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Last modified: Saturday, April 14, 2007
Archived bird sightings: October, 20052002 archive:
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Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. Return to main bird sightings page Compiled by Bill Fenimore Box Elder County 10/27 — Bridgett Olson, Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted the general waterbird survey and reported the following conditions and birds present: Total ducks around 213,000 which is pretty close to the long-term average of 233,000 for this time of year. Swans have shown up in good numbers (~7,000) though I didn't get that many in my count. Pintails still comprise the majority of the ducks. Buffleheads starting to show up. Highest avocet, marbled godwit, and dowitcher count for this time of year of any >records I searched. 28 percent of birds were observed from the tour route. First rough-legged hawk of the fall. Canvasback numbers are similar to those reported in the early 1960s. Many, many, birds on Willard Spur or the Great Salt Lake south of the Refuge boundary. Tundra Swan: 2,496, Snow goose &n bsp;: 4, Canada goose: 1,789, Mallard: 28,923, Northern Pintail: 49,554, Gw Teal: 24,647, Shoveler: 24,896, Gadwall: 19,267, Wigeon: 23,216, Canvasback: 22,865, Redhead: 6,108< Br>Scaup: 231, Bufflhead: 942, Red-breast. Merg.: 6, Ring-necked Duck: 764, Ruddy Duck: 12,192, Pb Grebe: 15, Eared Grebe: 337, Western Grebe: 127, Clark's Grebe: 184, Aw Pelican: 222, Dc Cormorant: 152, Gb Heron: 108, Great Egret: 8, Snowy Egret: 4, Bc Night Heron: 35, White-faced Ibis: 5, Killdeer: 10, American Avocet: 6,017, Greater yellowlegs: 19, Lb Curlew: 7, Marbled godwit: 2,000, Dowitcher: 1,572, Bonaparte's Gull: 962, Rb Gull: 1,309, California gull: 213, Herring gull: 3, Virginia Rail: 2, coot: 10,592, Northern Harrier: 42, Rough-legged Hawk: 1, Am. Kestrel: 2, Cache County 10/31 — Bob Huntington reported a Pacific Loon at Hyrum Reservoir. He also relocated the Surf Scoter previously reported. 10/20 — Pat Medell observed a Winter Wren in the Box Elder Campground in the A loop, near the collection box. There are two signs where the road forks. One sign says "Keep Right" and other says "Exit." The Wren was about 15 feet behind the "Exit" sign in the underbrush. 10/19 — Mort Somer spotted a Winter Wren at Box Elder Campground. The wren was on the east bank of Box Elder Creek, east of campsite 17 on Loop A. There is a piece of pink surveyor's tape on a shrub in the back of the campsite, so wren-seekers will head in the right direction. The bird was across the creek from the tape and in the shrubs adjacent to the log laying in the water. Box Elder Campground is located in the town of Mantua, approximately 2 miles east of Brigham City on US 89/91. Bear left in front of the campground's visitor information sign at the entrance and you're on Loop A. 10/07 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted the Waterbird Count and reported the following conditions and species seen: Total ducks around 133,000 birds. This is up from last year's count at this time of 91,000. Large numbers of canvasback in Unit 1 which is the unit to the north of the tour loop. They like the sago pondweed that grew so thick in the unit this summer that the eared grebes just piled it up for nests. First time eared grebes have nested on the Refuge in at least 3 years. Haven't seen any swans yet. Getting late to be seeing White-faced Ibis, and Stilts. Their numbers have dwindled. Notable bird was Bonaparte's Gull. Lots of pipits and a few Greater Yellowlegs covering mudflat's and around other very shallow water areas. All of our wetland units are full. While 29 percent of the birds were seen from the tour loop, only 5 percent were in the hunt unitsL Canada Goose 2,525, Mallard 20,209, Pintail 32,901, Gw Teal 7,834, Cinnamon Teal 2,704, Shoveler 15,904, Gadwall 11,459, Wigeon 12,276, Canvasback 16,566, Redhead 7,566, Ring-necked Duck 8, Ruddy Duck 5,747, Pied-billed Grebe 16, Eared Grebe 910, Western Grebe 246, Clark's Grebe 146, Aw Pelican 402, DC Cormorant 388, Great Blue Heron 85, Great Egret 11, Snowy Egret 35, Bc Night Heron 43, Wf Ibis 39, Killdeer 32, Bn Stilt 30, American Avocet 1,720, Greater Yellowlegs 50, Long-billed Curlew 10, Marbled Godwit 850, Peep 94, Dowitcher 115, Wilson's Snipe 1, Franklin's Gull 122, Bonaparte's gull 24, Ring-billed Gull 2,529, California Gull 270, Forster's Tern 31, Coot 13,045, Sandhill Crane 2, Northern Harrier 25, Peregrine Falcon 1 10/08 — Kris Purdy birding with the Great Salt Lake Audubon Chapter in Whites Valley reported that the group Gray Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Mountain Bluebirds, American Pipits, Horned Larks, Western Meadowlarks, Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers and Common Ravens. Please be aware that virtually all of Whites Valley is private and posted 'No Trespassing'. Seek permission to bird this area. The group also birded at Salt Creek WMA and observed American Coot, Canvasback, Redheads, Ruddy ducks, Gadwall, Greater Yellowlegs, American Avocets, Western and Pied-billed Grebes, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, White-faced Ibis, Mallard, Snowy Egret and Marsh Wrens. Whites Valley is located 4 miles north of Ranch Exit 32, I-84. Salt Creek WMA is located west of Bear River City and north of the Box Elder County Landfill. Cache County 10/30 — Jack Binch, Keith Archibald, Bob Mcdougal, Steve and Cindy Sommerfield observed two Surf Scoters at Hyrum Reservoir. One was on the southeast corner and the other on the northeast end. 10/19 — Stephen Peterson reported observing a female Merlin (columbarius) that had taken a Junco in Logan. Davis County 10/31 — Marjean Muhlestein reported a White-winged Scoter along the Antelope Island Causeway, just past the 1st bridge on the south side with some Lesser Scaup and Eared Grebes. 10/30 — Joel and Kathy Beyer reported a White-throated Sparrow at Fielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. It was feeding on the ground with several Juncos along the fence line behind the ranch house. Along the road to the ranch they saw a Peregrine Falcon and a Northern Shrike. On the south side of the Causeway there were 250 to 300 Bonaparte's Gulls and four Horned Grebes, as well as large numbers of Lesser Scaups, Shovelers and Eared Grebes. Besides Avocets, the only shore birds left were a single Willet, a Long-billed Curlew and a Greater Yellowlegs. 10/10 — Bill Fenimore led Dave and Janet Morley, from Birmingham, England to Antelope Island. They saw 46 species in three hours. Aside from the usual suspects, on the causeway there were American Golden Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Snowy Plover, Baird's Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper. There were abundant raptors along the road to Fielding-Garr Ranch including Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Prairie and Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Swainson's Hawk and Ferruginous Hawk. At Fielding-Garr Ranch they observed Great Horned Owl, Hermit and Swainson's Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Macgillivray's Warbler and Virginia's Warbler. 10/11 — Erich Huish birding at Fielding-garr Ranch on Antelope Island reported the following birds being seen there: Hermit Thrushes, Robins, White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Shrike, Townsend's Solitaire,, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-naped Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flickers, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow. 10/02 — Kris Purdy reported a juvenile Sabine's Gull on the north side of the causeway at approximately mile 4.1. Other birds along the causeway included Black-bellied Plovers, Long-billed Curlew, Sanderling, Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpiper, Killdeer, Baird's Sandpiper, Dowitcher Spp, Willet, Wilson's Phalarope and two Horned Grebes with a flock of Eared Grebes south of the big bridge near the marina. 10/04 — Kris Purdy, birding on Antelope Island reported Two juvenile Sabines Gulls on the north side of Antelope Island causeway near the rocky spit that stretches toward Fremont Island at about mile 1.8. Other species along the causeway were a Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe on the south side near the big bridge, Black-bellied Plover and two American Golden-plovers were still present near mile marker 5. Fielding-garr Ranch hosted a Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawk, a Prairie Falcon, Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Townsend's Solitaire, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ring-necked Pheasant, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, and a Spotted Towhee. Kris also saw a Cooper's Hawk along the road on the return north. The most interesting sighting was perhaps the many raptors and ravens kiting along the road to the Fielding-Garr Ranch: Red-tails, Common Ravens, Swainson's Hawk, Prairie Falcon and a first year Peregrine. Iron County 10/14 — Larry Tripp birding at Quichapa Lake reported seeing a male Long-tailed Duck, 2 Dunlin and a Pectoral Sandpiper. Juab County 10/20 — Terry Sadler reported that a White-throated Sparrow was observed at Fish Springs NWR. The bird was seen along the north-south ditch which runs along the west side of the picnic area. Other notable birds observed on this GSL Audubon Hotspots excursion include three Great Egrets at the Refuge and 12 Short-eared Owls seen along the 5-Mile-pass/Faust cut-off road. Millard County 10/14 — Larry Tripp reported seeing a Horned Grebe, Male "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker and a White-throated Sparrow. Morgan County 10/16 — Aaron, Shauna, Arnold and Celeste Smith reported seeing a Pacific Loon on East Canyon State Park Reservoir swimming with two Common Loons. These birds were located on the southern arm of the reservoir toward the restaurant about 3/4 of a mile past mile marker 18. The birds were swimming to the north, towards the main part of the reservoir. Salt Lake County 10/12 — Reece Stein observed and photographed a Great Horned Owl in Mill Creek Canyon. 10/03 — Tim Avery birding at Lee Kay ponds reported 3 Common Tern over the first pond to the east, 1 Greater Yellowlegs and an early adult Herring Gull in the main pond. At Salt Air there were 27 Snowy Egret in the pond across the road from the Salt Air building, as well as Greater Yellowlegs. San Juan County 10/06 — Lu Giddings reported observing an American Golden Plover seen at the Hickman Flats road wetlands. Hickman Flats road is San Juan county road #332, approximately 12 miles northeast of Monticello. The Plover was in non-breeding plumage. Others birds seen in this area included killdeer, lesser yellowlegs, green-wing teal, northern pintails, northern Shoveler, mallards, Canada Geese, golden eagles, a pair of ferruginous hawks, and several harriers. A Gunnison sage grouse was observed about 2 miles south of the wetlands described above. Hickman Flats road is an unmarked graded dirt road that leaves Highway 191 at about mile marker 77.25, about 0.25 miles north of the Monticello airport. The road travels east and south for several miles, winding through a few homes and some juniper, before straightening out and traveling more or less directly east through the fields that run from Monticello to Colorado. At about 5.5–6.0 miles, the road branches to the south; continue to travel east. The wetlands are about 4 or 5 miles east of the split and roughly 10 miles from Highway 191. Summit County 10/11 — Kris Purdy birding at Rockport, Echo, and East Canyon reported seeing Common Loons on all three bodies of water. She also saw Bushtits at Rockport State Park in Box Elder trees at Crandall Campground. Uintah County 10/20 — Diane Penttila, Biologist at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge conducted the General Waterbird Survey and reported observing the following birds within the survey route: Canada geese: 1,528, Mallard: 567, Gadwall: 294, American Wigeon: 33, Northern Shoveler: 138, Northern pintail: 150, Blue-winged teal: 5, Green-winged teal: 413, Redhead: 2, Ringneck duck: 8, Ruddy duck: 28, Bufflehead: 12, Coots: 2,027, Great blue heron: 31, Double-crested cormorants: 1, American white pelicans: 17, Black-crowned night heron: 1, White-faced ibis: 10, Cattle egret: 1, Great egret: 1, Sandhill crane: 34, Pied-billed grebes: 31, Western grebe: 71, Clark's grebe: 2, Eared grebe: 45, Killdeer: 5, Lesser yellowlegs: 2, Dowitcher spp. 70, Common snipe: 8, Ring-billed gull: 26, Red-tailed hawk: 5, Northern harrier: 4 10/04 — Diane Penttila, Biologist at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge conducted the General Waterbird Survey. Peak fall color is almost here. Still some green cottonwoods on the Refuge, but many are turning. The following birds were seen within the survey route: Canada geese: 604, Mallard: 256, Gadwall: 631, American Wigeon: 180, Northern Shoveler: 73, Northern pintail: 25, Cinnamon teal: 5, Green-winged teal: 236, Scaup: 1, Coots: 1,527, Great blue heron: 34, Double-crested cormorants: 69, American white pelicans: 437, Black-crowned night heron: 16, American bittern: 2, White-faced ibis: 4, Cattle egret: 7, Snowy egret: 3, Sandhill crane: 28, Pied-billed grebes: 20, Western grebe: 110, Clark's grebe: 3, Eared grebe: 2, Dowitcher spp.: 100, Common snipe: 4, Ring-billed gull: 64, Red-tailed hawk: 2, Peregrine falcon: 1, American Kestrel: 1, Northern Harrier: 3, Turkey Vulture: 15 Utah County 10/19 — Tuula Rose reported seeing a Stilt Sandpiper mixed in with the many Dowitchers at the southeast corner of the Provo Airport dike (where you first see water when heading clockwise around the dike). 10/08 — KC Childs reported an immature Green Heron in Springville. It was near the Flow serve Ponds. To get there take the first Springville exit (when southbound on I-15). Turn east going past the first light, Flying J and Maverick gas stations. Turn right at the second light onto 1100 W. Drive until you almost reach the stop sign and T in the road. It was catching fish on the pond on the west side of the road. 10/03 — KC Childs birding along the Provo Airport Dike at the northeast corner of the dike observed Dowitcher Spp., Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis and a Pacific race Merlin. There were Franklins Gulls and Forester's Terns and just before the southwest corner in the marsh in the lake there was a Horned Grebe. Wasatch County 10/01 — Kris Purdy reported a Juvenile Sabine's Gull along the north shore of Strawberry Reservoir. The gull was seen between Chicken Creek East fishermans' access and another fishermans' access farther to the east. Chicken Creek East is a well signed access off Hwy 40 between mile markers 41 and 42 and has a parking lot with restroom facilities. The gull was spending a lot of time along the narrow shoreline. Washington County 10/29 — Katie and Tom Johnson reported observing a Northern Shrike in Washington Fields. Additionally, they saw a Pergrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawks, Western Meadowlark, a Yellow-headed Black Bird and a pheasant. They also reported observing six Eurasian Wigeons at Springs Pond in St. George 10/21 — Kevin Wheeler reported observing a flock of Cedar Waxwings near Grafton. 10/22 — Kevin Wheeler saw an adult male Anna's Hummingbird at the Red Cliffs Campground, and then saw two others in Leeds. Additionally he saw a couple Orange-crowned Warblers and lots of American Wigeon at the Springs Park Pond 10/15 — Matt Williams birding at Pine Valley Reservoir reported seeing two Winter Wrens at the foot of the Pine Valley Reservoir dam. He also saw Townsend's Solitaire, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet's, American Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-naped Sapsucker and Hairy Woodpecker. At the north end of Quichapa Lake he saw Wilson's Snipe, American Coot, Redhead Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, Eared Grebe and Pied-billed Grebe. At Quail Creek Reservoir (seen from the State Park Campground) he saw: Western Grebe (4), Eared Grebe (1), Northern Shoveler (20), American Coot (30), Rock Wren, Say's Phoebe, Great Horned Owl 10/05 — The Justice family observed 3 California Condors—two of them in flight for a short time gliding on the updrafts from Kolob Creek Canyon to the south of Kolob Reservoir. Condor #96 sat on a boulder on the edge of the canyon. 10/13 — Larry Tripp observed a female Chestnut-sided Warbler in St. George. On Saturday, 10/15, he observed a Western Screech-owl and a White-throated Sparrow in St. George. Weber County 10/29 — Jack Rensel reported a Blue Jay in his Ogden backyard, just off 32nd and Harrison Blvd. 10/03 — Pat Medell has a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker coming to her backyard at 2642 W. 4550 S. in Roy. 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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