Review Species Reported This Month:
   
    Broad-winged Hawk  Utah Co.
    Ruddy  Turnstone  Davis Co.
    Curlew Sandpiper  Davis Co.
    Red Phalarope  Davis Co.
    Vaux's Swifts  Washington Co.
    Ruby-throated Hummingbird  Washington Co.
    Tennessee Warbler  Box Elder Co.
    Hermit Warbler  Washington Co.
    Painted Redstart  Washington Co.

BOX ELDER COUNTY

Kris Purdy (28 Aug 2005) - ...I saw a juvenile Horned Grebe in of all places, the manmade concrete-lined pond northwest of the Nucor Steel plant in north-central Box Elder County today. At least the grebe is still classified as rare!

Joel and Kathy Beyer (28 Aug 2005) - We found the Tennessee Warbler at 9:30 this morning at Willard Bay State Park. It was seen three times in 30 minutes, either at the extreme west end of the boardwalk nature trail, or just further west where the campground road crosses the stream. The first two looks were brief but definite, while the last view enabled us to see all the field marks well, including the white leading edge to the wing and the white undertail coverts. Twice the bird appeared during the play of a tape. Other birders, including the Summerfields, also saw the bird.

Kristin Purdy (25 Aug 2005) - I'm pretty darn sure I saw a first fall male Tennessee Warbler at Willard Bay State Park in Box Elder County today. The bird was hopping through a low Russian Olive over the channel east of Willow Creek Campsites 31-32. Some of you will know this spot as the Northern Waterthrush channel...

Tim Avery (4 Aug 2005) - ...I headed up to Bear River NWR this morning and was treated to a plethora of shorebirds. 2 Short-billed Dowitchers were seen with a flock of about 600 Long-billed Dowitcher's in Unit 3, where the dike heads to the east splitting the unit in half. The birds were on the north side of that dike. The two birds, were still fairly orange, and showed heavy barring on the sides, and a white belly. Look for the dowitchers at this spot and in Unit 2, about 1/2 north of this spot. There were nearly 900 LB Dowitcher's in this area, and the two flocks seemed to be moving back and forth between the two areas....

CACHE COUNTY

Stephen Peterson (8 Aug 2005) - On Saturday, BAS took a trip out to Logan cities newest waste water treatment pond. It is a large, planted and simulated wetland area. Highlight species included: Marbled Godwit, Solitary Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Sora, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper

Stephen Peterson (8 Aug 2005) - On Sunday, Carolee and I hiked the Cold Water canyon trail, that makes it way to the back/south side of Tony Grove Lake. I found: ...Three-toed Woodpecker (a single male with distinctive yellow-cap and barred flanks)...Calliope Hummingbird...

DAVIS COUNTY

Tim Avery (29 Aug 2005) - This morning at Garr Ranch, Letitia Lussier spotted a Northern Waterthrush. Kathy Roach and myself were also present and got great looks at the bird. As I was following the first bird to take a picture a second Waterthrush flew down in front of me. Great birds for fall migration...

Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld (28 Aug 2005) - Today about 12:30 until 1:00 the Curlew Sandpiper was in the same area Steve Carr reported it. Was observed by Larene Wyss, Ed Leite and Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld. We were able to get within 50 yards and saw it's white rump patch as it flew.

Tim Avery (26 Aug 2005) - I just received a call form Glenn Barlow, letting me know that Keith Evans and John Belmon relocated the Curlew Sandpiper just past the first bridge (out form the entrance, not from the island) on the south side of the causeway. This is about a mile further form the entrance than the bird was previously reported. The bird was in the rocks in this area...

Lu Giddings (15 Aug 2005) - Dennis and Bryan Shirley and I just returned from the Antelope Island Causeway. ... A Whimbrel was seen near the weather station close to MM1 on the north side of the causeway. And a Ruddy Turnstone - the same bird last seen a week ago? - was observed in roughly the same place, also on the north side of the causeway...

Joel Beyer (14 Aug 2005) - About 7:30 this evening Kathy and I found a Curlew Sandpiper along the Antelope Island Causeway. It was on the north side, a little more than .4 (four-tenths) mile west of the entrance station, where the water first begins. It was in winter (non-breeding) plumage, and was with a large flock of peeps, mainly Western and Baird's Sandpipers. With a plain gray body, long black legs and decurved bill, the bird really stood out in the scope. At 20-25 yards away, it wasn't quite so noticable in binoculars. We saw at least one, probably two, American Golden Plovers, on the north side about mm 5, amongst many Black-bellied Plovers. The Whimbrel was on the south side, about a quarter mile west of mm 1...

Pomera Fronce (14 Aug 2005) - Add a juvenile Sabine's Gull to the mix of birds at Antelope Island presently. Roberta and I first saw it between mile markers 2 and 3 on the north side of the causeway not 25 feet from the water's edge. Its scaly brown back made it easily recognizable from the Franklin's Gulls it was keeping company with....

Tim Avery (11 Aug 2005) - I birded along the causeway this morning, was able to relocate the juvenile Whimbrel around MM 2. ...Between MM 4-6 on the north side of the causeway: 2 American Golden-Plover (1/2 between MM 5-6)...4 Red Knot ...2 Semipalmated Sandpiper (probably more)...

Steve Coleman (6 Aug 2005) - I went to Antelope Island to find the Ruddy Turnstone but was unsuccessful, it was none the less a fantastic day of birding which yielded...two Whimbrels. The Whimbrels were between mile markers 3 and 4 about a 1/4 mile between the antenna and speed limit sign on the south side of the causeway...

Dennis Williams (5 Aug 2005) - ...at about 3:45 p.m. today I saw a male Ruddy  Turnstone on the south side of the [Antelope Island] causeway between the island and the bridge.  The bird was next to the shore along with some gulls, stilts, and willets, so it could clearly be seen with binoculars as it was only about 60 feet away. I was able to view it as well through my telescope. The plumage was very distinct...

Tim Avery (4 Aug 2005) - After hitting Bear River I ran down to Antelope Island... The sheer number of birds now is the most I have seen on the causeway.  Between MM 5 - 6 was where all the activity was happening. A lone Juvenile Red Phalarope was in a mixed flock of Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope just 50 yards to the south of the Causeway. The birds were about 250 yards form MM 5.  About 300 yards from MM 6 on the north side of the Causeway were: 34+ Snowy Plover, 5 Semipalmated Plover, 8 Red Knot, 5,000+ peeps...On the south side of the Causeway where about 100 yards further west was a feeding frenzy of peeps just 25 meters off the causway. There was 1 Pectoral Sandpiper feeding in the rocks along with: 75 Western Sandpiper, 21 Least Sandpiper, 11 Bairds Sandpiper, 26 Sanderling...and a Peregrine Falcon flying over, twice caused 1,000's of shorebirds to take to flight, creating a cloud of birds flying around...

SALT LAKE COUNTY

Jack Binch (28 Aug 2005) - Bob Huntington and I were at it again this morning...and we got the Green Heron at the Jordan River Parkway just north of the Oxbow Jail. Must be the easiest target bird of  the year. We took Steve Sommerfeld's advice and went upstream. It was maybe a couple of hundred yards to the curve that overlooks the river and five minutes there and along flies an adult Green Heron (7:25 AM).

UINTAH COUNTY

Tim Avery (8 Aug 2005) - ...On Saturday morning my dad and I left Salt Lake at 2:45 for the 3 and a1/2 hour drive to Leidy Peak. The point of the day was to find and photograph White-tailed Ptarmigan. ...I had headed back to the base and began working the east to north slope when my dad radioed me..." I found em'". He found 3 [White-tailed Ptarmigan] on the
opposite side of the mountain from where I was looking... I ended up getting a few of my Utah target birds for the year: Red Crossbill...Black Rosy-Finch...Northern Goshawk (near Leidy Peak), Williamson's Sapsucker...

UTAH COUNTY 

KC Childs (17 Aug 2005) -  I went up to the Nebo Loop today to look for the Three-toed Woodpeckers at the Nebo Bench Trail.... Before arriving to Nebo Bench trailhead near the Santaquin Canyon overlook was a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk. There was a Red-tail near by for size and other comparison. I got terrific looks at this bird, and am very confident in my identification. ...Also at Nebo Bench trailhead saw several Three-toed Woodpeckers which was a first that I have seen in Utah County...

Jack Binch (14 Aug 2005) - The Yellow-billed Cuckoo that was reported at River Lane is still there and in the same area. Steve and Cindy Summerfeld, Tuula Rose and I heard it first and then had it fly over us for a couple of pretty good looks.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Larry Tripp (31 Aug 2005) - We do have some nice photos of all the diagnostic field marks to separate this bird [Ruby-throated Hummingbird] from a Black-chinned. We will try to get them posted on the web site as soon as possible. As for the bird it is still sitting outside the window as am typing this. The weather really cooled off last night so it may not be around much longer.

J & K Beyer (29 Aug  2005) - ...at the Kolob Creek crossing/Condor viewing area on the Kolob Terrace Road ...yesterday evening we saw 2 Vaux's Swifts flying over this point, along with several dozen White-throated Swifts. Today we saw 2 Acorn Woodpeckers at the spot previously described by Rick Fridell.... Early this morning we saw Black-chinned, Rufous and Anna's Hummingbirds at the Sheard's in Leeds (thanks! C. & M.).

Larry Tripp (29 Aug 2005) - Tonight at my feeder in Central I watched a First fall male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. After very careful study to eliminate everything but a Archilochus Hummingbird while watching the bird through my scope I was able to see a few red gorget feathers. The bird was defending one of my feeders from all other hummers up until dark so I hope it will still be around in the morning. I did get some poor quality photos through my scope but I hope to get better ones in the morning. I will let you know if it's still around tomorrow if anyone wants to look for it.

Rick Fridell - Today (8/27) Kevin Wheeler, Larry Tripp, and I went to the Lava Point area of Zion NP...Unfortunately Kevin had another commitment and had to leave about 12:15, and you guessed it, Larry and I found a first year female type Hermit Warbler at about 12:25 (sorry Kevin). As typical, the Hermit was in a mixed flock mostly comprised of Mountain Chickadees and RB Nuthatches. Other warblers present included Orange-crowned, Virginia's, Nashville, and Townsends...

Larry tripp (20 Aug 2005) - This morning at Pine Valley in Washington Co. I saw a first fall female  mixed in with a large flock of birds...Included in the flock was 7 species of Warbler ( mostly Grace's) 3 Species of Vireos (2 Cassin's) a lot of Nuthatches, Chickadees a couple W. Tanagers 2 Brown Creepers a Hermit Thrush and a Red-naped Sapsucker. I saw these birds near the Whipple Fork trailhead. About 50 Yards up the trail you cross the creek from there take the trail that forks to right. Down that trail about 100 yards is where I saw the birds.

Massimiliano Dettori (17 Aug 2005) - In a recent trip to Zion Canyon NP I have seen an adult Painted Redstart feeding a juvenile and I was wondering if it is a known breeder in Zion Park because in all my checklists and guides it says it is only a occasional migrant there...

Rick Fridell - Kristen and I spent Sunday and Monday (8/14-15) at Lava Point (Zion NP). One of the avian highlights was huge mixed flocks working the conifers between the Ranger's residence and the Picnic Area at Lava Point. The majority of the flocks are made up of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadees, however we also saw a female Hermit Warbler, and a few Townsend's, Graces, Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned, Virginia's, and Audubon's Warblers, Brown Creepers, WB Nuthatches, and BG Gnatcatchers mixed in....I also got a county bird: a Three-toed Woodpecker working a dead tree approximately 0.25 miles in on the West Rim Trail...

Rick Fridell - Last Sunday (8/7), Kristen and I saw a pair of Acorn Woodpeckers (male and female) in the Kolob Meadows between Kolob Reservoir and Lava Point ... The location is along the Kolob Terrace Road; if you're heading south from Kolob Reservoir it is exactly 1.0 mile south of the reservoir where the pavement starts, and if you're heading north from Lava Point / Blue Springs (and Virgin) it is exactly 1.0 mile north of the Kolob Creek crossing (Condor viewing area). ... I received a call yesterday (8/13) from Kevin Wheeler and Pam Larson and they found (after hearing) the woodpeckers in the oaks east of the road.

Charles/Marilyn Sheard (7 Aug 2005) - The hummingbird migration is gathering speed in S. Utah. This morning four species were using my two backyard feeders. Black-chinned, Broad-tailed (females and immatures), Rufus (one adult female) and Anna's (one adult male in molt). Best times to watch are mornings until an hour after dawn and evenings at twilight.