportunity to visitors as the birds return over the next couple of weeks. The Tour-loop wetland unit is still frozen over though thawing on the Great Salt Lake side of the tour loop does afford some birding opportunity. Total duck count of 13,000 is down from the long-term average of 35,000. Only the Canada Goose count is above average. See complete bird count Cache County 03/29 — Stephen Peterson birding in the Cache Valley reported the following birds: Double Crested Cormorants, Common Mergansers, Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes, Yellow Headed Blackbirds, American Coots, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Killdeer, Red winged Blackbird, American Avocet, Black Necked Stilt, Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead's. At the Benson Marina there were 5 Long Billed Curlews, Killdeer, Song Sparrows, American Robins, American White Pelicans, Marsh Wrens, Redhead duck, Northern Harriers, Clarks Grebe, Pied Billed Grebe, Western Grebe and Black Crowned Night Heron. 03/29 — Bob Atwood reported that an Eurasian Collared Dove has been seen in the area of 60 W. and 200 N. Davis County 03/31 — Jolene Hatch reported a pair of Long-billed Curlews just west of Antelope Island park headquarters. Another pair was spotted near the Bridger Bay campground. Burrowing Owls can be seen at Buffalo Point. Look directly down the hill; the pair has been siting on the dirt mound-burrow the last few days. A flock of 25 Black-Necked Stilts were on the causeway this morning. Hundreds of California Gulls, a pair of Avocets, Horned Larks are starting to increase in numbers. There is now a pair of Say's Phoebes at park headquarters. They are nesting in the big white maintenance shed. There are many Great Blue Herons and Double-crested Cormorants building nests on Egg Island. 03/20 — The Layton, Wild Bird Center Saturday morning bird walk group observed a pair of Golden Eagles in an interactive courtship flight above the east Kaysville foothills, along with the usual suspects in the foothill habitat: Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Northern Flicker, Scrub Jay, Spotted Towhee and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. 03/12 — Sue Hinde reported seeing the Long-eared owl on the south side of the Fielding Garr Ranch and a Short-eared Owl fly out from the same area. Mountain bluebirds were abundant. 03/12 — Brian Currie birding on Antelope Island also observed the Long-eared Owl. It was in the eastern most part of the barn, at the top of the "A" part of the roof. Brian also saw a Wilson's Snipe by the newly formed marsh area south of the ranch. At the first parking area north of the visitor's center (NOT the one closest to Egg Island, the next one just south of there), he found two male and one female Mountain Bluebirds. The ranger told Brian that the Burrowing Owls are back. 03/07 — Joel and Kathy Beyer birding at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island reported seeing the two Long-eared owls previously reported. They were sitting in the rafters of the barn. 03/05 — MarJean Muhlestein, LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen observed and reported two Long-eared Owls at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. The Long-eared Owls were in the back thicket by the fence. The larger of two owls was actively hunting, and came up with a vole. This time of active hunting was in the late afternoon — approximately 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. 03/06 — Merrill Webb reported about 150 Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. 03/03 — Kris Purdy birding at Kaysville Ponds reported a Double Crested Cormorant that could not swallow a huge blue gill that it had caught. Additionally, she observed Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gulls, and American Coots, American Magpies, and Red-winged Blackbirds. To reach Kaysville Ponds, take I-15 Exit 331 and turn east. In approximately 1/2 mile, turn right on Main Street and proceed south for 1/4 mile. Then bear right on 50 W. Drive approximately one half mile and you'll see the ponds on your right. They're sandwiched between 50 W. and the Interstate, and they're the new home of the Utah Botanical Gardens. 03/01 — LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen birding on Antelope Island reported the Northern Shrike is still hunting part way down the road to Fielding-Garr Ranch, and a Prairie Falcon was perched on a large rock east of the road. They observed a Long-eared Owl perched fairly close-by in the thicket behind and east of the Spring House at Fielding-Garr Ranch. They also had views of the owl hunting in the trees by the spring and in the open meadow where it caught a dark vole. 03/02 — Jolene Hatch reported a flock of about 1000 snow geese resting on the Great Salt Lake, just north of the Antelope Island Causeway between mile marker 2 and 3, northwest from the old culvert. Avocets are being seen too. 03/01 — Kathleen Cameron, Margaret Suhr and Bill Fenimore relocated the Bewick's Swan at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. It is 2.6 miles west of the south parking lot gate in the Turpin Unit. Kathleen Cameron of Bellevue, Idaho filmed the Swan for Idaho Magic feathers, a Cameron Multimedia Publication. Juab County 03/29 — Cindy Orten her first Swainson's Hawk of the year, as well as a pair of Turkey Vultures. Millard County 03/05 — Bob Walters reports that the Snow Goose Festival in the Greater Delta area is in full swing. June Ryburn and Bob reported approximately 10,000 Lesser Snow geese, with Blue phased Snow geese and Ross's Geese at Gunnison Bend Reservoir. Additionally, they saw Loggerhead Shrike, Great Horned Owl, a Black Phoebe (below the Gunnison Bend Reservoir Dam) and a Ferruginous Hawk. The geese are coming into the Reservoir between 9:45–10:32 a.m., and leaving for the fields between 3:48–4:25 p.m. Most of the geese in the fields were along 500 W. between 1500 and 2500 S. in Delta. The geese are beginning to migrate and the numbers are declining daily. Morgan County 03/26 — Alton Thygerson observed Wild Turkeys, Black-crowned Night-Heron, two Say's Phoebe all north of Croydon and a Common Loon at East Canyon Reservoir. 03/27 — Bill Fenimore led the Layton, Wild Bird Center Saturday morning bird walk to a Greater Sage Grouse lek near East Canyon. Everyone enjoyed watching approximately 32 male Greater Sage Grouse, strutting, displaying and vocalizing for the hens. They also observed Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawk, Sand Hill Cranes and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. At East Canyon Reservoir they observed Goldeneye, Common Merganser and Common Loon. 03/19 — Dee Rees reported approximately two dozen Greater Sage Grouse on the Lek near East Canyon Reservoir. Salt Lake County 03/22 — Paul Kirby reported 15 Snow geese at Lee Kay Center ponds. They were on the west bank of the western most pond. 03/02 — Terri Clemmons reported that two Peregrine Falcons are occupying the nest box on the Joseph Smith building in downtown Salt Lake City. Sanpete County 03/24 — KC Childs reported an Eurasian Collared Dove in Centerfield, just south of Gunnison. Uintah County 03/08 — Diane Penttila of Ouray NWR conducted a general water bird survey and reported the following conditions and bird sightings: impoundments with water are still frozen but the Green River is starting to open, and shallow ditches that had water remaining over the winter experienced a carp kill and attracted some bald eagles. See complete bird count Utah County 03/30 — Reed Stone reported the following first sightings of the year: Black-crowned Night Heron in the trees, on the island at the end of the cul-de-sac north of Kuhni's. An Osprey at 1450 west 1150 south, south of Foot Printer Park, Provo. Another Osprey on the platform north by Skipper Bay north of Utah State Park. A Sage Thrasher about 100 yards north from the southwest corner of Provo Airport Dike. A Barn Swallow about midway on the west Airport Dike and Vesper Sparrow near the north end of the west Airport Dike Road 03/29 — KC Childs reported a Horned Grebe in Springville. At Utah Lake State Park he observed: Lesser Yellowlegs, Marsh Wrens, Bufflehead's, Lesser Scaup and Redheads. An Osprey was observed at the Platform north of Harbor Road in Provo and Sandhill Cranes in the fields along Harbor Road. Avocets seen at Lincoln Beach and a first Turkey Vulture of the year in Orem. 03/28 — Kent Lewis and Julie Van Moorhem reported a Marbled Godwit with Cinnamon Teal, Bufflehead, and Herring Gull at Utah Lake State Park along the south jetty. They observed a Lewis' Woodpecker in the Woodland Hills area and Bushtits in Rock Canyon. 03/19 — Eric Huish, KC Childs and Lu Giddings observed a Snow Goose at the end of Goshen Bay Road, as well as a Say's Phoebe and Golden Eagle. At Cecret Pond there were two Sandhill Cranes on the edge of the pond. At Tintic Mountains along Dividend Road, they observed several Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit and Bewick's Wren, and a Say's Phoebe calling at the Dividend townsite. Along the road from Eureka to Allen's Ranch, they reported Mountain Bluebirds and Pinyon Jays. At Goshen Warm Springs there were Cedar Waxwings and a Great Horned Owl calling. 03/09 — Reed Stone observed six Sage Sparrows 100 yards north of the southwest corner of Provo airport dike at 1:30 this afternoon. 03/07 — Joel and Kathy Beyer birding at Utah Lake State Park confirmed a previously reported potential Mew Gull. They observed a Mew Gull, second-winter changing to adult. 03/06 — KC Childs birding in Provo Canyon reported American Dippers, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Townsend Solitaire, Stellar's Jay and Black-capped Chickadee. Washington County 03/30 — Rick Fridell reported his first sighting this year for Long-billed Curlews in the Flora-tech Fields (Hurricane - north of Sand Hollow State Park). Rick also reported in the Flora-Tech fields his first Swainson's Hawk of the year. In addition there was a flock of 21 Marbled Godwits at Sand Hollow. 03/29 — Larry Tripp birding at Lytle Ranch reported a pair of Common Black-hawks, Bell's Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatchers and Lucy's Warblers. At Welcome Springs there was a male Costa's Hummingbird and a few Black-chinned Sparrows. And at a private residence in Gunlock there is a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers that appear to be going to nest in the area. 03/27 — Rick Fridell reported that he and Kristen observed Lucy Warblers along the Virgin and Santa Clara Rivers. Black-chinned and Costa's Hummingbirds were observed in display flights. Inca Doves were singing around Brentwood and Canyon Ridge in Hurricane. House finches and Lesser Goldfinches are incubating eggs. Rick saw a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers courting and collecting nesting material. 03/18 — Kristen Comella (Snow Canyon Park Naturalist, (435) 628-2255) reported a female Red-breasted Sapsucker (daggetti) at Snow Canyon State Park. The sapsucker was working an elm tree at the Cottontail group campsite. This group campsite is located within the Snow Canyon Campground and is next to the shower facility. Parking is available around the headquarters building and lawn area (approximately 100 meters south of the sapsucker's location). Kristen Comella. 03/18 — Rick Fridell reports that spring migration continues to build with many swallows and White-throated Swifts moving through Washington County. A few Bonaparte's Gulls are also around. Sage Thrashers are currently abundant in Creosote/Bursage habitat. Last Sunday (3/14) there were 75 to 100 in the Flora-Tech fields north of Sand Hollow State Park. 03/08 — Sharon Andrus birding in Zion National Park reported a flock of Varied Buntings on the Pa'rus trail and Wild Turkeys up the canyon nearly to the Grotto area. 03/02 — Merrill Webb observed a Brown Thrasher at Lytle Ranch. It was near the monument upstream from the pond. Weber County 03/29 — Kris Purdy birding at Pineview Reservoir reported two Trumpeter Swans, with neck collars designating them Y01 and Y03 still present. They were back in the inlet on the Northeast side about 1/2 mile south of the middle inlet swim area on UT 162. Other birds in and around the reservoir: Common Loon, Western Grebe, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Canada Geese, Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye's, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup's, Mallards, An Osprey on one of the platforms at the north arm, a Red-tailed Hawk on nest, Great Blue Herons, Spotted Towhees, Black-capped Chickadees, a Northern Flicker, American Magpies, American Robins, House Finches 03/26 — Alton Thygerson reported observing his two target birds, the Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan, following the advice of Jim Poulter of the Layton Wild Bird Center. He found the Trumpeter Swans with Tundra Swans at the north end of Pineview Reservoir. 03/27 — Lu Giddings reported that the banded Trumpeter Swans are still at Pineview reservoir. Two collared birds, Y01 and Y03, were seen just north of the Ogden Yacht Club (NW section of the reservoir) in the company of three Tundra Swans. 03/20 — Kris Purdy observed three Trumpeter Swans at Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville, Utah. All three are cygnets marked with yellow collars with black lettering, and left pink under wings. The collar numbers are Y01, Y03, and Y09. The three Trumpeters were generally keeping company with three Tundra Swans. Those six were the only swans Kris saw on the reservoir, which is mostly iced over. The swans are feeding and resting on the Northeast side of Pine View Reservoir about a half mile south of the middle inlet swim area. 03/07 — Kris Purdy birding at Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) and surrounding area reported observing the following birds: Bald Eagles, Common Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, American Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, Common Goldeneye's, Northern Pintails, Double-crested Cormorant, a Northern Shrike along the entrance road, a Cooper's Hawk near the intersection of 5500 S. and 7100 W. in Hooper and Tree Swallows. Other birds Kris saw, including a few northwest of 12th St. (I-15 exit 347) and in the area of Little Mountain: Canada Goose, Tundra Swan, Bufflehead, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, American Magpie, Red-winged Blackbird, Horned Lark, American Robin, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Song Sparrow 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 |
