Birdnet Hotline Highlights
Compiled by Eric Huish

Review Species Reported This Month:
    Reddish Egret  Washington Co.
    Zone-tailed Hawk  Washington Co.
    Eurasian Collared-Dove  Beaver Co.  Utah Co.
    Hermit Warbler  Washington Co.
    Dickcissel  Washington Co.

BEAVER COUNTY

Eric Huish (21 Aug 2003) - In Beaver a Eurasian Collared-Dove flew right over my head and landed on a power line in a park at the corner of main and center. He posed for me there so I could take a good long look at him.

BOX ELDER COUNTY

Dana Green (24 Aug 2003) - At White's [Valley] we got good to great looks at Sharp Tails and Gray Partridge. Kris saw Short Eared Owls which I missed.  Willard Bay was nice without the usual weekend mob. Who says drought is all bad. We saw a Northern Waterthrush behind campsite 84 and a Nashville Warbler on the boardwalk. Lots of Black Crowned Night Herons on the pond to the North.  Lee Kay Ponds had a Common Tern.

Julie (12 Aug 2003) - Pomera and I birded BRMBR; the Solitary Sandpiper was there still, Black terns, a kazillion Wilson's Phalaropes, Baird's Sandpiper, lots of Snowy Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons, audibles on Soras, a Redhead coming back into color.

Jack Binch (10 Aug 2003) - Jim McIntyre and I went up to Bear River Sunday afternoon. ...The notables we saw were Solitary Sandpipers, Snowy Plovers, Dunlin, Black Terns, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bairds Sandpiper, and Least Sandpipers. These were all seen along the canals and ponds pretty close to the road.

Betsy Beneke - I was on the refuge for 6 hours on Friday, 8/8/03, but instead of looking at shorebirds, concentrated more on the tamarisk-invaded, weedy edges of the dikes after noticing a few warblers....the most interesting find of the day was a bird I want to call a Lark Bunting.

Glenn Barlow (2 Aug 2003) - On Saturday Alton Thygerson and I went to Bear River Refuge with Mark Stackhouse... the bird's) of the day was a pair of Stilt Sandpipers, still in breeding plumage. We saw them with a small group of Dowitchers on the east side of the auto tour, just north of the first bridge (75 paces) , as you again start north on the final lap of the auto tour route. Lovely birds, and a life bird for both of us.  ...In addition, at Bear River we saw several Common Tern and Black Tern...

DAVIS COUNTY 

Joel and Kathy Beyer (31 Aug 2003) - Today at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island we saw a Red-eyed Vireo (same one as last week?). It was getting a drink from the stream. Also seen were Nashville and Townsend's Warblers, and many Cassin's Vireos.

Pomera Fronce (25 Aug 2003) - Today at Antelope Island, I saw the Northern Waterthrush, Red-eyed Vireo, lots of Wilson's and MacGillivray's Warblers, one Townsend's Warbler and one Nashville Warbler. There was also a Cooper's Hawk that was keeping things quiet.

LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen - Thursday, August 21st, LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen spent some time birding at Antelope Island. Interesting sightings at Garr Ranch in the area east of the Spring House included: ...Winter Wren and Red-eyed Vireo.  And thanks to the tips we received on the Utah Bird List, we had a late picnic in full view of the area below the Visitor's Center. We were lucky enough to see the evening flight sorties of the Burrowing Owls above the rocks.

Bob Huntington (21 Aug 2003) - At Garr Ranch Thursday about noon there was a Winter Wren. Also a Northern Waterthrush. They were in the water east of the spring house.

Pomera Fronce (17 Aug 2003) - There were lots of gulls, grebes, willets, stilts and phalaropes (with a couple of red-necked mixed in) along the Antelope Island Causeway Sunday. Also saw one Sanderling and one Long-billed Curlew. At Garr Ranch there were lots of Lark Sparrows along with Wilson's and MacGillivray's Warblers, a Nashville Warbler and Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers. Saw the Burrowing Owls and Chukars previously reported near the Visitors' Center.

DUCHESNE COUNTY

Joel Beyer (17 Aug 2003) - We birded the Mirror Lake area (Uintahs) this afternoon. Three Gray Jays were seen at Bonny Lake, which is reached via the Highline Trail from Mirror Lake. Most of the usual birds were seen along this trail, including Three-toed Woodpecker, Red Crossbill and Golden-crowned Kinglet.

GARFIELD COUNTY

Julie (4 Aug 2003) - Pomera and I birded in Garfield and Wayne counties Monday and Tuesday. We got the Acorn Woodpecker just north of Boulder in the same location between mm 93-94...

GRAND COUNTY

Damian Fagan (20 Aug 2003) - A Gray Catbird was observed along the Colorado River trail, near the cottonwood self-guided trail marker, on August 19th, in the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve. Also a Green Heron was observed at Cottonwood Bend Ranch, upstream of Dewey Bridge on August 15th.

JUAB COUNTY 

Cindy Orten  (4 Aug 2003) - Tonight at 8:00 pm, we saw an adult Semipalmated Plover on the dock shore at Mona Reservoir. It was great when a killdeer came along and started chasing the plover to compare the two.

KANE COUNTY

Eric Huish (20 Aug 2003) - At Navajo Lake... Some of the more interesting birds included Downy, Hairy, and Three-toed Woodpeckers, GT Towhee, OC Warbler, and Linc Sparrow. The Three-toed Woodpeckers where chipping bark of dead fir trees along side the road at the west end of the lake.

Colby Neuman (14-15 Aug 2003) - SW of Bryce Canyon NP near Tropic Reservoir along FR 087- Bird Highlights include: Peregrine Falcon - 1, Williamson's Sapsucker - a juvenile and a male were seen on separate occasions and Black-throated Gray (4) & Virginia (1) Warblers in a Douglas-fir/Aspen forest

SALT LAKE COUNTY 

Joel and Kathy Beyer (28 Aug 2003) - This past weekend the Northern Goshawks at Brighton were being very vocal. Two young have fledged, a male and a female (size difference is obvious). They were calling continuously for mom and dad on Sunday afternoon, flying back and forth throughout the nest area, with the male usually following after the female. We twice spotted an adult (probably the female) above Twin Lakes, the second time chasing and attacking a Red-tailed Hawk.
Other interesting birds in the Brighton/Lake Solitude/Twin Lakes area were Three-toed Woodpecker, numerous Red Crossbills, a couple of Townsend's Warblers, an invasion of Red-breasted Nuthatches (and one White-breasted) and a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks practicing their aerobatics by chasing Clark's Nutcrackers through the trees.

Colby Neuman (12 Aug 2003) ... Millcreek Canyon - Salt Lake County.  The pygmy-owl imitation worked wonders with dozens of the usual birds coming in each time...notable sightings include: Downy Woodpecker - 2 (a little on the high side). Cordilleran Flycatcher - 1 still singing. Red Crossbill - lots of small groups flying over White-winged Crossbill - 2 seen on the Great Western Trail past the junction of the Dog Lake and Great Western Trails.

UTAH COUNTY 

Sheryl (22 Aug 2003) - Machelle and I were out at the Provo Airport Dike this morning and were excited to see the Green Heron and a Great Egret.

KC Childs (18 Aug 2003) Yesterday Eric Huish and I ran out to Utah Lake State Park... On the south side of the south Jetty was two Semipalmated Sandpipers, and a Semipalmated Plover. There was a Baird's Sandpiper on the north side of the jetty. Also were both Yellowlegs, dowitchers and Western Sandpipers.

Jay Robertson (16 Aug 2003) - I saw a Green Heron two days ago and today at the Provo Airport Dike. He was west of the extension in the moat.

Tuula Rose - This morning (Su 8.3.03 10am) observed a snowy plover family, mom and three puffballs, at Lincoln Beach. ... River lane was quiet. ... One lonely Eurasian collared-dove on his customary post at the bow of the leaning barn.

WASATCH COUNTY 

LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen - Saturday, August 23rd at Cascade Springs, we encountered a Williamson's Sapsucker in the riparian area at the first turn at the bottom of the trail to the springs.

Julie (18 Aug 2003) - Pomera Fronce, Kent Lewis and I went to the BOR area below the  Jordanelle Dam to look for the Red-eyed Vireo reported by the Beyers.  Alton  Thygerson was there ahead of us.  We finally found it at the south end of the 2nd boardwalk (a little beyond the Beyers site)--there's a large, tall berry bush on the right side of the trail as you come off the boardwalk.  It was with a group of Warbling Vireos.  We had to hunt for a long time before we found it.

Joel Beyer (17 Aug 2003) - This morning Kathy and I saw a Red-eyed Vireo at the Jordanelle Wetlands (the area below Jordanelle Dam in Heber Valley). It was with many, many Warbling Vireos at the northernmost end of the boardwalk/gravel nature trail.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Rick Fridell - Last night (8/31 @ 7:30 pm) I saw the first year Dickcissel at Lytle Ranch in the grassy sunflower patch near the pond. It was with a mixed flock including House Finches, Lazuli Buntings, Vesper Sparrows, Lark Sparrows etc, feeding on grass seeds, and occasionally perching up on old mullein stalks. The Dickcissel is missing its tail, making it fairly easy to locate, especially in flight.
Also the female Lark Bunting is still in the Washington Fields (8/32, mid-day). It is loosely associating with a small flock of Lark Sparrows in the area around the east end of 2000 South. It is usually around the alfalfa field north of 2000 South and west of the Washington Fields Diversion Canal, and along the next dirt road to the north.

Larry Tripp (31 Aug 2003) - Today at Lytle ranch there was a first winter Dickcissel ( I'm not sure if it was male or female, it did have more of a yellow wash on the breast than Sibley shows for first winter female.) The odd thing about the bird was it didn't have any rectrices. But it still seemed to fly pretty well. It must of had a recent close call with an Accipiter? The bird was on the East side of the orchard feeding on the seeds of the tall grass with a group of Laz Buntings. I watched it for about 5 minutes flying up and landing near the tops of the grass stalks and bringing them to the ground. Maybe the lack of a tail will keep it around for a few days?
There was also a Male Indigo Bunting in the orchard and a Cassin's Vireo near the first pond.

Larry Tripp (30 Aug 2003) - Just to let anyone who may be coming to the area know. The Reddish Egret was still at Gunlock res. today. Also at Gunlock there was a Common Loon. There are a lot of W. migrants going through the area now which is making birding very exciting. Probably the best bird I saw today was a Eastern Kingbird just N. of Enterprise.

Rick Fridell (25 Aug 203) - This evening I visited Lava Point, Zion National Park. I saw an adult Zone-tailed Hawk soaring with a single Turkey Vulture. It was soaring in the area between the residence and the campground. This is very close to where John Schijf saw one in May. I also saw a female Hermit Warbler foraging in a mixed flock of Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Townsend's Warblers. It certainly seems like the fall migration is starting to pick up.

Julie (22-24 Aug 2003) - Birded last weekend in ST. George. Reddish Egret still at Gunlock Reservoir on Friday, Aug. 22. along with Short-billed Dowitcher. Cassin's Kingbirds at HWY 191/Gunlock junction. Stilt Sandpiper at Sunriver golf course on the 22nd. Hermit and Townsend Warbler at Pine Park on Saturday, Aug. 23. Red-shouldered Hawk north of Gunlock Reservoir on Sun. Aug 24.

Larry Tripp (23 Aug 2003) - Today at about 9:00 am 3/4 of a mile North of Gunlock res. along the Santa Clara river I located a Red-shouldered Hawk. I met P & S Summers and Rick and his wife Kristin About a hour later and while we were looking for the Red-shouldered (which we did see) we found an Adult and one maybe two juv. Common Black-hawks ( we saw one juv. but thought we were hearing another) in the same area. Also in the same area was a female type Hermit Warbler that we all saw.   The Reddish Egret was still at the north end of the res. today.

Bert Bowman (23 Aug 2003) - ...I have recently seen California Condors close to Zion National Park. I have a cabin close to the park and recently my daughter saw one # 32. This week I was able to go to my cabin and while sitting outside one landed only 15 feet away. At first I did not see his number but when he lifted his wings and flew away he had the number 7.

Reed Stone (20 Aug 2003) - Alton , Glenn Barlow and Reed Stone went to St. George area  yesterday. Our first stop was the Gunlock Reservoir where we were fortunate enough to see the, now famous, Reddish Egret. ...After that we found a Red Eyed Vireo in the trees about .5 below the dam.

Pomera Fronce (19 Aug 2003) - As of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the Reddish Egret was still at Gunlock Reservoir. As previously reported, he was favoring the shallows on the north end...We really enjoyed seeing the egret perform his foraging dance - looked just like the pictures in the Sibley books. Great bird!!!

Dana Green (17 Aug 2003) - I made a quick day trip to St. George to see the Reddish Egret. It was straight across from the dam at 8:00 am and around 11:00 it was right across from the inlet parking. I watched it doing its crazy dance. ...Thanks Larry for reporting this great bird

Matt Curtis (15 Aug 2003) - This morning at about 10:00 AM, I saw the immature Reddish Egret on the southwest side of Gunlock Res. It was standing near one of the warning buoys where the red sand meets the white rock. For a while it was just hunkered down a bit, but then it was chased around by a large Great Blue Heron. I walked across the dam on the south side to get a better view and was able to get within about thirty feet of it. Grayish legs and dark bill were obvious, as was a touch of red from its head down through the upper part of its neck.   Thanks for the spot Larry!

Larry Tripp (14 Aug 2003) - At about 6:00 PM tonight there was a Immature Reddish Egret at Gunlock Res.  I first saw the bird near the inflow at the North end. After watching it for about 15 minutes I rushed home to get a camera. When I got back It had moved to the far side of the lake. I wasn't able to get very close at that point, but I did get some photos of the bird standing next to some Avocets for size comparison. I did get to see the bird dashing around like a typical Reddish Egret will do. It is a very nice bird. I hope it will stay around for awhile.

WEBER COUNTY 

Kris Purdy (9 Aug 2003) - I saw a Townsend's Warbler today on Skyline Trail that runs from the North Ogden Divide to Pineview Marina on Pineview Reservoir. I was 1-1/2 to 2 miles south of the Skyline trailhead and between 6500' and 7000' of elevation...