Birdnet Hotline Highlights
Compiled by Eric Huish

May 2003  

Review Species Reported This Month:
    
    Zone-tailed Hawk  Washington Co. 
    Ruddy Turnstone   Juab Co.
    White-rumped Sandpiper   San Juan Co.
    Yellow-footed Gull  Utah Co.
    Least Tern (3)  -  Salt Lake Co.,  Utah Co..  Washington Co.
    Eurasian Collared-Dove (2) - Millard Co.,  Uintah Co.
    Blue-throated Hummingbird  Washington Co. 
    Eastern Phoebe   Salt Lake Co.
    Northern Parula  Washington Co. 
    Chestnut-sided Warbler   Emery Co.
    Ovenbird   Salt Lake Co.
    Louisiana Waterthrush  Washington Co. 
    Bronzed Cowbird  Washington Co.

Betsy Beneke - (15 May 2003) I decided to drive by Dale Young Nature Park this afternoon and ran into a
nice little flurry of bird activity, yielding several Utah "firsts" for myself!...  Northern Waterthrush - most exciting bird of the day!

DAVIS COUNTY 

Dennis Shirley - On Friday, May 23rd, Lou Giddings and I spent the afternoon heat birding the AI Causeway and Gar Ranch. Of interest, the Northern Waterthrush was still to be found at the spring area. Additional -first of the year- species included a Gray Catbird and a Yellow-billed Cuckcoo, both in the cottonwoods at the ranch. Grasshopper Sparrow's were singing approximately 1/2 mile north of the ranch.

Joel Beyer - (19 May 2003) On the Causeway we saw one Dunlin and one Black Tern along with the many Red-necked Phalaropes and Sanderlings. On the island, at Garr Ranch, the Northern Waterthrush was still along the stream...

Leena Rogers - (17 May 2003) Tuula Rose and I birded on AIC Saturday morning.... We spotted the Dunlins and several Red-necked Phalaropes on AIC, as well as Grasshopper Sparrows and Sage Thrashers seen on the way to Garr Ranch.
Julie - (15 May 2003)  Pomera and I birded the causeway and the ranch today, saw some great birds and had some fun observations. Lots of Black-bellied Plover were on the south side near the entrance station, but unexpected numbers of Red-necked Phalaropes were on the north side just west of the station...
Thousands (I'd say 3 to 5) of Sanderlings were all along the north side and a fair number more on the south side... Two Dunlin and a couple of Wilson's Phalaropes were mixed in with them. Long-billed Dowitchers were at the marina. 
At the ranch we saw a Northern Waterthrush (just east of the springhouse along the "creek.")...

Carol Gwynn - There was still 1 Whimbrel on the Antelope Island Causeway late this afternoon (Tues. May 6). It was in with a group of avocets and nearly two dozen Black Bellied Plovers close to Mile 6, on the south side. And the plovers could be enjoyed close in without having to make the 1 1/2 mile muddy hike! The area around Mile 3 was loaded with Sanderlings, Western, and a few Semi-Palmated Sandpipers.

EMERY COUNTY

Merrill Webb - Thursday May 29, I observed a Chestnut-sided Warbler for about a half hour from 8:15 am to 8:45 am. There was one adult male bird in a narrowleaf poplar grove along the Muddy River about 2 miles west of the Moore Junction in Emery County. Moore Junction is 5 miles north of Emery on Highway 10.  If you want to see the chesnut-sided warbler, you MUST GET PERMISSION FIRST!!! To get permission to get on the ranch, call Jim Fauver 435-749-0508

JUAB COUNTY 

Joel Beyer - A Ruddy Turnstone and a Red Knot were amongst a large group of shorebirds this weekend on the north end of Chicken Creek Reservoir in Juab County.  The Turnstone was seen Saturday evening, May 10, and the Knot this evening, May 12.

Eric Huish - (13 May 2003) Tuula, Milt, KC, and I birded in Juab County this morning (5-13). We were able to relocate the Red Knot the Beyers reported at the North end of Chicken Creek Reservoir among the many Dowitchers. We also saw a Black-bellied Plover. (FYI- the lighting would be better in the evening.)
On our way back we stopped at Burriston Ponds and found a Northern Waterthrush along a wooded trail between the two ponds on the north end of the area. It was at the waters edge under some fallen logs. Other birds of note at Burriston were Lewis's Woodpecker and GT Grackle.

MILLARD COUNTY 

David Allan - Eurasian Collared-Doves have found their way to Delta (Millard Co.), Utah.  I serendipitously stumbled onto what appeared to my unaided eyes to be two  of them Tuesday (5/27) evening after making a wrong turn. I returned to the  area Wednesday (5/28) evening with binoculars, relocated the two doves, and  confirmed by sight and song that they are indeed Eurasian Collared-Doves.
The doves were observed both days perched on utility wires and poles along  100 West, between 100 North and 300 North, in Delta. The time of  observation was between 6:45 pm and 7:05 pm.

SALT LAKE COUNTY 

Leena Rogers - (17 May 2003) ...we stopped at the Lee Kay Ponds and met up with Dennis Shirley and Merrill Webb. Saw the Least Terns (2) on the far west ponds as well as a pair of Black Terns flying over the ponds directly south of the gazebo. It was a wonderful day of birding!

Carol - (17 May 2003) Least Terns were still at the Lee Kay Ponds this morning, Sat. May 17, at about 8:30 a.m. I was on one, and Bob MacDougall found another. ...Thanks, Bruce, for reporting!

Bruce Robinson - (15 May 2003) During lunch today, I watched a Least Tern for about 20 minutes, starting at 12:20 PM. It was unmistakable with a yellow bill, white "headlight", and was noticeably smaller than the myriads of Forster's Terns that were nearby. ... It was at west entrance to the main part of Lee Kay Ponds, near the locked gate.

Ed Conrad - (8 May 2003) Today I saw an Ovenbird in the same park that I saw the Eastern Phoebe yesterday. It was along the Jordan River close to where 800 South crosses the Jordan River. The Ovenbird was 40 or so feet away making my dinky camera useless. I watched it for three minutes before it lost me in the vegetation. I didn't relocate the Eastern Phoebe.

Ed Conrad - (7 May 2003) Today at 4:00 p.m. I saw an Eastern Phoebe along the Jordan River Parkway at 840 South. To get there take 840 South (Genese Ave.) from 900 West and follow it to the end of the road. I first saw the Eastern Phoebe in a russian olive just north of a bridge that crosses the river, but it was flycatching from some willows too. It was dipping its tail and it didn't have an eye ring or wingbar. I last saw the Eastern Phoebe in that same russian olive, but couldn't relocate it after 8 or so minutes of observing it.

SAN JUAN COUNTY 

Andrew Spencer - Centennial, CO - Yesterday (May 27th), Nathan Pieplow and I found a White-rumped Sandpiper and a molting female Red Phalarope at the sewage ponds just south of Blanding...

Brian D Maxfield - A Common Black-Hawk was observed (5-9-03) along Verdure Creek southeast of Monticello. It was observed near the LDS church property. It was perched along the creek near a small pond (UTM Coordinates 639788 4183160). The area is mainly Ponderosa Pine mixed with aspen. It was observed by four different people and we were able to get good looks of the bird both perched and flying.  The Acorn Woodpecker was seen in the usual spot where US 191 crosses Devil Canyon.

UINTAH COUNTY 

Joel and Kathy Beyer - (26 May 2003) The birding this morning at Ouray NWR was great. The highlights were American Bittern, Indigo Bunting and Green Heron. The Indigo Bunting was seen along the road to Leola Bottoms (in the first group of trees and marsh past the end of the auto tour loop). The Green Heron was near the end of the auto tour loop, on an island in the Green River. From the top of the observation tower the Bittern could be seen and heard calling.

Myke - (9 May 2003) One [Eurasian Collard-Dove]  was spotted in Jensen during the Christmas Bird Count. I've been hoping to see one since then. On Thursday I saw two pair! One pair was near the Post Office and the other just West of Split Mountain Garden Center. I didn't get a perched look at either pair, but they were definitely larger than Mourning Doves and their tails were distinctly different. I'd love a confirmation by someone. Hopefully, over the next few days I'll get a better look, but I wanted to tip you all off quickly.

UTAH COUNTY 

Julie - (31 May 2003) The Salt Lake Birders field trip to River Lane and the Provo Airport dike produced some good birds for the eight birders who attended. At River Lane a female American Redstart was seen about 50 yard west of two red surveyor's plastic flags on the north side of the road. Be on the lookout for a male American Redstart that might have been around the area, too--not a definite sighting but possible. ... Two Least Terns were seen at the Provo Airport dike road.

Merrill Webb - I found the Least Tern today, Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the southwest corner of the new Airport extension. I watched it from 1:45 pm to 2:15 pm. The bird is not an adult.

Reed Stone - (26 May 2003) At about 9:45 this morning there was a Least Tern where the north west part of the south extension of the dike connects with the original dike.

Mike Monson - (4 May 2003) reported a Yellow-footed Gull at the west side of the south extension of the Provo Airport Dike. He saw it in the evening and watched it until it was too dark to see.

WASATCH COUNTY 

Carol Gwynn - (26 MAy 2003) A male American Redstart was at the Jordanelle Wetlands area, below Jordanelle Dam at about 10:15 a.m. this morning, Monday, May 26. The bird was in approximately the same location where one was seen last year. Head down the trail with the boardwalks until you see a light-colored stake on your left, with a ribbon tied to it. The bird was seen in the dead trees right across from this marker.

Pomera Fronce - (13 May 2003) I located a Northern Waterthrush on Tuesday around 10:00 a.m. at the Jordanelle Wetlands.  Directions to this area are on the Utah Birds website.  Take the trail which starts near the buildings rather than the dirt road which goes right along the river.  Cross the green timber footbridge and continue along the trail until you cross a second and then a third section of timbers.  Walk about 100 yards past this third section and look for a stake on the left side of the trail which has PW-3 on it.  The waterthrush was in the bog on the right side of the trail right across from this stake.  In the same general area was a pair of Blue-Winged Teal.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Mike Schijf - This evening (5-30-03) my dad and I observed a Least Tern on the golf course pond off of the north side of Bloomington Hills Drive. It was sitting on an island in the pond for a while and then took off and caught a small fish, then returned to the island. This tern has been at this pond for a while now but we only realized it was a Least Tern today when we took a closer look at it and discovered the white forehead and the dark primaries. It is also noticeably smaller than other terns and has a yellow bill which is unique for terns.

Dennis Shirley - (29 May 2003) ...At Red Hills Golf Course I couldn't locate the Bronze Cowbird or Vermilion Flycatcher. But I did find the bird of the trip, a Brown Thrasher. ... there was a young bird hanging around with the adult. They were along the south edge of the thick island of brush straight west of the maintenance area, in the same area where the bronze cowbird, vermilion flycatcher, and hooded oriole have been seen. They were watched off and on for 30 minutes - from 8:05am to 8:35am.

Rick Fridell - This evening (5/28) at 7:15, I FINALLY saw the female Bronzed Cowbird that has been seen off and on near the Red Hills Golf Course. It was in the grass along 700 West (St. George) near the apartments. Also the Zion Northern Parula (recently reported by Bob Showler), is still singing near Watchman Housing area Residence #40.

John Schijf - (28 May 2003) Spent some time at Kolob Reservoir this weekend. I did not do any serious birding but I was lucky enough to see a Zone-tailed Hawk. I have been looking at just about every Turkey Vulture I've seen since Rick saw and photographed the Zone-tailed a few weeks ago. It finally paid off. I saw one flying over the Reservoir on Sunday afternoon. Later I saw another (or probably the same bird) about a mile south of the Reservoir. I got a good look at it both times. It was with 4-5 Turkey Vultures. It was remarkably similar to the vultures but the tail was unmistakable.

Bob Showler -  On Sunday, May 25, Lonny Boring saw and heard a Northern Parula in the large sycamore trees in front of residence #40 in the Watchman Housing Area in Zion National Park. The next morning, about twelve of us saw the bird in the same location during our guided bird walk. According to Lonny and the residents of house #40, the bird has been singing in the area for at least a week, so it might stick around. This is the first record of this species for the Zion area.

Rick Fridell - This evening (5/26) at 8:45, Kristen and I saw a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak along the edge of the Red Hills Golf Course.  It was feeding in the mulberry tree between the fairway and the maintenance access road (between the south gate and the pond). 

Bob Showler - (15 May 2003) On May 13 a park visitor reported a male Blue-throated Hummingbird along the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park (specific locations unspecified). He described a "large hummer, dark throat, dark underparts, white on tail and green back fading into bronze rump." He described it as feeding on insects near the Virgin River. No park staff have been able to confirm the report as of this date.

Bob Showler - (14 May 2003) At about 9:30 a.m. this morning Lonny Boring, Dennis Brooks, Christi Carmichael, Willy Dunne, and Bob Showler heard and saw a Northern Parula at Springdale Pond (behind the Switchback Restaurant in Springdale). We got good looks at it from the large boulder at the north end of the pond. This is the first record of Northern Parula for the Zion N.P. area.

Kevin Wheeler - (13 May 2003) This afternoon about 4:00 Megan Morvilius, Michelle Feltch, Josh Coffey, Matt Curtis, Martin Schijf, and I saw a Common Black-hawk along the North Fork of the Virgin River in Zion National Park. It was near the confluence with the wash that comes from Emerald Pools.

Larry Tripp - (9 May 2003) Tonight at about 4:30 I met Glen Barlow where the road deadends into Red  Hills G C in St. George. As we were looking for the Hooded Oriole's that are  nesting there A female Bronzed Cowbird flew in and landed on the phone line  in front of us. We watched it for about a minute. Then it flew into the palm  tree were the Oriole nest is. As it got to the tree the male Hooded Oriole  came from the tree behind us and went in after it. It chased the Cowbird out  of the palm and over onto the G C untill we lost sight of them both.  If I remember correctly there was a sighting of a female Bronzed Cowbird in  that area last year at around this date. Could it be the same bird back agian?

Larry Tripp - (5 May 2003) Yesterday afternoon at Lytle around 4:00 PM there was a Louisiana Waterthrush. I had the bird about 1/2 mile upstream past the Lytle boundary.  It way in the first really lush area of willow and cottonwoods along the  creek.