Review Species Reported This Month:
     Jaeger Species  Davis Co.
     Red-breasted Sapsucker  Washington Co.
     Eastern Wood-Pewee   Washington Co.
     Blue-headed Vireo  Washington Co.
     Northern Parula  Washington Co.
     Magnolia Warbler  Salt Lake Co.
     Painted Bunting  Washington Co.

BEAVER COUNTY

Merrill Webb (29 Sep 2008) - Saturday I was birding in the Mineral Mtns. ...At the top of a peak in the Mineral Mtns. (7800 feet elevation) I observed a Cassin's Vireo feeding in a mountain mahogany bush.

CACHE COUNTY

Craig Fosdick (28 Sep 2008) - Bryan Dixon e-mailed me with an update on the Wellsvilles Hawkwatch's count yesterday. By 6pm, when Bryan and Jean left, the counters had tallied over 300 birds (more than double their highest count so far this year), including 4 more Broad-winged Hawks (for a daily total of 7, and a season total of 17), as well as a merlin.

Ryan P. O'Donnell (26 Sep 2008) - Birded a bit up Logan Canyon with Stephanie Cobbold today. ...On the trail from Tony Grove to Naomi Peak, we saw one male American Three-toed Woodpecker...

DAVIS COUNTY

Hal & Kathleen Robins  (29 Sep 2008) - We spent several hours on Antelope Island on Sunday, September 28th. We began birding on the causeway around 10:30 a.m. Many of the birds we observed at that time were relatively close to the road on the north side.... The following birds were observed: Causeway: ...Wimbrel ...Horned Grebe ...Dunlin ? (Flock of several hundred birds flying in a wave formation flashing a beautiful white shimmering pattern of wings)

Steve Coleman (22 Sep 2008) - Friday I was doing a cub scout class at Farmington Bay and we saw a Jaeger chasing gulls on the unit 1 pond. I'm not sure if it was a Parasitic or Pomarine Jaeger, but I'm pretty sure it was a Jaeger. For anyone headed out that way I hope someone else sees it and can better ID it.

Ben Palmer (10 Sep 2008) - I ran out to Antelope Island this morning. The numbers of warblers and flycatchers at Garr Ranch is still amazing. I probably saw at least 10Wilson's Warblers and at least a dozen flycatchers. Other birds seen include a Cassin's Vireo, Western Tanagers, and a brief look at an American Redstart.

Stephen T Carlile (6 Sep 2008) - Went to Antelope Island today.  While at Garr Ranch I ran into Lynn Christiansen. We birded together for a while and she saw much the same as I did. Highlights (at least for me) were female American Redstart, Calliope Hummingbird, Cassin's Vireo, the Utah "empids" and some other flycatchers, and all four peeps in the same beach patrol.

Kristin Purdy (1 Sep 2008) - ...at Garr Ranch today...If studying non-singing empids not on territory is your dream birding experience, you shoulda been there! The celebrity bird of the day was a Northern Waterthrush that used the spring channel from the spring house all the way down to the phragmites, and the trees south of the fallen cottonwoods. This bird chipped a lot and it was much louder than any other species. Other goodies at the ranch today included: ...Calliope Hummingbird... and Cassin's Vireo...

GARFIELD COUNTY

Kevin Doxstater (6 Sep 2008) - This morning at 10:34 I relocated the pair of Greater White-fronted Geese at Tropic Reservoir, Garfield County. It took a couple of passes to pick them out of the crowds of Canada Geese; they were again toward the south end of the reservoir in shallow water. (On Wednesday I obtained several still images to compliment the video footage from Tuesday.)

Kevin Doxstater (2 Sep 2008) - Late this morning I found a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese among the Canada Geese at Tropic Reservoir (west of Bryce Canyon National Park)...

MILLARD COUNTY

Merrill Webb (29 Sep 2008) - Saturday I was birding... at Kaufman's Ranch (Millard County)....  At the ranch I counted five Pectoral Sandpipers plus a female American Redstart and 20-30 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

MORGAN COUNTY

Weston Smith (27 Sep 2008) - Just thought I would pass on the birds I saw while in search of deer from 9/24 to 9/26. I was on the Wasatch Mountains north of Francis Peak on the Morgan County side. The best birds I saw were two White-breasted Nuthatches, a Townsend's Warbler, a Hammond's Flycatcher, and a Broad-winged Hawk.

SALT LAKE COUNTY

Mark Stackhouse (28 Sep 2008) - David Wheeler and I birded the Salt Lake International Center this morning looking for migrants. There was a fair amount of activity, with sparrows being the highlight. A Clay-colored Sparrow was amongst some Chipping Sparrows (there were lots of these today) at the junction of Wiley Post Rd. and Admiral Byrd Rd. There was a Swamp Sparrow along the brushy canal at the southwest corner of the complex. Other than that, there were lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, with Orange-crowned Warblers next most numerous, but not much diversity in the warblers. ...David and I also have concluded that we saw a first year female Magnolia Warbler on Sunday morning at the International Center. It was at the east end of the large parking lot along Admiral Byrd Rd. just north of Wiley Post Rd. We puzzled over the i.d., and not having any advanced resources with us, were hesitant to make the i.d., even though we both were thinking Magnolia. Having reviewed additional materials, we've concluded that that's indeed what it was.

Bryant Olsen (27 Sep 2008) - The bright red male Summer Tanager was relocated today around 4:00 by one of our guests (Sorry I forgot your name,but you know who you are). It was hanging out in the same general area as original seen, near the Burrowing Owl barn, and Sun Conjures, high in the Elm trees. ...

Bryant Olsen (26 Sep 2008) - Today there is a Summer Tanager at the Tracy Aviary, in SLC. It was in a Plumb and Elm tree near our Eagles. See photo at www.flickr.com/photos/bryanto/2889753607/
Good Birding

Tim Avery (25 Sep 2008) - I just talked to Jeff Bilsky who is near Guardsman's Pass and reported seeing at least 5 White-winged Crossbill feeding in the trees to the west of the pass with siskin and Red Crossbills. Last week I had two flying over at Jupiter Peak in the same area.

Tim Avery (22 Sep 2008) - This morning while conducting a survey on private property along the Great Salt Lake I observed two juvenile Sabine's Gull. Apparently there were at least 4 seen yesterday at the causeway, but they were not reported for some reason.

Tim Avery (21 Sep 2008) - At 1:15pm I had a light adult Broad-winged Hawk pass over the cliffs to the south of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Bell Canyon. About 5 minutes later I received a phone call from Jerry Ligouri who has had several pass over the Grandeur Peak area near Millcreek. And as I write this I just had a second bird that appeared to be a juvenile pass. Looks like this weekend holds true as the best for Broad-wingeds in. Salt Lake County.

Tim Avery (12 Sep 2008) - This afternoon I observed a female/1st fall type Magnolia Warbler in the trees around the residence on the east side of 8000 west just to the north of SR-201. It is the only house there the rest of the property around us owned by Kennecott.

Bryant Olsen  (11 Sep 2008) - Today at the Tracy Aviary, In Salt Lake City, we had a Northern Waterthrush at one our ponds, which we are draining to clean and renovate.

UINTAH COUNTY

Diane Penttila - Ouray National Wildlife RefugeGeneral Waterbird Survey - 9/17/08 - The following birds were seen within the survey route ...Wood duck 3 ...Great Egret 3 ...American bittern 1...

UTAH COUNTY 

Jeff Bilsky (18 Sep 2008) - The River Lane area was quite birdy this evening. ...highlights included a Cassin's Vireo...

Jeff Bilsky (14 Sep 2008) - Carl Ingwell and I birded River Lane on Sunday morning and afternoon. It was pretty active - especially when hiking the little chutes that go off the main drag. Best migrants were a Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Cassin's Vireos, 2 Warbling Vireos, a Nashville Warbler and a late Western Kingbird.

WASATCH COUNTY 

Tim Avery (25 Sep 2008) - Yesterday I spent most of the day hiking and birding in the Center Creek area above Heber in Wasatch County. ...Near Bald Knoll a small group of American Three-toed Woodpeckers were making a racket. One male bird spent nearly 45 minutes tapping away on a dead snag, and could be heard from close to a mile away. Of interest several GRAY JAY were seen flying in the same area and calling. And interestingly there were large mixed flocks of songbirds, moving through the forest feeding together. The bulk of the composition was of Pine Siskin and Dark-eyed Junco, but Nuthatches, Chicakadees, Chipping Sparrow, Robins, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and jays were all in tow. PINE GROSBEAK, Red Crossbill, and Cassin's Finch were picked out among the masses.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Rick Fridell (29 Sep 2008) - I visited Lytle Ranch this weekend and although the heat kept bird activity down and there were not many migrants around, I did see some notable birds. Highlights included a Red-shouldered Hawk (orchard), Long-eared Owl, Red-breasted Sapsucker (daggettii), Blue-headed Vireo, and female American Redstart. Also of interest, there is a male Greater Scaup (somewhat early) and a pairof Hooded Mergansers at Stratton Pond (Grandpa's Fishing Pond) in Hurricane (present since 9/25).

Larry Tripp (21 Sep 2008) - After spending all day Sat. birding along the Santa Clara and at Lytle Ranch without seeing much but a Broad-winged Hawk from on top of the Beaver Dam Mountains I decided to stay home today. So this morning while I was sitting on the front porch having a cup of coffee watching what was coming into the water bath at my home in Central I was pleasantly surprised to have a Blackpoll Warbler show up. It stayed in the yard feeding and coming to the water for about 10 minutes before moving on.  Needless to say it's the best Warbler I've had in the yard and ranks right up there with some of the other goodies that have shown up here. I'm really going to miss this yard and will always be wondering what birds are coming through here when I start spending most of my time in Veyo soon.

Rick Fridell (19 Sep 2008) - ...it's been a good week for juvenile Sabine's Gulls in Washington County. Here's (hopefully!) an accurate list of the gull sightings: 9/14 10:20a 1 at SR-9 (Hurricane) Sewer Ponds, northwest pond - 9/15 07:30p 1 remaining at SR-9 (Hurricane) Sewer Ponds - 9/16 07:00p 3 at Quail Creek State Park; 2 at Sand Hollow State Park (possibly the same birds) - 9/18 07:20p 2 (remaining?) at Sand Hollow SP - 9/19 07:10p 1 at Quail Creek State Park.

Rick Fridell - This afternoon (9/19) as I was driving out of Confluence Park I flushed a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk along lower La Verkin Creek (Washington Co.). The hawk was originally perched in a cottonwood along the creek just upstream of the large powerline crossing. I watched it soaring for a bit and last saw it fly into the cottonwoods where the large wooden fence starts along the creek.

Rick Fridell - This evening (9/16) there were three immature Sabine's Gulls at Quail Creek State Park. I... I also saw my first Common Tern of the year (an adult with prominent dark carpal bar).

Larry Tripp (16 Sep 2008) - It seems to be a good Fall for Clay-colored Sparrows in Washington County. I saw a really sharp marked bird in my yard in Veyo today and I saw 2 different ones in Central last week. Also last Sat. there was a Red-eyed Vireo in the town of Gunlock along with a Hooded Oriole and a good assortment of western migrants.

Rick Fridell (15 Sep 2008) - I was able to get out for a while this morning (9/15) in a few locations around Washington County. Highlights included: Two Vermilion Flycatchers in the Hurricane Fields, including the continuing female in the line of apple trees, and a juvenile along the fence line to the north. ... My best birds were found in a five minute stop at the SR-9 (Hurricane) Sewer Ponds. On the northwest pond was a juvenile Sabine's Gull and at least 7 or 8 Pectoral Sandpipers. 

Larry Tripp (1 Sep 2008) - Today birding at Lytle Ranch was to say the least amazing. First of all there were a lot of western migrants. The most interesting bird was what appeared to be a Eastern Wood-Pewee. The field marks fit Eastern but there is overlap. But after watching the bird for awhile I made an Eastern call and the bird flew right over to where I was and looked at me. It didn't call at that point but later it did make a call several times that is consistent with Eastern in migration. There were also a lot of Western's there to compare it with. The other nice bird was a Green female type Painted Bunting in the orchard mixed in with Laz Buntings and numerous Spizella Sparrows.  I saw 10 different Warbler species the best being a Northern Parula that was one of the first birds I saw in the parking area.