Review Species Reported This Month:
Western Gull Davis Co.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Box
Elder Co.
White-tailed Kite
Washington Co.
BOX ELDER COUNTY
Kris Purdy (28 Feb 2012) - A third-cycle LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL was feeding on the mud flats in Unit 2 within the auto
tour loop at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge this afternoon around 4 p.m...
Mike Fish (28 Feb 2012) - On Monday, February 13th,
I noticed a male Great Horned Owl sitting on a nest platform here at ATK
in Promontory (my work). The next day a female joined him and they have been
hanging out on the platform every day since...
Kris Purdy (25 Feb 2012) - [BRMR] - I counted about
130 American Avocets at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder
County today. All of them were along the west leg of the auto tour loop; some in
Unit 2C tucked into the northwest corner, and others farther south in Unit 2...
Kris Purdy (21 Feb 2012) - A Tundra Swan of the Eurasian BEWICK’S
SWAN subspecies was feeding along with thousands of its best buddies
within the auto tour loop today at Bear River MBR in Box Elder County...
Kenny Frisch (20 Feb 2012) - Today I headed up
north to witness the previously reported massive groups of Tundra Swans and
gulls at Bear River MBR and was not disappointed...The highlight of the
day was a gorgeous male EURASIAN WIGEON hanging out with the other ducks
north of the "Grebes" informational sign on the southern road...I did manage to pick out 2 1st winter Glaucous
Gulls and a 1st winter Thayer's. I am sure I missed some other gulls
out there. Other highlights included at least 2000 Tundra Swans including
one with a marker around its neck that I couldn't make out, at least 70 Bald
Eagles, and 1 early Double-crested Cormorant....
Norm Jenson (4 Feb 2012) - [BRMR] - Trumpeter
Swans at Bear Lake. NO Snowy Owls.
CACHE COUNTY
Craig Fosdick (28 Feb 2012) - This evening I went
for my usual walk at Benson Marina and was surprised to see a CLARK'S GREBE
south of the road. I think this might be the earliest record for Cache
County, but perhaps only by a day or two...
Ryan O'Donnell (20 Feb 2012) - I did a lot of
birding around Cache County this weekend, some with Craig Fosdick. Here are some
of the highlights:
--Along the Logan Canal Trail on Friday, I saw a very pretty
Dark-eyed Junco intergrade between the Pink-sided and Gray-headed
subspecies.
--Craig and I found a group of eight CACKLING GEESE among
Canada Geese in the fields near the pig farm at the intersection of Sam Fellow
Road and 4600N in Benson yesterday...
--Although not observed for several visits to First Dam, the
previously reported MEXICAN DUCK was relocated at the same location by
Andy Kleinhesselink yesterday, and by Craig and I later the same day...
On our latest visit, we saw only eleven Barrow's Goldeneye and no Common
Goldeneye. The HOODED MERGANSER was seen there on Friday but not on Sunday.
--Two HOODED MERGANSERS were at the 20-20 Ponds on Friday.
--Gull diversity has recently increased in Cache Valley, and the
California Gulls have returned. For the first time in months, I had
more CALIFORNIA GULLS than Ring-billed Gulls at Sue's Ponds, and
there were also three HERRING GULLS present. (Herring Gulls are common in
the Great Salt Lake area in winter, but only a few individuals show up each year
in Cache County)...
Andy Kleinhesselink (10 Feb 2012) - Hi just saw the
Gray Catbird in Logan again today on the canal trail. This time it was
above the canal in a thicket but very near where I saw it previously in
January...
CARBON COUNTY
Oliver Hansen (4 Feb 2012) - We have been taking
family trips to some of the museums around Utah lately and decided to head to
the one in Price. I convinced the family to let me take an hour detour to Desert
Lake in Emery Co. I was hoping the water would be opened up with all the sun and
warm weather the past few days. No luck. It was all frozen up and I saw a total
of 3 species out there. I did however, see a Merlin, a Western
Meadowlark, and flock of 100+ Horned Larks in the Elmo/Cleveland area
which made up for the 3 No. Harriers, 1 No. Flicker, and 9
Brewer's Blackbirds out at the frozen lake. Looks like a great place to hit
up in the spring when the lake thaws out. Would be interesting to see what shows
up there during migration. Not much else by way of water in this area (besides
Huntington Res.)
DAVIS COUNTY
Paul Lombard (17 Feb 2012) - A pair of Wood
Ducks were seen about noon today on the first pond on the left going into
the Bay [Farmington Bay]. Finally, the numbers of bald eagles are increasing there. Good birding
to everyone.
Norm Jenson (14 Fb 2012) - [AIC] -
White-winged Scoter. Second bridge, the one nearest the island, south side
of the road. Also a Double-crested Cormorant reported by Shyloh and
others at the Jensen Nature Park [Syracuse].
Bryant Olsen (13 Feb 2012) - After reading the reports of Mew Gull and G.
White-fronted Goose at Farmington Bay, I twitched, and found myself there this
morning. I struck out on both birds, but I did see some interesting things,
including 3 soaring AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, at the 4 way, and 12
WHITE-FACED IBIS and 2 GREAT EGRETS near the were the road turns
sharply to the west.
Kris Purdy (10 Feb 2012) -
I went to Farmington
Bay yesterday and beheld Gimpy, the Western Gull, amid the many
Ring-billed, California and Herring Gulls, but I had to
look at something...
Dave Hanscom (8 Feb 2012) - After
reading reports sent in last week by Bryant and Jeff, I decided to make the
rounds in Davis County yesterday morning. Here are highlights:
- Farmington Bay - The Barn Owl was in his box by the heron
rookery, and a big flock of Night Herons was still hanging out west of
the first bridge.
- Kaysville Ponds - ... The Hooded Mergansers
were back on the lower pond, along with a big flock of Canada Geese that
included several Cackling Geese. The white bird on the upper pond turned
out to be what I think is a Snow Goose, although I couldn't see any black on the
wings, and it was quite large.
- Gentile Street - My usual route to the island these days is to go
through Layton and out Gentile Street to see if I can find any unusual sparrows.
No luck on that yesterday, but a Cowbird was a new one for me this year.
Woopie!
- AIC - The bay south of the causeway is starting to melt, so there
are quite a few ducks there now. The only interesting ones I saw were at the
last bridge, where a Horned Grebe, Redheads, and Common
Goldeneyes were hanging out.
- AIC - As I was leaving the island, I stopped to see what a couple
of photographers were so intently watching and photographing. Turned out to be a
Prairie Falcon perched on one of the cement structures along the south
side of the road...
DUCHESNE COUNTY
Brian Maxfield (18 Feb 2012) - [Rock Creek] - Today
I took a quick trip up Rock Creek in the Uinta Mountains. I noticed a large
Engelmann Spruce that had a dead top but nothing else until something moved. All
the branches were full of Bohenian Waxwings, 174 in total. I picked
through every one of them looking for a Cedar Waxwing, of all things. None.
After watching them for a time I continued up the canyon and was surprised to
find another larger (241) flock of Bohemian Waxwings. This lively bunch was
perched in aspen trees and Engelmann spruce but were also feeding on berries in
Rocky Mountain juniper and common juniper.
--A bit farther up the canyon I stopped to look at a single bird
sitting in an aspen and was a bit surprised to see a female Red Crossbill.
A male appeared out of the thicket soon after. A bit farther up the canyon I
found three additional Red Crossbill (two male, one female). This small group
was sitting on the road.
MILLARD COUNTY
Oliver Hansen (25 Feb 2012) - [Delta-Gunnison Bend
Reservoir-Clear Lake Reservoir] - Several cars worth of Utah Co. birders (about
15 people) made their way out to the Snow Goose Festival today. We birded at
Gunnison Bend reservoir, Clear Lake WFMA, and the small reservior marked on
google maps as DMAD reservoir. We found a "small" flock of maybe 3-4 thousand
SNOW and ROSS'S geese early in the morning in some fields outside of
town. Most of the access/dike roads in Clear Lake were closed for the season,
but we did drive around to a few different spots and find a few flocks of
waterfowl...
--Some other highlights for me (besides the geese and good company)
included seeing 10 SANDHILL CRANES near Lynndyl, Utah on the way into
Delta. I saw 2 CRANES on the way out at the same location in the afternoon.
Another was a flyover PRARIE FALCON at Clear Lake WFMA. ... Great day.
Another find that came up as a seasonal rarity in ebird was the handful of
CINNAMON TEAL we saw at Clear Lake WFMA.
SALT LAKE COUNTY
Matt Wallace (26 Feb 2012) - [East Millcreek] - We
saw a Spotted Towhee at our backyard bird feeder today. First one I've
seen this winter (or is it spring already? Crocuses are coming up). It was
feeding on the ground near our feeder.
Joel Beyer (23 Feb 2012) - [Olympus Cove[ - We had
a fortuitous sighting of a Northern Saw-whet Owl this evening. It flew
across the road and into a large pine. We were able to pull the car over, walk
under the tree and get a close look as it sat watching us watch it. We had
assumed it was a screech-owl, and were happily surprised to find it was a
Saw-whet. Fun fun fun!
Bryant Olsen (17 Feb 2012) - This evening I
re-found the male WOOD DUCK I saw a couple days ago, on the big pond in
Liberty Park SLC. Also I heard a report that a wild, WILD TURKEY had
taken up residence in the Tracy Aviary, and I found him, a young tom who was
going around strutting and gobbling, seemingly confusing the Pea hens for Turkey
hens? This is the first Wild Turkey I have seen in SL county, although I have
heard them gobbling up in the canyons, but never seen one.
Kenny Frisch (14 Feb 2012) - Today I birded
Parley's Historical Site. The best bird was a singing American Dipper
towards the east end the of park. Other birds in the area included a
Sharp-shinned Hawk and many Juncos. Also today which working at the
University of Utah, I had a Merlin and a Cooper's Hawk hanging
around.
Jeff Cooper (4 Feb 2012) - A group of
twenty-one seasoned and beginning birders joined a Utah County Birders-sponsored
field trip this morning and made the drive up to Farmington Bay and Lee Kay
Ponds... Lee Kay ponds
added another 12 species to our list for a total of 42 for the day. The surprise
there was a lone Double-crested Cormorant that flew overhead.
What a strange winter this has been with summer birds wintering in Utah...We observed at least seven duck
species and the Male Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers were a
treat for many in the group.
TOOELE COUNTY
Eric Huish (20 Feb 22012) - Last night, while
driving home from Tooele, I made a stop at Fairfield around 8:00 pm... I crossed the hwy and drove into the Fairfield Cemetery.... From there I
could hear them much better and I realized they where Long-eared Owls. At
least 3 different owls making a single hoot call...
UTAH COUNTY
Jeff Cooper (29 Feb 20123) - Turkey Vulture
seen in Lehi Field north of Lehi block. Jerry Liguori, Mike Shaw and I saw it
soaring above the field.
Jeff Cooper (28 Feb 2012) - I drove by the small
wetland area on the south side of North Vineyard Road (Vineyard, Utah County) on
my way back to Pleasant Grove following a meeting in Provo. I noticed a lone
WILSON'S SNIPE and stopped to observe and photograph it.
Doug Mead (28 Feb 2012) - Flock of 50 American
White Pelicans just flew north at low alt over Saratoga Springs.
Ned Bixler (27 Feb 2012) - [Skipper Bay Trail -
highlilghts] -
...Cinnamon Teal...Sandhill Crane...Great Horned Owl...
Alan Jensen (18 Feb 2012) - [Payson] - We had four
Pine Siskins on our thistle sock feeder yesterday in Payson - first of the
year.
Jeff Cooper (10 Feb 2012) - So I took a late lunch
today and then called and met up with Eric Huish near the Lindon Marina/Geneva
Settling Ponds area in Utah County. We didn't see a lot of birds, but we did
find some wintering White-faced Ibises, a female Hooded Merganser,
and what we believe was a 1st winter Glaucous-winged Gull....
Eric Huish (10 Feb 2012) - Jeff Cooper and I just had
a Glaucous-winged Gull fly past, heading south, at the south end of the
settling ponds south of the Lindon Boat Harbor...
Donna Thorum (7 Feb 2012) -My husband Glen and I went
to see if we could find the Pygmy Owl up South Fork Canyon this midmorning.
Couldn't find it. Found Eric and Jeff looking for it too. No luck! However I did
find a flock of 20+ Wild Turkeys in the field on the right side of the
road just south of the beaver pond. That was good. Haven't seen them for a
while...
Eric Huish (1 Feb 2012) - Eric Peterson and I went
birding up American Fork Canyon today. There weren't a lot of birds around. Our
best bird was a Pacific Wren on the left side of the road (not river
side) just above the Roadhouse Picnic Area. It was calling and flitting about
when we first spotted it, but it quickly disappeared and we couldn't relocate
it....
WASHINGTON COUNTY
James Remsen (26 Feb 2012) - [Lytle Ranch] - Walked
with Russell Schreiner from ranch buildings to ca. 1/2 mile upstream and return,
and then ca. 1/2 mile downstream and return, plus trails through Chilopsis
thickets around education building. 34 species seen: [highlights]...
Long-eared Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Red-naped Sapsucker,
Ladder-backed Woodpecker...Verdin, Bushtit...Black-tailed Gnatcatcher...Western
Bluebird...
James Remsen (25 Feb 2012) - [Sand Hollow Reservoir] -
From entrance to end of road around reservoir, stopping at as many vantage
points as needed to see all birds; no telescope, but few birds too distant as to
be identified. 25 species (+1 other taxa): [highlights] ...Red-breasted Merganser...Horned Grebe...
Larry Tripp (26 Feb 2012) - Today at Lytle continuing White-throated
Sparrow and male Anna's Hummingbird.
Jon Watkins (18 Feb 2012) - single Ross' Goose
w/ Canada Geese in field adjacent to Seegmiller Marsh area (east of
marsh). Seen this morning, 9am
--White-tailed Kite present in field west of academy...early am
this morning..
--3 Lark Buntings @ Washington fields, 4200 South and
Medallion Drive (in bushes along south side of 4200, near a dirt road turn-off
around broken white plastic pipe sticking up from ground.... mixed w/ WC
Sparrows). 9:30ish this morning...
--17 Snow Geese at Hurricane sewage ponds, with Canada
Geese...3pm
Yvonne Carter (10 Feb 2012) - The White-Tailed Kite
was still in the vicinity of 2450 South 3000 East across from the academy in
Washington/St. George, Utah. I was there around 10:00 a.m. and it was perched on
a post near some homes.
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