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Modified
Monday, July 26, 2004
Archived bird sightings: May, 2004 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 05/21 — Dr. John Cavitt reported an albino coot at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The coot was in the canal along the tour loop. He has seen partial albino coots before but this one was almost all white! If you take the tour loop west from the parking area it was about 1/2 mile from the large metal building (if you have a GPS unit the coordinates are - 41 29.068 N; 112 18.127W). John didn't have a camera, so if anyone sees it, I would love a copy of any photo! 05/21 — Steve Carr birding at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge reported two Great Egrets toward the west end of the north leg of the auto tour loop. They were seen to the left (south) side of the canal there. On the west leg, about 1/4 mile from the turn from the north leg, on the west side, was a pair of Blue-winged Teal. 05/19 — Kris Purdy birding at Dale Young Nature Park in Perry observed about 40 species in just two hours of birding. Kris reported seeing Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Canada Geese with goslings, Gadwall, Mallards with ducklings and Cinnamon Teal. The marsh is quintessential Common Yellowthroat and Virginia Rail habitat. She saw or heard four separate male yellowthroats and two beautiful Virginia Rails. Other water birds included Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egrets, Killdeer, Willets, Wilson's Snipe winnowing in the field north of the park, Franklin's Gulls mewing their cat call overhead, California Gulls, a Caspian Tern, and a Forster's Tern. Other species included: Bullock's Orioles, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Yellow Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Tree, Northern Rough-winged, Bank and Barn Swallows, American Robins, Yellow-rumped Warbler, a female MacGillivray's Warbler, a pair of Wilson's Warblers, a White-crowned Sparrow, Western Meadowlarks, Brown-headed Cowbirds, House Finches, and American Goldfinches. To find your way to Dale Young Nature Park, take I-15 to Exit 364 and turn east on US 91. You'll intersect Main St. in Brigham City in about two miles. At this intersection, turn south on US 89 and drive approximately 1.3 miles to 2250 S. Turn right (west). You'll find the park in 3–4 blocks on the south side of the road. From Cache Valley and US 89/91, turn left (south) onto US 89 at the Brigham City US 91/Main St. intersection and follow the directions above. Cache County 05/29 — Stephen Peterson birding Blacksmith Fork reported observing the following species: Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireo, American Dipper, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, American Kestrel, American White Pelican, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Western Tanager, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Fox Sparrow, Blue Grouse, Winter Wren Blacksmith Fork Canyon is very beautiful right now and the wildflowers are starting to come out. It is a very birdy place to go camping. There is a forest service campground called Pioneer campground. Steve would highly recommend trying it out. Davis County 05/20 — Pomera and Julie Van Moorhem birding Antelope Island reported Sanderling's along the causeway. At Fielding-Garr ranch, they found the Northern Water Thrush (previously reported) along the creek in the lower branches of a Russian Olive on the north side of the stream near the red shed. They also saw Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Green-tailed Towhee and Bullock's Oriole. They observed a Grasshopper Sparrow about .5 mile north of the ranch. 05/01 — Bill and Pat Medell birding on Antelope Island reported Savannah Sparrows south of the Marina along the shore and a Marbled Godwit in the same area. On the road to Fielding-Garr Ranch they saw two Sandhill Cranes. At Garr Ranch they observed a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Gray Flycatcher. Garfield County 05/29 — Dennis Shirley reported that The Acorn Woodpecker is at the usual spot on UT Hwy. 12 between mile marker 94 and 93, approximately four miles north of Boulder. He is frequenting the dead Ponderosa Pines on the East side of the road more than the dead snag in the clearing on the west side. A pair of American Kestrel are nesting in the snag and may have moved the woodpeckers to the other side. Heber County 05/19 —Bobolinks have been reported in the fields north of Heber. Juab County 05/29 — Larry Tripp reported a Black-throated Blue Warbler in a dense thicket of Russian Olive trees with a spring fed pond and a small steam running through them approximately 30 miles South of Callao and 7 miles East of Gandy. Larry reported a singing male Tennessee Warbler in the town of Callao at the West end of town. Millard County 05/22 — Larry Tripp birding at the Kaufman Ranch reported a Northern Parula, Black and White Warblers (all singing males) and a Female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Piute County 05/29 — Bruce Robinson birding City Creek Canyon near the town of Junction reported observing Blue Grosbeak, Red-naped Sapsucker, White Throated Swift, Blue Gray Gnat Catcher and Lazuli Buntings in the Circleville Cemetery. Gamble Quail crossing Highway 89 near Big Rock Candy Mountain. Rich County 05/30 — Dana Green reported observing Lark Buntings between Randolph and Woodruff. To get there go .7 mile south of the Bridgerland Technical College. There is a dirt road on the east side of the highway. It has a circular metal mail box and a dead end sign at the entrance. The birds were in the field to the north of this dirt road. This field starts out in Sage and then goes to cultivated field. The birds were between the types of plants. Salt Lake County 05/31 — Bruce Robinson birding in Butterfield Canyon reported Red-naped Sapsucker, House Wren, MacGillivray's Warbler, Green Tailed and Spotted Towhee, Western Tanager, Hammond's Flycatcher, Virginias Warblers, Orange Crowned Warblers, and a Clark's Nutcracker. 05/18 — Jerry Liguori observed a male Bobolink at Glendale Golf Course, Glendale Golf Course is located at 1560 W. 2100 S. in Salt Lake. 05/03 — Marvis Collett observed two spotted sandpipers walking along the edge of the pond in Sugarhouse Park. Uintah County 05/24 — Diane Penttila conducted the General Waterbird Survey at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge and reported the following birds within the survey route: See complete bird count 5/4 — Diane Penttila, Wildlife Biologist, Ouray National Wildlife Refuge a General Water Bird Survey and reported observing the following birds: See complete bird count Utah County 05/27 — Lu Giddings reported 8–10 purple martins on the Nebo Loop. Both male and female birds were observed, perching and in flight, in an aspen grove east of the highway about 22 miles outside of Payson and roughly 5.25 miles south of the Santaquin Canyon turnoff. This is the general area in which the birds are commonly seen in summer. The highway is nearly entirely snow-free, but some caution must still be exercised in a few places. 5/5 — Lu Giddings reported three Band-tailed Pigeons on a power line on the west side of I-15 about 400 yards south of the second Spanish Fork exit (#260). 5/4 — KC Childs birding at Stewart Falls, along the Aspen Grove trailhead, up the North Fork of Provo Canyon above Sundance observed Ruffed Grouse, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chipping Sparrows and Broad-tailed Hummers. 05/02 — Eric Huish has a Western Screech Owl using a nest box that he erected in his yard. It has young that it is actively feeding now. Eric encourages everyone to consider putting a nest box in the yard to encourage cavity nesting birds. Additionally, Eric was birding in Broad Canyon and observed Chipping Sparrows, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Gray Flycatcher, Juniper Titmice, Chukar and Pinyon Jay. 05/01 — Utah County Birders on a field trip to the areas around the South end of Utah Lake around Lincoln Beach, observed a Snowy Plover at Lincoln Beach and two others at Lincoln Point with Western Sandpipers. They saw nine Semipalmated Plovers on the beach at the end of River Lane. Other shorebirds they saw were Marbled Godwits at Benjamin Slough and a Long-billed Curlew. They reported several Cattle Egrets in the fields along the road to Lincoln Beach and migrants at River Lane: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Lark Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and Barn Owl. Here is the list of species seen: Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, American White Pelican, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, White-faced Ibis, Canada Goose, Mallard , Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Chukar, Ring-necked Pheasant, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Snowy Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Phalarope, California Gull, Caspian Tern, Forester's Tern, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collard Dove, Mourning Dove, Barn Owl, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Say's Phoebe, Western Kingbird, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern-Rough Winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black Capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, House Finch, House Sparrow 05/02 — Mike Monson reported a possible Broad-winged Hawk on the West side of the airport dike. On the Southwest corner of the extension Mike saw a Solitary Sandpiper and a Semipalmated Plover. Wasatch County 05/27 — Lu Giddings observed an American redstart in the trees along the dirt road that parallels the river below Jordanelle dam. It spent the majority of its time in the trees between the wetlands and the river, about 270 yards below the dirt road's gate and 60 yards above the rock dam on the river. Washington County 05/29 — Jim Bailey reported spotting a male Summer Tanager, Black Phoebe and a male Blue Grosbeak at Tonaquint Park in St. George. The Arboretum at Santa Clara, apparently had a recent fire, Bewick's Wrens were still around. 05/22 — Red Cliffs Audubon field trip to Grafton, Springdale, and Zion Canyon reported observing the following bird at Grafton: Cedar Waxwings, Summer and Western Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat. At the cemetery, Black-throated Sparrows and a Rock Wren. At the Springdale Pond they saw Western Bluebird, House Wren, Phainopepla, and Yellow Warblers. At Zion National Park, they hiked up the Riverside Walk and saw a Painted Redstart. 05/03 — Rick Fridell reported observing two American Golden-Plovers in an alfalfa field southeast of 3000 E. in the Washington Fields. Both plovers were in basin plumage. They were also several White-faced Ibis foraging in the field. 05/01 — Alton Thygerson reports that Zion National Park's top bird was the Painted Redstart on the River Walk Trail. A Blue Grosbeak and Black-headed Grosbeak were also seen in Zion NP. Wayne County 05/29 — Dennis Shirley reported a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the picnic area at Capitol Reef National Park. They were feeding in the ripening mulberry trees at the edge of the grassy picnic area north of the parking lot. Weber County 05/29 — Pat Medell birding Riverdale Parkway reported seeing the Red-eyed Vireo, as well as a Least Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Cooper's Hawk, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, Downy Woodpecker and Western Tanager. 05/31 — Kris Purdy birding at Fort Buenaventura in Ogden reported observing a pair of Bullock's Orioles scolding a Great Horned Owl. Other species Kris observed included: Canada Goose, Snowy Egret, Belted Kingfisher, Western Screech-owl, Hairy Woodpecker, House Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, Black-capped Chickadee, Western Wood-pewee, Bank Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo and American Robin. Fort Buenaventura sits within a mature Cottonwood Forest and is bordered by the Weber River. To reach Fort Buenaventura, take I-15 to exit 345, 24th Street. Turn east and drive almost a mile to A Street. Watch for the brown signs directing you to Fort Buenaventura Park. Turn right (south) on A Street, and left at the Raptors Field/Fort Buenaventura entrance. Follow the road around the ball field and continue south into the park entrance. 05/29 — Joel and Kathy Beyer visited the Riverdale Parkway and located the Red-eyed Vireo originally found by Kris Purdy. It was in the trees at the second bridge. They also found a Least Flycatcher about 20 yards north of the first bridge. 05/29 — Jack Binch reported that the Red-eyed Vireo previously reported by Kris Purdy was still singing at the second foot bridge along the Riverdale River Parkway. It was 10 feet from the South end of the bridge on some dead branches in the cottonwoods. 05/29 — Sue Hinde birding Riverdale Parkway reported observing Western Tanager, Western Wood Pewee, Black-headed Grosbeak and Yellow Warblers. 05/27 — Kris Purdy birding the Riverdale Parkway reported observing: Mallard, Ring-necked Pheasant, California Quail, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, California Gull, Mourning Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-pewee, Warbling Vireo, American Magpie, American Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee , American Robin, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch To reach Riverdale Parkway, take I-15 to exit 342, Riverdale. Drive east 1.3 miles and turn left (north) at 700 W. Drive .4 miles and turn right (east) on 4300 S, and left (north) on 600 West. You'll see several places to access the trail either south a block to 4400 S., or north a couple blocks to 4080 S. 05/21 — Vivian Schneggenburger, Hal and Cathy Robins and Kris Purdy saw eight male Bobolinks in Ogden Valley. The males perched on fence posts, vigorously pursuing each other low over the fields, as they "larked" in fluttering displays. One male graced a fence post within 50 feet and pirouetted in super-slow motion, so we could enjoy views from all sides. They also saw a couple other species in the fields, a cooperative Wilson's Snipe on a fence post, Savannah Sparrows singing from barbed wire, Sandhill Cranes, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Canada Geese, and a Swainson's Hawk. Two Spotted Sandpipers along the edge of a pothole pond were a nice surprise. To reach the Bobolinks' field, take UT 39 east toward Huntsville and around Pineview Reservoir. UT 39 is accessible either from I-15 exit 347 or from I-84 through Weber Canyon, exit 92 (Mountain Green), UT 167 and over Trapper's Loop. East of Huntsville, UT 39 takes a 90-degree east turn toward Monte Cristo, don't take it! Continue north on 7800E. for a half mile and don't bear left when the main road does. Turn right (east) on the next dirt road into the field. The road is unmarked and is not restricted by either 'No Trespassing' or 'Private Property' signs. It's intended for farm-vehicle access to the fields and is not really suitable for passenger cars. Drivers will find opportunities to execute a three-point turn far down the road in the field. 05/22 — Kris Purdy reported a Male Calliope Hummingbird at the North Arm of Pineview Reservoir. It has been seen by several birders and seems to have set up a breeding territory. 05/04 — Pomera Fronce and Julie Van Moorhem birding the North Arm Nature Trial at Pineview Reservoir reported: Calliope Hummingbird, Osprey, Yellow-breasted Chat and Yellow Warblers. They also saw a Great Horned Owl on a nest with an owlet east of there. 05/01 — Kris Purdy reported a male Calliope Hummingbird at her backyard feeder in Shadow Valley, Ogden. 05/02 — Kris Purdy birding the North Arm Nature Area of Pineview Reservoir saw a male Calliope Hummingbird. The North Arm offers good Calliope Hummingbird habitat in the form of stream side brush, so it is hoped that he may stay. The hummingbird was displaying in great "U"-shaped swoops. The North Arm was alive with Yellow Warblers, American Goldfinches and Fox Sparrows. Kris also saw American White Pelicans, White-faced Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese with goslings, Mallards, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, three Osprey, a Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, American Coot, a Wilson's Snipe, Mourning Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Song Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Magpie, American Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbirds, Lazuli Bunting, and Spotted Towhee. Additional species around Pineview Reservoir included Common Loon, Western and Clark's Grebe, Cattle Egret, Common Merganser, American Avocet, California, Franklin's, and Ring-billed Gull, Barn and Tree Swallow, 'Myrtle' Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Western Kingbirds. At the Powder Mountain parking lot at the top of UT 158, Kris saw Mountain and Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-naped Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Mountain Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, and Pine Siskin. The North Arm Nature Area is located on UT 158 between mm 3 and 4. UT 158 begins at Pineview Dam and UT 39. Be aware that the North Arm's mature shrubs and deciduous trees suffered significant winter damage and many living and dead branches have fallen over the trails. 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 |
