Feb 2010

Paul Higgins (28 Feb 2010) - Bewick's Wren, Ladyfinger Point, Antelope Island, Davis County, Utah.

Bryant Olsen  (23 Feb 2010) -  [Near Hooper, UT] CACKLING GEESE, mixed in with 100's of Canada Geese in corn stubble (north of Antelope island causeway 5 miles or so). At Ogden Bay WFMA I saw ... BALD EAGLES, over 100 in dead willows along a 1/2 mile stretch of the Weber River (south run). At Kaysville Ponds I saw 24 HOODED MERGANSERS, plus 5 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. Lots of GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES too. At Farmington Bay I saw 3 SNOW GEESE at the end of Glovers Lane, and had a fly over GLACOUS GULL, out at the end of the road on the refuge. Saw only 40 or so TUNDRA SWANS, all at Farmington Bay, also at the end of the road.

Deedee O'Brien (21 Feb 2010) - Counted 40 [American] crows behind-the-gates at Farmington Bay yesterday.

Jeff Blisky (21 Feb 2010) - Dave Hanscom and  bothI drove South towards the GSL Shoreline Preserve winding my way through the fields. ... We came across massive numbers of AMERICAN CROWS. ... just West of the GSL Shoreline Preserve. Some Bald Eagles on fence posts. ... Also, in the same general area, I found a large mixed flock of Starlings, BREWER'S, Red-winged, and YELLOW-HEADED (counted 10) Blackbirds.

Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld (20 Feb 2010) - [Farmington Bay WMA] - Steve and I stopped by Farmington Bay earlier today. Not much there. The gulls seemed to have dispersed. One interesting find was a Tree Swallow flying near the first turn.

David Wheeler ( 17 Feb 2010) - [Farmington Bay WMA] -  As well as the usual gulls (by far mostly Ring-billeds, plus Californias and Herrings), I saw two immature GLAUCOUS GULLS. ... There was a lovely Prairie Falcon just north of the refuge on the paved road (Glover Lane) near the refuge entrance road.

Joel and Kathy Beyer ( 14 Feb 2010) - [Farmington Bay WMA] On the main impoundment we found an adult Western Gull, a second winter Iceland Gull (last year's first winter bird?), and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the southeast pond (end of road) was an adult Glaucous Gull. Many Herring and a few Thayers Gulls were also about.

Matt Mills (13 Feb 2010) -  [Farmington Bay WMA] - We saw about 30 Bald Eagles and the following gulls: LESSER BLACK BACKED - 2 apparent ad. at the first bridge. GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 first winter. where the main road meets the east dike in the corner where all the Herring Gulls are feeding on carp. THAYERS - 1 ad with the Glaucous Gull. Also at Farmington Bay was a Rough-legged Hawk and a small number of Common Mergansers.

Carl Ingwell (7 Feb  2010) - [Farmington Bay WMA] Jeff Bilsky, Steve and Cindy Sommerfield and I had 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 2 Thayers Gulls, 2 Glacous Gulls, Herring Gulls, California Gulls and Ring Billed Gulls at Farmington Bay today between 1 and 4 PM.

Joel and Kathy Beyer ( 7 Feb  2010) - This afternoon we spotted a White-fronted Goose and a Cackling Goose in a large flock (~300) of Canada Geese on the Antelope Island Causeway (Davis Co.). The geese were between MM 5 and 6, north side.

David Wheeler (5 Feb 2010) - [Farmington Bay WMA] - 1st/2nd year GLAUCOUS GULL a few hundred feet past the second bridge, out in the "channels" in the impoundment east of the road.  2) Adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL quite a ways out in the same impoundment...(not far south of the 2nd bridge). 3) Three adult WESTERN GULLS, way out in the SE quadrant of the impoundment. 4) 1st winter THAYER'S GULL, in the southwest portion of the impoundment.

Edson Leite (1  Feb 2010) - [Farmington Bay WMA] Looking for the Mew Gull no luck with that. But I did spot a Lesser Black-backed Gull at the second bridge and a Western Gull about 100 yds past the second bridge on the far edge of the open water.
 

Jan 2010

Joel and Kathy Beyer (2 Jan 2010) - Late this afternoon we managed to spot both a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Mew Gull, amongst the 3000 or so gulls at Farmington Bay WMA. Both were adults (maybe the LBBG was the same one we saw earlier at Decker Lake? It looked the same.)

Nov 2009

Tim Avery (8 Nov 2009) - [Lesser Black-backed Gull] I would say this is indeed a different gull. Twice it flew by yesterday while we were watching the swarm of Bonaparte's at the last bridge--looking not nearly as developed as the previous LBBG that has been around.

Kris Purdy (8 Nov 2009) - In addition to the other celebrity gulls (including the SABINE'S) already reported on Antelope Island's Causeway today, another LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was in the same place where Jack Binch found one on October 24. The location is just west of the weather station on the north side of the causeway, and within a half mile or so (east of) of the big bridge near the marina...

Jack Binch (7 Nov 2009) - I just talked with Bob Huntington and he saw the Black-legged Kittiwake about 4:00 this afternoon. I saw it yesterday between 3:15 and 3:30, so maybe the afternoon is the time to be there.

Tim Avery (7 Nov 2009) - [Little Gull]  At the last bridge. Its an adult! (second message): A juvenile Sabine's Gull spotted by Larene Wyss has joined the Bonaparte's Gulls and the Little Gull at the last bridge along the Antelope Island Causeway.

Joel Beyer (4 Nov 2009) - This afternoon we found a first winter White-winged Scoter on the Antelope Island Causeway (Davis Co.). It was on the south side of the marina bridge (the one closest to the island), and was with a Surf Scoter and several Lesser Scaup.

Oct 2009

Tim Avery (26Oct 2009) - Birded Antelope Island Causeway this morning. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was near the weather station as previously reported. A single SURF SCOTER was on the east side of the bridge near the marina. There were 1,000's of Shoveler and Scaup so more scoters could have been mixed in.  Between MM 3-4 were 3 scatter flocks of Black-bellied Plovers. One group of 6 had 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (thought I had missed them for the year) mixed in.

Jack Binch (23 Oct 2009) - [sent pictures of a Lesser Black-backed Gull];  Jeff Bilsky wrote the next day: "The Lesser Black Backed Gull that Jack Binch spotted yesterday continues today at the AnteIope Island Causeway. I was able to get eyes on it today. It was on the North side of the causeway maybe a 1/2 mile shy of the last bridge with some other Gulls...

Tim Avery (18 Oct 2009) - Stopped at the ponds at the end of Glover Lane today. About 700-1000 Long-billed Dowitchers were present along with at least 3 possible Short-billed Dowitchers, including one that posed for photos. There were also around 10 Stilt Sandpipers, 25 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 American Avocet and a Killdeer.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (4 Oct 2009) - A probable Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was seen at Garr Ranch (Antelope Island) this afternoon (2 pm) at the spring pond. I only was able to view the bird for a few seconds. It had a large rounded head, eyering (round, not almond), greenish-yellow back, yellow below (including throat), dark wings with contrasting wingbars, short tail, very compact looking. It gave a sharp pyew call before it flew off. We were unable to find it again before the rains came.

Jeff Bilsky (3 Oct2009) - At the ponds at the end of Glover Lane near Farmington Bay this morning around 11 am there were over 150 Dowitchers and 2 Stilt Sandpipers. Also in great numbers were both Yellowlegs.

Aug 2009

Kristin Purdy (29 Aug 2009) - Jack Binch, Paul Higgins and I saw a WHIMBREL at Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County this morning at about 7:30. The bird was on the north side at the east edge of the surface water around mile 5.2.

Tim Avery (29 Aug 2009) - [Garr Ranch, Antelope Island]  There was a Red-eyed Vireo in the south portion of the picnic area this morning.

Tim Avery (28 Aug 2009) - Steve Sommerfeld just called me and reported finding an UPLAND SANDPIPER north of MM5 about 40 yards out on the mudflats along the Antelope Island Causeway. He said it was about due north of where the large stump is in the mud on the south side of the causeway.

Carol Gwynn (16 Aug 2009) - There was a Whimbrel on the Antelope Island Causeway Saturday at about mm 3 on the north side. I was hoping the storm would bring in waves of shorebirds, but not so.  There were 4 Burrowing Owls at MM 6...  At Glover Ponds, a Black Tern flew over. Glover Ponds had been taken over by White-faced Ibis; there were lots in the ponds and more in the field to the north.

Jeff Bilsky (9 Aug 2009) - I located a NASHVILLE WARBLER this evening at Antelope Island's Garr Ranch hanging out over by the spring pond....

May 2009

Tim Avery  (3 May 2009) - This morning (05/04) Jeff Bilsky, Sam and I went out to the causeway to scour through the shorebirds, but too also see what migrants were coming through at Garr Ranch... The most intersting sighting was a bird that caught my attention as it jumped through the grass and ran until jumping and flying into another patch of grass. I immediately thouhht of a Baird's Sparrow and told Bilsky where to be looking. The bird was in the field just south of the large patch of trees at the ranch, near the brush pile.

Apr 2009

Carol Gwynn  (18 Apr 2009) - Willets and Franklin's Gulls were the new birds of the year for me along the Antelope Island Causeway today.

Mar 2009

David Jensen (25 Mar 2009) - Despite snow, rain, wind, (some nice dry periods, but with COLD wind), the Audubon group today saw 38 species at Farmington Bay. No Blue-winged Teal, but the Eurasian Wigeon (very uncooperative as it fussed around on a grass island just inside the main entrance of the refuge in the first big pond on the left). A Clarke's Grebe in the largest pond beyond the gate just past Egg Island. And two Sand Hill Cranes doing their ritual dancing - always cool. 30+ other species.

Les Talbot (21 Mar 2009) - I led a Wasatch Audubon Trip to Antelope Island today. The Varied Thrush is still at Garr Ranch. This was a lifer for me. We saw two Burrowing Owl, one at the bottom of the hill going up to Buffalo Point. The other one was at mile marker 6 (going east) on the south side of the causeway.

Carl Ingwell (17 Mar 2009) - I birded Mueller Park today. Found 3 Golden Crowned Kinglets, 1 Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, 3 White-Winged Crossbill (2 of them flew to the ground and fed no more than 5 feet away from my feet. I found it odd that they were feeding on the ground & so close to me!), Steller's Jay, Pine Siskin, Dark-Eyed Junco, Black-Capped Chickadee, American Robin & Northern Flicker.

Jeff Bilsky (15 Mar 2009) - Carl Ingwell and I headed to Farmington Bay this morning to track down the Eurasian Wigeon along with several other birders who were there. Thanks to Pomera for her great find and telling everyone about it.

Joel Beyer (15 Mar 2009) - The Varied Thrush is still at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island, and we saw the Winter Wren at Mueller Park in Bountiful.

Pomera Fronce (14 Mar 2009) - I found a male Eurasian Wigeon at Farmington Bay today (Saturday) around 1:00. He was in the company of some American Wigeons in the wet area between Goose Egg Island and the new visitors center.

Jeff Bilsky (13 Mar 2009) - Took an evening hike up Mueller Park to see what I could find. Birds weren't plentiful but I got the best look I've ever had at a Winter Wren and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK. I was surprised and pleased to locate both.

Joel Beyer (8 Mar 2009) - Mueller Park in Bountiful was busy with birds this morning. In the pine trees just up the canyon from the caretaker's trailer/second parking lot we found 10-12 White-winged Crossbills, RB Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, GC Kinglets, Pine Siskins, and Mountain and BC Chickadees. At Garr Ranch on Antelope Island, the Varied Thrush is still hanging around.

Feb 2009

Paul Higgins (22  Feb 2009) - Iceland Gull--Farmigton, FWMA .[see note for 7 Feb below]  (photos)

Dave Hanscom(15 Feb 2009) - ...It was really cold up here, so I decided to head for lower elevations and went to Antelope Island in search of wrens at Ladyfinger Point. Once again I struck out, but as luck would have it, a flock of American Tree Sparrows cruised through while I was there. Nice year bird!

Also, the Varied Thrush was still at the ranch, and the two Long-tailed Ducks were at the bridge near the island. I couldn't find a rail, but a couple of Loggerhead Shrikes were hanging out along the road to the ranch.

Jeff Bilsky (8 Feb 2009) - Today was a great day of birding - as predicted. I woke up thinking I'd go
to Farmington Bay for Gulls but I never actually made it there....Next stop - Antelope Island. My initial run through the causeway didn't reveal too much; there was a MERLIN right outside the entrance gate and a whole bunch of PHEASANTS in the marsh just inside. I zipped over to the ranch where I immediately saw the VARIED THRUSH. Also a very cooperative VIRGINIA RAIL as well as a nice looking HERMIT THRUSH. A lone female CALIFORNIA QUAIL made for my first island record of this species. The GREAT HORNED OWLS hung out in the barn. 
I was next going to head to Farmington Bay, but couldn't make it past the AI causeway. This time, I found a LONG TAILED DUCK at the same bridge it usually is seen. A PRAIRIE FALCON on one of the light posts gave me the best look I've ever had at this species. Then, as I was heading back to the exit, I saw that the fields to the North were packed with CANADA GEESE and a good number of TUNDRA SWANS. Amongst the geese, I found a lone SNOW GOOSE and what I am confident was at least one CACKLING GOOSE. There were so many Canada Geese and more kept showing up but there was one tiny one I studied for like 20 minutes and I believe it was a Cackler. There was one crazy looking hybrid that showed up - I believe it was a CANADA/GREATER WHITE FRONTED mix - a poor digibinoc photo is on the link I listed above.

Cindy Sommerfeld ( 7 Feb 2009) - Around 3:30 this afternoon Steve and I traveled to Farmington Bay . It turned out to be an eight Gull Day. We drove to the furthest gate south and walked south through the gate and to the first bridge. On the east side there is a crack in the ice and lots of gulls. We found:  Mew Gull (juvenile), Ring-billed Gulls (lots), California Gulls (lots), Herring Gulls (lots), Thayer's Gulls (2 adult and several juvenile), Glaucous Gulls (1 adult and 2 juvenile), Western Gull (we call lit "Tim's Gull"), and what we feel was an Iceland Gull

Jan 2009

Joel and Kathy Beyer (31 Jan 2009) -  This afternoon at Farmington Bay WMA (Davis Co.) we found an adult Mew Gull near the second bridge on the west dike road. Also in this area were a dozen Least Sandpipers, 10 Lesser Yellowlegs and several American Avocets. The Mew Gull was species #101 seen by us this January in Davis County.

Paul Higgins (25 Jan 2009) - The very beautiful female Varied Thrush is still at Fielding Garr Ranch, south of the spring.

Carol Gwynn (10 Jan 2009) - I birded the Antelope Island Causeway, and nearly all of the rarities had gone elsewhere. The 3 Long-tailed Ducks were still at the bridge closest to the island on the north side. A passing Peregrine got the hundreds of Shovelers all excited. ...

Jeff Bilsky (6 Jan 2009) - Just spoke to Carl Ingwell who had a flock of 7 Snow Buntings on the Antelope Island causeway just past MM2. There were also two Lapland Longspurs in a flock of Horned Larks near the entrance gate. Good birding.

Brian Currie (3 Jan 2009) - I birded AIC from about 12:45 to 4:15 today. ...Ruff (between mm 2 and 3)... Snow Buntings (2 - between mm 1 and 2, about 3/10s of a mile from mm 2 going towards mm 1) ...Long-tailed Duck (drake and hen at the bridge)....

Stephen T Carlile (3 Jan 2009) - Made a quick trip to Antelope Island today to see if I could get the Varied Thrush. A lifer for me as was the Ruff last week. Didn't get there until 2:00, so I had to hustle. The road to Garr Ranch was snow packed, but safe at a reasonable speed. It was cold but beautiful. After about 45 minutes at Garr Ranch found the Varied Thrush on the southern edge of the "woodlot". I found the Varied Thrush by first seeing a "surprise" Hermit Thrush and then noticing movement on the ground below. There was the Varied Thrush pecking at something. One thing can lead to another. Once found the Varied Thrush was very cooperative. Also saw a very noisy and visible Virginia Rail at the east end of the spring. (I need to get a camera.) On the way back found a Northern Shrike. Saw the Ruff both coming and going, in the same area already noted by Deedee. This is the fourth time seeing the Ruff for me and every time it has been in the same general area, mixed in with Killdeer; so check out the Killdeer. Today's Ruff siting was 4.6 miles west of the AI Causeway entrance fee station.

Tom Fletcher (1 Jan 2009) - I went to Antelope Island today to see the Ruff (and Varied Thrush). In addition to these great birds and many more, there was a Northern Shrike (a juvenile, I believe) on the east side of the road not far from Garr Ranch. I hope that one of the folks that was there for the count saw it also.

Dec 2008

Edson Leite (31 Dec 2008) - I took Beth and her family out today to get them new lifers. Our first stop was the city cemetery. Picked up the Pigmy Nuthatches around 330 n 900 e. At AIC the Ruffs were on the south side around mm 3.25 with western and least sandpiper, sanderling, killdeer. Garr ranch varied and hermit thrush.

Bob Bond (30 Dec 2008) - Yesterday afternoon we found a female Varied Thrush in the trees south of the spring at the Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. To my knowledge this is at least the second sighting of a Varied Thrush on the island.

Tim Avery (28 Dec 2008) - Thanks to Jack Binch for the email yesterday about the Ruff! Carl Ingwell and I ran up to the causeway this morning and right at MM4 there were 2 RUFF sitting on the north side of the causeway. Both birds decided to fly right as we got there, one headed east, while the other too the west. Over the next 2 hours we searched without any luck re finding the birds. Paul Higgins arrived during that time frame and found 4 Snow Bunting and shortly after a Lapland Longspur near MM2 on the north side of the causeway as well. Carl and also noted 3 Long-tailed Ducks at the bridge, as well as a bunch of Common Goldeneye, Green-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers. 8 or 9 Bald Eagle were seen, as well as several Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harrier and several hundred Horned Larks... Around 10:30am we ran into the Sommerfeld's and finally back near the 1st bridge, was Pomera Fronce and Kent Lewis who had just located one of the RUFF again. I called Paul who made his way down and we all got fantastic looks at the bird.

Jack Binch (27 Dec 2008) - ... I drove to Antelope Island Causeway. I saw a Ruff at milepost 4 on the north side and what appears to be another on the north side just south of the rusty culverts. A couple of Least Sandpipers near mile 4 and three Snow Buntings between the culverts and the weather station on the north side. A whole bunch of shovelers at the marina bridge and some goldeneyes and one female Long-tailed Duck.

Nov 2008

Joel and Kathy Beyer (30 Nov 2008) - A few birds of note from today's outing...  Antelope Is. causeway (Davis Co.): Black Scoter (female), Long-tailed Duck (female) -- both at second bridge.

Kris Purdy (25 Nov 2008) - Today, I heard a report of another Dunlin. Members of Wasatch Audubon saw and photographed one on Antelope Island's causeway in Davis County on Saturday. The bird was with a group of Killdeer north of mile markers 1-2.

My husband and I visited Farmington Bay WMA in Davis County this afternoon. ...Best birds in regards to level of rarity included several Greater Scaup. I swept through literally hundreds of Lesser Scaup before finding any Greaters, they were neither easy to find nor numerous today. I saw five or six. A male CINNAMON TEAL brightened everything up in his fresh spicy plumage, one WESTERN GREBE looked lonely without compatriots, and four Horned Grebes swam along the edges of the raft near the south end of the ducks (not far from the southwest end of the dike).

Eric Huish (15 Nov 2008) - Lu Gidding led 4 carloads of Utah County Birders on a field trip today. ...On the Antelope Island Causeway we saw the previously reported Black Scoter and Long-tailed Duck at the last bridge before the island.. We also saw a White-winged Scoter. It flew past on the North side of the causeway then a few minutes later flew in and landed near the bridge on the South side. The field trip ended here. It was a great field trip with lifers for some in the group.  Matt, Stephanie and I headed on to Garr Ranch where the best birds were a Merlin and a Great Horned Owl. On our way back across the causeway we stopped at the bridge again (4:15 p.m.) This time there was one of each scoter species. The White-winged on the South and the Black and a Surf Scoter next to each other right next to shore on the North side of the causeway.

Kris Purdy (14 Nov 2008) - John Bellmon, Keith Evans, Jack Rensel and I had a great day birding Jensen Nature Park in west Layton and Antelope Island State Park in Davis County today. ...Surf Scoter - One female on the north side of the big bridge near the marina. Doug Roberts was blessed with three there. Black Scoter - The first sighting was a right-place-at-the-right-time sighting. We had left the bridge and continued west when a duck flying low over the water from the northwest and landing on the north side of the bridge caught our attention. It screamed to be checked, and turned into the female Black Scoter. She only stayed there, diving, for a few minutes, and then took off east and then south over the causeway. On the way home, we found her again south of mm 1. Long-tailed Duck - A female in the morning south of the big bridge, and a male there in the afternoon.

Carl Ingwell (13 Nov 2008) - This morning I birded Antelope Island for a couple hours. Watched the Surf Scoter for about 30 min. She was my first Scoter of the year. Both the Scoter and Long-tailed Duck had moved to the North side of the bridge.

Joel Beyer (12 Nov 2008) - A female Surf Scoter was seen on the north side of the second bridge on the Antelope Island Causeway (Davis Co.). A male Long-tailed Duck was on the south side of the bridge.

Kris Purdy (9 Nov 2008) - Paul Higgins just called (10:00 AM, Sunday) to report that he and Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld are enjoying a male Long-tailed Duck at the big bridge near the marina at Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County. The duck is wearing his eye-catching winter plumage with the elongated central retrices. Maybe there's still time for folks to get out for a look before the front hits.

Oct 2008

Kristin Purdy (27 Oct 2008) - A juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose was at Kaysville Ponds in Davis County today. The bird is keeping with the Canada Geese there and wants nothing to do with the domestic Graylags and Barnyard Geese that are omnipresent at this location.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (12 Oct 2008) - Sunday at the Antelope Island Causeway Kathy and I found a female Surf Scoter, a juvenile Sabine's Gull and a Horned Grebe, all just west of the second bridge. Highlights of Garr Ranch were a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a "Myrtle" Warbler and a Red-naped Sapsucker.

Carl Ingwell (11 Oct 2008) -  Antelope Island Causway: Northern Shoveler, Canada Goose, Eared Grebe, American Kestrel, American Avocet, Killdeer, Franklin's Gull (10 or so before the first bridge. Seem late), Ring-Billed Gull, California Gull, Sabine's Gull (near 2nd bridge), Common Raven, Starling, American Pipit (100's along causway), Western Meadowlark.

Sep 2008

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.

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.

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...

Aug 2008

Joel and Kathy Beyer (31 Aug 2008) - Farmington Bay WMA had some nice birds late this afternoon, seen shortly before the cold front arrived. We saw a basic plumaged Red-necked Grebe along the west dike, about halfway between the second bridge and the end of the road. A Brant was observed flying across the large pond located southeast of the end of the west dike. It landed out of sight behind the Pelicans on the far eastern shore. Also seen along the dike road were large numbers of Black Terns and a Common Tern. A Solitary Sandpiper was at the shallow pond just inside the entrance gate, and a Sage Thrasher was seen near the refuge buildings. Shortly after sunrise this morning, we saw a Great Egret and an American Bittern from the observation tower at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve (Layton). Over 100 Sandhill Cranes flew by the tower during the hour we were there.T he migration at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island was fairly slow. Notable birds were Nashville Warbler, Gray Flycatcher, Northern Waterthrush, and Calliope Hummingbird (2 or 3).

Tim Avery (20 Aug 2008) - At Farmington Bay WMA the pond at the first major bend to the west was all but dried up and covered with shorebirds. Highlights included Solitary Sandpiper, several Spotted Sandpiper, numerous Killdeer, several Stilts and Avocets, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Phalarope and 2 foraging VIRGINIA RAIL. On the main resting pond there was a single Common Tern, as well as a lone Forster's Tern, around 14 BLACK TERN, and several Clark's and several hundred Western Grebe.

Jack Binch (17 Aug 2008) - ...[Garr] ranch did not have a lot either. A lone Northern Waterthrush, Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Warbling Vireos, and a couple of empids. I did not spend a lot of time there, but it seems to be a bit early for warbler migration.

Stephen T Carlile (2 Aug 2008) - Went to Antelope Island again this morning. Met up with Steven and Cindy Sommerfeld and later with Lynn Christiansen. The big find of the day was by Lynn who found the Ruddy Turnstone reported last week. Thank you Lynn. This is a Utah bird for me. It was about .10 of a mile east of Mile marker 1, on the South side of the causeway and still in very "crisp" plumage. The bird moved back and forth along the causeway in the same general area while were there.

Jul 2008

Kristin Purdy (27 Jul 2008) - Thanks to Crystal Carpenter for reporting the Ruddy Turnstone at Antelope Island Causeway yesterday. ...Jack Binch and I watched the turnstone for 20-30 minutes on the north side at the big bridge near the marina. The turnstone was easy to miss and easy to lose because of the rocky shoreline in that area. The bird was not flighty, but hopped among the rocks along the waterline and frequently dropped out of sight. Fortunately, he was also fond of playing king of the rock and often stood on high points at water's edge. Several times, he flew away from the shore in a wide loop, low to the water, and returned to the shoreline farther east or west. He's still in strong rust, black and white plumage. I couldn't see any sign of the post-nuptial molt yet and his median coverts are faded enough almost to call them blonde rather than ruddy.

Crystal Carpenter (26 Jul 2008) - There was a lone Ruddy Turnstone on the causeway this morning. My camera is horrible for taking photos, so I didn't. It was just east of the jetty with the metal drum heading toward Fremont Island on the north side of the causeway. It was feeding on mud bank not the rocky bank.

Jeff Bilsky (26 Jul 20088) - My advice would be for anyone with a good scope to head out to AI. It was quite active today. Red-Necked Phalaropes as far as the eye can see. Also had a group of 20+ Marbled Godwits, a Whimbrel and several Curlews. On the island had a nice look at a Grasshopper Sparrow and some of the other usuals ...

Ben Palmer (18 Jul 2008) - I ran out to Antelope Island today... I was very surprised to see a couple Whimbrels on the North side of the causeway, near milepost 3. The birds were right on the waters edge, so it made for great viewing. I also saw a Long-billed Curlew near there. On my way back, about 2:30, I saw a Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew together on the South side of the road, near mile post 2. It was great to see the two birds side-by-side, the curlew looked huge next to the Whimbrel, and it was fun to be able to compare their field-marks.

Stephen Carlile (8 Jul 2008) - I went to Antelope Island this morning in hopes of getting a Grasshopper Sparrow, as I haven't seen one yet this year. I wasn't disappointed and saw two.

Jun 2008

Pomera Fronce (1 June 2008) Ben Palmer, Kent Lewis and I observed a handsome breeding male Blackpoll Warbler at Garr Ranch today (Sunday) from 11:05 to 11:35. I hope most of you will know what I mean when I say the bird was working the line of russian olive trees just south and east of the spring house. Particularly, he was foraging in the tree at the southeast corner and the tree directly to the west.  The bird was very intently working the upper branches of the trees and would occasionally sally out to catch insects. He was still there when we left at 11:35. ...Also near the spring house was a female American Redstart.

May 2008

Paul Higgins (29 May 2008) - Lark Bunting -- Antelope Island --Just past the Friary Peak trailhead turnoff on road to Fielding Garr Ranch. West side of road.

Joel Beyer (19 May 2008) - Kathy and I did a big day in Davis County on Sunday. We totalled 128 species, the most notable being 2 Vaux's Swifts flying north in thevicinity of the Bountiful LDS temple. Other nice sightings were 2 American Bitterns and a displaying Wilson's Snipe at the GSL Shorelands Preserve in Layton; Grasshopper Sparrow on Antelope Island; Willow Flycatcher, Northern Waterthrush, Lincoln's Sparrow and Gray Catbird at Garr Ranch; another Am. Bittern and a Snow Goose at Farmington Bay WMA...

Jack Binch (10 May 2008) - Bob Huntington called me and said to come up to [Garr] ranch that a lot of warblers were in the area. We saw several Northern Waterthrushes...On the causeway at about mile post four on the south side, there were thousands of Black-bellied Plovers, peeps, and quite a few Red Knots. We had three knots in one view of a spotting scope at one time. This is the first time I have ever seen Red Knots within binocular range.

Michael Wienholt (9 May 2008) - Calgary birder Jerry Pilny, who is traveling to Tucson, called this evening from Flagstaff to ask me to report a "Louisiana Waterthrush at Fielding Garr Ranch at 16:00 on 5/7/08, 30 meters downhill from the house near a mud puddle surrounded by large trees."

Edson Leite (4 May 2008) - Beth and I birded Antelope Island today.  On the south side of the cause way mm 5 there were 100+ Black-bellied Plovers, 4 American Golden Plovers, a few Western Sandpiper, and a few Sanderlings. A lone Dunlin was hanging out with the Plovers. ...At Garr Ranch ...Winter Wren.

Paul Higgins (4 May 2008) - Northern Waterthrush--Fielding Garr Ranch

Carol Gwynn (3 May 2008) -One of the Red Knots reported earlier in the week was still on the Antelope Island Causeway this morning. It was just before mm 5 on the north side of the causeway. A good landmark is the toppled over, bleached out tree trunk on the south side of the causeway. The Red Knot was loosely associated with a group of several dozen Black-bellied Plovers...

Apr 2008

Joel and Kathy Beyer (28 Apr 2008) - The plan was to do a big day in Davis County... Highlights, in no particular order: Causeway -- Red Knot (6), Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Wilson's and Red-necked Phalarope, Baird's Sandpiper ... Farmington Bay WMA -- Solitary Sandpiper (3), Blue-winged Teal, Horned Grebe, Semipalmated Plover...

Stephen Carlile (28 Apr 2008) - Spent the day doing some much needed unwinding and birded Antelope Island/Causeway/Garr Ranch and Farmington Bay.... Highlights:  ... Two Dunlin still on the Causeway's rocky "spit", as reported by Merrill Webb. The birds were crowded in with several hundred if not a thousand Western Sandpipers (no Sanderlings though). The Dunlin is a new Utah bird for me!... The female Long-tailed Duck is still at the Causeway's "big" bridge. Was very active and seemed healthy... One Solitary Sandpiper at Farmington Bay, as reported earlier on the ponds as you enter...

Steve Coleman (28 Apr 2008) - I hosted at the Nature Center at Farmington Bay Saturday morning the whole area was very active ...Great Egret on the east pond as you enter the Nature Center, Blue-winged Teal on the big pond east of the Nature Center ...I was able to see the Solitary Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper where Deedee spotted them.

Deedee O'Brien (23 Apr 2008) - I birded the Causeway in the cold wind and spitting rain this morning. Was rewarded with good close sightings of 3 plovers - Semi-palmated, Snowy, and Black-bellied (4 of 5 were in breeding plumage). Willets, CA Gulls, and Eared Grebes were numerous. A surprise find was a female Long-tailed Duck near the island. She didn't look too perky. I suspect she won't make it to her breeding grounds.

Milt Moody (23 Apr 2008) - Antelope Island Causeway Merrill Webb just called to tell me he had found 3 Dunlin in a flock of about 150 Sanderlings at the outcropping between mile post 1 and 2 along the Antelope Island Causeway.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (20 Apr 2008) - This morning we saw a Whimbrel in the field just east of the Antelope Island Causeway entrance station. ... A breeding plumaged Horned Grebe was on the Glover Ponds (at the end of Glover Lane in Farmington)...

David Jensen (12 Apr 2008) - At Farmington Bay best sighting was of the Cackling Goose (minima) first seen late last month. The goose was in the pond at the very west end of Glover Lane, swimming with the ducks and a few Canada Geese. I would have thought it would have been halfway to Alaska by now.

Mar 2008

Steve Coleman (31 Mar 2008) - In case any are still looking for the wigeon, I spent the morning at Farmington Bay Nature Center Saturday and after looking at hundreds of Wigeons, I did see the Eurasian Wigeon on the playa between Goose Egg Island and the Nature Center. He was pursuing a hen quite actively, not sure if she was a Eurasian or an American Wigeon hen.

Joel Beyer (30 Mar 2008) - The "minima" [Cackling Goose] was with a couple dozen of Canadas in the field just east of the Nature Center [Farmington Bay] yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. It was one of the 19 new birds we saw, which put our total birds seen in Davis County this March at 110.

David Jensen (26 Mar 2008) - Loads of ducks today at Farmington Bay on the monthly last-Wednesday-of-the-month trip. Other birds as well. We looked quite thoroughly for the Eurasian Wigeon but came up wanting on that one. Best sighting: just after turning south to take the little road to the nature center buildings we stopped to look at the birds in the pond to the west, just before the center. Paddling around between a couple of "standard" Canada Geese was a minima Cackling Goose. Perfect sighting: tiny bill, steep forehead, very small overall size (nice to have the Canadas right there for comparison), dark breast, AND it had the added bonus of having a very narrow but easily seen white neck ring. The cackler flew off with the Canadas and landed in a field east of the pond.

Jeff Langford (23 Mar 2008) -  at Farmington Bay Sunday afternoon. ... had a pair of Tree Swallows (first of season), Sandhill Cranes, all of the usual ducks, including the Eurasian Wigeon in the east pond, and an estimated 1,000 American White Pelicans.

Joel Beyer (23 Mar 2008) - This afternoon we found an Eurasian Wigeon in the pond northeast of the Antelope Island Causeway entrance station. At Farmington Bay WMA, the previously reported Eurasian Wigeon is still on the pond along the east side of the entrance road.

Cindy Sommerfeld (15 Mar 2008) - Steve and I spent the morning on Antelope Island. Nothing unusual. ...On the way home we stopped at Farmington. At Glover Lane ponds we saw our first of the year Avocets. Also near by a Ross's Goose and Snow Goose were grazing. From the look out hill, in Farmington Bay, Steve found a Eurasian Wigeon. It was on the pond North of the look out. Possibly the same bird as last year?

Dave Allen (4 Mar 2008) - Me and Mike Johnson birded Antelope Island on Monday. Best birds were 4 Long-tailed Duck on the causeway at the big bridge and 1 Northern Shrike. The Shrike was at the small dirt pull off just below the bistro. It was working the north side of the hill down where the sage brush started. It made a couple of passes in that sage brush area.

Joel Beyer (1 Mar 2008) - In Davis Co. this morning, a "minima" Cackling Goose was at the Kaysville Ponds. A 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull was at Farmington Bay WMA. And the accommodating and rather wet Red-shouldered Hawk was on Park Lane in Farmington about 3:00 this afternoon.

Jack Binch (1 Mar 2008) - The Red-shouldered Hawk was at the previously reported spot on Park Lane this afternoon. I half-heartedly looked for it a couple of times, but today had a good look at it.

Feb 2008

Tim Avery (27 Feb 2008) - I spent most of yesterday around Farmington and Farmington Bay WMA...I counted 144 eagles around Farmington during the day, and also tallied ...the Red-shouldered Hawk (rounding out the raptors) which was seen about noon in the previously mentioned location at Park Lane. ...The gull scene at FBWMA was happening, with 7 species seen: 1 ad. Western Gull, 2 juv. & a 2nd year Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 ad. Mew Gull, 1 ad. Glaucous Gull, 3 - 1st winter Thayer's Gulls, and numerous California, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls rounding out the mix.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (24 Feb 2008) - We found 2 Bewick's Swans (the Eurasian subspecies of Tundra) a tFarmington Bay WMA late this afternoon. They were seen together with a large group of Tundra Swans in the pond east of the entrance road, at the point where the road turns west. One was an adult, the other was a juvenile. At the first bridge on the west dike road were 3 second-winter Glaucous Gulls, and a first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull was near the second bridge. Barn and Short-eared Owls were also out and about as usual. And the Red-shouldered Hawk was still present at Park Lane in Farmington (this morning, afternoon and evening).

Tim Avery (22 Feb 2008) - Ben Palmer sent me some pictures this morning to confirm the ID of a finch he photographed along the road to Garr Ranch on Antelope Island. The bird in the pictures was a Common Redpoll as he had thought ...  Ben said, "The flock was hanging out just over the crest of the hill before the road drops down to head around the island." I believe this is just after you get on the road and are driving east across the hill side with all the rocks. As you come around the corner here, the road "drops down" and continues south. I would guess that it is hanging around with the flock of goldfinches so locating the flock is probably the best bet for looking for this bird.

MarJean Muhlestein (19 Feb 2008) - I went looking for the Red-shouldered Hawk juv., and just West of I-15 exit entering onto Park Ln., spotted the Hawk. I decided since it had been seen in the morning hours, and not in the afternoon hours, that it must roost there. So I went at 5:30 pm and immediately saw it resting in the snag of a dead tree. There is a pile of rubbish surrounding the snag. The pheasant pens are just North of several trees, and it was hunting that field.

Joel and Kathy (18 Feb 2008) - The Bald Eagle spectacle continued today at Farmington Bay WMA. We counted over 150 Bald Eagles, with at least 50 in the vicinity of the second bridge on the dike road. Also seen at this location was the adult Western Gull, a second-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, an adult Glaucous Gull, a couple of first-winter Thayer's Gulls, and over 100 Herring Gulls. And what better ending to a day of birding than seeing 7 Short-eared Owls and 5 Barn Owls hunting along the dike road.

Tony Jones (13 Feb 2008) - I left home this morning about 8:15 am. As I drove over the bridge at Park lane in Farmington, I saw a raptor in a tree. This is the same spot that the Summerfields saw the Red-shouldered Hawk on Sunday. ...Park Lane is off the Highway 89 exit near Lagoon. From the highway exit, turn west and the bird is on the North side in a tree near a fenced area that looks like it has pheasant in it.

Bryan Shirley (11 Feb 2008) - After reading that the Sommerfelds survived Farmington Bay on Sunday I thought I might be able to handle it on a weekday. ...At first I couldn't find the Western Gull, but did locate a Juv Glaucous Gull (also at the 1st bridge). Then I found a suspicious looking Juv Herring Gull and thought if I watched it long enough I could turn it in to something else. After about 10 minutes it actually worked - the Western Gull walked into my scope! The Herring Gull was still there, so technically I didn't use my magical powers to change him into a rare bird, but close...

Cindy Sommerfeld (10 Feb 2008) - Today Steve and I birded Antelope Island until early afternoon.... On our way home we decided to stop at Farmington Bay. As we exited I-15 (exit 325 I think) and turned right toward Davis Co. Fairgrounds we spotted a raptor. The hawk was on the west side of the road in a tree near the pheasant cages. It was a Red-shouldered Hawk! We watched it for several minutes. It was very skittish and flew around a lot. Just as it found a place to settle a FERRUGINOUS HAWK flew in and chased it off. We last saw it flying south east over the Fairgrounds. We did try to relocate it without any luck....We ventured on to Farmington Bay...We did find the Western Gull and the Mew Gull that Jerry mentioned seeing on Friday. Also at least one adult Thayer's Gull.

Jerry Lig (9 Feb 2008) - Went birding yesterday with a few friends at Farmington Bay, birds of note: Adult Mew Gull (right off the first bridge) Adult Western Gull (right off the first bridge)(2) Least Sandpipers (end of the dike road) Greater Yellowlegs (end of the dike road)(2) Harlan's Red-tailed Hawks (near entrance to the refuge, east on Glover lane) a bunch of Barn Owls several Short-eared Owls(150 or so) Bald Eagles.

Kris Purdy (6 Feb 2008) - Paul Higgins just called (11:00 a.m. Wednesday) to report seeing a Lapland Longspur and a Snow Bunting in a flock of Horned Larks on Antelope Island Causeway, Davis County, at about mile 2.5.

Jan 2008

Doug Roberts (29 Jan 2008) - I saw two female Long-tailed Ducks at Antelope Island today (Tuesday, 29 January), at the causeway, west culvert.

Joel and Kathy (27 Jan 2008) - An adult Western Gull and Trumpeter Swan were at Farmington Bay WMA this afternoon, The Western Gull was on the west dike at the first bridge, along with over 100 Herring Gulls and 18 Bald Eagles. The gulls were busy finding fish in the small section of open water, and the eagles were just as busy taking the fish away. Quite entertaining! The Trumpeter Swan was in the southwest pond at the end of the west dike road, hanging out with pintails and shovelers. At mile marker 2 on the Antelope Island Causeway, a Lapland Longspur was found in a flock of 30 Horned Larks. Also, 7 Long-tailed Ducks (3 male,4 female) were at the second bridge.

Doug Roberts (8 Jan 2008) - At the causeway at Antelope Island, Utah, today, Jan 8, I believe I saw a Glaucous Gull. It was the largest gull in the water, and it had pinkish bill with black tip. It was mostly white-ish.

Dec 2007

Kris Purdy (31 Dec 2007) - Paul Higgins just called (11:00 am, Monday) with a report of a Great Egret at Farmington Bay WMA in Davis County. The bird is just west of the parking lot at the end of the west dike where Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld found the Western Gull last March. The egret was enjoying fishing success with Great Blue Herons and Paul got some great images, which he'll post in a couple days when his computer is functional again.

Edson Leite (31 Dec 2007) - I took my girlfriend's family birdwatching for the first time today. We went to Antelope Island they had a blast. We had a Goshawk on the road to the Ranch, a couple porcupines on the trees, and Sharpie on the way to the ranch as well. At the first bridge we had 7 Long-tailed Ducks.

Stephen Carlile (28 Dec 2007) - With the week off from work I decided to go on the monthly Audubon Farmington Bay trip today. ...The highlights were a Northern Shrike (in the last cluster of small trees east of Egg Island on the north side of the road)...

Tim Avery (21 Dec 2007) - [Chestnut-collared Longspur] Thanks to Bryan for the phone call this afternoon. I was able to get a hold of the Sommerfeld's and make our way up. As Bryan mentioned, the bad news was the bird was gone. We spent about 1.5-2 hours searching in the area where the bird was seen without locating the bird. We decided to head towards Glover's Lane as the bird was last seen flying out to the NW around Egg Island. So along with the Sommerfeld's, Paul Higgins, and Larene Wyss, we headed that way. We drove to the turnaround at the north end of the ponds and headed back south along the pond at Glover's Lane, when the bird literally flew up right in front of the car, over the top and behind us. Thankfully it was an overly cooperative bird and we were all able to watch it until it was dark. Pat Jividen showed up a few minutes afterwards and was able to see the bird as well. The bird let us approach and view it from within 20 feet. When it did fly it called a couple times giving a 3 note rattle...

Bryan Shirley (21 Dec 2007) - Santa came early this year and delivered a Chestnut-collared Longspur to Farmington Bay today. I found it about 2 PM on the road about 100 yards south of the gate at Egg Island.... It looks like a male in transition plumage. Closer to winter, but it still has a mostly black belly. It also has a bit of chestnut color mixed with the black on the breast. Sibly doesn't show that, but the National Geographic guide shows breeding males with either black or with chestnut breasts. At first I didn't notice it, but at close range it does have a few chestnut-tinged feathers in the collar as well...

Jeff Bilsky (10 Dec 2007) - In preparation for the CBC, I birded the Bountiful area over the weekend. Saturday I found a large flock of Bohemian Waxwings with the occasional CEDAR WAXWING mixed in right near the Cemetery. Also spotted a Merlin in a tree. Sunday went again with Carl Ingwell and spotted a large flock of RED CROSSBILLS amongst other expected species.

Nov 2007

Bill Fenimore (28 Nov 2007) - I took three BYU students and their professor out birding on the Antelope Island Causeway this afternoon. ...The Long-tailed Ducks were on the south side at the last bridge before the marina. We also found a Mew Gull on the north side, before reaching the second bridge. It was with two Ring-billed and a Bonaparte's Gull.

Kris Purdy (27 Nov 2007) - The Bohemian Waxwings continue in the Fruit Heights neighborhood, Davis County, that Franklin Clawson described on November 18. ... About 25 Hooded Mergansers are at Kaysville Ponds. Most are female-type birds, although at least three of the female-type birds are first-year males with yellowish eyes and black bills. I saw about five adult males...

Carol Gwynn (24 Nov 2007) - Two Snow Buntings remained at the first bridge, north side, on the Antelope Island Causeway at about 3 p.m. today, along with American pipits. Numerous Long-tailed Ducks were still at the second bridge, and yes, not one, but TWO separate groups of folks came by in the hour I was by the 2nd bridge, to toss boulders into the water and scatter all of the birds. Good grief. Numerous hooded mergansers were still at the Kaysville Ponds today.

Paul Higgins (23 Nov 2007) - I was out on the AI Causeway, earlier today, and located four (4) more Snow Buntings on the first bridge with the NO SWIMMING signs.

Tim Avery - This morning (11/20) I hit the causeway expecting a good movement of birds with overnight NW winds. I was pleased with the number of gulls along the entire length of the north side of the causeway. The majority of the birds were Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls, but a few Herring and California were mixed in. The best bird of the morning was a 2nd year Mew Gull at the first bridge. ...At the last bridge were an astounding 18!!!! yes, 18 Long-tailed Ducks, including 7 adult males with tail plumes. 2 White-winged Scoter, and the Black Scoter were also swimming around.

Kris Purdy (16 Nov 2007) - Paul Higgins called me at about 12:40 pm to report a Snow Bunting at Antelope Island Causeway, Davis County. Paul was photographing the scoters and Long-tailed Ducks at the big bridge near the marina and he became aware of a lone bird foraging in the rocks where rocks and weeds meet at the northeast side of the bridge. He was able to capture a couple images at a long distance.

Joel and Kathy (11 Nov 2007) - This afternoon we found a male Eurasian Wigeon at Farmington Bay WMA (Davis Co.). It was in the Unit 1 pond (the "rest area"), in the midst of several thousand other ducks, about three tenths of a mile south of the dike road gate.

Tim Avery (6 Nov 2007) - Headed up to the causeway this morning to try and photograph the scoters, as well as to look through the Bonaparte's Gulls again... Below is a list of the highlights: Location: Antelope Island Causeway Observation date: 11/6/07Number of species: 36 ROSS'S GOOSE 1 (between MM3-4 on north side with Canada Geese) Cinnamon Teal 1, Greater Scaup 2 (flyby at the last bridge) Lesser Scaup 10, Surf Scoter 1 (at the last bridge) White-winged Scoter 1 (at the last bridge), Long-tailed Duck 2 (at the last bridge), Bufflehead 4, Common Goldeneye 15, BALD EAGLE 1 (adult flyover at MM4), Prairie Falcon 1, Bonaparte's Gull 80, Herring Gull 2, Sabine's Gull 1 (with the BOGU flock)...

Tim Avery (4 Nov 2007) - This morning I headed up to the causeway to try and pick up the White-winged Scoter reported yesterday by the Sommerfelds, et all. Arriving at the last bridge, the flock of Bonaparte's Gulls was stunning! On the south/east side of the causeway were two scoters and a Long-tailed Duck together, however the Scoter's did not include the White-winged. The previously reported Surf Scoter was present as well as a juvenile type Black Scoter!... at least 11 Long-tailed Duck at the causeway today! The juvenile Sabine's Gull Was still present. It wasn't with the flock when I arrived, but, flew in while I was taking pictures...

Carol Gwynn (3 Nov 2007) - The Antelope Island Causeway was way too much fun today. ...I ran into Sommerfelds at the bridge closest to the island, and they were enjoying the Bonaparte's Gulls and scanning for oddities. Steve was on a juvenile Sabine's Gull. Very nice. ... Steve located a Surf Scoter, and a few minutes later, Paul (eagle eyes) spotted a male Long-Tailed Duck in flight that put down a ways out on the south side of the bridge. Not long after, Steve spotted a White-winged Scoter which landed close to the Surf Scoter, then took off heading northeast...

Oct 2007

Tim Avery (24 Oct 2007) - Today I headed out to the causeway and Garr Ranch....A juvenile Sabine's Gull flew over the causeway headed northeast near MM3,continuing the great fall for this species in Utah. And the flock of birds where the Beyer's reported a Ruff a few nights back was in the same place, with everything previously reported, minus the Ruff. There was a single Pectoral Sandpiper with them, as well as a Dunlin. And at the first bridge (between MM4-5), on the north side of the causeway was a flock of 95 plovers. And surprisingly, there were 13 American Golden-Plover mixed in with the birds. ...At the ranch things were pretty calm. ...As I walked on the north side of the fence along the spring, I could hear several Golden-crowned Kinglets. As I followed one to the ground about 20 feet ahead I spotted a very rufous melospiza sparrow, and getting my binocs on it was greeted with great looks at a Swamp Sparrow ...The bird was probably directly north of where Kris Purdy saw a sparrow last week that struck her as "swampish", but she didn't get great looks at the bird....

Joel and Kathy (21 Oct 2007) - This evening Kathy and I found a juvenile Ruff on the Antelope Island Causeway (Davis Co.). We initially saw the bird at 6 p.m., in a large mixed flock of peeps, including about 40 Killdeer, 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 4-5 Least Sandpipers, 3 Baird's Sandpipers and a Western Sandpiper. The group was at mile marker 3.5 on the south side, spread out on the mud 30 yards out. We observed the bird for 15-20 minutes through the scope, and were able to eliminate all other possibilities, in particular Buff-breasted Sandpiper. The bird was a very close match to the one in Sibley. At 6:20 all the birds took flight, heading east along the causeway. They split into two groups, landing amongst the rocks at approx. mile markers 4.5 and 5. Before we had a chance to thoroughly search through both groups, they again all took flight and headed north over the causeway. At that point it was getting too dim (6:30 p.m.) to follow them any further.

Kris (19 Oct 2007) - I visited Garr Ranch at Antelope Island State Park in Davis County today to watch for a mysterious sparrow that I saw briefly and poorly at the east end of the spring on Tuesday. In an hour and a half of watching, I didn't hear or see a sparrow, but I did see a Northern Saw-whet Owl in the willow windfall in the northern-most spring channel, the one that channels water from the spring house. The bird perched on a horizontal branch, relatively exposed, and tried to ignore the juncos that came to chip at him occasionally. Paul Higgins arrived at about the same time to look for the male Varied Thrush again and photographed the owl...

Kris (16 Oct 2007) - John Bellmon, Keith Evans, Jack Rensel and I saw a male Varied Thrush at Garr Ranch, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, today. We saw the bird in several places around the east end of the spring; he responded to brief playbacks of the Varied Thrush call twice (our attempt to get him to pop out of thick phragmites). We got prolonged good looks at him later when he foraged in the open in the grass between the fence north of the spring and the horse corrals. ...All other species were relatively common except for the Cassin's Vireo John and I saw in the trees north of the bathrooms. And I thought the last one I saw two weeks ago was a little late for the season! I also saw one Golden-crowned Kinglet near the spring.

Mark Stackhouse (14 Oct 2007) - A few persistent birders (the Beyers, the Sommerfelds, David Wheeler and myself) got good looks of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at the Antelope Island Causeway this afternoon. The bird was seen briefly on the south side of the first bridge at about 1 pm, then it flew off, and was well seen at about 3:30 in the same location, before flying off to the south. The bird seems to be moving between the large puddle south of the bridge and the lake shore about 1/4 mile due south of that point, where a large mass of birds could be seen. It returned to the causeway site at least twice, so being patient at that spot may be the best strategy. The Beyers said they saw the same bird earlier in the day (exact time?) east of the bridge at about mm 6 on the south side, so it might be worth checking there as well. There was a Pectoral Sandpiper there this afternoon. In the relatively poor light of the afternoon the bird was not initially very obvious, but on the second viewing moved to a better light angle, and all the definitive field marks could be easily seen. The bird is about the same size and shape as a Pectoral Sandpiper, but has a buffy/rusty wash on the breast instead of heavy streaks, is generally warmer brown/slightly rusty on the back, has a prominent white eyebrow, and a dark cap that looks very rusty in good light. The wingtips and tail are long and attenuated, giving the bird a long and tapered look, somewhat like a Baird's, but the legs are obviously pale, as in Pectoral, and not black as in Baird's. The head pattern (white eyebrow and dark cap) is stronger than in either Baird's or Pectoral. I finally got a new bird in Utah this year (#384) - thanks for the great find Tim! Some other birds seen along the causeway included: ...American Golden-Plover (about 6-10)...Short-billed Dowitcher...

Tim Avery (13 Oct 2007) - This afternoon at 12:30 I was working my way west along the causeway and was several hundred yards east of the first bridge when a flock of Dowitchers flew by with what looked like a Pectoral Sandpiper in tow...I soon found that there were two Pectoral Sandpiper with the flock as well as a single Dunlin. ...I started to pack up when a flock of12 BONAPARTE'S GULL came flying over the causeway from the south, landing on the tip of the mud flat jutting out from the causeway. As I followed the birds to land in my binocs, I caught another Pectoral in the corner and to my shock a very bright sandpiper that looked to be a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. I set my scope down again, and took a quick look. Dark rufous cap, pale and contrasting supercillium, buffy orange wash over the breast, and a lot of rufous in the wings. Definitely not a Pec...the birds took flight as the jets from Hill passed over (as they did most of the afternoon). I opted to follow the birds, which had bunched up with the dowitchers, and other pecs. They headed west about 100 yards then veered south over the causeway. I followed them for a couple hundred yards till I lost sight of them in the rain....The Sharp-tailed never reappeared, but a number of other good shorebirds were seen: 11 American Golden Plover (conservative estimate - all juv's)250 Black-bellied Plover15 PECTORAL SANDPIPER (again conservative - 1 flock of 9 birds) ...1500 Long-billed Dowitcher... 2 Short-billed Dowitcher...

Joel and Kathy Beyer (8 Oct 2007) - Some of the birds we saw today... AI Causeway: 3 Pectoral Sandpipers; 2 Willets; 5 Marbled Godwits; many Least, Western and Baird's Sandpipers; 30+ Black-bellied Plovers; 3 American Golden Plovers; 500+ Red-necked Phalaropes; thousands of Dowitchers; 4Sanderlings; 5 Sandhill Cranes; lots of Pipits. - Garr Ranch: juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 Wilson's Warbler, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 2 Townsend's Warblers, 20+ YR Warblers, 2 Dusky Flycatchers, 3 Red-naped Sapsuckers, 2 Townsend's Solitaires, 20 Flickers, 1 Cassin's Vireo, 30+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Swainson's Thrush, and at least 100 Hermit Thrushes. Farmington Bay WMA: 38 species, including an adult Sabine's Gull, 2 Common Terns, 20 Lesser and 10 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Wilson's Snipe, and 2 Short-billed Dowitchers.

Sep 2007

Carol Gwynn (29 Sep 2007) - I thought today's horrific weather might ground some good birds along the Antelope Island Causeway...Along the Causeway, I ran into a British birding tour group. They had staked out 3 Sabine's Gulls between MM 3 and 4, and their leader had seen two additional ones earlier. I got to see the 3 juveniles. That was pretty cool to see 3 in the same binocular view.

Dave Hanscom (27 Sep 2007) - The monthly Great Salt Lake Audubon Farmington Bay trip took place yesterday. We did see a Common Tern sunning itself on a nest box in the pond at the end of Glover Lane.

(26 Sep 2007) - Arnold Smith and I (Aaron Smith) saw a Blue-headed Vireo at Garr Ranch yesterday at about 1530 in the afternoon. It was mixed in with several Cassin's Vireo's. We also identified what we believe to be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was mixed in with 2 adult male Red-naped Sapsuckers. The Red-naped Sapsuckers both tended to hang together and did not like the Yellow-bellied. They would chase after it any time it would get close to them. The Yellow-bellied also appeared to be an adult male. We located the sapsuckers in the trees just East of the spring house. However, they were seen throughout the trees below the ranch house. The Vireo's were in the same location.

Mark Stackhouse (24 Sep 2007) - I finally made it out to Farmington Bay today to take a look at the jaeger. ...the bird was close to the road in the SW corner of the rest area (main impoundment on the left), where it stayed for some time before making a lengthy flight over the water, trending NE, until I lost it in the distance on the far side (E) of the impoundment...Also there while I was there were Eric Huish (who initially found it), Tuula Rose and Ned Bixler, all from Utah County. I looked with great interest at the photos that Tim took of the bird last week, and had formed an idea as to what the bird is, but wanted to reserve final judgment until I had a chance to see the bird itself. I've found the best way to identify jaegers is by shape and flight style, something that's hard to see in photos. ...What I saw at Farmington Bay today confirms what I thought from Tim's photos. I'm confident that this is a Parasitic Jaeger, and not a Pomarine Jaeger. The bird I saw today was too slight of build, with wings too long and narrow to be a Pomarine. ... I was really hoping for a Pomarine. I've never seen a Pomarine in Utah, but this is my fifth Utah Parasitic Jaeger.

Tim Avery (23 Sep 2007) - This afternoon around 12:45 pm at the first bridge (and no swimming sign) as I was starting to conduct a lakewatch, 3 Red Phalarope came skimming along the surface of the lake about 100 yards north of the causeway. The birds all appeared to be in basic plumage with clean gray back and boldly marked black and white wings. The birds flew past and to the northwest along the shoreline. I called Kris Purdy, who happened to be about 1/4 mile west of me and let her know what had just flown past. She joined me, as well as the Sommerfeld's and shortly after that the Beyer's. We stayed in the area for a couple hours watching the 1,000's of birds flying back and forth to the north of the causeway. Unfortunately, the phalarope were not seen. In all, I only saw 1Wilson's Phalarope and 2 Red-necked Phalarope while looking.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (23 Sep 2007) - A juvenile Golden-crowned Sparrow was seen at Garr Ranch (Antelope Island) this morning about 11:30. It was with a flock of White-crowned Sparrows in the large brush pile southeast of the ranch house. 2 Winter Wrens (we saw them together) are hanging about the large downed trees at the pond. Hermit Thrushes were everywhere. There were still thousands of peeps (Baird's and Western) along the Causeway, and at least 1 American Golden Plover amongst the Black-bellied. At Farmington Bay WMA this afternoon, the Pomarine(?) Jaeger was still present, but was mostly frequenting the far east side of Unit 1 (the rest pond).

Kathy and Joel (22 Sep 2007) - We made our way to Farmington Bay WMA this morning about 9 am, and eventually found the Jaeger resting on the water east of the dike, about 200 yards south of the second bridge where it was reported previously. We had excellent looks (thanks to some cloud cover) as it chased a Forster's Tern around, and it then headed southeast. We refound it later sitting in Unit 2, and again it took off to chase some Black Terns, before disappearing for good. From all we could see, this was a juvenile Pomarine Jaeger, not a Parasitic. Two Common Terns were in the pond at the west end of Glover Lane (Farmington). This afternoon the north side of the Antelope Island Causeway was alive with birds bulking up during the storm. A couple thousand each Western and Baird's Sandpipers, a Dunlin, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Red Knots, 7 Marbled Godwits, 3 Snowy Plovers, 8 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Wilson's Phalaropes, a Red-necked Phalarope, 6 Sanderlings, 5 Long-billed Curlews (south side) and lots and lots and lots of Avocets. No Sabine's Gull today.

Tim Avery (21 Sep 2007) - I just received a call from Kris Purdy at 11:04am to let me know that the juvenile presumed Pomarine Jaeger was still present at Farmington Bay WMA this morning. Kris, Dave Hanscom and Pomera Fronce all observed the bird from the2nd bridge (the air boat launch parking lot with the 2 Owl decoys) reporting that it was acting in a similar fashion to yesterday. Typically the bird was 200+ yards east of the west dike on the edge of the massive waterfowl and coot flock. Kris noted that the best way to look was to scan along the edge of the flock looking for a dark "gull-like" bird.

Tim Avery (19 Sep 2007) - Just as with last Friday the wind had pushed 100's of gulls up to the south side of the causeway, and in almost the same locale as Friday a juvenile Sabine's Gull was hanging out. At Garr Ranch migration had slowed from previous trips, but a Least Flycatcher made up for the lack of birds.

Tim Avery (19 Sep 2007) - I received a call from Steve Sommerfeld at about 7:55 this evening reporting that he had seen a probable Jaeger species east of the main north-south road at Farmington Bay WMA. This is the large rest area that currently is covered in waterfowl and coots.

Kris Purdy (17 Sep 2007) - Tim Avery just called (1:05 pm, Monday) to report a juvenile Black-and-white Warbler at Garr Ranch at Antelope Island State Park, Davis County. Tim reported the bird is moving between the ranch house and the spring house and has been both on the ground and as high as 35 feet.

Kathy and Joel (16 Sep 2007) - This afternoon we found two Sabine's Gulls on the AI Causeway, both on the north side around MM4. One was a juvenile, the other a first summer. At Garr Ranch we saw an adult White-throated Sparrow, the white-striped form. It was along the stream behind the springhouse.

Joel and Kathy (15 Sep 2007) - After striking out on the Winter Wren at Garr Ranch this morning, we tried again late this afternoon and were rewarded. We saw the Winter Wren at 5:45, moving about the large downed tree just south of the pond. We also saw several Cassin's Vireos, a Red-eyed Vireo, female Williamson's Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker and a Townsend's Warbler.

Tim Avery (14 Sep 2007) - At about 2:30pm as I continued east, about 40 yards east of MM4 on the north side of the causeway was an adult Whimbrel. ... As I was taking off the small lens I heard the QUIQUIQUIQUIQUIQUI call as the bird took off flying back west along the north side of the road. I watched it till the heat waves on the road made it impossible. ...There was a lot of bird movement at Garr Ranch. And even after being at the ranch an hour I was still finding new birds. A Winter Wren (possibly the same bird although it hasn't been seen in over a week) and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET were present, as well as an out of place Black-capped Chickadee.

Kristin Purdy (14 Sep 2007) - Tim Avery called me at about 2:10 pm to report a juvenile Sabine's Gull at Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County. Tim first saw the bird on the north side at the rocky spit that points toward Fremont Island at about mile 1.8; the bird has continued to work its way east and now is on the south side about 100 yards east of the weather pole with the anemometer on top.

Joel and Kathy (12 Sep 2007) - We took advantage of the open interior gates at Farmington Bay WMA this evening (thanks Steve!) and spotted a Common Moorhen about midway along the south side of Unit 2. Also saw a perched Great Horned Owl at the southeast corner of Unit 2. A very nice sunset as well!

Tim Avery (11 Sep 2007) - I received a phone call just a bit ago from Kris Purdy, that John Bellmon, Keith Evans and I believe Jack Rensel had located a Magnolia Warbler 20 yards (or so) east of the Spring House. I suppose this would be along the "creek" that flows down to the fence line. No further details were provided, except that the bird was in fall plumage.

Tim Avery (9 Sep 2007) - I received a phone call this morning from the Sommerfeld's, that Joel and Kathy Beyer had found a Black-and-white Warbler at Garr Ranch near the Spring House.  I drove up and we were able to relocate the bird on the large log that is down across the pond. This was at around 11:45am.

Stephen Carlile (8 Sep 2007) - Garr Ranch:  Northern Waterthrush in the third pond/seep about 1/2 mile south of the ranch. Watch out for the buffalo and their "leavings".

Kristin Purdy (4 Sep 2007) - Arnold Smith just called me (6:00 pm, Tuesday) to report a Clay-colored Sparrow on Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County. Arnold, Keith Evans, and John Bellmon stayed on the island for the remainder of the afternoon and found the bird on the way home at the No Swimming bridge at about mile 4.8. The bird was on the south side and perched on sunflowers on the southwest side of the bridge, then flew to the southeast side and perched on a green shrub there. Two Brewer's Sparrows were also present.

Kristin Purdy (4 Sep 2007) - The Blue-headed Vireo dragnet that spread across Garr Ranch at Antelope Island State Park... we did not see the bird.  We did, however, see many Warbling Vireos, the Red-eyed Vireo in the Russian Olive at the southeast corner of the south pasture and John saw a Cassin's Vireo. ... Dennis also saw a Winter Wren in the brush beyond the Red-eyed Vireo's tree after the remainder of the party had left.

Joel and Kathy (3 Sep 2007) - This morning at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island (Davis Co.) we saw a striking Blue-headed Vireo in the trees behind the spring house. A first-year and an adult Cassin's Vireo were also seen by the stream. Red-eyed Vireo was a no-show. (By the way, last week we and Jack saw an adult RE Vireo, not the young bird seen yesterday). A Least Flycatcher was observed a couple of times in the area of the horseshoe pits.

Kris Purdy (2 Sep 2007) - I spoke with Arnold Smith tonight, who told me he and Aaron saw an immature Red-eyed Vireo at Garr Ranch Saturday. This may be the bird that Jack Binch reported at the spring. Arnold said he and Aaron saw the bird "all over the place", including in the line of Russian Olives by the fence that the buffaloes have pushed down, in the Russian Olives in the south pasture and in the Chinese Elms over the picnic area.

Aug 2007

Jack Binch (27 Aug 2007) - Red-eyed Vireo ...I spent Sunday morning sitting near the bog at Garr Ranch. The vireo was in the trees just east of the spring pond.

Tim Avery (20 Aug 2007 ) - I spent a good chunk of the day at Garr Ranch (10:00am - 2:00pm) ...After about an hour and a half birding I stumbled upon a Blue-headed Vireo near the same location as mentioned by Merrill Webb and Glenn Barlow on Saturday.  I followed the bird for a couple minutes, and only saw it once more about an hour later in the same area. The only other Vireo present was a CASSIN'S VIREO in the tree to the southeast of the pond. The other interesting bird was this empid, which looks like a 1st year Least Flycatcher.

Edson Leite (20 Aug 2007) - At Antelope Island about 50 western sandpipers close to shore on the south side of mm 5.
At the ranch Plumbeous Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Yellow, Nashville, Wilson's, Townsend's Warblers. The female Indigo bunting made a very brief appearance on the mud by the spring.

Glenn B. Barlow (18 Aug 2007) - ...We then went to Garr Ranch... the big sighting by Merrill was a Blue-headed Vireo. Unfortunately I could not hear him calling me. Nevertheless, the bird was seen south of the spring house along the fence-line just past the gate that leads to the spring area. When Merrill saw it he said to himself, "a blue vireo."  He said the white spectacles were obvious against a steel-blue head color. He also saw the white throat. However, he did not get a good look at the side and flanks to see how yellow, or what color they might be.

Tim Avery (17 Aug 2007) - At Garr Ranch there was a hummingbird show. I spent about 90 minutes watching the 2 feeders on the porch of the old ranch house, and at times there were nearly 30 Hummingbirds flocking to the feeders. ... 4 species were seen in the time including: 20+ Rufous Hummingbird, 2 Black-chinned Hummingbird (adult females), 4 Broad-tailed Hummingbird (1 or 2 adult males, 1 adult F, 1+ juveniles), 2 Calliope Hummingbird (2 juveniles).

Joel and Kathy (13 Aug 2007) - This morning at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island we saw 2 Northern Waterthrushes and a first-year Tennessee Warbler. The Northern Waterthrushes were along the stream behind the spring house, and the juvenile Tennessee Warbler was working the bushes just behind the spring house. The only other warbler seen was MacGillivray's.

Mark Stackhouse (11 Aug 2007) - Another British birder and I found a few good birds at Garr Ranch (Antelope Island) ...At Garr Ranch, songbird migrants are appearing. This morning we saw a Townsend's Warbler, two Nashville Warblers and a female Indigo Bunting. The warblers were also present on last Thursday morning. There are lots of hummingbirds at the feeders, and plenty of more common migrants, such as Macgillivray's and Wilson's Warblers.

Tim Avery (8 Aug 2007) - This morning there was a Whimbrel near the 1st bridge at AIC, and a Solitary Sandpiper inside the gate on the east side of the road at Farmington Bay.

Jul 2007

Tim Avery (21 Jul 2007) - This evening I saw a very strange large Caladris sandpiper along the causeway between MM 4 and 5. Initially I thought it was just a pale Baird's Sandpiper but once in the scope, the base of the bill appeared pinkish-orange. Then when the bird took off I was stunned to see the white rumps as I snapped a few more shots:... The bird appeared to be a White-rumped Sandpiper, but this date and location would seem highly unlikely... At the same time I can't figure out what else it may be. ...Also in the same area were 3 Pectoral Sandpiper...

Nate Nye (2 Jul 2007) - This morning, my dad and I drove out to Antelope Island to do some birding together. We saw plenty of all the expected species, including probably close to 100,000 Wilson's Phalaropes along the causeway (incredible sight). Easily the most unexpected bird of the morning was a pair of Grasshopper Sparrows seen at about 9:30 AM along the road slightly north of Garr Ranch (at the site there was a brown road marker with a "9" on it). They were quite cooperative--we watched them from about 25 ft. away in excellent lighting for a couple of minutes before they flew off into the fields and began singing their "trip, trip, tip-tzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" song. We could see well their buffy, unstreaked breast, yellow lores, wide dark stripe on either side of the pale central crown stripe (seen from above), and intricately patterned scapulars and tertials. And if the great views weren't enough to confirm the ID, their distinctive insectlike song was a complete giveaway.

Jun 2007

cldavis@xmission.com (3 Jun 2007) - There was a 1st Spring (according to Sibley's) Summer Tanager in the trees behind the restroom at Garr Ranch Sunday morning around 8:30 or 9:00 am.

May 2007

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.

Apr 2007

Tim Avery (30 Apr 2007) - The shorebirding at AIC is still hot! This morning around 11:15 I spotted a flock of 10 Red Knots between MM 5 and 6 about 350 yards to the north of the causeway. The birds appeared for the most part to be in full breeding plumage. I am not sure of the timing of the molt, and if it is odd, as I have never seen this species in the spring. Nearby were 2 Black-bellied Plovers which helped for size and shape comparison.

Edson Leite (29 Apr 2007) - I went to Antelope Island this morning ...At the Island a lot of very vocal Chuckars, two Grasshopper Sparrows at 3.5 and 1.5 miles before Garr Ranch.

Tim Avery (22 Apr 2007) - A huge thanks goes out to Joel and Kathy Beyer whom I ran into at Farmington Bay this afternoon and alerted me that Joel had seen a Hudsonian Godwit. He told me that the bird had flown off with a flock of about 20 Marbled Godwits (unfortunately before Kathy could get a look at the bird) and headed westerly towards Egg Island, where they were scoping numerous godwits in the pond about 350 yards west of the island. I sat and scoped the area for sometime hoping that if the bird were there it would fly and show its tell-tale.... well tail... and more importantly its wing pattern. I was there from about 3:20 till 4:10 when the Beyer's decided to take off. I opted to stay a little longer in hopes that something would fly. A Peregrine had come by once sending a lot of birds in the air, and as luck would have it, the bird made a pass directly over the ponds where about 60 Godwits were resting/feeding. Everything on the pond took to the air and after looking for about 15 seconds I caught a glimpse of a very dark looking godwit with a flock of about 15 Marbled. The birds flew directly east at egg island before banking to the north, about 150 yards out, giving me fantastic looks and a chance to snap off several shots as they passed, before banking back to the west and coming to land on the ponds to the west after the commotion was over.

Tim Avery (22 Apr 2007) - This afternoon between 12:00 and 2:00pm I observed 9 Dunlin along the Antelope Island Causeway. All the birds were at magical mile marker 6 to the north of the causeway. There was one flock of 8 birds that stayed pretty much together about 350 yards to the north. There was a lone bird that was also keeping company with a mixed flock of Sanderling, Western and Least Sandpiper.

Tim Avery (22 Apr 2007) - Colby Neuman and I ventured out onto the causeway last night between 5 and 8 pm to look for some shorebirds. We had ...1 - Semipalmated Sandpiper (Brief look at the bird, which flew before Colby was able to get a good look at it)

Tim Avery (16 Apr 2007) - This morning, around 9:50 am while scanning through a several flocks of Black-bellied Plover that numbered around 400 (the highest count I have had in Utah), I had 3 American Golden-Plover come in and land just 50 yards away from me between MM 5 and 6 on the north side of the causeway. It was awesome being able to see adults in breeding plumage within 20 feet of numerous Black-bellied in all stages of molt. ... .7 Miles past the Frairy Peak parking area (to the south) were 2 singing Grasshopper Sparrows to the east of the road.

Tim Avery (9 Apr 2007) - This afternoon at 3:15 I observed an adult male Eurasian Wigeon from Egg Island at Farmington Bay WMA. The bird was in the pond just to the north of Egg Island and was associating with 4 American Wigeon. ...A few late waterfowl species were hanging around, including 2 Greater Scaup at Farmington Bay WMA on the pond to the west of the first right turn. Several Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup were also still present.

Tim Avery (1 Apr 2007) - This morning the Great Salt Lake Audubon field trip was graced with 3 Long-tailed Ducks on the north side of the causeway where the road curves. 2 females and 1 male bird were seen about 150 yards out with a mixed flock of Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup.

Mar 2007

Tim Avery (3 Mar 2007) - Today a gaggle of birders were stomping around the main parking area at Farmington Bay hoping for looks at any of a number of rare gulls reported in the last week.  The 3rd winter Western Gull made an appearance just after noon, at one point it was just 80 feet away in great lighting for all that were present to see. Two more times it made passes in flight less than 25 feet away. Not to be outdone about a half an hour later an adult Glaucous Gull passed overhead and Tony Jones picked up on it alerting everyone to the "ghost" gliding overhead. Completely white from underneath against the blue sky it was surely a sight to see! Keeping us busy while we waited for these great gulls, were 3, yes count em' 3 Thayer's Gulls, including 2 adult birds and 1 very cooperative 1st winter bird.

Tim Avery (3 Mar 2007) - Mr. Slager and myself headed up to Willard Bay to take a look around. We lucked out seeing both the Harris's Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow at the feeder mentioned in previous posts.

Feb 2007

Tim Avery (26 Feb 2007) - At 11:54 am I received a phone call form Kris Purdy who is at Farmington Bay right now, watching what she believes is an adult Iceland Gull. The bird was seen from the main parking area looking south-southwest into Turpin unit (towards Kennecott basically). She says the bird was on the ice about 250 yards out almost on the edge of the cattails and fragmites. This area is directly south of the canal heading north where the Western Gull was reported by the Sommerfield's and Beyer's yesterday. Kris reports that the Western Gull,  2nd winter Glaucous Gull and a Thayer's were present as well.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (25 Feb 2007) - After seeing the rare bird alert we ran (drove) up to Farmington Bay WMA late this afternoon, and found the Western Gull in the canal as described. We had to wait an hour for it to join the many Herring and
other gulls feeding on the carp, but when it did show up it was immediately noticeable since it was the only large dark-backed gull there. This was a much nicer look than at Lee Kay Ponds, as the Western Gull was amongst 30 or so other gulls, rather than the hundreds at Lee Kay, and we had the sun behind us!

Tim Avery (17 Feb 2007) - This afternoon, Dave Slager and I observed 2 female Long-tailed Duck at the bridge near the marina at Antelope Island. The birds were on the southside of the bridge in the now quite large pool of open water. Along the road to Garr Ranch we observed a lone Northern Shrike just south the Frairy Peak turnoff, on the east side of the road.

Edson Leite (11 Feb 2007) - Beth, her mom and I went to Farmington Bay today to look at the Bald Eagles. We saw 67 Bald Eagles, a juvenile Glaucous Gull, and an adult Glaucous-winged gull at the first bridge. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was further out.

Tim Avery (10 Feb 2007) - So after getting home form Willard Bay and checking my email, I had no choice but to run back up to Farmington Bay to look for the Trumpeter Swans reported to birdtalk by Silvia Gray.  I got the scope on it and was pleased to see and adult Trumpeter (from what I could see) feeding just a few yards from a couple Tundra Swans, for a nice comparison. ...As I continued to scour the birds I had a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull fly through my scope and land on the edge of the ice about 300 yards out. About a minute later I caught a very dark mantled gull coming in and landing just feet away from the Glaucous. It was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull!!!

Sylvia Gray (10 Feb 2007) - at Farmington Bay we observed many Tundra Swans and a pair of Trumpeter Swans, one of whom was sporting a green neck-band. Rich Hansen, the manager at F.Bay said it was banded in 2002 at West Yellowstone. Pretty cool.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (4 Feb 2007) - This afternoon at Farmington Bay WMA we saw an adult female Snow Bunting in a large flock of Horned Larks. They were along the west side of the west dike road. In amongst the Tundra Swans, ducks and gulls on the main pond was a first winter Glaucous Gull.

Jan 2007

Joel Beyer (21 Jan 2007) - Kathy and I observed an adult Mew Gull at Farmington Bay WMA this afternoon, about 3:00 pm. It was at the open water on the north side of the first bridge on the western dike road, in company with 8 Herring, 2 California and a Ring-billed Gull, and several Great Blue Herons. After a few minutes, everything flew and then settled again, with the exception of the Mew Gull, which was last seen flying out of sight to the northeast.  We also saw 13 Great-tailed Grackles in Centerville, just off I-15, in the IHOP parking lot.

Tim Avery (14 Jan 2007) - This morning Colby Neuman and I observed 2 female Long-tailed Ducks at the last bridge at AIC. Also present was 1 female Barrow's Goldeneye.

Joel and Kathy (1 Jan 2007) - We hit a goose trifecta plus one at the Oakridge Country Club (golf course) in Kaysville. Besides a couple hundred Canada Geese, there was a Cackling Goose, a blue-phase Snow Goose, and a Greater White-fronted Goose. A Belted Kingfisher rattled back and forth several times. All were seen from Shepard Lane, which is reached by continuing south on the road from the Kaysville Ponds.

Kris Purdy (1 Jan 2007) - The Antelope Island CBC was great fun today and the count included some great birds... Within our sector the first three highlight birds were all Northern lights--Northern   Goshawk, Northern Mockingbird and Northern Shrike. The goshawk was an adult hunting along the Russian Olives east of the road and south of the turnoff to Frary Peak. The mockingbird and the shrike were south of the ranch in a restricted area open to us only because we were doing the CBC. ...We dilly-dallied across the causeway in the twilight and saw the waterfowl at the big bridge including the Surf Scoter Tim reported and a female Barrow's Goldeneye among the Commons and the Buffleheads.

Dec 2006

Jack Binch (31 Dec 2006) - On Antelope Island Causeway between mile 1.2 and 1.7, I saw some Snow Buntings. First were three on the south side at about the 50 MPH sign. They were loosely associated with some American Pipits. I say loosely because they were 75 to 100 feet away from them, but flew when the flock of pipits flew... I saw two at 1.7 on the north side in the heavy weeds then two on the rocks at 1.2. I saw these two again a little later in about the same location. I am not sure if any of the pairs were the first ones I saw or not. Time was about 3 PM to 4 PM.

Tim Avery (23 Dec 2006) - I hit the Bountiful Landfill this afternoon and spent about and hour and a half picking through the gulls. I was surprised at the apparent lack of any Glacuous-type gulls, but pleasantly surprised at the number of Thayer's Gulls. In all I believe there were 7 THGU, including 6 adults and 1 first winter bird. After hitting the dump I ran over to Farmington Bay and ran into the Summerfeld's as they were leaving. They told me they had seen a Greater Scaup, Great Egret and Red-breasted Merganser. All three birds were pretty easy to find. ...The scaup and egret were at the 2nd bridge where the boats launch in the canal.

Jack Binch (23 Dec 2006) - One the causeway today I saw: ...Barrow's Goldeneye... Marina Bridge - Horned Grebe - Surf Scoter...

Kristin Purdy (15 Dec 2006) - I think I hit a motherlode of sparrows in South Weber, Davis County this morning while scouting my sector for tomorrow's Ogden Christmas Bird Count. The goodies included a Harris's Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow (tan-striped) and three American Tree Sparrows. Many White-crowned were present of course, but I was also impressed by the number of Song Sparrows in a small area--perhaps 6-8. Too bad the predominant species was the House Sparrow; they did make sifting through the other birds difficult. ...The area is an undeveloped subdivision under the BIG powerline that cuts across South Weber from the golf ball radar on Hill Air Force Base on the south side to exit 85 of I-84 on the north side.

Ned Bixler (3 Dec 2006) - Today next to the cause way at Antelope Island were the following: two Long-tailed Ducks, two White-winged Scoters, one Surf Scoter, and numerous Least Sandpipers, and one Marbled Godwit.

birds2bikes (3 Dec 2006) - We decided to go to AI for the scooters and oldsquaw that was seen there earlier. We arrived around 8:00 am. It was frigidly cold but well worth the visit. We saw a Pectoral Sandpiper with some least sandpipers. Observed 4 gulls species; a Bonaparte's gull, Thayer's gulls, as well as the California and yellow billed gulls. We also observed three Surf Scoters and two White-winged Scooters around the marina (and in the marina). The female Oldsquaw was at the bridge as reported earlier with the common golden eyes, buffleheads, and ruddy ducks. We also went to the ranch. It was pretty quite, but our efforts were rewarded with a Northern Shrike harassing the local flickers...

Glenn Barlow (2 Dec 2006) - ...went to the [Antelope Island] causeway... At the bridge closest to the island there were Common Goldeneye present on both sides. On the south side, with a small flock, was a female Surf Scoter.

Nov 2006

Joel and Kathy Beyer (26 Nov 2006) - ...we stopped at the Antelope Island Causeway, and found a female Long-tailed Duck on the south side of the last bridge (the one nearest the island). It was with many Grebes, both Eared and Horned. There were 5 Surf Scoters on the north side of this same bridge.

Brian Currie (20 Nov 2006) - I birded AIC (Antelope Island Causeway) this afternoon from 1245-2:45. I drove right to (well, the way a birder drives "right to" anything : ) ) the bridge closest to the island. My main purpose was to see what, if anything had come in recently. The two White-winged Scoters were still present, but there seemed to be a third one. Within some time they somewhat acclimated to me and swam within 15-20 feet of me. It turns out there are two White-winged Scoters and one Surf Scoter... Generally the Surf was hanging out with the WW, but there were some times when it swam by itself. They were there the entire time. The Surf was less intimidated by me then were the WWs. Other species that were seen: Horned Grebe (3 near mile marker two on south side)...

Bob Parsons (17 Nov 2006) - ... I saw 3 Common Redpolls at the Bountiful Temple this morning. They are feeding on berries that fill the dozens of trees (10-15 feet high--but I don't know their name) planted in large pots in the upper parking lot. I also heard them in the bushes just north of the parking lot. If anyone is interested, the best time might be early morning as they were frightened off when some loud vehicles came through the parking lot about 9:00 a.m.

Kimberly Roush (12 Nov 2006) - I have photos of a winter plumage phalarope. Waiting for identification verification from Ella Sorenson on Tuesday. It is either a red or red-necked. I am leaning toward Red Phalarope. It was spotted @ 3:45 Saturday on Antelope Island Causeway, north side. Slowly swimming then walking on shore, then swimming and getting on shore  repeatedly, working its way east. It then flew north east. I watched it, photographed it, sketched and painted it for almost 2 hours.

Kris Purdy (9 Nov 2006) - Paul Higgins called me at about 2:15 to report a female White-winged Scoter at Antelope Island Causeway. The bird is north of the causeway by about 200 yards at the big bridge nearest the marina.

Glenn B. Barlow (3 Nov 2006) - After leaving Morgan, Paul led the group to AIC, to try for a possible Black-legged Kittywake, feeding with the Bonaparte Gulls on the north side of the last bridge, closest to the island. The kittiwake did not materialize/could not be located, but Merrill was able to spot a different looking gull, which later was determined to be a Mew Gull, but not before consulting several field guides and studying Paul’s photos.

Oct 2006

Tim Avery (26 Oct 2006) - This morning I birded the causeway as well as Kaysville Ponds. At AIC were an unusually high concentration of Horned Grebe, near the marina. I counted 21 in all, which seems to be high count? Can anyone recall having numbers like this in the past?

Tim Avery (22 Oct 2006) - This afternoon Colby Neuman and I found an adult female Surf Scoter along the Antelope Island Causeway on the south/east side of the road directly across from the marina. The bird was originally seen in this little bay, but slowly moved out to the east on the water. Also of note in the same general area were 2 Horned Grebes with a flock of around 10 Eared Grebe.

(17 Oct 2006) - Matt Burton reported seeing a Roseate Spoonbill northwest of the Turpin boat parking lot at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. Efforts to confirm the sighting are underway. The bird has not yet to be relocated.

Sep 2006

Kristin Purdy (22 Sep 2006) - Sifting through about a thousand Eared Grebes along Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County put me in good stead to have two Horned Grebes jump out at me by the time I got to the island. The were at the end of the causeway across from the marina on the south side, swimming with a small group of Eared Grebes. All the grebes had a tiny bit more molting to do to be completely in winter plumage. - I also saw three Pectoral Sandpipers foraging with a flock of Least, Western, Baird's Sandpipers and Killdeer at mm 6, north side.

Kristin Purdy (19 Sep 2006) - I birded Howard Slough WMA in Davis County today and saw a peck of Pectoral Sandpipers. Well, maybe not a peck--maybe a pack. They played pickleweed peek-a-boo with me for about 45 minutes while I peeped at them and picked out 16 Pectorals. Then a Northern Harrier flushed everything and about double the number of Pectorals I thought were there flushed out of the pickleweed.

Kathy and Joel Beyer - We found a flock of 8 Pectoral Sandpipers this afternoon (9/17) on the Antelope Island Causeway (Davis Co.). They were foraging together about 100 yards north of the causeway near mile marker 6. Also in this area, but much closer to the causeway, was a single juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher, in company with many Killdeer. We made a positive ID based on the flight call.

Stephen Carlile - The Salt Lake Birders Saturday, 16 Sep 2006, field trip included the Antelope Island Causeway and Gar Ranch. Lots of species seen (83), but some of important highlights.- 1. The Black-and-white Warbler is still there east of the spring house. - 2. A male American Redstart seen, also east of the spring house. - 3. All six "Utah possible" Empidonax flycatchers were seen, with great views for identity comparison. - 4. Two Long-eared owls see in the Russian Olives south of the ranch picnic area. - 5. The Pacific Golden Plover was still there, a little west of Mile Marker 5 on the north side. - 6. Sanderlings were seen on the north side of the causeway, west of Mile Marker 5 (sorry I didn't keep better notes as to a more precise location).

Edson Leite (16 Sep 2006) - Today while trying to relocate the PGP, around 4pm a Parasitic Jaeger flew by on the north side of the causeway around mm 5 going west, making every gull all the way to mm 3 take to the air. I spent 2 hours trying to relocate it unsuccessfully. No pictures it was a brief fly by.

Kris Purdy (15 Sep 2006) - A juvenile Sabine's Gull was on the north side of the causeway this morning around 9:30 just east of the No Swimming bridge. The bird was about 150 yards out and was standing alone. A terrific clap of thunder scared the daylights out of both me and the gull. The bird took flight heading west revealing its dramatic wing pattern. I looked for that gull for the next 4 hours and never saw it again. Hmmph. - I heard a report of the Pacific Golden-Plover at mm 5 around 9 am this morning; I saw the bird one reflective marker west of mm 5 at about 1:15. Both sightings were on the north side along the border between weeds and mudflat.

Rick Fridell - ...Other highlights included: Garr Ranch, Antelope Island SP, Davis Co., 9/6 with Jack Rensel and Keith Evans: White-winged Dove, Least Flycatcher, Winter Wren, American Redstart (female/first fall).

Joel and Kathy Beyer (3 Sep 2006) - This afternoon we observed a juvenile Dunlin on the south side of the Antelope Island Causeway (Davis Co.), at approx. mile marker 2.7. It was with several Baird's Sandpipers, which it looks very similar to, with the addition of black marking on the belly... The possible Pacific Golden-Plover was still at mile marker 5, north side, hanging out in the line of grassy clumps at the edge of the mudflats. Garr Ranch was fairly quiet, the most notable birds being Cassin's Vireo and Calliope Hummingbird.

Kristin Purdy (2 Sep 2006) - I just got a call (1 pm, Saturday) from Susan Saffle, who is at mile marker 5 on Antelope Island Causeway. Susan and a group of birders have been studying a bird they believe is a Pacific Golden-Plover on the north side of the causeway. All interested parties are invited to join them. Also watching the plover are Buck and Cindy Russell, Letitia Lussier, Carol Gwynn, and Kathy Roach.

Aug 2006

Bryan Dixon (29 Aug 2006) - Jean and I believe we may have seen a Pacific Golden-Plover on the north side of the Antelope Island Causeway 1/4 mile east of milepost 3 on Sunday, August 27. We observed the bird from 75-100' through a Kowa scope. It had a definite golden coloration throughout the body - not gray - and its wingtips protruded just barely beyond its tail. Back feathers had golden, not white edges, though the greater coverts appeared to have some white edges. Possible it was a golden-colored Black-bellied Plover, as it looked as though it was molting out of a black coloration on its belly. Undertail coverts were decidedly not black. We've never seen Pacific Golden-Plovers before and have little experience with Black-bellied, so we're unsure how much variation there is in golden color or wingtip length.

Colby Neuman (26 Aug 2006) - My dad and I then headed to Antelope Island for the afternoon. ...We did find a juvenile Sanderling mixed in with a flock of peeps on the north side of the causeway. I counted at least 39 Black-bellied Ploveers scattered along the causeway as well. I forgot to look at the milemarker, but we also found an American Golden-Plover in winter plumage along the north side (somewhere near the bend). We then headed to Garr Ranch where highlights were at least 2 Townsend's Warblers (1 male & 1 female) and a Cassin's Vireo.

Jack Binch (20 Aug 2006) - There have been a couple of reports of Townsend's Warblers, so I spent the morning at Garr Ranch with the hopes of getting a photo. Not to be. However, There were some good birds. Pretty much in the order seen: Warbling Vireo, American Redstart (female), MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, Lazuli Bunting (male and female), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Tanager (male and female), Cordilleran Flycatcher, Western Wood Peewee and other flycatchers I could not identify, Plumbeous Vireo, and last but not least a White-winged Dove. It did not fly in while I was sitting there, so it must have been in the tree for a couple of hours before the sun hit it and I saw some movement. This is the farthest north I have seen one.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (6 Aug 2006) - We also saw the 2 Ruddy Turnstones and the Whimbrel on the AIC where Jack Binch reported them. In addition, there was a Dunlin in basic plumage at the "No Swimming" bridge, north side, about 1:00 p.m. We watched it for 10 minutes before it flew west. We could not relocate it then or when we came back an hour later.

Jack Binch (6 Aug 2006) - Next to AIC. The Ruddy Turnstone was right at the "no swimming bridge". The Whimbrel was on the north side at about mile 2.1. I also found another turnstone on the south side at about mile 1.8. When I left I checked on the way back, the one was still at the afore mentioned bridge.

Cheryl Peterson  (4 Aug 2006) - Today around 1:30 pm. Stephanie and I saw a Ruddy Turnstone and a Semi-palmated Plover on the AI causeway at the first bridge where the no swimming signs are. After dropping Steph off in Logan, I went out to the BRMBR and saw an American Bittern and a Black Tern. I stopped at the causeway again this evening, but did not relocate either bird. These birds sure made the trip worth it.

Jul 2006

Steve Coleman (26 Jul 2006) - I was fortunate to tag along with Bob Huntington and the Great Salt Lake Audubon Folks today as they toured Glover Ponds and Farmington Bay. Two birds of note, the Semipalmated Sandpiper that Kris Purdy reported was still there sitting on the mud flat amid the Killdeer. Inside Farmington Bay on the east side pond as you make the first turn headed west there was a 2nd year Sabine's Gull.

Kristin Purdy (25 Jul 20060 - This morning I visited Glover Ponds at the west end of Glover Lane in Davis County and saw a lone peep, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, on a dried mudflat/playa area just east of the ponds and south of Glover Lane. I hadn't yet made the turn at the west end of the road (about 75 feet further west) and I was scoping slightly southwest in the direction of the heron trees.

Kris Purdy (24 Jul 2006) - Paul Higgins observed a Whimbrel at Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County this morning at about 7:45. The bird was about 300 yards west of the weather station on the north side.

May 2006

Jack Binch (14 May 2006) - I went out birding yesterday...to Garr Ranch where I found several warblers that have already been posted and another Northern Waterthrush in the bog east of the spring pond.

Carol Gwynn (13 May 2006) - Several birds reported earlier in the week on the Antelope Island Causeway were still present on Saturday morning. These include 2 Red Knots, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snowy Plover, hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers (I searched in vain for an American Golden), and huge numbers of peeps, including Western and Least Sandpipers. As before, the birds were concentrated north of MM6.

Joel and Kathy (7 May 2006) - We visited the Antelope Island Causeway this evening and saw most of the birds reported by Kris (including the Ruddy Turnstone and 4 Dunlins), with the addition of 4 Red Knots that were with one of the many large flocks of Black-bellied Plovers at mile marker 6.

Kristin Purdy (7 May 2006) - I saw a Ruddy Turnstone at about 3 pm today north of mile marker 6 of Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County. The bird was very distant at perhaps 300-400 yards. Several unmistakable field marks were still visible...The stop at mm 6 was my second of the day. This morning the location produced hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers on both sides of the causeway, Snowy and Semi-palmated Plovers, Killdeer, American Avocets, Willets, Long-billed Curlews, Sanderlings, four Dunlins, dowitchers, two Red-necked Phalaropes and lots of noisy Forster's Terns. The peeps were far enough away that I was too lazy to ID them and the dowitchers couldn't be separated to species. That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.

Apr 2006

Carol Davis (30 Apr 2006) - On the way to Antelope Island early this morning I drove slowly with the windows down to listen for birds. I wasn't disappointed because the air was full of song: Brewer's Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, Horned Larks, and Meadowlarks. I have never heard so many Grasshopper Sparrows and it was fun to watch them singing from the tops of the bushes because they're usually so hard to find.

Joel and Kathy Beyer (23 Apr 2006) - This afternoon we found a Black-and-White Warbler at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island (Davis Co.). It was working the trunks and bare branches of the tall cottonwoods behind the Springhouse. In the picnic area we saw a "Myrtle" race Yellow-rumped Warbler amongst the many "Audubon's" Warblers, and a Common Grackle.

Tim Avery (21 Apr 2006) - [Antelope Island Causeway] It looks like Mile Marker 6 is still holding onto some of that fall shorebird magic. About 200 yards west of the mile marker, 2 American Golden Plover were about 200 yards north of the causeway, in full breeding plumage, quite a spectacular sight. Directly out from the marker were 11 Black-bellied Plover actively moving to the east as they fed. And yet again just like in the fall a large number of Snowy and Semipalmated Plover were running back and forth all over the place. All these birds are about 200 - 300 yards north of the causeway and require a scope for adequate viewing.

Bob MacDougall (15 Apr 2006) - Bob Huntington and I found five Dunlins at about mile marker six, approximately 200 yards north of the Antelope Island Causeway road this morning.

Glenn Barlow (2 Apr 2006) - Went to AI on Saturday...The best bird of the day was a Horned Grebe in bright breeding plumage, which was swimming on the south side of the island, near the bridge closest to the island. We met Keith Evans, Jack Rensel and friend, who told us about it. Got great looks, as it swam very close to shore with a small group (5) of Eared Grebe.

Kathy and Joel Beyer (2 Apr 2006) - Today at about 4 p.m. we saw a male Eurasian Wigeon at Farmington Bay.  It was in the pond northwest of the elevated lookout parking area (where the Blue-winged Teal was seen last week--but not today).

Mar 2006

MarJean Muhlestein - My sisters, LaNita Larsen and Amy Owen, called me on Tues. 3/28 and reported seeing a Blue-winged Teal at Farmington Bay. I was able to go out there and spot it as well on 3/30, Thursday. It was my first sighting of one at Farmington Bay. I had seen one back in 1985, but not at the Bay, and was thrilled to be able to sight another.

Feb 2006

Tim Avery (15 Feb 2006) - Experts, have examined pictures of the gulls I photographed this morning and agree that one of them is a 2nd cycle Glaucous-winged Gull. This bird was at the same location as the Glaucous Gull. At Farmington Bay WMA head south along the main dike from Egg Island. After you pass the first flow under the road and the large airboat lot, you will come upon the 2nd flow and Airboat Launch. Both Gulls were on the river here feasting on the dead carp. YUM!

Kristin Purdy (14 Feb 2006) - I spent some time sniffing garbage fumes at Bountiful Landfill in Davis County today. I only saw an adult Thayer's Gull and many Herring Gulls in addition to the usuals.

Steve Coleman (13 Feb 2006) - During Eagle Day Saturday there was a Glaucous Gull flying with a large group of other gulls. This was my first time to see one in flight and I was impressed with how white it was it almost looked angelic. The bird was sighted at the first flow on the main dike road, later I saw it sitting in the water on the west side of the road in the same area.

Glenn Barlow (12 Feb 2006) - Yesterday afternoon, ...Merrell Webb...and I ventured to Antelope Island...On our journey to Garr Ranch we spotted some sparrows flying back and forth across the road...we were able to identify them as American Tree Sparrows... further west in the distance was a larger bird, which we were able to identify as a juvenile Northern Shrike. At the parking area near the north-western tip of the island, west of the visitors’ center, we found another Northern Shrike. It was just south of the parking lot. It was an adult. We had very close looks at this bird. We even noticed that it regurgitated something. Very lovely bird, with all the field guide features of a Northern Shrike.

Kathy and Joel Beyer (4 Feb 2006) - On Antelope Island, we saw the Burrowing Owl at the Mountain View trailhead, just as described by Kristin Purdy. We also saw a second Burrowing Owl, about 30 yards north of the first owl, in a grouping of large rocks. We found a Northern Shrike on Gentile Street in Layton, midway between the radio towers and the pig farm, but on the north side of the road. At the Bountiful Landfill were several Herring Gulls, a second-year Glaucous Gull, and a probable Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull. Farmington Bay WMA served up both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, a couple dozen Bald Eagles and a juvenile Thayer's Gull.

Jan 2006

Joel and Kathy (22 Jan 2006) - At Farmington Bay WMA, no Glaucous-winged Gull, but we were rewarded with a Great Egret.

Bryan Shirley (21 Jan 2006) - Today at Farmington Bay I saw 1 adult Glaucous-winged Gull. It was in the rest pond about straight out from where the boat launch is.

Kris Purdy (9 Jan 2006) - Several birders met at Bountiful Landfill in Davis County today ...In addition to the usual California, Ring-billed, and Herring, we also saw Thayer's, Glaucous, and a possible Glaucous-winged x Herring...

Tim Avery (6 Jan 2006) - This morning I met up with Sylvia Gray at the Bountiful Landfill. The best bird was a Glaucous-winged Gull which I saw for about 6 seconds, before it flew with the other 10,000 gulls on garbage mountain. We did however get good looks at several adult Thayer's Gull in flight, as well as a 2nd winter bird 15 feet from my car. Herring, Ring-billed and California were as always, "plentiful". At the entrance to the dump a Great-tailed Grackle graced us as it flew by, then into the distance.  In the trees at the corner of 1600 North and 1100 West (right before you get to the dump), were 5 Common Grackle...

Dec 2005

Tim Avery (19 Dec 2005) - I spent the morning at the Bountiful Landfill, and found one juvenile Glaucous Gull amongst the 1,000's of California, Ring-billed and Herring. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was still on the pond to the north of the dump as well...

Jack Binch (16 Dec 2005) - Bob Huntington and I went out this morning...We started out at AIC, and found three of the Long-tailed Ducks at the bridge by the marina. We also saw a Glaucous Gull and two Herring Gulls on the south side of the bridge. ...We had talked about going to the Bountiful Landfill for a couple of weeks,  and Colby's report this morning made sure we went this time. We found a Glaucous Gull right off as well as a Thayers. Lots of Herring Gulls...On the west side hill was an adult Glaucous-winged Gull. It gave us both good looks over several minutes, and we both were on it when it flew and got a good look at its wing tips. Not only a new year bird, but also a Utah life bird for me...

Colby Neuman (15 Dec 2005) - I met up with Tim Avery at the Bountiful Landfill this afternoon. Because the owner wanted us to stay out of the way, we watched the gulls from the road that runs along the fenceline. Notable gulls included an adult
'white-winged' gull (probably a Glaucous Gull even though it didn't seem that large) that I only saw for a couple of seconds before it flew behind a hill, and a 4th year Lesser Black-backed Gull resting with the thousands of gulls on the pond to the north. Notably lacking were Thayer's Gulls...

Tim Avery - (15 Dec 2005) - I spent the morning at Antelope Island...There were 5 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 of which were males. ...Along the road to Garr Ranch I saw a Northern Shrike, near the road to the Frary Peak Trailhead...

Tim Avery - (11 Dec 2005) - I headed out to AIC this morning to see what was stirring. ICE... Lots and lots of ice, and also 6 Long-tailed Ducks! I know I have seen as many as 3 but I think this is may be a single day high # for Utah? Any thoughts? There was 1 male bird, that lacked tail plumes, as well as at least 2 winter plumaged females, another female that was fairly dark in coloration, and 2 juvenile birds. All birds could be seen within 150 feet of the last bridge. At one point there were 4 together in the small pond that has been created by the ice on the southside of the bridge, as well as one directly beneath the bridge. Also swimming nearby was a female Black Scoter. There were also quite a few female Barrow's Goldeneye, as well as at least 3 males. Paul Higgins told me he saw a Burrowing Owl as well as a Northern Shrike near the beginning of the road out to the Ranch...I stopped by Kaysville Ponds at first light, but all but a 75' x 75' patch of water was frozen over. On that was a Cinnamon Teal, Barrow's Goldeneye, 2 Ring-necked Duck, and about 600 Mallards and other waterfowl.  Just off the freeway from exit 331 in Kaysville, just to the northwest of the intersection of 200 North and 400 west, several hundred Canada Geese were converging on a field to chow down, and mixed in to my surprise were 2 Ross's Geese...

Tim Avery - (9 Dec 2005) - I received an email from a friend telling me there are now 3 Long-tailed Ducks along the causeway, 2 females and 1 first year male! Just thought I would pass the word along.

Tim Avery - (4 Dec 2005) - A White-throated Sparrow was seen Sunday around 11:30 am at Garr Ranch, in the brush pile in the middle of the open field. Paul Higgins and I both saw the bird as it jumped out of the brush then flew into a Russian Olive. Paul also found and photographed a RED Fox Sparrow the day before, we were unable to find this bird, but there were several other Fox Sparrow around.

Nov 2005

Tim Avery (22 Nov 2005) - I spent the day along the Great Salt Lake and saw some great birds. Long-tailed Duck - same bird Brian Currie discovered earlier in the week, near the bridge at AIC. 2 Black Scoter - first south of the last bridge, but on my return, north of the same area at AIC. Barrow's Goldeneye - 1 female bird about 150 yards east of the last bridge at AIC. Black-bellied Plover - on the rock jetty where the causeway curves southwest at AIC...Thayer's Gull - At least a half a dozen juvenile birds at the Bountiful Landfill, as well as 2 adults...American Tree Sparrow - along the road to Garr Ranch

Brian Currie (19 Nov 2005) - ...I was on the AIC from about 3:00-4:45... Just east of the west bridge I saw a bird with some white on the cheek and from that distance thought I had relocated the scoter. No, it was a Long-tailed Duck, female, full winter plumage. And she was hanging out with the three female Black Scoters. She kept quite close to them for the 30 minutes I observed her. They were on the SOUTH side starting just west of mile marker 1 almost to the bridge (she/they were feeding in that about 4/10ths of a mile stretch).

Tim Avery (16 Nov 2005) - The Great Salt Lake Audubon Hot Spots field trip today, featuring 7 GSLA folks and myself, was able to relocate the female Black Scoter at AIC on the south (or West) side of the Causeway 1/2 mile north of the Marina. The bird was missed on the first pass by but spotted on the way back out. Other good finds included 2 Rough-legged Hawks, American Tree Sparrow's, 1 Hooded Merganser, and a plethora of other ducks at Farmington Bay

Tim Avery (13 Nov 2005) - ...noted the following birds at Farmington Bay today: Common Grackle - in the trees at the Learning Center by the sheds. It was calling, and stood out...Hooded Merganser - all the way out in Crystal Unit a male and female were seen flying over...TUNDRA SWAN - about 12 flying over the Crystal Unit around noon...

Kris Purdy (11 Nov 2005) - I just got a call (3:30 pm Friday) from Jack Binch out at Antelope Island Causeway. He's watching two female Black Scoters on the south side of the causeway between the big bridge closest to the marina and the chain link fence just a bit further west. Great find, Jack!

Tim Avery (10 Nov 2005) - With well over 100,000 ducks on the resting pond at Farmington Bay there are bound to be some good birds mixed in. At least 3 Adult Male Greater Scaup were observed about 50 yards out where the airboat lunch with the 2 Owl decoys are. There very well could have been females and more birds mixed in but there was just too much to look at...Also seen was a Merlin flying to the north from the 3 or 4 dead trees on the north edge of the rest unit...

Bob Huntington (4 Nov 2005) - I went out to Antelope Island Causeway this afternoon... Between the west bridge and the marina, on the south side, was a surf scoter. It was close to the shore, easy to see with the binos.

Oct 2005

Joel & Kathy Beyer (30 Oct 2005) - We found the White-throated Sparrow at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island this afternoon. It was feeding on the ground with several juncos along the fenceline behind the ranch house. Along the road to the ranch we saw a Peregrine Falcon and a Northern Shrike. On the south side of the Causeway there were 250-300 Bonaparte's Gulls and 4 Horned Grebes, as well as large numbers of Lesser Scaups, Shovelers and Eared Grebes. Besides Avocets, the only shorebirds left were a single Willet, a Long-billed Curlew and a Greater Yellowlegs.

Eric Huish (11 Oct 2005) - Milt, Tuula, KC and I also spent some time on the Antelope Island Causeway this afternoon and could not find a phalarope of any flavor. But we were able to find some interesting birds at Garr Ranch . The wooded area at the ranch was full of Hermit Thrushes and Robins. Milt found a White-throated Sparrow along the edge of the water behind the wash house and KC found a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Northern Shrike. The shrike was at the pond south of the ranch...

Carol Davis (10 Oct 2005) - I Went to Antelope Island today to celebrate Columbus Day...near the Marina and memorial I saw two Red...Phalaropes and I took some pictures...

Kristin Purdy (4 Oct 2005) - Two juvenile Sabine's Gulls were swimming on the north side of Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County this morning near the rocky spit that stretches toward Fremont Island at about mile 1.8.  These two birds seemed to be sticking together...other species along the causeway...a Horned Grebe in a raft of Eared Grebes on the south side near the big bridge and all the expected shorebirds.  Many Black-bellied Plovers and even two American Golden-Plovers were still present near mile marker 5.

Kristin Purdy (2 Oct 2005) - Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County is hosting yet another juvenile Sabine's Gull. Has this been a Sabine's season, or what? This Sabine's Gull was on the north side of the causeway at approximately mile 4.1 at around 5:45 pm. Paul Higgins joined me at the spot and took a few photos...I also saw two Horned Grebes with a flock of Eared Grebes south of the big bridge near the marina. The Horned Grebes have fully adopted their winter plumage.

Sep 2005

Kris Purdy (27 Sep 2005) - Both shorebirding and ranch birding were good at Antelope Island State Park in Davis County today. Neil Ellman of New Jersey and I enjoyed good views of an American Golden-Plover at approximately mile 4.6, north side of the causeway, at around 4 pm...The ranch hosted decent migrant activity as well, including a Red-naped Sapsucker; Cassin's and Warbling Vireos; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Hermit Thrushes; Orange-crowned, Townsend's, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Steve Carr (22 Sep 2005) - This morning...Pomera and I ventured out to the [Antelope Island] causeway... The Wandering Tattler was still present at the west bridge, north side, west edge of the inlet. A Horned Grebe was close to shore about the same area.  Just east of the weather station between MP's 1-2, we observed a Whimbrel, adult Long-billed Curlew and immature Curlew, all right together...

Aaron Smith reports seeing an adult breeding plumaged Sabine's Gull today (Sept. 13) on the Antelope Island Causeway. Last seen flying near where the lake enters the Boat Harbor.

Pomera Fronce (13 Sep 2005) - Tuesday at Antelope Island, Kent Lewis and I found a Red Knot. He was staying very close to the shore on the north side of the causeway, but ranged from mm 3 to mm 5 during the time we observed him (12:30 - 1:30). We also relocated the Ruddy Turnstone in roughly the same area as previously reported by Kris (although much closer to shore) and an American Golden Plover just east of the first bridge on the north side.

J & K Beyer (12 Sep 2005) - This evening around 7:00 the Wandering Tattler was still at the bridge closest to the island... There was a humongous flock of peeps on the south side of the causeway about mile marker 4, only about 20-30 yards from the shore. It was mostly Western and Baird Sandpipers, except for the Curlew Sandpiper in the midst of the rabble. Presumably it's the same bird we found 4 weeks ago, and that has been seen sporadically since.

Kris Purdy (12 Sep 2005) - I saw an adult male Ruddy Turnstone still in breeding plumage at Antelope Island Causeway this morning at the 'No Swimming' bridge just west of mm 5. The bird was on the north side of the causeway, east side of the channel, approximately 150-200 yards out....I watched the turnstone for perhaps 1 1/2 hours or so and then finally dragged myself away to search for Pomera's Wandering Tattler. I found the tattler on the south side of the bridge closest to the marina. It was standing on just about the closest possible rock to the bridge on the east side of the channel.

Kris Purdy - (11 Sep 2005) - I just got off the phone with Pomera Fronce, who found a Wandering Tattler on Antelope Island Causeway. Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld, Tim Avery, and Colby Neuman are also on the scene. The bird is at the big bridge closest to the marina, north side of the causeway.

Aug 2005

Tim Avery (29 Aug 2005) - This morning at Garr Ranch, Letitia Lussier spotted a Northern Waterthrush. Kathy Roach and myself were also present and got great looks at the bird. As I was following the first bird to take a picture a second Waterthrush flew down in front of me. Great birds for fall migration...

Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld (28 Aug 2005) - Today about 12:30 until 1:00 the Curlew Sandpiper was in the same area Steve Carr reported it. Was observed by Larene Wyss, Ed Leite and Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld. We were able to get within 50 yards and saw it's white rump patch as it flew.

Tim Avery (26 Aug 2005) - I just received a call form Glenn Barlow, letting me know that Keith Evans and John Belmon relocated the Curlew Sandpiper just past the first bridge (out form the entrance, not from the island) on the south side of the causeway. This is about a mile further form the entrance than the bird was previously reported. The bird was in the rocks in this area...

Lu Giddings (15 Aug 2005) - Dennis and Bryan Shirley and I just returned from the Antelope Island Causeway. ... A Whimbrel was seen near the weather station close to MM1 on the north side of the causeway. And a Ruddy Turnstone - the same bird last seen a week ago? - was observed in roughly the same place, also on the north side of the causeway...

Joel Beyer (14 Aug 2005) - About 7:30 this evening Kathy and I found a Curlew Sandpiper along the Antelope Island Causeway. It was on the north side, a little more than .4 (four-tenths) mile west of the entrance station, where the water first begins. It was in winter (non-breeding) plumage, and was with a large flock of peeps, mainly Western and Baird's Sandpipers. With a plain gray body, long black legs and decurved bill, the bird really stood out in the scope. At 20-25 yards away, it wasn't quite so noticable in binoculars. We saw at least one, probably two, American Golden Plovers, on the north side about mm 5, amongst many Black-bellied Plovers. The Whimbrel was on the south side, about a quarter mile west of mm 1...

Pomera Fronce (14 Aug 2005) - Add a juvenile Sabine's Gull to the mix of birds at Antelope Island presently. Roberta and I first saw it between mile markers 2 and 3 on the north side of the causeway not 25 feet from the water's edge. Its scaly brown back made it easily recognizable from the Franklin's Gulls it was keeping company with....

Tim Avery (11 Aug 2005) - I birded along the causeway this morning, was able to relocate the juvenile Whimbrel around MM 2. ...Between MM 4-6 on the north side of the causeway: 2 American Golden-Plover (1/2 between MM 5-6)...4 Red Knot ...2 Semipalmated Sandpiper (probably more)...

Steve Coleman (6 Aug 2005) - I went to Antelope Island to find the Ruddy Turnstone but was unsuccessful, it was none the less a fantastic day of birding which yielded...two Whimbrels. The Whimbrels were between mile markers 3 and 4 about a 1/4 mile between the antenna and speed limit sign on the south side of the causeway...

Dennis Williams (5 Aug 2005) - ...at about 3:45 p.m. today I saw a male Ruddy  Turnstone on the south side of the [Antelope Island] causeway between the island and the bridge.  The bird was next to the shore along with some gulls, stilts, and willets, so it could clearly be seen with binoculars as it was only about 60 feet away. I was able to view it as well through my telescope. The plumage was very distinct...

Tim Avery (4 Aug 2005) - After hitting Bear River I ran down to Antelope Island... The sheer number of birds now is the most I have seen on the causeway.  Between MM 5 - 6 was where all the activity was happening. A lone Juvenile Red Phalarope was in a mixed flock of Red-necked and Wilson's Phalarope just 50 yards to the south of the Causeway. The birds were about 250 yards form MM 5.  About 300 yards from MM 6 on the north side of the Causeway were: 34+ Snowy Plover, 5 Semipalmated Plover, 8 Red Knot, 5,000+ peeps...On the south side of the Causeway where about 100 yards further west was a feeding frenzy of peeps just 25 meters off the causway. There was 1 Pectoral Sandpiper feeding in the rocks along with: 75 Western Sandpiper, 21 Least Sandpiper, 11 Bairds Sandpiper, 26 Sanderling...and a Peregrine Falcon flying over, twice caused 1,000's of shorebirds to take to flight, creating a cloud of birds flying around...

Jun 2005

Tim Avery (1 June 2005) - Headed out to Antelope Island...this morning....At Garr Ranch, were: Long-eared Owl... Grasshopper Sparrow - 3 miles north of the ranch on the west side of the road singing...

May 2005

Steve Coleman (31 May 2005) - Yesterday (Monday) morning my son, his girlfriend and I went over to Farmington Bay for a bird walk...The most exciting bird sighted was a Green Heron, it flew over once and I thought that's what I saw and about 2 minutes later it flew over again pretty low and confirmed it. This bird was sighted near the wooded area where the foot bridge crosses Farmington Creek. This is west and a little north of the office. The only access is to walk.

Dave Hanscom (17 May 2005) - ...a trip to Antelope Island...we found at the ranch... looking at a group of grosbeaks, mostly black-headed, and among them was a gorgeous male Rose-breasted Grosbeak!! We saw him several times during the next couple of hours, mostly in the Russian olives along the fence line that extends to the east from the ranch house. He also flew north and sat on one of the fences out in the open, but most of the time he stayed in the trees.

Jack Binch (15 May 2005) - ...On Antelope Island 150 yards south of the last gate before Garr Ranch a male Lark Bunting. It was at the road and then west on the sidehill...

Dave Rintoul (12 May 2005) - ...headed out to Antelope Island this morning...Most unexpected bird was a single Eurasian Collared-dove, consorting with a Mourning Dove, near the solar panels north of the restrooms...

Mark Stackhouse (11 May 2005) - ...Some of the more unusual birds we saw were: ...Black-bellied Plover - ... Antelope Island Causeway ...Red Knot - Antelope Island Causeway...

Joel D Beyer (11 May 2005) - For those who might be looking for Northern Waterthrush at Garr Ranch on Antelope Island, there are not one but two birds. One is frequenting the usual boggy area east of the ranch house, while the other is hanging out in the marshy area at the south end of the fence line, under the russian olive trees....Grasshopper Sparrows were singing along the road to the ranch, about 2 miles out from the ranch...And at Farmington Bay WMA, a Solitary Sandpiper has been hanging out for the last week at the first ponds as you enter from Glover Lane...

Kris Purdy (8 May 2005) - Yesterday around 5:00 pm, I counted 314 Black-bellied Plovers far south of Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County between mile 5 and 6. Finding and watching this long line of birds was not an endeavor for either eyeball or binoculars birding. A scope is necessary. The plovers were easily 4 to 500 yards out; perhaps farther...

Cheryl Peterson (7 May 2005) - Today while birding Antelope ... (the Northern Waterthrush was a lifer) as well as a Black-and-white Warbler, Cassin's Vireo...

Lu Giddings (6 May 2005) - The Northern Waterthrush was still at Garr Ranch this morning. It was singing when I arrived shortly after 10 a.m. but stopped after a few minutes...And finally, a lone Dunlin was seen in the company of roughly 100 sanderlings (and also a few western sandpipers) in the rusty culvert area on the north side of the causeway between MM 1 & 2 at about 12:30 p.m.

Carol Gwynn (5 May 2005) - ...we got lots of good birds on Antelope Island today. Highlights were a barn owl, long-eared owls, Northern Waterthrush, yellow warblers, western kingbirds, black-headed grosbeak, green-tailed towhee, numerous shrikes, hermit thrush, lark sparrows, and chukars.. The waterthrush was in the boggy area behind the ranch house at Garr Ranch.

Dave Rintoul (3 May 2005) - My younger daughter and I went to Antelope Island this afternoon, and have a couple of interesting observations to report...Long-tailed Duck, female molting into alternate plumage, just north and east of the last bridge on the causeway before you get to the island/marina...At least two long-eared owlets could be seen in the nest at Garr Ranch.

Pomera Fronce (1 May 2005) - We saw many of the good birds posted from Antelope Island over the weekend. Here are a few more from Sunday to add to the mix: Cinnamon Teal, Semipalmated Plover, Swainson's Hawk, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush and Grasshopper Sparrow.

Apr 2005

Jack Binch  (30 April 2005) - On the causeway we found a single Dunlin mixed with the Sanderlings and Western Sandpipers near the bridge close to the marina. It was on the north side.  At Garr Ranch we found two Virginia's Warblers, a Northern Waterthrush and a Cordilleran Flycatcher...

 Joel and Kathy (28 April 2005) - This Wednesday evening on the Antelope Island Causeway there were 3 Red Knots, in breeding plumage. They were on the north side, on the mudflats between mile markers 4 and 5. They were with some 30 Black-bellied Plovers, as well as Sanderlings and Western and Least Sandpipers. Also one Snowy Plover.

Doug Schonewald - While passing through Utah my wife and I birded the Antelope Island area 4/24. We were able to locate and observe a single Hudsonian Godwit that was associating with 6 Marbled Godwit along the causeway. The bird was located approximately halfway down the causeway on the south side, and was observed a close range for approximately 10 minutes.

Jolene Hatch (19 April 2005) - Yesterday's storm brought in a lot of birds along the Antelope Island
Causeway...Whimbrels...Sanderlings...

Edson Leite (17 April 2005) - I went to Antelope Island today. The peeps are back most were found at the pipes around mm 2. Sanderlings, western, least, semipalmated and baird's sandpipers, willets, marbled godwits, longbilled dowitchers, franklin's gull, no black-bellied plovers. At the ranch hermit thrushes, sharp-shinned hawk and Long-eared Owl.

John F. Cavitt - (12 April 2005) - Just returned from Antelope Island and found 4-5 Black-bellied Plover in breeding plumage foraging along the Causeway. They were working the south side of the causeway between mile marker 4-5.

Mar 2005

Deedee O'Brien (8 Mar 2005) - Crossing the lonely causeway at 3:40 pm yesterday I finally saw a flotilla of apparent Goldeneyes...But, to my surprise and delight, passing by the group were a pair of Long-tailed Ducks, male and female in winter plumage... I watched them until they disappeared into the bright reflection of sunlight.

Tim Avery (8 Mar 2005) - I birded Antelope Island today. The first bird to spark my interest was at the metal culverts between MM 1 and MM 2....I was surprised to see an Adult Sanderling (nonbreeding plumage) picking about the rocks. As I was watching this bird, I suddenly noticed there were 2 Least Sandpiper's sitting less than 3 feet away. I could watch both species in the scope, great for a size comparison.

Tim Avery (7 Mar 2005) - ...The best sighting was Peregrine Falcon hanging out across the road from the ponds at the end of Glover's Lane. It flew back towards the Farmington Bay entrance and was last seen on a power pole about 1/4 mile from the entrance.

Jack Binch (5 Mar 2005) - I went to Garr Ranch to see if I could find the owl that Carol reported. I found a Long-eared Owl in one of the Russian Olives...On the causeway at the rusty culverts were a couple of Least Sandpipers and a dozen or so Eared Grebes at the bridge.

Feb 2005

Cliff Weisse (6 Feb 2005) - I visited Bountiful Landfill yesterday (Saturday) and there were lots of Herring Gulls, probably more the 150 individuals. I only saw one adult Thayer's [Gull] which I thought was odd. There was one second winter and several first winter Thayer's, one adult and one first or second winter (probably 2nd) Glaucous [Gull]...

Jan 2005

Joel and Kathy Beyer (23 Jan 2005) - Yesterday at the Bountiful landfill, we saw many Herring and Thayer's Gulls, a first-winter Glaucous Gull and a first-winter Glaucous-winged/Herring hybrid.

Leslie Loeffel - Today, Jan. 15, an immature Harris's Sparrow was at the feeder at the Antelope Island Visitor's Center at about 3:30 PM. The volunteer on duty said an immature bird was being seen about a month ago but hadn't been seen lately. Well, it's back, or its cousin is also quite lost and has found its way to Utah.

Tim Avery (9 Jan 2005) - I birded Farmington Bay, Kaysville Ponds, and Antelope Island today...Cinnamon Teal (male in bright plumage) at Kaysville Ponds...17 Hooded Mergansers at Kaysville Ponds...20+ flock of American Tree Sparrows near the split off to Frary Trailhead on the AIC...Merlin on AIC near split off to head ot Garr Ranch...3 Short-eared Owls about 2 miles form Garr Ranch along the road...3 Male 2 Female Greater Scaup at Farmington Bay with a large raft of Ruddy Duck, Redhead, Lesser Scaup and Coots.

Tim Avery (3 Jan 2005) - Today Ken Behrens from Pennsylvania, and I birded the Great Salt Lake from Antelope Island South to the Bountiful Landfill. Quite a day filled with really good birds! First at the landfill: 1st Winter Lesser Black-backed Gull on the pond to the north of the dump - Adult Glaucous-winged Gull flew from the trash pile to the same pond...At Antelope Island we found one Juvenile Harris's Sparrow at the feeder at the visitor center, along with several American Tree Sparrows...