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Monday, July 26, 2004
Archived bird sightings: June, 2004 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 06/05 — Dr. John Cavitt reported a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The bird was along the visitors loop about 100 yards north of the observation platform. It flew across the dike in front of his group and perched in some salt cedar on the East side of the dike. It stayed out in open giving some great "looks." This species isn't on the 1995 refuge checklist. Cache County 06/17 — Jim Lofthouse reports that there are at least 2 pair of Gray Catbirds hanging out west of Paradise. One pair is just below the river bridge. You can park and stand on the bridge and they usually show. The other pair is about 100 yards west of the bridge in McMurdie Hollow, where the side road goes off to the north and by the speed limit sign a good vantage point. You want to be careful here though and stay within about 30 feet of the sign, as there is a sheer drop off just a little further west. An Eastern Kingbird has been seen just about 75 yards east of the river bridge. Sometimes a dipper may also be seen at the river. To get on the right road, go west on 8700 S. in Paradise. Other birds seen in this area this week include: Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak, Canada Goose, Mallard, Killdeer, Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Chickadee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Meadow Lark, Pheasant, Mourning Dove, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler Emery County 06/24 — Dan Cooper (a VENT tour leader) reported observing a singing White-eyed Vireo in Green River. It was 2 miles north of town along "Long Street," just after dogleg turn in the road. It was in riparian scrub, where an irrigation canal crosses the road. Also present were 2 Gray Catbirds (one singing/territorial). Grand County 06/18 — Vjera Arnold reported a possible Brown Thrasher at the Rest Area near Crescent Junction (on the way to Arches National Park). Vjera was enjoying birding the area and saw a Say's Phoebe pair, when a reddish-brown bird popped up and dove into a tangle of brambles. It was a medium-sized bird, about the size of a Scrub Jay. It was long-tailed, with a similar body shape to Scrub Jay. Vjera was only able to see it from the back, but it was a rich reddish brown all over. When Vjera got closer to the brambles it popped out and flew around the restrooms and was not found again. Iron County 06/18 — Dave Allen, reported observing a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the rest stop just north of Parowan on I-15. It was flying around the west area, towards the field just past a large tree. Rich County 06/18 — Kris Purdy, birding at Birch Creek Reservoirs on UT 39 west of Woodruff between mm 61 and 60, observed a Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow Warblers, Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows and American Robins. A Mountain Bluebird. Violet-green Swallows and Rock Wrens were seen in the canyon, along with Green-tailed Towhees and Brewer's Sparrows. At Birch Creek Reservoir she observed Ring-billed Gulls, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Double-crested Cormorants, Mallards, Northern Rough-winged and Tree Swallows, as well as a Golden Eagle, Northern Flicker and a Broad-tailed Hummer. 06/15 — Pomera Fronce reported observing approximately 30 Lark Bunting's on the Deseret Ranch Road, and along the road between Woodruff and Randolph. More Lark Buntings were at Bear River Meadows along with Black Terns, American Bittern, Eastern Kingbirds, Blue-winged Teal, Common Yellowthroat, Canvasbacks, Franklin's Gulls, Wilson's Phalaropes and Black-crowned Night Heron. 06/14 — Cal Robbins reported an unconfirmed sighting of a Bendire's Thrasher. It was on a power line approximately one mile North of Sage Creek Junction, just before the road turns into gravel. Cal reported that he had seen a couple of Sage Thrashers earlier, so he did have a comparison to make. Cal realizes that this is significantly north of the Bendire's normal range. This bird was larger than the Sage Thrasher; it lacked any distinguishable wing bars and had much less prominent breast markings. Salt Lake County 06/23 — Deedee O'Brien reported a Yellow-breasted Chat that has taken up residence in Parley's Nature and Historic Park. To locate the area where the bird was observed, walk down the "road" from Tanner's Park into Parley's; cross bridge; turn right onto path that takes you south but closer to the creek than the road that continues a little more to the east. The chat seemed to be claiming territory in two adjacent patches of willows at the beginning of this path. It's easier to see him if you walk down the path 50 yards or so and look back. Directions to Tanner Park/Parley's Nature Park: Exit I-215 on east side at 3300 S; drive west to stoplight at 2700 East; turn north; 2700 East dead ends at these parks OR exit I-80 East at 2300 E; turn east on Heritage Dr., and follow it to Tanner parking lots at 2700 E. Utah County 06/11 — Sheryl Serrano, birding along the Provo Airport Dike, reported observing a Brown Pelican. It was swimming in the northeast corner of the dike, just at the corner where the pavement ends. A Blue Grosbeak was seen on the opposite side of the road. Wasatch County 06/16 — Glenn Barlow and Alton Thygerson birding at Jordanelle visited with DWR folks who were mist netting and banding birds, including an American Redstart they had seen earlier. The bird was originally banded in 1999 and has been recaptured each subsequent year. Glenn also reported seeing a Sora Rail east of the boardwalk. At the Rock Cliff Nature Center they were able to see a Common Nighthawk and Ospreys. In Charleston City Park we were able to find Common Grackle and Bobolinks in Heber. Washington County 06/21 — Brian Currie birding at Tonaquint Nature Park reported seeing the following birds: beginning of the walkway going to the Visitor's center, at the sign indicating it is a nature park, about 75 yards to the right, as you look at the sign in some dead trees, about 3/4 the way up the tree was a first year Green Heron. At the pond/visitor's center there was an abundance of Black Phoebes. Taking the trail (dirt) which looped back towards the parking lot there were three Blue Grosbeaks and one Gamble's Quail. Great-tailed Grackles were there, as were Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Weber County 06/25 — A birding group from the Great Salt Lake Audubon Chapter bought a birding trip to La Plata donated by the Layton, Wild Bird Center for the Chapter's fund raiser. The trip was led by Bill Fenimore, Wild Bird Center, Jim Poulter and Kris Purdy. Here is the list of 77 birds that they saw: Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, American Kestrel, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Wilson's Phalarope, California Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-naped Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Clark's Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, PURPLE MARTIN, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Lazuli Bunting, BOBOLINK, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow 06/22 — Kris Purdy birding the Riverdale Parkway trail observed the Red-eyed Vireo still singing loudly along the Weber River. Kris heard and saw it this morning at the North end of the first bridge. Kris also heard a Gray Catbird on the East side of the trail, south of the first bridge, and across from a long, narrow pond between the trail and backyards to the West. The trail is alive with recent fledglings and parent birds. Kris reported two families of Downy Woodpeckers, three families of Black-capped Chickadees, a family of Bullock's Orioles, a family of Yellow Warblers, and a family of Warbling Vireos. Other bird species included Double-crested Cormorants, Mallards, Belted Kingfishers, Western Wood-pewees, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Black-headed Grosbeaks, American Goldfinches, Ring-necked Pheasants, Song Sparrows, audible young Northern Flickers in a cavity, American Robins, House Finches, House Wrens, Lazuli Buntings and Mourning Doves. 06/10 — Mort Somer reported a White-winged Dove in his backyard in North Ogden. 06/05 — MarJean Muhlestein and Jim Poulter leading the Saturday morning Layton, Wild Bird Center nature/bird walk to La Plata (East of Monte Cristo, off ant Flat Road), along with Kris Purdy and a host of birders reported seeing the following birds: Lark Bunting, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Western Grebe, American White Pelican, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Red-naped Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Back-billed Magpie, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Bluebird, Hermit Thrush (on a nest), American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, MacGillivray's, Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Cassin's Finch, Pine Siskin and House 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 |
