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Last modified: Saturday, April 14, 2007
Archived bird sightings: September, 20052002 archive:
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Sept. |
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Dec. Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Beaver County 09/30 — The Dixie Birders ventured out to the southern slope of the Mineral Mountains to find the birds of Lincoln Gulch. Nestled within this arid, desert scrub landscape is a pretty little riparian area fed by a small stream that originates from the mouth of an abandoned gold mine shaft. The following bird species were observed: Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker (red shafted), Gray Vireo, Western Scrub-jay, Pinyon Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Juniper Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Bluebird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Brewer's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Western Meadowlark. 09/30 — At Minersville Reservoir near Adamsville the Dixie Birders reported seeing a Great Horned Owl, Canada Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Green-winged, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, American Kestrel, Coot, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Herring Gull, Loggerhead Shrike, Common Raven, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird and House Finch. Box Elder County 09/27 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted the Waterbird/Raptor Count and reported the following conditions and birds observed: Total Duck count 157,000 (145,000 dabblers, 12,000 divers). This is down from the long-term average of around 220,000 for this time of year. Only 11 percent of the birds observed were in the hunt units while 25 percent were observed from the tour loop. Canada Goose numbers have been all summer and continue to be, about twice the long-term average. Western and Clark's Grebe numbers are also about double the long-term average. The arrival of the Canvasbacks is about a week earlier than other years. Notable birds were a winter plumage black-bellied plover and 5 pectoral sandpipers though none were within the tour loop area. The Northern Harriers have arrived! Canada Goose: 2,188, Mallard: 11677, Pintail: 34,080, GW Teal: 18,255, Cinnamon Teal: 3,257, Northern Shoveler: 35,970, Gadwall: 25,181, Wigeon: 16,969, Canvasback: 6,029, Redhead: 2,397, Scaup: 4, Ruddy Duck: 3,688, Pied-billed Grebe: 6, Eared Grebe: 12, Western Grebe: 204, Clark's Grebe: 146, AW Pelican: 828, DC Cormorant: 339, GB Heron: 93, Great Egret: 19, Snowy Egret: 29, BC Night Heron: 36, WF Ibis: 555, Black-bellied Plover: 1, Killdeer: 247, BN Stilt: 98, American Avocet: 2231, Spotted Sandpiper: 1, Greater Yellowlegs: 48, Lesser Yellowlegs: 35, LB Curlew: 1, Marbled Godwit: 5140, Least Sandpiper: 15, Pectoral Sandpiper: 5, Dowitcher: 5,180, Franklin's Gull: 661, RB Gull: 2,076, California Gull: 166, Forster's Tern: 69, Coot: 24748, Turkey Vulture: 1, Northern Harrier: 18, Peregrine Falcon: 1 09/11 — Colby Newman birding at Willard Bay and the Willard Bay State Park reported observing the Jaeger (which has been called both a Parasitic and a Long-tailed). The bird has since died and been transported to the University of Utah for analysis. When the definitive identification is made it will be posted. Stake your position now. Additionally, Colby reported observing the following birds (along the road that runs along the western and northern edges of the Willard Bay dike): Peregrine Falcon (trying to kill the Jaeger), Common Loon, Common Goldeneye, Marbled Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Common Tern, Black Tern. At Willard Bay State Park Colby reported: Hammond's Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Warbling Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Gray Catbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Macgillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler , Western Tanager. 09/13 — Time Avery has collected the carcass of the immature Jaeger that has been seen the last few days at Willard Bay. He is taking it to the University of Utah to be examined, measured and preserved. Once that work has been completed the species of Jaeger will be determined and posted. It has been described as a Parasitic and by others as a Long-tailed. Time will tell. 09/10 — Glenn Barlow, Jack Binch, Bob Huntington and Kris Purdy joined Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld west of Willard Bay Reservoir to observe the Parasitic Jaeger (Steve & Cindy first reported the Jaeger). The bird is a juvenile.They were able to study this bird with both binoculars and spotting scopes at fairly close range. Jack Binch photographed the bird. However, the identification is still being questioned. It is also believed by others that it is a Long-tailed Jaeger. Everyone agrees that it is a Jaeger species. Now to figure out which specific one. The Jaeger is fairly dark and dusky; a sooty brownish-gray or grayish brown, depending on the light. The beak is fairly slender without a significant hook on the end. The distal 1/4 portion of the beak is black, contrasting with the bluish-gray base color. The wing coverts appeared to be scalloped with a paler, rufous color. There is a buffy wash to the lighter color of the lowest underparts and upper and under tail coverts. Underparts are barred, becoming more strongly barred toward the tail. Tail was a short fan with central two tail feathers projecting farther past the end of the other retrices. Shape of the projecting feathers was difficult to discern. The tail feathers did not project as far as that described for a juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger. There are significant white crescents located at the base of the primary feathers on the dorsal and ventral sides. Tony Leukering, of Brighton, Colorado, who reviewed photographs taken by Tim Avery, observed that "the near lack of strong pale tips/fringes to the primaries, the strong, even, and horizontal black-and-white barring on the under tail coverts, and the strongly white shafts to P9 & P10, with no other shafts of similar paleness through most of their length, all point to Long-tailed Jaeger and away from Parasitic Jaeger. To reach the spot, take I-15 to exit 351, Willard, at the Weber/Box Elder County line. Turn west at the end of the exit ramp. Turn right several hundred yards later at the sign for Willard Bay State Park (this is for the South Marina entrance) at 4000 N in Farr West. If you pass Smith and Edwards on your left, you've gone too far. Drive west until 4000 N ends and T-bones into a north-south dirt road. From this point, the Jaeger sightings were 6.5–7.7 miles away. Turn right (north) on the dirt road and you'll pass through the Willard Bay WMA. Take the next left (west) .2 miles later. You'll zig north and zag west and generally keep Willard Bay's south dike on your right as you head west. When you make the final turn right (north) at the west end of the south dike, you'll pass Harold Crane WMA on your left. The road is filled with ruts and 4 miles to get to the Jaeger location. At the 4-mile point past the last turn north, they tied two long strands of orange/silver flagging tape to a tamarisk on the left. This is the spot where Cindy and Steve observed the bird for 1 1/2 hours. We tied another two strands to another tamarisk at the farthest north observation point, 1–1.2 miles further north. 09/10 — Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld birding on the west side of Willard Bay reported observing a juvenile Parasitic Jaeger. They're approximately two miles north of the point at which you'd turn north around the west Willard Bay dike. The bird was standing on the road in front of them and Steve said they were as close as 25 yards. Head north on I-15 to exit 351 at the Weber County/Box Elder County line. Turn left (west) at the end of the exit ramp. Drive several hundred yards and turn right (west again) at 4000 N where you'll see the sign for Willard Bay's south marina. If you pass Smith and Edwards on your left side, you've gone too far. Drive to the end of the road where 4000 N T-bones into a dirt road. Turn right (north) and you'll be driving through Willard Bay Upland Game WMA. You'll take the next left, about 1/2 mile, and then proceed west again. This road zigs north and zags west until you make the final turn north around Willard Bay's west dike. That spot is also where you'll pass Harold Crane WMA on your west. 09/05 — Shauna Smith, Celeste Smith and Arnold Smith reported several Common Terns on the salt flats to the west of the Willard Bay State Park dike. The terns were mixed in with Forester's Terns, Ring-billed and Franklin's Gulls. Other birds of interest were five Pectoral Sandpipers, several Bonaparte's Gulls in winter plumage and a lone drake Greater Scaup in eclipse plumage. There were several other sandpipers including Semipalmated, Least and Western. Davis County 09/27 — Kris Purdy birding on Antelope Island reported an American Golden-plover at approximately mile 4.6, on the north side of the causeway. Other shorebirds along the length of the causeway included Black-bellied and Snowy Plovers; Killdeer; stilts and avocets; Long-billed Curlews; Sanderlings; Western, Least, and Baird's Sandpipers. Other birds of note along the causeway included both Peregrine (juvenile) and Prairie Falcons and lots of American Pipits. At Fielding-garr Ranch, Kris reported Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and a Cooper's Hawk along the road to Garr Ranch. The ranch hosted decent migrant activity as well, including a Red-naped Sapsucker; Cassin's and Warbling Vireos; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Hermit Thrushes; Orange-crowned, Townsend's, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. A Barn Owl in the tall olive northeast of the spring and a Great Horned Owl was high in a Russian olive south of the spring and along the path from the south pasture. 09/13 — Brian Currie reported that the Wandering Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone are still present along the Antelope Island causeway. Brian also saw an immature Red Knot in fall plumage at mile marker 3. 09/13 — Aaron Smith reported an adult Sabine's Gull along the Antelope Island causeway. 09/12 — Kris Purdy and Paul Higgins reported the Ruddy Turnstone and Wandering Tattler are still present on the Antelope Island causeway. Paul photographed both. The adult male Ruddy Turnstone is still in breeding plumage. It was located at the 'No Swimming' bridge just west of mile marker 5 on the north side of the causeway, east side of the channel, approximately 150 to 200 yards out. The Wandering Tattler was foraging among the rocks on the south side of the bridge closest to the marina on the east side of the channel. As you stand on the bridge next to the concrete railing and face south over the channel, the bird was on a rock to the left of this position at the base of the old, wavy concrete overlook that's now closed. 09/12 — Simon Thompson reported an American Golden Plover on the Antelope Island causeway. 09/11 — Pomera Fronce, has found a Wandering Tattler on Antelope Island Causeway. Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld, Tim Avery, and Colby Neuman have also observed the Tattler. The bird is at the big bridge closest to the marina, north side of the causeway. Juab County 09/03 — Rick Fridell birding at Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge reported observing a Hudsonian Godwit. The Godwit was foraging along the west side of the large shallow pool in the Pintail Unit of the refuge. Conditions are currently perfect for shorebirds and waders. There were dozens of herons and egrets including a Great Egret. Additionally, Rick saw we saw 18 species of shorebirds, including 50-plus Snowy Plovers. A female Blue Grosbeak was near the refuge headquarters. Millard County 09/03 — Rick Fridell birding in the Snake Valley observed a Northern Waterthrush, Eastern Kingbird, and a Long-eared Owl at Foote Reservoir, Bishop Springs. Morgan County 09/08 — Kris Purdy and Pomera Fronce saw a Merlin near the Morgan City water treatment lagoons. Salt Lake County 09/28 — Dick O'Brien observed a Lewis' Woodpecker Parleys Gulch beneath Tanner Park. The bird is on an old stag right along the trail at the spot where there is a small spring and a historical monument for an old inn and brewery. To get to that spot, walk down the dirt road from Tanner Park into Parleys Gulch, cross the cement bridge, turn right and follow the road keeping left to the spring and monument. 09/25 — Joel and Kathy Beyer observed a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk from the ridge between Guardsman Pass and Jupiter Peak (at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon). Also seen flying over the ridge were Northern Goshawk, Osprey, Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks, Swainson's Hawk, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures. Other birds seen in the area were Blue Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, and a Vesper Sparrow. Summit County 09/03 — Tim Avery birding at Leidy Peak with his father reported seeing the following birds: Red Crossbill, Black Rosy-finch, American Pipit, Mountain Bluebird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cooper's Hawk (at Hacking Lake), Northern Goshawk (near Leidy Peak) and Williamson's Sapsucker. Tim's dad also saw three White-tailed Ptarmigan. Tooele County 09/26 — David Wheeler birding in Rush Valley observed at least 7 Ferruginous Hawks, mostly immature. Many of these hawks were predominantly dark above, with prominent white windows in the wings, white bases to the tails, and whitish heads with dark caps. 09/23 — Jack Binch, birding in Rush Valley at the junction of routes Utah Hwys 36 and 199, observed a Zone-tailed Hawk — a life bird for Jack. There were two Sabines Gull just south of the intersection on a pond. Other birds observed in rush Valley were Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Loggerhead Shrike, Sage Thrasher, Swainson's Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. 09/23 — Steve Carr and Pomera Fronce birding Rush Valley reported 2 adult Sabines Gull at a large shallow pond 3/4 mile south of Utah Hwys 36 and 199. They also saw Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Western and Baird's Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs and Osprey 09/12 — Simon Thompson reported a Blackburnian Warbler in Ophir Canyon where the stream crosses the road south of Tooele. Uintah County 09/25 — Tim Avery birding in the White Rocks River area, and at Chepeta Lake reported observing 2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers. The first was seen on a north-facing slope accessible from Forest Road 117, about 3 or 4 miles from where the pavement ends on the road from White Rocks. The second American Three-toed was seen flying across Forest Road 110 (FR 117 loops to Pole Creek and back towards Roosevelt, the road to Chepeta from Forest Road 117 is 110) where the West Fork of the White Rocks River flows under the road. Other species encountered: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Macgillivray's Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Clark's Nutcracker, Stellar's Jay, Western Scrub Jay, Common Raven, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee 09/07 — Diane Penttila, Biologist at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge reported on the birds seen during the General Waterbird Survey. The following birds were seen within the survey route:, Canada geese: 350, Mallard: 196, Gadwall: 529, American Wigeon: 48, Northern Shoveler: 56, Northern pintail: 62, Cinnamon teal: 178, Green-winged teal: 51, Blue-winged teal: 5, Wood duck: 3, Redhead: 14, Ruddy duck: 8, Coots: 1,184, Great blue heron: 60, Double-crested cormorants: 72, American white pelicans: 240, Black-crowned night heron: 5, Green heron: 1, American bittern: 1, White-faced ibis: 132, Great egret: 2, Snowy egret: 46, Sandhill crane: 18, Pied-billed grebes: 46, Western grebe: 217, Clark's grebe: 2, Eared grebe: 10, Killdeer: 13, Black-necked stilts: 14, Lesser yellowlegs: 21, Greater yellowlegs: 1, Dowitcher spp.: 174, Common snipe: 20, Wilson's phalarope: 4, Forster's tern: 3, Ring-billed gull: 19, Red-tailed hawk: 1, American kestrel: 4, Northern harrier: 1, Turkey vulture: 4 Utah County 09/25 — Tuula Rose birding along the Provo River parkway downstream of the Oxbox parking lot observed 20 Common Grackles. 09/08 — Eric Huish birding at the mud flats at the Southeast corner of the Provo Airport Dike reported Western Sandpipers, Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Lesser Yellowlegs and Avocets. There were 127 Caspian Terns on the far side of the mudflat. Washington County 09/24 — Larry Tripp birding on the top of the Beaver Dam mountains above Lytle Ranch observed a variety of migrating raptors. He reported 14 different species, as follows: Turkey Vulture: 4, Osprey: 2, Harrier: 1, Sharp-shinned: 7, Cooper's: 9, Goshawk: 1, Accipiter sp.: 10, Broad-winged: 2, Swainson's: 2, Red-tailed: 9, Ferruginous: 1, Buteo sp.: 16, Golden Eagle: 1, Kestrel: 13, Merlin: 3, Peregrine: 1, Falcon sp.: 3 09/11 — Larry Tripp birding at Gunlock Reservoir reported a first fall male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a male Anna's Hummingbird in the same area. Additionally, he observed a Chestnut-sided Warbler at the south end of the town of Gunlock. 09/10 — Gary Rosenberg, of Tucson, photographed an immature male Anna's Hummingbird coming to the hummingbird feeders at the Best Western Inn at Mt. Carmel Junction. Mt. Carmel Junction sits at the center of two of Utah Scenic Byway 9 and Scenic Byway 89. 09/10 — While leading a Wings tour to Southwest Utah, Gary Rosenberg, of Tucson reported a singing male Painted Redstart along the Temple of Sinawava trail. The bird was photographed. 09/04 — Joe and Denise Blyn, birding in the Kolob Creek overlook area reported observing twelve California Condors. The overlook is near the Kolob Creek road crossing, north of Lava Point. Weber County 09/18 — Pat Medell reported observing a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers at Beus Pond. They were south of the entrance gate in the cottonwood trees. Beus Pond is located off Old Post Road in back of Weber State University Campus in Ogden. 09/04 — Kris Purdy birding at the North Arm of Pineview Reservoir reported observing a Semi-palmated Plover south of the Osprey platforms at The North Arm, Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, and 29 Wilson's Snipe foraging in the mudflats. Gray Catbirds are still present, Yellow-breasted Chats, Cedar Waxwings, Macgillivray's Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Osprey, American Coots, Forster's Terns, Great Blue Herons, Sandhill Cranes, Belted Kingfishers, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher's, Western Tanager, Fox Sparrow, Chipping, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhees and Lazuli Bunting. The North Arm Natural Area is located at approximately mile 3.7 of SR-158 that starts at Pineview Dam. The footbridge over the North Fork of the Ogden River is still out. You can also access the area from the west by parking at mile marker 3 and walking down via the Pineview West Trail or by parking at a gate at around mile 3.5 on the curve that descends east toward Eden and the main parking lot. 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: BirderB@aol.com. Wild Bird Center (801) 525-8400 |
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