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Modified
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Archived bird sightings: March, 2005 Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder 03/26 — Bob Huntington reported seeing his first curlew of the year about a quarter of a mile past the burned area, as you enter the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. 03/15 — Bridgett Olsen, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird refuge reported the following conditions and birds: Duck numbers continue to rise. About 20,000 more than last week's count. Total is around 100,000. The average for this week is about 33,000. Canada Geese sitting on nests. First spring observations of Clark's Grebe, Eared Grebe, Snowy Plover and Baird's Sandpiper. Early record dates for Clark's grebe, snowy plover and Baird's sandpiper. Diver numbers continue to be about a 1000 fold higher than any historic counts. Still really good viewing of birds from the auto-tour loop. 1000's of Tundra Swans using the unit along with 1000's of ducks. About 40 percent of the birds I counted can be seen from the tour loop. The tour loop has recently been graded so the driving is good. The county road out to the refuge however is still teeth-rattling bumpy. Tundra Swan, 7,412; Canada Goose, 575; Mallard, 5,390; Pintail, 23,474; Gw Teal, 10,739; Cinnamon Teal, 30; Northern Shoveler, 14,761; Gadwall, 9,565; Wigeon, 9,977; Unk. Dabblers, 1,000; Canvasback, 6,812; Redhead, 5,087; Scaup, 3,852; C. Goldeneye, 6,770; Bufflehead, 1,552; Ring-necked Duck, 2; Ruddy Duck, 1,278; Pb Grebe, 1; Eared Grebe, 161; Clark's Grebe, 10; Pelican, 18; Dc Cormorant, 279; Great Blue Heron, 7; Snowy Plover, 3; Killdeer, 36; Avocet, 628; Marbled Godwit, 2; Baird's Sandpiper, 3; Rb Gull, 984; Ca Gull, 1,280; Coot, 3,258; Sandhill Crane, 17; Bald Eagle, 28; Northern Harrier, 18; Am. Kestrel, 2 03/15 — Kris Purdy birding at Mantua and its reservoir reported observing a Merlin, Barrow's Goldeneye, a Horned Grebe, and Greater Scaup. The Merlin sat on a low fencepost in the fields south of the reservoir. Drake and hen Barrow's Goldeneyes were at the south end of the reservoir and a Horned Grebe near the boat ramp. The grebe was several hundred yards off shore and alone. It had partially developed the strong yellow crown feathers. Along the west dike to the north end of the reservoir were Redheads and Greater Scaup (20–30), Eared Grebe, several Lesser Scaup, Canvasbacks, one Ring-necked Duck drake, Mallards, Buffleheads, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye's, Common Mergansers, and one Red-breasted Merganser drake. Other birds in or around the reservoir included American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Double-crested Cormorants, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gulls, Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flickers, Black-capped Chickadees, American Robins, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, House Finches, Pine Siskin's, and American Goldfinches. 03/08 — Ted Steinke photographed a Bewick's Swan at Salt Creek. 03/12 — Todd Black reported seeing two Sage Sparrows around Dove Creek, as well as Greater Sage Grouse. 03/08 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted the Waterbird Count and reported the following conditions and birds: Chorus Frogs singing, 1st big midge hatch, Red-breasted Mergansers, Marbled Godwit (early record), Least Sandpipers (early record), Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cinnamon Teal are arriving. Total ducks around 82,000. This is above long-term average of 60,000. About 40,000 birds can be observed from the tour loop. Good opportunity to view swans as about 5,000 are utilizing the tour loop wetland unit. Swans will start to depart for breeding grounds by the end of the month, Rough-legged Hawks have already left. Tundra Swan, 12,582;, Canada Goose, 733;, Mallard, 3,935;, Pintail, 21,351;, Gw Teal, 7,306;, Cinnamon Teal, 2;, Shoveler, 8,271;, Gadwall, 5,539;, Wigeon, 9,998;, Canvasback, 5,827;, Redhead, 4,409;, Scaup, 2,784;, C. Goldeneye, 10,617;, Bufflehead, 2,149;, C. Merganser, 1;, Rb Merganser, 4;, Ring-necked Duck, 4;, Ruddy Duck, 155;, Pb Grebe, 2;, Aw pelican, 19;, Dc Cormorant, 121;, Gb Heron, 10;, Killdeer, 51;, Avocet, 19;, Marbled Godwit, 1;, Peep, 2 (about, 60 percent sure these were Least Sandpiper);, Rb Gull, 370;, Ca Gull, 1,019;, Herring Gull, 1;, Coot, 3,322;, Sandhill Crane, 6;, Bald Eagle, 12;, Northern Harrier, 16; 03/01 — Phil Douglass observed and photographed a Bewick's Swan at Harold Crane Migratory Waterfowl Management Area. Cache County 03/05 — Reinhard Jockel and Buck Russell birding saw a Say's phoebe in Birch Canyon. It was on an open slope just before you get to the gravel pit. "Easy to see," said Reinhard, for whom the bird was a Cache Valley first. Davis County 03/11 — Ellen Fisher saw a Sandhill Crane at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, walking in the marsh area south of the kiosks, on the east side of the dyke road. 03/08 — Deedee O'Brien birding on Antelope Island observed a pair of Long-tailed Ducks, male and female in winter plumage, along the causeway. 03/08 — Tim Avery birding Antelope Island reported a Sanderling between Mile Marker (MM) MM1 and MM2 and 2 Least Sandpipers. At the Visitor Center a Rock Wren. On the road to Garr Ranch 3 Amereican Tree Sparrow's and a Chipping Sparrow. A Prairie Falcon flew over the road near the Friary Peak Trail head. At Glovers Lane adjacent to Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area: 15 Gadwalls, 7 Cinnamon Teals, 4 Green-winged Teals, 75+ Canvasbacks, 3 Redheads, 50+ Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Lesser Scaups, 8 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads, 11 Mallards, 5 Northern Pintails, 2 Northern Shovelers, 3 American Wigeonds, several Canada Geese, 1 Bald Eagle 03/05 — Jack Binch observed a Long-eared Owl at Fielding-garr Ranch on Antelope Island. On the causeway at the rusty culverts were a couple of Least Sandpipers and a dozen or so Eared Grebes at the bridge. 03/01 — Brian Currie observed his first Sandhill Cranes flying into the Nature Conservancy Wetlands on 3200 West and Gentile in Layton. Millard County 03/04 — Tim Avery birding in Delta during the Snow Goose Festival reported observing approximately 15,000 Lesser Snow Geese with several Ross's Geese observed too. Additionally, he saw 3 American White Pelican, a single Eared Grebe, and a Great-tailed Grackle. In and around Delta were 2 Bald Eagles and 1 Golden Eagle. Morgan County 03/29 — Jim Bailey, Terry Sadler and Dan White visited the Greater Sage Grouse lek between Hennefer and East Canyon. They reported seeing a good number of Sage Grouse and getting some great photos. For photos, please visit Jim's Web site at bailey.aros.net/nature/Birds.htm. Other interesting bird included 10 Common Loons on East Canyon Reservoir, a flotilla of Common Merganzers in the river at the West Hennefer exit, and a Great Blue Heron rookery around Milepost 113. 03/26 — Brian Currie observed 25 male and 2 female Greater Sage Grouse on a lek near East canyon. They are not displaying yet. At East Canyon Reservoir he observed Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and two immature Golden Eagles. About 1.5 miles below the dam was an adult Bald Eagle. Near the town of Morgan Brian found another Golden Eagle in some trees some distance off the road to the west. Utah County 03/30 — Tuula Rose reported that the Varied Thrush that Ned Hill reported hearing was heard again on Tuesday and seen today in the northeast corner of Rock Canyon Park in Provo. To get there, go to the top of Provo Temple and go north on Iroquois Dr to 2620 N, which is on the north side of the park. Go east on 2620 N to Foothill Dr. Tuula saw the thrush in the yard of the house at the corner of 2620 N and Foothill Dr. A beautiful male, sitting on the top of a gray gazebo structure, singing his distinct song. 03/28 — Ned Hill reported hearing a Varied Thrush singing in Rock Canyon Park in Provo, near a residence on the northeast corner of the picnic area. It made several of its monotone call at various pitches. Ned heard it both at 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. 03/27 — Tuula Rose reported over 80 Long-billed Curlews foraging in a field on Ut Highway 68, between mile markers 5 and 6, on the east side of the road. 03/26 — Herb Clayson birding at Knoll Park saw an Osprey catch a trout. There were 5 Double Crested Cormorants on the water and one Turkey Vulture soaring overhead 03/18 — Josh and Cary Kreitzer reported a Winter Wren at Canyon Glen Park in Provo Canyon. Cross the river, walk pass the restrooms, turn left onto the paved path and a ways down, on the right, in a thicket behind a pool of water they found it. Additionally they saw Steller's Jay, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden Eagle and American Dipper. 03/14 — Eric Huish birding at the American Fork Boat Harbor today reported Greater Scaup and a Canvasback. 03/11 — Travis Eggett reported a flock of about 50 Cedar Waxwings in the trees at 1600 N/ and 800 E. in Orem. 03/06 — Lu Giddings reported three Sage Sparrows mixed with a group of White-crowned Sparrows south of the new airport control tower. Lu heard a pair of Sandhill Cranes calling near the southwest corner of the dike. The first double-crested cormorant of the year flew by, out over the lake. 03/04 — Tim Avery saw 4 Eurasian Collared-doves on Main Street in front of the LDS church in the town of Genola. Near Lincoln Beach were 5 American White Pelicans, as well as a flock of about 25 American Avocets. Wasatch County 03/27 — Dave Hanscom reported Common Loons, Osprey, Turkey Vultures, Sandhill Cranes and Eared Grebes at Deer Creek and the Heber Valley. He reported a Bewick's Wren just west of the bridge across the Provo River at the north end of the reservoir (on SR-113 south of Midway). Washington County 03/26 — KC Childs reported seeing a Northern Goshawk in Snow Canyon State Park along the petrified dunes trail. It was in the junipers close to where the trail meets up with the three ponds trail. 03/18 — Marilyn Davis birding at the Santa Clara Preserve near Ivins on the south side of the Old 91 road reported the following conditions and birds: "How things have changed!! The river washed away the metal gate and most of the soil leading to private holdings. However, the BLM parking lot was still there. The first 200 yards was filled with Spring-struck birds singing their hearts out. Rock Wrens were everywhere. Black-throated Sparrows were loudest of all. A graceful Turkey Vulture flew overhead. Looking down on the river, it was as though someone had just finished their spring cleaning and left a lot of driftwood in stacks along the way. Tiny flowers covered the ground in lots of places. Flowers of blue, purple, yellow, white, and Indian paintbrush." 03/16 — Merrill Webb reported a Bonaparte's Gull at Gunlock Reservoir and a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers (male and female) between holes 3 and 5 of the Red Hills Golf Course in St. George. 03/05 — Jim and Judy Bailey observed a Ross's Goose and a Greater White-fronted Goose on the Spring Estates pond Thursday afternoo Weber County 03/26 — Brian Currie birding at Pineview Reservoir reported observing an Osprey on the eastern most nesting platform. At the dam there were Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. 03/03 — Kris Purdy birding at Ogden Cemetery, reported observing Brown Creepers, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, and Dark-eyed Juncos. Ogden Cemetery is located on 20th Street east of Washington Blvd (US 89). 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 |
