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Modified
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Archived bird sightings: July, 2004 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 07/23 — Colby Neuman birding at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at the canal on the northeast side of the auto tour loop reported quite a few peeps (~100–150) including Least, Western, Baird's and one juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper. Also of note were two Solitary Sandpipers along the canal. Both yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher's and Marbled Godwits were also present at the refuge. For those of you that love to study peep plumage's (down to the last feather), the Northeast side of the auto tour loop at Bear River is the place to go because the peeps are very close to the road (~20 feet or less). Davis County 07/23 — Colby Neuman relocated the Whimbrel that was seen earlier this week along the Antelope Island Causeway. It was on the North side of the causeway near the second bridge. Salt Lake County 07/27 — Tom Brennan and Mike Johnson observed 4 White-winged Crossbills on the trail to Cecret Lake from Albion Basin. They were working the cones along with about 3 dozen Red Crossbills. This was the area of the trail just before you start heading up the steep rocky part just before the lake. 07/26 — Mike observed Three-toed Woodpeckers in two different places on the Lake Solitude trail from Brighton. The first was just after you pass under the ski lift for the first time. The second was about half way up on the trail from Lake Solitude to Twin Lakes Reservoir. 07/26 — Steve Carr observed the female White-winged Crossbill previously reported by Kris Purdy at Brighton. It was with a flock of 10 Red Crossbills. As you drive into the Silver Lake Visitor Center in Brighton (top of Big Cottonwood Canyon), to the right of the parking lot is a paved road that runs down to some private residences. The birds were about 150 feet down this road, with tall spruce and fir trees on both sides. In the same location were a Hairy Woodpecker, Pine Siskins, a Wood Pewee, Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-crowned Sparrows. 07/22 — Brian Currie and Kris Purdy birded Brighton primarily on the Lake Solitude and Twin Lakes trails. They observed the following birds: a female White-winged Crossbill about 100 feet from the Silver Lake Visitor Center parking lot, standing on the paved road that angles off to the right and leads to private homes. Many Red Crossbill's were in the same area and further down the road. There were also Red-naped Sapsuckers. Additionally, they reported both kinglet species. Blue Grouse crossing the Lake Solitude trail at the first ski run. A Clark's Nutcracker, a Townsend's Solitaire, and a male Williamson's Sapsucker 1/4 to 1/3 mile above Lake Solitude. This was at 9,370 feet elevation and the UTM coordinates were, X: 449068, Y: 4494837. Three Clark's Nutcrackers on the Twin Lakes side where the trail crosses through the ridge and descends to Lake Solitude. A juvenile Northern Goshawk, a pair of Western Wood-pewees at a nest against an aspen trunk and about 25 feet up. Near Twin Lakes in a boulder and wildflower-strewn field, a male Blue Grouse, about 75 yards (mountain side) from the small wooden building next to Twin Lakes dam. They also saw Mountain Chickadees; Hammond's, Cordilleran, and Olive-sided Flycatchers; Hairy Woodpeckers; Broad-tailed Hummingbirds; Hermit Thrushes and Steller's Jays. 07/17 — Tim Avery & Colby Neuman reported birding the Salt Lake Shore Bird Loop and at Lee Kay Ponds saw 4 Great-tailed Grackles today, several Snowy Egrets, and a Common Raven. At Saltair they saw a flock of Long-billed Dowitcher's, a single Snowy Plover and a Sage Thrasher on the North side of the road towards the lake, between the Marina and the Saltair building. At Warm Springs were Avocets, Franklin's Gulls, Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs. 07/16 — Tim Avery birding at Brighton saw a flock of about 30 Red Crossbill's, Rufous, and Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. 07/16 — Pomera Fronce birding along the Jordan River relocated the Green Heron, first seen by Jack Holley. To see the Green Heron turn north on 1100 West from 3300 South and drive to the Oxbow Trail Head parking lot. Go west on the walking path until you reach the area where the river takes a sharp bend to the South. One bird was seen perched in the dead trees on the West side of the river. The second location where Pomera reported the birds was the canal which runs between the Jordan River and Decker Lake as previously reported by Tim Avery. You can get to this canal by crossing the river just north of the Oxbow Trail Head and following the path to the North; however, this is a long walk. If you want to park within a few minutes walk of the canal, follow these directions: Travel north on Redwood Road and turn east on Crystal Avenue (2590 South). Proceed to Chesterfield Street (1160 West) and turn south. Park where the street dead ends and you will be within a short walk to the canal. Walk west along the canal and look for the birds. Pomera flushed two from an area with very dense with Russian olive trees 07/15 — Dave Fischer visiting from Olathe, Kansas, reported what he believes were 2 adult white ibises near the Salt Lake City airport. He was in a hotel shuttle going to the airport from the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites. As the shuttle exited from I-80 east bound to go to the airport, the two birds flushed from about 25 yards just south of the highway and were last seen flying toward the Southwest. Dave did not have binoculars but got an excellent look: white birds the size of snowy egrets, but with black wing tips and necks extended forward when they flew. Dave knows this species well and just saw some the previous week while doing fieldwork in Georgia. 07/14 — Tim Avery, birding at Lee Kay Ponds, Saltair and Warm Springs reported seeing the following birds. Lee Kay Ponds: American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, and White-faced Ibis; Saltair: American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Killdeer; Warm Springs: Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Forester's Tern and Mourning Doves 07/14 — Colby Neuman and Tim Avery birding at the Jordan River Parkway in search of the Green Heron reported seeing not one, but 5 different birds flying. It is hard to say, but with so many birds being seen here, there is a good chance that there are several breeding pairs in the immediate area. 3 individuals could be heard calling on the canal that runs out of the river west towards Decker Lake. These birds were in the area described by Jack Holley along the Oxbow Trail, and will probably remain for a few more weeks before they head south. Other birds of note between the Oxbow trail head and the Decker Lake Canal were: Black-chinned Hummingbird, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Western Kingbird, Bullock's Orioles, Marsh Wren, American Goldfinch Uintah County 07/27 — Diane Penttila of Ouray National Wildlife Refuge reported with the General Water Bird Survey and prevailing conditions, as follows: Water is drying up fast in wetland units. Broods are getting pushed together. Lots of Gadwall, pied-billed grebe, and coot broods, some just hatched. Shorebirds are starting to arrive. The following birds were seen within the survey route: Canada geese, 170; Mallard, 140; Gadwall, 240; Northern shoveler, 1; American wigeon, 3 ; Northern pintail, 1; Green-winged teal, 25; Cinnamon teal, 154; Wood duc, 2; Ruddy duck, 23; American coot, 165; Pied-billed grebe, 38; Western grebe, 4; Clark's grebe, 2 ; Great blue heron, 35; Snowy egret, 24; Black-crowned night heron, 6; Double-crested cormorant, 40; American white pelican, 127; White-faced ibis, 16; American bittern, 2; Virginia rail, 1; Killdeer, 74; American Avocet, 14; Black-necked stilt, 36; Lesser yellowlegs, 4; Least sandpiper, 10; Spotted sandpiper, 1; Wilson's phalarope, 3; Dowitchers, 53; Ring-billed gull, 7; Forster's tern, 10; Turkey vulture, 5; Northern harrier, 2; American kestrel, 2; Red-tailed hawk, 2; Great horned owl, 1 07/12 — Diane Penttila Biologist at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge filed the following General bird Survey: Canada geese, 131; Mallard, 122; Gadwall, 421; Northern shoveler, 3; American wigeon, 2 ; Northern pintail, 7; Green-winged teal, 3; Cinnamon teal, 205; Blue-winged teal, 2; Redhead, 11; Ruddy duck, 11; American coot, 232; Pied-billed grebe, 40; Western grebe, 6; Clark's grebe, 4; Eared grebe, 5; Great blue heron, 53; Snowy egret, 21; Great egret, 2; Cattle egret, 1; Black-crowned night heron, 10; Double-crested cormorant, 77; American white pelican, 229; White-faced ibis, 8; Sandhill crane, 2; American bittern, 6; Killdeer, 50; American Avocet, 11; Black-necked stilt, 19; Lesser yellowlegs, 9; Greater yellowlegs, 5; Western sandpiper, 104; Spotted sandpiper, 3 ; Ring-billed gull, 4; Forster's tern, 9; Black tern, 15; Turkey vulture, 9 Utah County 07/19 — KC Childs birding along the airport dike reported observing a Willow Flycatcher and a Northern Mockingbird, along the Western Dike. 07/18 — Joel and Kathy Beyer reported observing the Yellow-billed Cuckoo previously reported by Mike Monson (7/17) was still at the Southwest corner of the Provo Airport Dike this Sunday morning (7/18), flying back and forth in the trees there, but never vocalizing. Wasatch County 07/26 — Eric Huish and Milt Moody reported that the Purple Gallinule previously reported by Clay and Cliftia Johnson at the Jordanelle Wetlands was still there. The bird was in the same vicinity where first seen, along the road just south of the little stream that goes under the road, between the lower and upper parking areas. 07/24 — Clay and Cliftia Johnson reported observing a Purple Gallinule at the wetlands area below Jordanelle Dam. The bird was seen near the entrance with the stone pillars and parking area by the Good Sam RV park where the road crosses a small stream about .2 of a mile north of the stone pillars. The bird was approximately 15 feet from the edge of the road and the fence, just north of the small stream. 07/18 — Joel and Kathy Beyer observed the male American Redstart at the Jordanelle Wetlands, this afternoon (as were the remains of the blue plastic bag marking the spot). The bird looks somewhat the worse for wear, particularly the tail, which appears much shortened. It was no longer singing. Washington County 07/22 — Charlie Sheard birding at Quail Creek Reservoir reported observing 3 Loons swimming near the inlet. 2 were easily identified as juvenile Common Loons, the third had it's head concealed and could not be ID'd. Additionally, on a small, recently exposed island, there were 10 common Mergansers in eclipse plumage. 07/17 — Red Cliffs Audubon Society visited Oak Grove, Leeds Creek and, briefly, Quail Creek Reservoir on Saturday, July 17. The list of species seen follows: Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Wood Pewee, Say's Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub Jay, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, Rock Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Black-throated Sparrow, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Brewer's Blackbird 07/10 — Kevin Wheeler and Rick Fridell spent the day birding the Kolob Terrace Road, Lava Point (Zion NP), and Kolob Reservoir areas. Highlights included 4-5 California Condors along the Kolob Terrace Road, in the meadow north of Blue Springs Reservoir. They observed the Condors in flight, perched in trees, and on the ground feeding on dead marmots. They confirmed at least four individuals (#'s 4, 32, 48, and 96) and thought they saw a fifth as well (#9). Most were 3-5 year old birds however number 96 was a full adult. Although the Condors were actively moving around, the best spot to observe them was from the pullout near the Kolob Creek lower road crossing (where the creek falls into the steep canyon). They landed in the meadow west of the pullout near a rock outcrop, and would fly into the canyon below and perch for before soaring again. At one point they watched the Condors soaring with two Zone-tailed Hawks, 20–40 Turkey Vultures, a Red-tail, and two Peregrines. The Zone-tailed Hawks were mostly observed to the Northeast of the pullout, primarily east of the two story log cabin. Both Zone-tails were a bit ragged (molting primaries) which aided in picking them out of the many Turkey Vultures in the area. Also, shorebirds are returning south. There were 10 Western Sandpipers at the SR-9 (Hurricane) Sewer Ponds and Willet and four Marbled Godwits at Sand Hollow State Park. There was also a juvenile Herring Gull at Sand Hollow. Weber County 07/16 — Kris Purdy birding at Wolf Creek Canyon near Powder Mountain Ski Area reported seeing MacGillivray's, Orange-crowned and Virginia's Warblers, Chipping Sparrow, Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbird, Green-tailed Towhees, Western Tanager, Swainson's and Hermit Thrush, Pine Siskin, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Lazuli Bunting, Hammond's Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, House Wren, Steller's Jay, Brewer's Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Mountain Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mourning Dove, and Dark-eyed Junco 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 |
