Review Species Reported this month:
Neotropic Cormorant Box Elder Co.
Wandering Tattler Cache Co.
Bar-tailed Godwit Box Elder Co.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Davis Co
Hermit Warbler Garfield Co.
Baltimore Oriole Washington Co.
BOX ELDER COUNTY
Joel Beyer (11 Aug 2013) - We refound the
Bar-tailed Godwit previously reported by Stackhouse and Wheeler, on the NW
side of the Willard Bay Reservoir dike road. We observed the bird for about 2
hours this morning, and were able to see all the field marks, as described by
Mark....A Pectoral Sandpiper and 3 Black Terns were also seen in
this area.
Jack Binch (10 Aug 2013)- [Willard Bay] - I drove up
to see the quantity of birds reported. If you want to look through the birds for
something rare, better take a lunch. There are a lot of godwits, phalaropes,
gulls, ibis, and dowitchers to look at. I saw a few smaller godwits, but after
looking at them with a spotting scope, they were all Marbled. The only
bird I saw that was a little rare was a Ash-throated Flycatcher in the
tamarisks toward the north end of the road. The road itself is the best I have
seen it. One section in the middle is bumpy, but not all that bad.
Mark Stackhouse (5 Aug 2013) - This morning, David Wheeler and I, along with
David's trusty birding sidekick Mojo went out to the backside of Willard Bay,
along the mudflats of the actual Willard Bay (Spur) of the Great Salt Lake,
below the NW side of the dike around Willard Bay Reservoir. David and I decided
to give it a more thorough look today to see if there were any goodies hidden in
the masses. Our best find was a BAR-TAILED GODWIT that was not too
surprising given that there were between 10 and 20 thousand Marbled Godwits
there. The Bar-tailed Godwit wasn't in one of the large Marbled Godwit flocks,
but was off by itself with some avocets, that dwarfed this small, gray godwit.
We watched it for about 15 minutes at about 100 meters range, before something
spooked everyone ...
Kris Purdy (4 Aug 2013) - I saw two NEOTROPIC CORMORANTs at Bear
River MBR in Box Elder County today at a likely place: One of the rocky rookery
islands in an area not open to the public along the D-Line. I’ve seen them there
in past years and I make a point of scanning the islands when I do my monthly
general bird survey. The two appeared to be adults and were with 75-100
Double-crested Cormorants, pelicans and other species that amass on those
islands. I saw a smattering of migratory shorebirds including two Solitary
Sandpipers (not together, of course), Marbled Godwits, a Least
Sandpiper and a Lesser Yellowlegs. Several Great Egrets were
using various egret rookery islands and were flocking with Snowy Egrets,
Black-crowned Night-herons and Great Blue Herons. Also behind the
gates was a flock of about 150 Black Terns. If you’re looking for Black
Terns in your county along the lake, looks like fall migration is on for them
and it’s time. Somewhat unusual on the general bird survey today were a Sage
Thrasher and a Bullock’s Oriole far out into the marsh.
CACHE COUNTY
Ryan O'Donnell (7Aug 2013) - [Logan] - Leah Waldner
and I had a potential WANDERING TATTLER at the Polishing Ponds in Benson
this evening. Leah picked up a bird flying in to the ponds, and we both saw a
medium-sized shorebird with pointed wings that was solidly dark gray above: no
wing bars, no white on the sides of the tail or the rump, etc. It was roughly
the size of a Killdeer. The bird did not call. ...The Polishing Ponds are closed
to public access but we have arranged access through the City of Logan.
DAVIS COUNTY
Ryan O'Connell (29 Aug 2013) - Jay Carlisle, visiting
from Idaho, reported to me by phone that the American Golden-Plover is
still present at about mile-marker 3 on the Antelope Island Causeway.
Norm Jenson (25 Aug 2013) - We birded Antelope Island
this morning, there was not much new on the causeway but there were thousands of
Red-necked Phalaropes, and a Peregrine Falcon. At Garr Ranch we
ran in to the Sommerfields who we can thank for a Townsend Warbler, in
addition we saw Wilsons, Virginia, a Western Tanager. There
were a couple of Common Nighthawks flying over by the restrooms and we
looked without success for the reported Lark Bunting, we did find the
Chipping Sparrows and a Lark Sparrow as well as lots of flycatchers
Stephanie Greenwood (16 Aug 2013) - If you subscribe to eBird needs or rare
birds alert, you probably have seen a sighting for a SCISSOR-TAILED
FLYCATCHER at the Nature Conservancy's Shorelands Preserve. This bird was
found in the north quadrant of the preserve, on private property, not accessible
to the public.
Cindy Sommerfeld (2 Aug 2013) - 56 species today. Lots of
Phalaropes, Eared Grebes and Avocets. Oh, we did get great looks at the Bobcat
on Ladyfinger. Here's today's list: [highlights] ...Virginia Rail ,
Snowy Plover...Baird's Sandpiper...Red-necked Phalarope...Burrowing Owl, Common
Nighthawk...Loggerhead Shrike...Northern Mockingbird...Common Yellowthroat,
Western Tanager...
GARFIELD COUNTY
Bryant Olsen (8 Aug 2013) - Up on top of the
Table Cliff Plateau at 10,000ft I found a small flock of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS,
with 1 apparent female HERMIT WARBLER mixed in, seems a bit early but
there they were.
Bryant Olsen (8 Aug 2013) - I've been down on the
Aquarius Plateau for the past several days, saw some interesting birds. At the
Pine Lake campground hosts feeder there was a female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
mixed in with the numerous Rufous, Black-chinned and Broad-tailed. Also 1 female
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was there too. 1 of the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS
was a "GREEN-BACKED" male. I tried really hard to make it into an Allen's, but
the photos and video clearly showed it had a notched R2 tail feathers, making it
a Rufous. Also at Pine Lake were recently fledged NORTHERN GOSHAWKS,
OSPREY and RED-TAILED HAWKS, making a lot of noise. Plus a
NORTHERN PYGMY OWL was around tooting in the mornings, and I was able to
bring it in by mimicking their call. A couple female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS
were around too, and PYGMY NUTHATCHES and GRACE'S WARBLERS.
--Near Boulder, I got stuck behind a trailer going 20mph under the
speed limit, so I pulled over at a random trailhead, and happened to notice 2 of
the dead pines were covered in little symmetrical holes, just like I've seen at
Devil's Campground and in Arizona where I've found Acorn Woodpeckers. So I
started playing there calls to see if any would come in, but instead of Acorn
WP, it brought in 3 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, 2 adults and a fledgling. This
was near mile post 96 on SR 12,at the Chriss Lake trailhead. ....Also flushed up
a COMMON POORWILL, which is always a treat to see during the day.
SALT LAKE COUNTY
Bryant Olson (29 Aug 2013) - OK,I know its the second time in the past
month I have claimed to have seen a sparrow that looked like a Clay-colored
Sparrow, but this one Really, Really looked like one. I saw it at Big
Cottonwood Park in Holladay, about 1300 E 5000 S., along the trail that goes
around the pond on the southeast corner of the park, very near where the
White-throated Sparrow was seen this past winter.
Mike Wallace (27 Aug 2013) - I saw 2 Common
Nighthawks before dusk last night. They were flying up and down the line of
trees behind our house as they fed on airborne insects.
Glenda Cotter (20 Aug 2013) -
[Sugar House] - My schedule seems to be the opposite of Jack’s, but while taking
my dog for a walk late last night I also heard a Western Screech Owl
calling. This is in the Sugar House area, where they are known residents.
Jack Binch (20 Aug 2013) - Thanks to my hummingbirds,
I got a new yard bird this morning. I go to bed early so I fill my feeders
before I go to work in the mornings. I was out on my deck filling the feeders at
about 4:15 AM when I heard the unmistakable call of two Western Screech-Owls.
I had to wait for my dog to come out of the backyard, so I took out the kitchen
garbage. Again I heard the calls, but this time they sounded like they were in
the back yard. I hurried and got a spotlight and went back out. There is an open
spot in the tree with some dead branches, and there were two Western
Screech-Owls sitting facing opposite directions on a branch.
SAN JUAN COUNTY
Kay Stone (10 Aug 1013)- Last Thursday afternoon
and evening and Friday morning Jim Strong, Lynn Nielsen and myself went down to
Devil's Canyon just south of Monticello and saw an Acorn Woodpecker.
We just drove into the campground by the Host's Trailer as an Acorn Woodpecker
flew right past us. It disappeared into a nearby tree for a couple of
minutes and then flew out again headed to the east. It was a great look
showing all the field marks. Later we traveled on the large loop road
outside of the campground and saw Pygmy and White Breasted Nuthatches,
Western Bluebirds, Grace's Warblers, Mountain Chickadees, Gray Vireo,
and several other species. We also saw many deer, turkeys,and a Kaibab
Squirrel. I have never seen so many Pygmy Nuthatches and last year I
struggled to see just one. It was a great trip and the weather was superb.
SEVIER COUNTY
Bryant Olsen (8 Aug 2013) - Swung by Fish Lake on the way home 9from
Aquarius Plateau), lots of Osprey and a few Hummingbirds around, but very
few waterfowl on the lake . Then I hit Koosherum reservoir, had an odd looking
buff sparrow hop up on a fence that looked an awfully lot like a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW.
TOOELE COUNTY
Eric Huish (25 Aug 2013) - I birded Manning Canyon
(Utah Co) and Ophir Canyon (Tooele Co) this morning. Manning Canyon has been
closed for years while they cleaned up poisonous mine tailings. But now it is
open again and freshly rehabilitated. Best sightings up the canyon were a couple
of large flocks of Pinyon Jays, a couple of flocks if Bushtits,
some Clark's Nutcrackers and a Gray Flycatcher. Full list below.
Up Ophir Canyon I ran across a mixed flock of vireos and warblers up near the
Lion Hill Loop Trailhead parking area. I couldn't ID them all but there were at
least 3 Cassin's Vireos and a Nashville Warbler in the flock.
Oliver Hansen (21 Aug 2013) - Took a quick trip to
Timpie Springs WMA and a little BLM area called Horseshoe springs in Skull
Valley. Not very birdy but still a nice evening. Looks like the majority of the
shorebirds have moved out. I did see one WILLET at horseshoe springs and
one SOLITARY SANDPIPER at Timpie Springs. The PEREGRINES are still
hanging out on the tower at Timpie springs. SAVANNA SPARROWS galore at
both of these locations. Also several groups of 8-10 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS
were cruising really low at Horseshoe Springs. Very fun to see.
UTAH COUNTY
Eric Huish (27 Aug 2013) - I birded River Lane early this morning
(6:30-7:40am. 8/27). No rarities.
Highlights were -
--3 Purple Martins at the corner where the paved road
changes to dirt.
-- A Snowy Plover out on Sandy Beach.
--6 Blue Grosbeaks on the fence where the paved
section of road makes that jog.
--A Barn Owl flushed from the top of a tree near the
end of River Lane...
Eric Huish (26 Aug 2013) - I birded the east side and the south side of
the PAD this morning. There was a Northern Waterthrush at the base of the
first Russian Olives on the right when driving in from the east entrance. There
was a Northern Mockingbird at the southeast corner. A young Peregrine
Falcon was zooming around harassing all the other birds. Chasing gulls and
terns. Diving at ibis. It looked like he was just having the time of his life...
Jeff Cooper (25 Apr 2013) - I took my twin sons and
their wives on a drive along Timpooneke Road around the north end of Mount
Timpanogos on Saturday...While looking for a pika I could hear
Clark's Nutcrackers, Northern Flickers, squirrels, and some song birds.
Jeff Cooper (22 Ayug 2013) - I just saw the female
Calliope again at my feeder. ...My male left the area a couple
weeks ago, but multiple juveniles/females have been visiting the feeder the past
two weeks.
Eric Huish (20 Aug 2013) - I birded the Provo Airport Dike this morning.
(8/20). The 2 Stilt Sandpipers continue west of the south extension. They
were with about 25 Dowitchers and 5 Lesser Yellowlegs. There were
2 Solitary Sandpipers among the reeds seen from the west side of the
south extension...
Jeff Cooper (19 Aug 2013) - [Pleasant Grove] - Two Say's Phoebes
passed through my yard while my wife and her mother were visiting and watching
hummingbirds this past weekend.
Eric Huish (18 Aug 2014) - I ran out to Lincoln Point yesterday morning
(8/17). Nothing rare to report. Best sighting was a Baird's Sandpiper,
not rare but I had missed it this spring... Lots of birds out there.
Virginia's Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler down by the lake
suggest that warbler migration has started.
Eric Huish (13 Aug 2013) - I birded the Airport Dike early this morning.
Nothing rare to report. I started early enough to hear a Screech-Owl
calling along the Provo River. There's a Northern Mockingbird on
the east side of the loop. I saw it there last week as well...I walked Skipper
Bay Trail yesterday morning. Best birds out there were 2 Blue Grosbeaks.
Eric Huish (7 Aug 2013) - I ran out to Lincoln Point and River Lane early
this morning....There were a few peeps around the bend at Lincoln Point north of
the boat harbor, one of them looked like a Semipalmated Sandpiper. There
was also a Semipalmated Plover over there. There were more shorebirds at
Sandy Beach (at the end of River Lane). There were 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers
there with Western Sandpipers for comparison...
--This morning and last Monday there were about a dozen Cattle
Egrets along SR 77 just west of the freeway exit. Hanging out with the
cows...
Jeff Cooper (1 Aug 2013) - I just got home from work and decided to watch
the hummingbird feeder outside my home office. I saw male and female
Black-chinned, juvenile male and female Rufous, and an adult male
CALLIOPE...
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Rick Fridell (28 Aug 2013) - This evening I observed another
Red-shouldered Hawk and a first-fall male Baltimore Oriole in the
Washington Fields, Washington Co., UT. The hawk was in the northwest corner
along the Y-drain and the oriole was with some Sage Thrashers along the
field edge in the far southeast corner of the fields. I managed a couple
diagnostic photos of the oriole. I was also surprised to see a Western
Scrub-Jay in the Washington Fields; there appears to quite a movement taking
place with Scrub-Jays turning up in some odd places lately.
Rick Fridell (25 Aug 2013) - Wednesday evening (8/21), I observed an
immature Red-shouldered Hawk at Lytle Ranch. It perched in several of the
trees along the west edge of the fields. There were several migrants passing
through including some empids and many Wilson's Warblers and Lazuli
Buntings. Also somewhat surprising was an Olive-sided Flycatcher with
a small flock of Pinyon Jays.
WAYNE COUNTY
Bryant Olsen (8 Aug 2013) - I swung by the Wild Cat
ranger station on SR 12, they had 3 hummingbird feeders up and the place was
swarming with hummingbirds,4 species, RUFOUS, BROAD-TAILED, BLACK-CHINNED
and at least female 2 female CALLIOPE. I've never seen so many
hummingbirds, must have been 30+, and you can stand 3 feet away from them and
they feed in a frenzy right in front of your face, pretty cool. Nearby I found
some another WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER,
GRACE'S WARBLER, PYGMY NUTHATCHES, and flushed up a family of COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS, one of them doing the broken wing display like a killdeer.
WEBER COUNTY
Mike Hearell (19 Aug 2013) - CANYON WREN.
Taylor A. and I found this guy in Taylor's (no relation) Canyon this evening.
This is a Utah first for me and the first eBird report in Weber since 2006.
Kris Purdy (12 Aug 2013) - The BLUE GROSBEAK
that Mike Hearell and Taylor Abbott found along the rail trail in West Weber
County on Friday is the gift that keeps on giving. I visited the bird on
Saturday, and then again yesterday with Jack Rensel. We found the grosbeak in
the same tree where Mike and Taylor found it, although this bird has the habit
of disappearing for long periods and patience is a must. Jack and I continued to
bird along the rail trail south of the Blue Grosbeak’s spot and came across an
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER east of the trail using the barbed-wire fence and
the Russian Olives. I’ve seen the species only one other time in Weber County.
Jack Binch’s recent post about another one not far away in Box Elder County on
the west side of Willard Bay was perhaps a harbinger for yesterday’s sighting.
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