Review Species Reported This Month:
    Red-throated Loon  Wasatch Co.
    Red-necked Grebe  Salt Lake Co.
    Roseate Spoonbill  Davis Co.
    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  Sanpete Co.
    Red-breasted Sapsucker  Washington Co.
    Least Flycatcher  Washington Co.
    Eastern Phoebe  Juab Co.
    Veery  Washington Co.
    Tennessee Warbler  Washington Co.
    Prairie Warbler  Washington Co.
    Prothonotary Warbler  Morgan Co.

BOX ELDER COUNTY

Kris Purdy (27 Oct 2006) - I birded areas around Willard Bay State Park in Box Elder County today ...Three Horned Grebes; two in the open water west of the marina and one in the pond north of the park.

Brian M. (19 Oct 2006) - The Blue Jay is still here. "Here" is Tremonton. Today, the Blue Jay was here from 7:00am until about 3:30 pm (off and on, appearing about every two hours). Anyone is welcome to come if they'd like to add this bird to their list, though who know how long he'll stay around). Just email me for the address and/or directions. You can easily see the feeder from our driveway and you're welcome to walk all the way up and stand there all day!

Kris Purdy (18 Oct 2006) - Members of Wasatch Audubon saw a Northern Pygmy-Owl in Box Elder Campground in Mantua, Box Elder County, this morning... We continued to Mantua Reservoir and several people saw a Harris's Sparrow at the southeast corner chasing a Song Sparrow. To reach this area, take the dike road to the southeast and watch for the short spur road on the left that will take you to the water's edge....

Bridget Olson - Bear River Bird Survey - Waterbird/Raptor Survey - 10/11/06 - Total ducks around 340,000 which is about double the long-term average (though I have a small sample size) and the count from this time last-year... Notable birds
include a Horned Grebe and Bonaparte's gulls...

Colby Neuman (7 Oct 2006) -On Saturday I went birding around Willard Bay... ...Trees at Willard Bay SP : 1 Winter Wren, 1 Bewick's Wren, 1 Cassin's Vireo, a lot of Orange-crowned Warblers, 1 male Townsend's Warbler and a whole ton of Yellow-rumped Warblers (including several 'Myrtle').

Brian M. - Today (Oct. 6, 2006) my sons and I ID'd a Blue Jay in our backyard. It was in a Russian Olive tree, making all kinds of racket in the wind and light rain. It then flew down to our feeder where it poked around a little. We got a very good view at that point. I tried to get out and get a pic, but it got away. We chased it, camera in hand, to the neighbor's yard but it was in an apple tree and surrounded by branches, etc. Finally, it flew off, to the other side of the block.  I'm not sure how rare this is, but I've never heard or seen a Blue Jay here in Tremonton. Maybe it is the weather...?

Kris Purdy (3 Oct 2006) - Quite a few Common Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls rested with Forster's Terns and California and Ring-billed Gulls in the playas south of the Willard Bay south dike in Box Elder County today. Even after some of the birds flushed because some woman shut her door too loudly (oops; that was me), I still counted about 15 Common Terns and 10 Bonaparte's Gulls.

CACHE COUNTY

Joel & Kathy (31 Oct 2006) - ...Then we went over to Hyrum Reservoir where we saw a female Surf Scoter, two Pacific Loons and several Common Loons at the southeast end of the reservoir.

Buck Russell (21 Oct 2006) - This morning I found a Pacific Loon on the Hyrum Reservoir. The bird was in the water just east of the "beach" entrance to the state park. On the far east end of the reservoir, on the southern shore (I was standing on the bluff on the northern shore) was a Great Egret. The bird had a yellow bill and all black legs and feet (I waited for it to pull its feet out of the water to make sure that it did not have yellow socks).

DAVIS COUNTY

Tim Avery (26 Oct 2006) - This morning I birded the causeway as well as Kaysville Ponds. At AIC were an unusually high concentration of Horned Grebe, near the marina. I counted 21 in all, which seems to be high count? Can anyone recall having numbers like this in the past?

Tim Avery (22 Oct 2006) - This afternoon Colby Neuman and I found an adult female Surf Scoter along the Antelope Island Causeway on the south/east side of the road directly across from the marina. The bird was originally seen in this little bay, but slowly moved out to the east on the water. Also of note in the same general area were 2 Horned Grebes with a flock of around 10 Eared Grebe.

(17 Oct 2006) - Matt Burton reported seeing a Roseate Spoonbill northwest of the Turpin boat parking lot at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. Efforts to confirm the sighting are underway. The bird has not yet to be relocated.

JUAB COUNTY 

Dennis Shirley (16 Oct 2006) - The Shirley boys {Darren,Bryan,Devin,and Dennis} were at Fish Springs over the weekend and ran into Jack Skalicky, who was doing his monthly bird survey for Jay Banta, the refuge manager. He found some good birds for the area. The best included; Eastern Phoebe, Summer Tanager, Common Grackle, Great Egrets.  The EP ST and CG were around the headquarters. No unusual shorebirds or waterfowl were found. The phoebe was a striking dark and white adult. The tanager was a red/orange/yellow juvenile, and could have easily been an eastern variety.

MORGAN COUNTY

(31 Oct 2006) - Today at 2:50 p.m. in the front yard of Arnold Smith's house in Morgan, Utah Arnold, Aaron and Shauna Smith sighted a male Prothonotary Warbler. We watched the bird for several minutes getting excellent looks. The bird then flew to the neighbor's house across the street to the southwest. We watched the bird for at least 10 minutes before it flew.

SALT LAKE COUNTY

Tim Avery (25 Oct 2006) - ...I decided to make a run out to Saltair/South Shore Marina... The grebe situation was interesting. I originally saw 3 Horned Grebes from] inside my vehicle, but after getting out I could see 6 birds just off the north breakwall. Likely a migrating group.

Jack Binch (24 Oct 2006) - Bob Huntington just called me to report a Red-necked Grebe at Little Dell Reservoir. To get there, take I-80 up Parley's Canyon to exit 134. Go 1.9 miles from the exit to the small turn off. Bob says it is marked no parking but everyone does. The grebe was by the dam and requires a spotting scope.

SANPETE COUNTY

Mike Monson reported a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Mt. Pleasant on 1 Oct 2006. The bird was in a Russian Olive tree at 200 South and 780 East on the north side of the street. It has not been seen since.

TOOELE COUNTY

Candy Zaffis (27 Oct 2006) - A beautiful male Varied Thrush was hopping around in the front yard [Dugway] this afternoon. I wonder if it's the same guy as last year. Last year's Varied showed up on Oct 9th and visited on/off until the middle of January. If it's the same Thrush, he's a few weeks late this year.  The usual yard birds are here: House finches, pine siskens, brown creepers, killdeer, flickers, downy's, a daily flock of about 15 Eurasian Collared-Doves, a couple hermit thrushes (3 were exploring the Jeep this morning -- odd), ravens, starlings and house sparrows galore (unfortunately), mourning doves and one Band-tailed Pigeon.

Candy Zaffis (24 Oct 2006) - When I got home from work at 6pm, I had a single White-throated Sparrow visit my back yard feeder [Dugway] . It was the tan-stripped morph. It stayed on the ground for about 5 minutes affording a good view, and a couple photos, before it flew away when a couple deer walked by.

UINTAH COUNTY

Diane Penttila - Ouray National Wildlife Refuge - General Waterbird Survey - 10/26/06 - The following birds were seen within the survey route: ...Blue-winged teal 3, ...Great Egret 1, ...American bittern 1, ...Black-bellied plover 1...

WASATCH COUNTY 

Lu Giddings (21 Oct 2006) - At about 9:00 a.m. this morning, from the Kamas road overlook, I spotted a solitary loon swimming near the Jordanelle dam approximately between the second and third buoys. I believe it may have been a Red-throated Loon. It seemed significantly different from the numerous common loons I saw today. It seemed somewhat smaller than the common loons, was pale in its face well up to and above it eyes, had pale flanks easily visible as it swam, a spotted back with spots that seemed smaller than those of the common loons still molting into winter plumage, and a bill that seemed small and almost bi-colored, viewing it from a distance of about 1500 yards. The bird generally swam with its bill pointing upward but spent much of its time preening. I watched it for about 20-30 minutes and am still not entirely certain as to its
identification. If any of you have the opportunity and can confirm this bird I would appreciate it.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Larry Tripp (29 Oct 2006) - Another White-throated Sparrow (tan-stripped) show up in the yard on Friday.I haven't seen it since but I've been gone most of the weekend. There was also a Winter Wren in St. George on Friday and as far as I know the Veery was last seen on Thursday late.

Larry Tripp (26 Oct 2006) - This afternoon at Red Hills G C in St. George there was a Veery. The bird was seen and heard in the row of willows and tamarisk that run between the first and third hole. It's quite late for any species of Catharus Thrush other than Hermit so it may not be around for long.

Rick Fridell - This evening (October 25, 2006), Kristen, Quinn, and I went by Stratton Pond (Grandpa's Fishing Pond, Hurricane, Washington Co.) and were very surprised to see an adult male White-winged Scoter among the many ducks on the pond. It is really a treat to get close looks at this beautiful duck.  Other waterfowl highlights around the county include the first-winter Surf Scoter remaining at Baker Reservoir, a pair of first-winter Greater White-fronted Geese at the Sunbrook Golf Course, and the continuing Ross's Goose at the St. George Golf Course, Middle Pond.

Larry Tripp (25 Oct 2006) - Yesterday afternoon there was a HY type Surf Scoter at Baker Res. Both Baker and Gunlock Reservoirs have pretty good numbers of waterfowl on them now along with a few Common Loon's and Grebes.  Winter Wrens are back along the Santa Clara river. There seems to be some somewhere between Baker Res. and St. George every fall/winter. There were 2 of them below Gunlock Res.

Rick Fridell (22 Oct 2006) - This afternoon we walked down to Stratton Pond (Grandpa's Fishing Pond) in Hurricane, and were surprised to see several waterfowl species making their first appearance for the winter, including; at least 10 Greater Scaup, a couple male Hooded Mergansers, and a pair of Canvasback. Also present were Western Grebes, Pied-billed Grebes, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, and Ruddy Ducks.

Dennis Shirley (22 Oct 2006) - I made a over night trip to Lytle Ranch on friday and saturday ...I did find one exceptionally unusual bird. A Varied Thrush was in the groove of cottonwoods above the trailer at the headquarters. It was alone and was seen fly up from the ground into the trees, then move through the branches from tree to tree. It appeared to be a female, with a gray breast band and orange supercilium and wing bars. Overall, birding was slow. But its alway a fun place to go. You never know what will show up.

Larry Tripp (16 Oct 2006) -  A female Yellow-shafted Flicker was in my yard today. If it stays around I would assume it's the same bird that was in the area all last winter.

Larry Tripp (15 Oct 2006) - A friend from So. Cal. Peyton Cook and I saw several good birds in Washington Co. over the last couple days. ...At Lytle Ranch we saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker in the orchard that showed no signs of being a hybrid (you have to be very careful in this area) that we have great pics of. There was probably 20+ R N Sapsuckers also there. In the trees just past the orchard there was a HY Tennessee Warbler and a Hammond's Flycatcher was by the pond. ...Below Gunlock Res. along the Santa Clara there was a Golden-crowned Sparrow, Slate colored Fox Sparrow and a N. Waterthrush. ...In and around St. George we saw a probable Least Flycatcher, another Hammond's Flycatcher a Dusky Flycatcher and a late Virginia's Warbler.

Larry Tripp (15 Oct 2006) - The best bird was probably today in Central at a totally unexpected location. ...My girlfriend and I decided to walk out to the mailbox (which is about a 1/4 mile from my house and I always take Binns when I walk out there) and when we got to the end of my street I heard a Warbler chip that didn't sound like a western type chip that I've been hearing lately. After a minute of looking I saw something else moving around and when I got on it I couldn't believe what I was looking at. It was a beautiful tail pumping Prairie Warbler! It was a pretty bright looking bird that I would guess was a HY male...

Larry Tripp (10 Oct 2006) - Unfortunately the only birding I've been able to do in the Co. lately has been in my yard. I shouldn't complain. Yard birding is better than no birding and I have seen a couple good birds. A White-throated Sparrow (adult white-striped) showed up yesterday and a one day adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was here on 9-30 but it has been fun just watching the summer birds gradually disappear and the winter birds starting to get more abundant... The last of the summer birds in my yard are 2 male Anna's Hummingbirds that are still hanging around the feeders but I'm sure they will move down to lower elevation soon after looking at the snow on top Pine Mountain from yesterday.

WEBER COUNTY 

Kris Purdy (30 Oct 2006) - I was minding my own business at Beus Park in Ogden, Weber County this morning when a Winter Wren insisted I go over and have a look. The wren was in the undergrowth on the east side of the park and east of the path as well.

Mort Somer (21 Oct 2006) - Unbelievably, we had a second immature male Anna's Hummingbird come to our feeder this afternoon. I haven't seen the first one since yesterday morning but a very different looking juvenile male showed up around 6:00pm today. The developing chin and head markings were clearly different from those of the first Anna's.  Suggestion: get your hummer feeders back out.

Mort Somer (16 Oct 2006) -  I still have a hummer feeder out here in North Ogden and it was visited several times today by an immature male Anna's Hummingbird, only the second one I have ever seen in Utah and the first to come to our yard.

Kris Purdy (11 Oct 2006) - Members of Wasatch Audubon saw two Winter Wrens along the Steward/Birdsong Trail in Ogden, Weber County today during the Wednesday morning birdwalk. The birds responded to pishing. Follow the Birdsong Trail signs through the lower willow and cottonwood area until the woods close in and a juniper tree hangs over the trail. That's where we saw the wrens.