Review Species Reported This Month:
    Ruddy Turnstone  Davis Co.
    Vaux's Swift  Box Elder Co.
    Black-billed Cuckoo  Wayne Co.
    Philadelphia Vireo  Wayne Co.
    Gray-cheeked Thrush  Washington Co.
    Northern Parula  Washington Co.
    Blackpoll Warbler  Washington Co.
    Dickcissel  Washington Co.
    Orchard Oriole  Box Elder Co.

BOX ELDER COUNTY

Tim Avery (19 May 2007) - This morning Tom and Colby Neuman and myself birded the Lucin trap in the West Desert. We were all sitting on the east side of the pond in the trees watching warblers, orioles and tanagers coming to the water on the west end of the pond when a female oriole that was conspicuously solid colored underneath landed in the cottonwood that is fallen into the pond... Unfortunately the bird flew up into the canopy and literally "disappeared". We spent the next hour and forty-five minutes scouring the small patch of trees, with no luck relocating the bird. ...Tom wasn't sure of the birds ID, but did concur that the birds entire undersides were "a yellow-orange-green". I noted two distinct white wing bars, and gray wings, but not much else. Based off these characteristics the possibilities are limited to both Orchard and Hooded Oriole....My gut instinct, along with the fact that it is May 19th tells me that this bird was likely a an Orchard Oriole.

Cindy Sommerfeld (12 May 2007) - This morning Steve and I started our day at Bear River. We saw 63 different species. Notable species were, Sora, Blue-winged Teal, Great Egret, and Snowy Plover.

Bear River Refuge Volunteers (5 May 2007) - One of our visitors came back all excited on Friday, having seen 2 and heard 3 Grasshopper Sparrows on the auto tour route at the refuge. He described them as being on the south side of the road, in a weedy area about 1/2 way between the beginning of the north part of the auto tour and the first 90 degree turn to the left. Betsy Beneke and Marie Kase reported the sparrows from an excursion they took on Wednesday evening, where Betsy heard them calling in two different areas along this north part of the loop road. She thought maybe they were migrating and just happened to be in that area, as it doesn't seem to be very "good" grasshopper sparrow habitat. But they were still present yesterday morning.

Bridget Olson (4 May 2007) - Bear River Refuge bird count Waterbird/Raptor Survey 5/2/07 ...Blue-winged Teal 4... Great Egret 7...

Tim Avery (4 May 2007) -  I just received a phone call from Kris Purdy at 3:05 pm. She was at Willard Bay and reported at least 2 Vaux's Swifts flying over the fields to the north of the State Park.  After getting off the phone with Kris Purdy I jumped in my car for the nightmare drive to Willard Bay. They had seen the birds again which was a good sign. WE walked down to the fence so we were as close to the field where the birds were seen as possible, and within a minute one of the bird made an appearance and zig-zagged and zoomed on past....  We watched the bird(s) for some time only seeing one at a time as it cruised by, several times 5 or 6 feet above our heads and a couple times just 10 feet away from us. At one point Kris and I shouted out where the swift was, only we were looking in different places, confirming the belief there were two birds. A short while later Steve and Cindy Sommerfield arrived and got looks at the birds as well. It was a lifer party as the bird was a lifer for Kris, Glenn, Steve and Cindy. Directions: Take I-15 to exit 357, Willard Bay. At the end of the exit ramp, turn west (left) and then north (right). Follow the road as it curves west and then look for the pink tape tied on a willow on the embankment 90 yards after the next right turn (that's the road that runs east of the Willard Bay sewage treatment pond; pass it by). The swifts field is due south of the pond.

CACHE COUNTY

Buck Russell (6 May 2007) - This evening I found a Calliope Hummingbird at Stewart Park in Logan. It was not a surprise to find the bird. On May 6, 2005, May 8, 2006, and today May 6, 2007 I've seen the bird. I had marked my calendar to visit the park today to look for the bird. I found it in the same tree, sitting on the same branch as last year. If the past two years are any indication, it will only be here for a few days.

DAVIS COUNTY

Kathy and Joel (6 May 2007) - This morning on our way to Antelope Island, we spotted a Purple Martin sitting on the wires at 1700 So. 3000 W. in Syracuse. Along the Causeway, all the birds reported from Saturday were present, with the addition of a Ruddy Turnstone and several Long-billed Dowitchers (both about MM 5.5). All the shorebirds (except a few Western Sandpipers and Sanderlings) were gone by early afternoon. Grasshopper Sparrows and a Peregrine Falcon were seen along the road to Garr Ranch. Birds at the Ranch included Willow Flycatcher, Northern Waterthrush, Say's Phoebe, Western Wood Pewee, Cooper's Hawk, Green-tailed Towhee,Townsend's Solitaire, Lincoln's Sparrow, and a single Yellow Warbler. This afternoon at the Kaysville Ponds we saw 6 Common Grackles. They were in the trees just south of the Botanical Center.

Tim Avery (5 May 2007) -  Colby and I... drove up to Antelope Island... We moved on between MM 5 and 3 where shorebirds were abundant: ...Sanderling - 1000: ...Semipalmated Sandpiper - 40 (This was an unusually high concentration for this species in Utah) ...Dunlin - 2: ...At Garr Ranch we found 2 Northern Waterthrush. 1 was near the fence where the spring flows into the cattails and the other was in the understory of the first pond to the south of the ranch. After spending more time going through the shorebirds we headed to Glover Lane where there were a number of Forster's Terns that were very accommodating for the camera: And one bird that now makes sense was what was likely a Common Tern. Colby and I were following a bird that was floating along and appeared to have a grayish colored body and wings. It's didn;t really dawn on me at the time that the bird seemed like a Common Tern, but after looking at the pictures I am fairly certain the bird was a Common:

Brenda Kidman (4 May 2007) - Well, we have never had a Eurasian Collared-Dove before, that we know of, but we had one today. This has been quite the week for our backyard birds...We had our first Common Grackle of the season today. The activity is full bore in South Weber.

Stephen Carlile (4 May 2007) - Spent a cold wet day at Antelope Island... On the causeway the Black-bellied Plovers and Sanderlings are still there... Some excitement for me. Saw a Lifer! A singing, male Grasshopper Sparrow 2.1 miles north of Garr Ranch, 40 feet on the east side of the road. Had great looks with the binoculars and scope. The bird would throw his head back, open its bill wide and let out (in my opinion) a most wimpy bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Dave Hanscom (2 May 2007) - Yesterday I got out to AI... I also got a couple of special bonus birds. At the ranch, along the west fence between the grass and marsh areas, a Northern Waterthrush was feeding in the wet area near the south end of the fence. It was a brief look, before he headed into the reeds, but my first sighting at the ranch.

GARFIELD COUNTY

Lu Giddings (18 May 2007) - A male Vermillion Flycatcher was seen at about 1:30 p.m. today on the Posey Lake road about 5 miles north of Escalante. It was frequenting a field immediately along the west of the road and about 150 yards north of the Roundy's home. I was able to watch it for about 10 minutes and to take some photos in which the bird is easily identified.

JUAB COUNTY 

Lu Giddings (25 May 2007) - A very handsome male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen along Cherry Creek at about 10 a.m. this morning. It was flushed up out of the tops of the willows when a yellow warbler lit very near to it, long enough for me to get a very good look at it but not long enough for me to grab my camera. I spent over an hour waiting for the bird to reappear but to no avail. Cherry Creek is about 10 miles west of the north entrance to the Little Sahara Sand Dunes and provides some lovely dense, willow riparian vegetation in the middle of the pinion-juniper desert.

MORGAN COUNTY

Weston Smith (14 May 2007) - I live in Croydon, Ut(Morgan county) about 200 yards from Summit county and had two Eurasian Collared-Doves in my back yard last week, they flew towards Henefer.  So there are Eurasian Collared Doves in Summit county at least in Henefer.

SALT LAKE COUNTY

Tim Avery (14 May 2007) - Birded along the lakefront today... Lee Kay Ponds 8:15 - 8:45am...1 - Common Tern (Alternate plumage with a ton of black in the primaries)

SUMMIT COUNTY

Weston Smith (14 May 2007) - I live in Croydon, Ut(Morgan county) about 200 yards from Summit county and had two Eurasian Collared-Doves in my back yard last week, they flew towards Henefer.  So there are Eurasian Collared Doves in Summit county at least in Henefer.

TOOELE COUNTY

Candy (20 May 2007) - A single White-winged Dove joined a group of 5 Mourning Doves and 3 Eurasian Collared Doves this evening.  This is the 2nd time I've seen one on Dugway, and this time it stayed around long enough for some decent pictures. Just never know who is going to show up for dinner...

UINTAH COUNTY

Diane Penttila (4 May 2007) - Ouray National Wildlife Refuge General Waterbird Survey 5/3/07 ...The following birds were seen within the survey route: Blue-winged teal 6... Great Egret 1...

Clay and Cliftia Johnson (2 May 2007) - Jensen area spring arrivals... Over the past two weeks we have received visits from White-winged, Eurasian Collared, Ringed Turtle, and Mourning doves.

UTAH COUNTY 

Milt Moody - (4 May 2007) - Reed Stone reported 2 Purple Martins in the Palmyra / Lake Shore area at about 4100 West on 5400 South (Between the Peacock place and the corner). This is located south and a bit east of the geodesic dome home if you're familiar with that interesting landmark.

WASATCH COUNTY 

Tim Avery (14 May 2007) - This morning I heard at least one American Redstart in the Jordanelle Reclamation Area along the boardwalk heading north from the parking area. The bird was initially heard singing about 60 feet off trail and out of sight. After some pishing and giving a few alert whistles the bird moved closer and I managed a few looks and snap a shot. And at the Charleston City Park were 3 Common Grackles, one of which was making all kinds of racket. 4 or 5 Eurasian Collared-Doves were also in the vicinity.

Dave Hanscom (3 May 2007) - My wife and I went for a rainy walk today on the trail along the west side of Deer Creek Reservoir. As we returned to the car, I heard a bird singing in a bush between the trail and the Heber Creeper tracks... The song was actually the familiar "Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody" [White-throated Sparrow] that I used to hear in New England. A second look confirmed that the bird not only had white and black stripes on its head, but also a very white throat. A nice surprise on a day when I didn't expect to see much of any bird activity.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Larry Tripp (26 May 2007) - Birding today in Washington County I saw some great birds. I started at Lytle Ranch and there were good numbers of birds around. By far the best thing was what appeared to be a Gray-cheeked Thrush. It was in the area under the Mulberry tree below the caretakers house. Also in the same area were 2 Swainson's Thrush's for great comparisons. I just got back from a trip in the East where I saw several Gray-cheeked and many Swainson's and I wouldn't have had a problem calling this bird a Gray-cheeked there. But being here in Utah I was a bit hesitant. But everything about the bird seemed to be pretty straight forward as to the ID of the bird. Also at Lytle there was a singing male Bobolink in the Orchard.... On the way home I birded along the Santa Clara river above Gunlock Res. and saw a Very nice looking male Blackpoll Warbler.

Colby Neuman (23 May 2007) - I talked to Tim Avery about a few more sightings he had a couple days ago... He had at least one Bendire's Thrasher singing at (or pretty nearby) Zella Tank on the Beaver Dam Slope (Washington Co.)... On a riparian survey he had south of Springdale (Washington Co.), he had one Rufous-crowned Sparrow singing early in the morning as well as a male Indigo Bunting. I believe these birds were both seen in locations that were inaccessible to the public due to private property.

Rick Fridell (22 May 2007) - There was a singing male Northern Parula in St. George along 700 West, in the mulberry trees along the apartments. I first heard it yesterday, and it was still there singing this afternoon (5/22, 4:45p).

Joshua Kreitzer (20 May 2007) - I located a beautiful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak near the Springdale Pond (behind Switchback Grille in Springdale) around noon on Saturday, May 19. The bird was found as I led the local Red Cliffs Audubon club on a field trip to Grafton, Springdale, and Kolob Mountain.

Colby Neuman (20 May 2007) - Tim Avery called me to report a female Dickcissal at Lytle Ranch. The bird was at the south end of the orchard.

Rick Fridell (6 May 2007) - Yesterday, a female Calliope Hummingbird made a rare appearance at our feeders (in Canyon Ridge, Hurricane).

WAYNE COUNTY

Tim Avery (25 May 2007) - This morning I was conducting a riparian survey along the Fremont River that runs through Capitol Reef National Park. I turned to see a cuckoo flying across the 10 foot span between the river top the north and a large patch of willows, etc to the south. As birds go I am 100% certain the bird was a cuckoo, and 99.5% sure the bird was indeed a Black-billed Cuckoo. ...Yesterday afternoon, 5/24, I heard what I thought was a Red-eyed Vireo singing in the picnic area at Capitol Reef NP, but was surprised to find a Philadelphia Vireo instead. The bird was in the tall trees on the east side of the parking lot at the picnic area. I did not see or hear the bird this morning:... I had five sightings of Indigo Bunting this week. 1. The first was on 5/22 inside a closed area of Zion NP, so unfortunately it is not accessible to the public. 2. On 5/23 I had a single male fly across Posey Lake Road in Escalante, about a mile and a half up the road from the main highway. 3 and 4. Yesterday, 5/24 while conducting a survey along the Escalante River, just west of Highway 12, I had 2 male Indigo Buntings, one of which was about .75 miles from the road, the other, about 2 miles up the river. I was able to photograph both birds: 5. This morning after completing my survey I had a flyover male INBU just east of the Picnic area in Capitol Reef NP