Apr 2013

Pat Jividen (25 Apr 2013) - First Broad-tailed Hummingbird of the year, at our cabin in Tabiona.

Dec 2012

Pat Jividen (3 Dec 2012) - Common Redpolls. I have about 11 birds coming to my cabin in Tabiona.

Aug 2012

Bryant Olsen (31 Aug 2012) -  On Monday 7-30-12, I saw 3 BLACK SWIFTS at Little Deer Creek Falls along the north fork of the Duchesne River in the Uinta mountains. On Tuesday 7-31-12, I saw a warbler near the Ruth Lake trailhead off the mirror lake highway that keyed out in the field as a non-breeding "EASTERN" PALM WARBLER...

Bryant Olsen (8 Aug 2012) - The GSLA Field Trip looking for White-tailed Ptarmigan on the north slope of the Uintas was unsuccessful in finding our targets species, despite an extensive search of the Tundra near Mt. Baldy. That could be due in part because we weren't the only ones looking for them that day up there, as a PRAIRIE FALCON was patrolling the area, never the less it was a worth while trip, and we did find some cool birds, including a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK that gave us great looks, 2 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS, 3 PINE GROSBEAKS, 9 GRAY JAYS (when it rains it pours), 5 CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, and RED CROSSBILLS. But the highlight for me was hearing the male trill call of a BOREAL OWL at 1am. We had been playing their calls around the campfire at the East Fork Of Black's Fork campground, but got no response, then after I had gone to bed but wasn't sleeping well, when plain as day I heard the male trill call very close, instantly I jumped to my feet and put on some clothes and sandals, and went out and looked for and played for it, with no response, till I got a chill and had to go back to bed. Never the less I am certain of what I heard.

Jul 2012

Jeff Cooper (31 Jul 2012) - Eric Peterson and I ventured out from American Fork/Pleasant Grove yesterday...   --Among species seen: Calliope Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cassin's Finch, Green-tailed Towhee, and White-breasted Nuthatch.

Steve Carr (18 Jul 2012) - I have been to Costa Rica and Ecuador and have seen upwards of 12-15 different species at once around a set of feeders. But for sheer numbers of birds at one time, Pat Jividen's 6 feeders at his cabin on Tabby Mountain, elevation 6900 feet, overlooking the town of Tabiona, Duchesne County, during Rufous Hummer migration time, can't be beat. On July 17 at any given instant we saw--
   --10-12 pairs of Rufous Hummers, 4-5 pairs of Black-chinned, 3-4 pairs of Broad-tailed, and at least one pair of Calliope. Then, of course, when some birds get full of sugar-water and go to rest up on a tree branch their places are immediately taken over by new sets of hummers. I would guess that there are upwards of 100 individuals, including 20+ adult male Rufous.
   --Then, to add to the hummer frenzy - there were-- 3 pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks, 5 pair of Cassin's Finches, 3 Spotted Towhees, 4 Mourning Doves, 2 Scrub-Jays, 2 Evening Grosbeaks, one White-breasted Nuthatch, and 10 Pine Siskins, along with fly (soar)-over Ravens and 2 Turkey Vultures, many Tree and Rough-winged Swallows.

Jun 2012

David Wheeler (18 Jun 2012) - I took the lads up to the Uintas for our annual Father's Day All-Guy Campout...On Sunday, I was pleased that the lads agreed to climb Bald Mountain... En route, I saw BLACK ROSY-FINCHES (from the top), many Mountain goats, and PIPITS diving in display flights. The most unexpected thing we saw was a BALD EAGLE rising up from the Mirror Lake side and then floating off on the winds far above. It almost looked staged, and one felt as if a brass band should be playing...

Bryant Olsen (14 Jun 2012) - Monday I headed up to the High Uintas and spent 2 night near Butterfly Lake...I did see some good birds, including 3 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS, lots of PINE GROSBEAKS, loads on BLACK ROSY-FINCHES near Hayden peak, plus CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS at Mirror Lake...

Norm Jenson (14 Jun 2012) -Yep we blew our gas budget and went back to the Uintas today, our time was not wasted. We picked up the Gray Jay and Pine Grosbeak we missed yesterday. We went straight to Washington Lake.... We heard the Three-toed Woodpeckers we'd found the day before...The Ruby-crowned Kinglets were trying to compete with the Clark's Nutcrackers who were making a racket...

David Wheeler (2 Jun 2012) - GRAY JAYS at Mirror Lake Campground (the road is open across the top)

David Wheeler (2 Jun 2012) - OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER along the Mirror Lake Highway, Kamas side.

Apr 2012

Ron Walker (24 Apr 2012) - I had the opportunity to attend a family wedding in Roosevelt, Utah (Duchesne County) last week end. I built in a couple of extra days and visited some of the local birding locations while I was there. I spent time at Pelican Lake and the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. I saw Cinnamon Teal, Meadow Larks, Coots (of course), Yellow-headed Blackbird, Double Crested Cormorants, Bitterns, White Pelicans, Wild Turkeys, Canada Geese, Blue Herons, and lots of birds at the ONWR which I could hear but couldn’t see and didn’t know enough to identify them. But the highlight of my trip (outside of the family wedding) were the Turkey Vultures which come to visit Roosevelt and roost in a couple of pine trees in the middle of a residential area. The vultures arrive each year (for about the last 5 years) in April. They stay until about the first of June then leave. ...I counted 16 of them in the trees when I was there. In the evening they return about an hour before sunset. I asked my brother why they picked 2 pine trees in the middle of Roosevelt to call home. He said, “‘cause it’s only a half block from the mortuary”. – argh!

Feb 2012

Brian Maxfield (18 Feb 2012) - [Rock Creek] - Today I took a quick trip up Rock Creek in the Uinta Mountains. I noticed a large Engelmann Spruce that had a dead top but nothing else until something moved. All the branches were full of Bohenian Waxwings, 174 in total. I picked through every one of them looking for a Cedar Waxwing, of all things. None. After watching them for a time I continued up the canyon and was surprised to find another larger (241) flock of Bohemian Waxwings. This lively bunch was perched in aspen trees and Engelmann spruce but were also feeding on berries in Rocky Mountain juniper and common juniper.
   --A bit farther up the canyon I stopped to look at a single bird sitting in an aspen and was a bit surprised to see a female Red Crossbill. A male appeared out of the thicket soon after. A bit farther up the canyon I found three additional Red Crossbill (two male, one female). This small group was sitting on the road.

Dec 2011

Brian Maxfield (5 Dec 2011) - Today I stumbled upon a BOREAL OWL while out working. I was completely surprised to see a small owl sitting in a pinyon tree along a small road I had just been on minutes before. It was right next to the road and gave me some great looks. I was able to get the video camera out and get a bit of footage. I found in on the Skitzy Wildlife Management Area southwest of Duchesne. Skitzy is pretty remote and is mostly pinyon-juniper with openings created by chaining. The owl was in a small patch of trees left in the middle of a chained area.

Nov 2011

Brian Maxfield (18 Nov 2011) - Today I located a PACIFIC LOON at Starvation Reservoir. It was located in the northern end of the reservoir in the Saleratus Bay. There was also one Common Loon nearby. There were two HORNED GREBES in the same bay as well.

Aug 2011

Bryant Olsen (16 Aug 2011) - [Uinta Mountains] - Today's Great Salt Lake Audubon field trip to the Uinta Mountains was something of a success in that most of our target species were found, including BLACK ROSY FINCHES (2 fledglings being fed by an adult on Murdock Mountain, the peak due south of Bald Mountain on Bald Mountain pass, GRAY JAYS, CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, PINE GROSBEAK and a probable TREE-TOED WOODPECKER (brief look at a fly over)...

Alona Huffaker (4 Aug 2011) - Bonnie, Leila and I watched some Three-toed Woodpeckers at the  trailhead at Mirror Lake for awhile today.  They were down off the hill from the trailhead  parking lot, about half the way along  the distance of the parking lot...

Dec 2010

Diane Penttila (17 Dec 2010) - [Ouray National Wildlife Refuge] - General Waterbird Survey. We've warmed up just in time for our Christmas Bird Count tomorrow. The river is open and has pulled in a few birds. The following birds were seen within the survey route:
   - Canada geese 142, Mallard 301, Common merganser 5,  Sandhill crane 21,  Northern harrier 1, Red-tailed hawk, 2 Bald eagle 1.

Diane Penttila (3 Dec 2010) - The following birds were seen within the survey route: Canada Geese 1,000, Common Goldeneye, Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk. American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon

Nov 2010

Diane Penttila ( 2 Nov 2010) - [Ouray National Wildlife Refuge] -General Waterbird Survey. The following birds were seen within the survey route: Canada Geese, Snow goose, Tundra Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Wood duck, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked duck, Lesser scaup, Ruddy duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, American coot, Great blue heron, Black-crowned night heron, American White Pelican, Sandhill Crane, Wilson's Snipe, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Ring-billed gull, Northern harrier, Red-tailed Hawk

Mar 2010

Pat Jividen (5 March 2010) - Seen my first Mountain Bluebirds in the Tabiona valley today. 

Feb 2010

Pat Jividen (21 Feb 2010) - On Thursday I saw about 300 [American] Crows in the Tabiona valley.

Feb 2009

Brian Maxfield (13 Feb 2009) - I found a beautiful male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER today. It was on Big Sand Wash Reservoir in Duchesne County. This area is northeast of Duchesne. This small reservoir has some of the only open water for miles...

Dec 2007

Brian Maxfield (7 Dec 2007) - I have observed two large flocks of rosy-fnches over the past couple of days. The largest was in Indian Canyon (south of Duchesne) and number around 100 birds. It was a mixture of Black Rosy-finches and Gray-crowned Rosy-finches. They were feeding on roads cuts near the national forest boundary sign along the highway.

Brian Maxfield (2 Dec 2007) - Apparently, the Snow Buntings know we received snow in the Uintah Basin. I observed a small flock of snow buntings in a snowy field in Boneta. This is my first snow bunting for the area and an added bonus to see several at one time.

Nov 2007

Brian Maxfield  (7 Nov 2007) - ... this past week in the Uintah Basin. ... a Boreal Owl that was delivered to me that was picked up along a highway. The area it was found was near the junction of U208 and US 35. This is just east of Tabiona. The area is along the Duchesne River. The main habitats are pinyon-juniper, pastures, and narrow-leaf cottonwood riparian bottoms. The owl was an adult bird in apparently good condition. Unfortunately, the owl passed away from head injuries. This is the second Boreal Owl I have received that was hit by a car in atypical habitat. The other owl was a delivered to me a couple of years ago and that owl survived.

Aug 2007

Craig Fosdick (16 Aug 2007) - I just completed a 3½ day camping trip to Mirror Lake and the Uintas.... The White-throated Sparrow (presumably the same one reported in early August) is still present at MIRROR LAKE CG, although it is very inconspicuous. I saw the bird on 8/15 directly across the road (the road through the campground) from my campsite (#72). This is the only time I saw it, despite the fact that this location was only about 30 meters from my campsite, and when I was not hiking, I was watching birds at my campsite. ...I found Three-toed Woodpecker at both MIRROR LAKE CG and TRIAL LAKE CG. At Mirror Lake CG, I had a group of three birds: one adult male, and two recently-fledged juveniles (one female, one male). This family group was at my campsite (#72) on 8/14, when they spent 20 minutes (~9 AM) foraging on a broken-off Subalpine Fir that is apparently infested with Mountain Pine Beetle larvae. This fir, which is about 11–12 m north of the concrete fire ring in the campsite, was also visited by the male on 8/13 , also ~9 AM.

Jul 2007

Mark Stackhouse - On Saturday morning, 20 July, I saw and heard a (presumably a male) White-throated Sparrow singing on the south side of the trailhead parking area. It was acting very territorial and responded vigorously to a recorded song. I don't know how frequently White-throated Sparrow is recorded for summer in Utah but I though it odd. It was especially odd to hear the clear tones of "Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody" coming from the forest in the Uintas. Well, it wasn't exactly the classic phraseology, he jazzed it up a bit, more like "Old Sam Peabody ooo body body ooo body . . ."

Jul 2006

Kris Purdy (4 Jul 2006) - Yesterday I heard a report of an American Three-toed Woodpecker on the Highline Trail at Mirror Lake in the Uintas, Duchesne County. Brete Griffin and other birders attending the National Wildlife Federation Family Conference birded the trail and found an adult three-toed working several trees along the trail just 100 meters from the trailhead.

Jan 2006

Milt Moody - Boreal Owl in Duchesne Co. - A sight record -- with a couple of nice pictures-- for a Boreal Owl , seen on 24-25 January, was sent in [to the records committee] by Brian Maxfield.

Sep 2005

Tim Avery (25 Sep 2005) - This weekend I spent some time in the Whiterocks River area, and at Chepeta Lake. The most notable sightings were 2 separate American Three-toed Woodpecker. The first was seen while hiking up an old logging trail in an area that had a large patch of dead trees on a north facing slope...The area is accessible from FR 117... about 3-4 miles from where the pavement ends on the road up from Whiterocks. There is a gate to the left and up this road about 3/4 of a mile is where this bird was. The second ATTW was seen flying across FR 110...where the West Fork of the Whiterocks River flows under the road...

Jul 2005

Jack Binch (1 Jul 2005) - Bob Huntington and I tried Mirror Lake again. This time we were able to drive around the lake. We found an American Three-toed Woodpecker in the area of  the "saguaro" snag. It was on the snag once drumming.

Nov 2004

Brian Maxfield (9 Nov 2004) - On 11-5 I saw 7 Tundra Swans, 1 Snow Goose, 7 Cackling Geese mixed among a couple hundred Canada Geese. On 11-8 I saw 15 Hooded Mergansers on the Duchesne sewage ponds. Eight of them were males in beautiful breeding plumage. There were also Greater and Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwall, and the ever-present Mallard. Also of note was a single Bonaparte's Gull in winter plumage. It was flying around the ponds while I was there.

Aug 2004

Steve Carr (8 Aug 2004) - On Friday, at about 5:30 p.m., several birders on their way to Leidy Peak to search for the White-tailed Ptarmigan observed a flock of about 10 Eurasian Collared Doves in the Roosevelt Cemetery.

Jul 2004

Casey Lance (7 July 2004) - In Duchesne, Utah, there is a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves, living somewhere near Indian Canyon Highway and 300 South. They are very easy to find, and I see them often. They are almost always on the power lines...

May 2004

Dennis Shirley (27 May 2004) - I spent today birding Duchesne and Uinta counties. Of note were the following sightings: ...Eurasian Collared-Dove - Duchesne City...Ross's Goose - I know it's hard to believe, but what can I say. I had it verified by USFWS.

Dec 2003

KC Childs (13 Dec 2003) - Eric Huish and myself went out to Duchesne County to do some birdwatching. ...Some highlights included two Eurasian Collard Doves on the east end of Duchesne City. They were located near the flag and wigwam on the east end of town.

Aug 2003

Joel Beyer (17 Aug 2003) - We birded the Mirror Lake area (Uintahs) this afternoon. Three Gray Jays were seen at Bonny Lake, which is reached via the Highline Trail from Mirror Lake. Most of the usual birds were seen along this trail, including Three-toed Woodpecker, Red Crossbill and Golden-crowned Kinglet.

July 2003

Dana Green - (27 July 2003) My family went camping in the Uintas...
We saw some very nice birds. Pine Grosbeaks were in the meadows around almost all lakes and campgrounds we visited. I saw a Gray Jay on the Highland Trail at Mirror Lake about 9am Saturday. Also on this trail between 8 and 11 I notable sightings were two different sightings of female Williamsons, a male half submerged in a pond taking a bath from a rock, Brown Creepers, Golden Crowned Kinglets, and a White Winged Crossbill.  There was a large flock of Black Rosy Finches on the saddle of Mt. Baldy as we climbed up about 7:15 this morning.

Bruce Mast (Oakland, CA) - A recent backpacking trip into the High Uintah Wilderness Area (Aug 6-9) yielded some excellent birds, including Northern Goshawk (adult and juvenile), White-tailed Ptarmigan (hen and fledgling), Black Rosy-finches, Three-toed Woodpecker, Blue Grouse, and Golden Eagle. My wife and I also saw a moose cow and calf. Our route took us up the Uintas river and then up Krebs creek to the Chain Lakes. Spectacular country, even without the birds.

"Sharp"  (Sun, 7 Jul 2002)  I spent the holiday out at Moon Lake in the Uintas.  We set up a hummingbird feeder in our camp.  We had as many as 25 hummingbirds at the feeder at a time.  Included in this were at least 6 male Rufous Hummingbirds and 1 male Calliope Hummingbird.  They definitely kept things lively.  We also saw many other species of birds.  Some of the birds identified were Stellars Jay, Chipping Sparrow, Flicker, Junco, Chickadee, and Western Tanager.

Flocks of both GRAY-CROWNED and BLACK ROSY-FINCHES were seen along the access road to the Yellowstone River on Wednesday, 11/08 (BM). The Yellowstone River is on the south slope of the Uintas, east of Moon Lake and north of Duchesne.

A flock of 30-40 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES was seen in the road cuts along US 191 between Duchesne and Price on Tuesday, 11/07 (KP). They were south of the summit, about 2 miles south of the turnoff to the Avintaquin CG.

About 20 SNOW GEESE were seen on a pond in Fruitland, along US 40 east of Strawberry Reservoir, on Wednesday, 11/08 (BM).

A female WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN, along with three chicks, was seen along the northeast shoreline of Blue Lake on Saturday, 09/02 (DW). Blue Lake is located in Naturalist Basin in the Uinta Mountains, about 5 miles along the Highline Trail from SR 150.

Eight BLACK SWIFTS were seen flying over Naturalist Basin on Saturday, 08/12 (M&MSm).

A breeding-plumaged male CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR was seen just east of Naturalist Basin in the Uinta Mountains on Sunday, 07/09 (BO). The bird was seen on a small, tundra-covered plateau just north of Rocky Sea Pass. Rocky Sea Pass is about 1 mile east of Naturalist Basin along the Highline Trail, and about 6 miles east of the trailhead on SR 150 near Butterfly Lake.

A WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN was also seen on the tundra-covered plateau north of Rocky Sea Pass in the Uinta Mountains on Sunday, 07/09 (BO).

A pair of THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS was seen nesting along the shore of Mirror Lake on Sunday, 07/09 (MS,m.obs.). The nest was located about 100 ft. from the shore near the northeast corner of the lake.

A female WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen at the east end of the Mirror Lake CG on Tuesday, 06/27 (C&CP,MS).

On Starvation Reservoir, 6 COMMON LOONS were seen on Saturday, 06/24 (EH,DS,m.obs.).

July 1999

A MOUNTAIN PLOVER was seen southwest of Myton on Saturday, 07/03 (MS,DW). To get to the place where the bird was seen, take 5550 West (the Nine Mile Canyon/Sandwash Boat Ramp road) south from US 40 for 6.1 miles to the Monument Butte Road, go west for about 4 miles to oil well number 44-33B. The bird was about 150 yards southwest of this well.

Two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were seen along US 40 west of Myton on Saturday, 07/03, one at about mile 103.3 and the other near mile 105 (MS,DW).

A PINE GROSBEAK was seen along the Mirror Lake Highway, at the turnoff to the Mirror Lake CG, on Saturday, 07/03 (MS,DW).

May 1999

A breeding-plumaged RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on the sewage lagoons at Duchesne on Sunday, 05/23 (B&GB). It was seen again on Tuesday, 05/25 (MS,DW). Both times, the bird was on the second pond from the eastern side of the sewage lagoon complex, which is located on the north side of US 40 on the east edge of town. There are only two accepted records of Red-necked Grebe in Utah prior to this sighting.