Review Species Reported this month:
Red-necked Grebe Washington Co.
Western Gull Salt Lake Co.
Iceland Gull Salt Lake Co.
Slaty-backed Gull Salt Lake
Co.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Washington Co.
Red-breasted Sapsucker Washington Co.
Winter Wren Utah Co.,
Washington Co., Weber
Co.
BOX ELDER COUNTY
Kendall Watkins (31 Dec 2013) - Last Saturday 26 Utah
Birders went out in search of Larks and Longspurs in Box Elder County... Highlights included a Northern Shrike
at Bear River and a good look at a female Cooper's Hawk in Howell. It
wasn't a very birdy day, but it was nice to have good company.
CACHE COUNTY
Ryan O'Donnell (6 Dec 20123) - A first-winter
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was found by me at the Logan Landfill yesterday, 5
December. This is the first county record since 2006, and the first record for
the county in eBird, although the utahbirds.org website lists three earlier
county records not in eBird.
DAVIS COUNTY
Steve Hannington (30 Dec 2013) - A Northern Shrike was
observed and photographed near Garr Ranch on Antelope Island State Park on
Saturday December 28.
Bryant Olsen (18 Dec 2013) - This morning around 10am I found a SNOW
BUNTING mixed in with a small flock of Horned Larks on the Antelope
Island Causeway, just a few hundred yards west of the entrance booth. At the 2
bridge mixed in with a few hundred Common Goldeneye was a gorgeous adult
male LONG-TAILED DUCK, on the south side. It was very eerie out there in
the fog and mostly frozen over lake.
Cindy Sommerfeld (6 Dec 2013) - [Antelope Isdand] - Today was one of our
coldest surveys. We started at 5 degrees and warmed up to 16 degrees. At least
the sun was shinning most of the time. We did see a Least Sandpiper, a
Western Sandpiper, a Dunlin, and an Avocet. It seems late for
them. The two Shrikes we saw were both Northern. Our Species total was
49. Here's the list: [other highlights]... Long-tailed Duck,...Peregrine
Falcon, Virginia Rail...Hermit Thrush...American Tree Sparrow...
SALT LAKE COUNTY
Bryant Olsen (22 Dec 2913) - This morning around 11am I saw a LAPLAND
LONGSPUR on 7200 W. in SLC, between I-80 and the train tracks. Initially I
found it in the middle of the road with some H. Larks, later I relocated it east
of the road about 100 yards out, also with H. Larks. Nearby at Lee Kay I found
an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL mixed in with a few hundred gulls there
on the ice. ... At Decker Lake I
found the most gulls, most of the lake was covered in them, probably 2,000
gulls. Among them were an adult WESTERN GULL and an adult LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL...
Bryant Olsen (10 Dec 2013) - [Saltair] - I found several good gulls at
Saltair this afternoon. My first find was an obvious adult dark mantled gull. It
had its back to me so I couldn't see its eyes or legs, so I was debating over
Western or Lesser Black-Backed, when suddenly a smallish very pale gull walked
into the field of view. Obviously a 1st cycle ICE-LAND GULL. It was very
whitish with gray checkering and pale gray primary tips and an all dark bill
.... Saw some other good birds here including a very dark, big and mean 1st
cycle WESTERN GULL, an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (probably
the unknown dark mantled gull from earlier), an apparent 1st cycle "OLYMPIC"
GULL, and a couple THAYER'S. All of these gulls were on the beach due
east of the marina. I then decided to go check "sunset" beach on the west side
of the marina, where I quickly located a 2nd ICELAND GULL.
Mike Hearell (6 Dec 2013) - Adult Western Gull at Lake Park Pond
by Target (Pacific Loon spot).
Bryant Olsen (23 Dec 2013) - During our GSLA field
trip this morning we came across an interesting gull at Lee Kay. Fairly gray
back, with blackish primaries but a rather whitish head, but with a massive
bill. In the field we first assumed a 1st cycle "Olympic" Gull, however after
looking through some books, the pale head and black primaries would actually
better match a 1st winter SLATY-BACKED GULL. I know that sounds a little
nuts, but nothing else seems a good match. It was on the east end of the west
pond, near the road that divides the 2 ponds.
UINTAH COUNTY
Brian Maxfield (2 Dec 2013) - Two BLUE JAYS
were observed this morning in Vernal at a bird feeder. The area is around 350
West and 600 South. I was unable to relocate the birds in the area but there is
an extensive area of Russian olive and conifers behind many of the houses and
this is where the birds were first heard calling.
UTAH COUNTY
Eric Huish (29 Dec 2013) - I was just watching what I believe was a WINTER WREN at the
Provo River Oxbow. I will post photos and sound clips later today when I get
home..
Dennis Shirley (28 Dec 2013) - The Pacific
Wren found earlier this winter in the South Fork of Provo Canyon is still
there...
--The Western Screech Owl was found quietly resting in the
owl box entrance at the neighbors residence near Eric's house in Pleasant Grove.
--I also whistled in a Northern Pygmy Owl on the switch back
above Mual Dell in American Fork Canyon...
Eric Huish (24 Dec 2013) - I saw three late
Least Sandpipers at Lindon Beach this morning. Count week birds for the
Provo CBC. There were also Common Mergansers and Herring Gulls at
Lindon Boat Harbor which I think were missed on Saturday's CBC. I don't remember
all the specifics but for anyone who may be interested I believe the Provo CBC
(Sat, 21st) ended with 91 species. Highlights were Northern Goshawk,
Northern Pygmy-Owl, Cackling Goose and Sanderling. The last
two I believe were count firsts.
Eric Huish (20 Dec 2013) - I stopped at Salem Pond
this afternoon in hopes of seeing the Barrow's Goldeneye or Greater Scaup that
had been reported earlier this week. I couldn't find either. But while I was
there a flock of Canada Geese flew in with 8 to 12 CACKLING GEESE mixed
in.
Dennis Shirley (16 Dec 2013)- -This afternoon I
made a brief check of Salem Pond. I was unable to locate the White-winged Scoter
but I did find a drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. There was also a suspect bird
which I'm pretty sure was a hen GREATER SCAUP...
Kendall Watkins (12 Dec 2013) - The White-winged
Scoter continued this evening at Salem Pond providing excellent looks... Nice find Dennis! Other birds at the pond
included a drake Barrow's Goldeneye, a juvenile Trumpeter Swan
(previously reported to eBird by Dave Hanscom, and a hen Greater Scaup.
Eric Peterson (11 Dec 2013) - Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk at the Art
Dye Ball Park in American Fork.
Jeff Cooper (10 Dec 2013) - A light adult
Ferruginous Hawk was on a power pole near Pioneer Crossing Road... A Barn Owl was
flapping and gliding bouyantly over the pond, and a pair (male and female) of
Hooded Mergansers were diving in a small part of the pond that was not
frozen (west side of the pond)...
Eric Huish (9 Dec 2013) - Carlos and I just saw a
1st winter Harris's Sparrow at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Boat
Harbor Drive in Provo. (7:45 am, Dec 9). In the Russian Olives across the street
from the new little parking lot for the Provo River Parkway. GPS 40.24043
-111.71129
Jeff Cooper (4 Dec 2013) - During my drive home
tonight I was able to observe a dark adult Harlan's Hawk perched in a
tree just off I-15 in Lehi... The bonus was a
Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew overhead.
Dennis Shirley (2 Dec 2013) - This afternoon at about 3:00 pm I saw
a PACIFIC LOON from the fenced parking area just around the corner from
Lincoln Point/Utah Lake... A COMMON LOON was also found just a short
time earlier about a mile south of Lincoln Point and out about 300 yards. Loons
have never been common on Utah Lake, but it seems we've had more this year than
ever before. The Pacific Loon is probably the same bird Alton Thygerson reported
last week at Utah Lake State Park and unless I'm mistaken are the first Utah
County records.
Jeff Cooper (1 Dec 2013) - I had a nice long
holiday weekend with family and said goodbye to the last ones this morning. This
evening, nearly a week after Eric Huish first reported it, I finally had time to
go down to Utah Lake State Park to look for the Long-tailed Duck. It was
there and couldn't care less about who was watching it dive and feed right next
to the rocks of the north jetty...
--Before I found the duck, I found a lone Horned Grebe that
was as friendly as the duck turned out to be. The grebe was in the marina, right
by the docks on the north side of the marina.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Rick Fridell (23-24 Dec 2013) - Merry Christmas everyone! I made a very
quick visit to Lytle Ranch and observed a few noteworthy birds, including
several mountain birds, a White-throated Sparrow and the remaining
Red-breasted Sapsucker. However, the most interesting sighting to me was two
Abert's Towhees at the milo field. These are the first Abert's Towhees
I've ever seen at Lytle Ranch. ...
--Also to update on some other continuing Washington County
rarities, a White-winged Scoter was at Sand Hollow on 12/22, and the
Barrow's Goldeneye and Red-necked Grebe were present yesterday (12/23). The
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker also remains today (12/24) at the Zion Canyon visitor
center.
Rick Fridell (21 Dec 2013) - There are some really nice birds continuing
around Washington Co. the last few days, including:
--Barrow's Goldeneye, male, 7-21 December, at Sand Hollow
State Park, usually w/ Common Goldeneyes off the main boat ramp
--Neotropic Cormorants (2), 13-21 December, Razor Ridge
Pond, Coral Canyon
--Red-necked Grebe, found by Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld,
19-21 December, SHSP, usually near center of lake observed from north end of sw
dam.
--Red-shouldered Hawk, observed by Kevin Wheeler and I, 18
December, in cottonwood along the Santa Clara River just above the old Windsor
(Shem) Dam structure.
--Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, adult male, 11-21 December, Zion
NP visitor center parking lot.
--White-throated Sparrow, adult, observed by Kevin Wheeler
and I, 18 December, on lawn along road through Gunlock
Rick Fridell (13 Dec 2013) - Here's a couple of images of the
Neotropic Cormorants photographed today (12/13) at the Razor Ridge Pond,
Coral Canyon.
Rick Fridell (11 Dec 2013) - This afternoon (12/11)
I photographed an adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near the visitor
center in Zion Canyon, Zion NP, Washington Co., UT...
Rick Fridell (8 Dec 2013) - This morning (12/08) there was an adult
Mew Gull with the Ring-billed Gull flock at Quail Creek State Park... Also today, Ned Batchelder captured a banded hatch-year
Rufous Hummingbird in Ivins; I believe this is the first winter record for
this species in Utah... Also
this afternoon around 2:00p, there was a Barn Owl perched in the
Hurricane Fields.
Rick Fridell (7 Dec 2013) - Quinn and I visited Sand Hollow State Park
this morning (12/7) prior to the snow storm (yes, it's been snowing since 10:30a
and there's several inches on the ground throughout Washington County!). Sand
Hollow is packed with waterfowl and coots. Highlights included the remaining
Barrow's Goldeneye and White-winged Scoter (which we enjoyed with
Bill Richardson) and four species of geese. We saw 22 species of waterfowl:
[highlights]
-- Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, Cackling Goose,... Greater Scaup, Lesser
Scaup, White-winged Scoter (imm.), ...Barrow's Goldeneye (drake), Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck
--Also present were a few Common Loons, five species of
grebes, 4-5 Bald Eagles, and of course several thousand coots. I was
surprised to see 3 late American Avocets (present since 12/2) and a
Least Sandpiper...
Rick Fridell (2 Dec 2013) - The Winter Wren
was relocated today 12/2 along Quail Creek near the inflow into Quail Lake (on
north side of the road below the confluence with Cottonwood Wash). The wren
likelys forages up and down along both Quail Creek and Cottonwood Wash. Also,
this evening there was a drake Barrow's Goldeneye at Sand Hollow State
Park actively diving off the point north of the main boat ramp with a small
flock of Common Goldeneye. There was a also two adult Ross's Geese
with a Canada Goose at Sand Hollow.
WEBER COUNTY
Mike Hearell (28 Dec 2013) - [Harold Crane WMA -
Rainbow Unit Trailhead] - I've been impatiently waiting for the large flocks of
Horned Larks to arrive and today a few (1700ish) finally showed. Had some
Longspurs and Snow Buntings mixed in with them.
Kris Purdy (26 Dec 2013) - About 30 GRAY-CROWNED
ROSY-FINCHES were quietly roosting in the aspen trees above the feeder at
Powder Ridge Village Condominiums adjacent to Powder Mountain Ski Area in Weber
County this afternoon at about 2 pm. There were three Hepburn’s race
rosy-finches among the gray-crowned race birds. They also dropped to the snow
under the feeder and fed there a few times.
Kris Purdy (12 Dec 1013) - What a surprise when a
WINTER WREN popped out of the Red-Osier Dogwood and other stream brush in
Powder Mountain Canyon, Weber County, this morning to join the loose mob of
birds protesting the NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL’s presence at mile 8.2, SR-158....
In addition to the bird’s I’ve mentioned already, I also heard an American
Dipper calling upstream, a Townsend’s Solitaire calling high on the
canyon wall, and I saw a flicker and several magpies flying high.
Mike Hearell (10 Dec 2013) - Took a drive up to
Powder Mountain today to see if the Rosy-finches are in yet...no. I saw exactly
1 Gray-crowned Rosy-finch.
|
