Apr 2010

Lu Giddings (11 April 2010) - [Boulder Mountain] - a flock of 15-20 Black Rosy-finches was observed feeding on the fringe of the receding snow about 0.25 miles south of MM#96 on Highway 12  (between Torrey and Boulder) late this morning. The Acorn Woodpecker tree on the Boulder Mtn road (Highway 12, near MM#93) was being diligently guarded by a Lewis's Woodpecker this morning.
     [Henry Mountain]  A small flock (6-10 birds) of Pygmy Nuthatches was observed at about 7400' in the Eagle City vicinity of the Henry Mtns early Saturday afternoon. ... A Virginia's Warbler was seen sipping from a stream near a Savannah Sparrow in the Little Egypt area of the Henrys Saturday morning. ... Black-throated Sparrows were the most common sparrow seen at lower elevations.

May 2009

Milt Moody (21 Apr 2009) - On Thursday we saw an INDIGO BUNTING in the park across the bridge and down stream from the Gifford House in the main area of Capitol Reef NP. It was in the grass with three Chipping Sparrows and a male Lesser Goldfinch -- pretty easy to see. Also just below the bridge (across the nearby road) was a BLACK PHOEBE -- I think it's unusually far north for this species.

Mar 2009

Bryant Olsen - This past weekend I went to Capital Reef NP. and on Saturday the 21st I saw a flock of Canada Geese, with 9 Greater White-fronted Geese mixed in. They were flying west over Torrey at dawn.

May 2008

Carl Lundblad (24 May 2008) - I spent some time in southern Utah this week on a mostly non-birding trip but managed a few notable sightings... Black-and-white Warbler: 1 at Fruita Campground, Capitol Reef NP on 5/17. ...Lazuli X Indigo Bunting: 1 on Green River about 25 miles below Mineral Bottom on 5/20. ...Hooded Oriole: 3 at Fruita Campground, Capitol Reef NP on 5/17.

Oct 2007

Carleton DeTar - On Saturday, October 13, 2007, I observed a Palm Warbler in Robbers' Roost Canyon, Wayne County, Utah. The location was about two miles upstream from the confluence with the Dirty Devil River. I am quite familiar with the species from experience in the Eastern US. Field marks included a flash of white in the tips of the outer tail feathers, a distinct supercilium, a dull brown front and back (suggesting a Western bird), and yellow undertail coverts. The bird flushed from the ground and perched in a low tree, pumping its tail nonstop in classic palm-warbler fashion. I had good views from about 30'. Its call was a "plick", softer than the yellow-rumped warblers with which it was associating. I realize that this one will be difficult to corroborate, give the remoteness and vastness of the area.

Aug 2007

Kurt Gaskill (10 Aug 2007) - Driving through Torrey we spot a Eurasian Collard Dove. ...It was in a tree one street north of the main drag - sorry I did not get the number.

May 2007

Tim Avery (25 May 2007) - This morning I was conducting a riparian survey along the Fremont River that runs through Capitol Reef National Park. I turned to see a cuckoo flying across the 10 foot span between the river top the north and a large patch of willows, etc to the south. As birds go I am 100% certain the bird was a cuckoo, and 99.5% sure the bird was indeed a Black-billed Cuckoo. ...Yesterday afternoon, 5/24, I heard what I thought was a Red-eyed Vireo singing in the picnic area at Capitol Reef NP, but was surprised to find a Philadelphia Vireo instead. The bird was in the tall trees on the east side of the parking lot at the picnic area. I did not see or hear the bird this morning:... I had five sightings of Indigo Bunting this week. 1. The first was on 5/22 inside a closed area of Zion NP, so unfortunately it is not accessible to the public. 2. On 5/23 I had a single male fly across Posey Lake Road in Escalante, about a mile and a half up the road from the main highway. 3 and 4. Yesterday, 5/24 while conducting a survey along the Escalante River, just west of Highway 12, I had 2 male Indigo Buntings, one of which was about .75 miles from the road, the other, about 2 miles up the river. I was able to photograph both birds: 5. This morning after completing my survey I had a flyover male INBU just east of the Picnic area in Capitol Reef NP

Sep 2005

David Wheeler - Yesterday evening (Sunday, Sep 3) I saw an Eastern Phoebe in the little park past the visitor center at Capitol Reef NP. It was flying around between tree branches, the grass, and thickets in the general area of the bridge over the Fremont River. To get to the park, turn off SR-24 at the visitor center and go about a third or half mile or so until you see a nice park with lots of trees left of the road. If you cross the creek, you've gone too far.

May 2005

Clare Oskay - On May 22 my husband and I were driving the Notom-Bullfrog Road outside of Capitol Reef National Park and saw a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on a roadside fence near the Notom ranch site. Being from out of state we did not realize it was an unusual siting until later that afternoon when we went through our checklists and noticed it was a review species...

Jun 2004

Jens Munthe (29 June 2004) - [Eurasian Collared Dove] Seems like only yesterday Collared Doves in Washington were a big deal. In the past month I've seen them in Hatch, Escalante, Bicknell and Pioche NV.

May 2003

Dennis Shirley (30 May 2004) - On Saturday a pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeak were seen in the picnic area at Capitol Reef NP. They were feeding in the ripening mullberry trees at the edge of the grassy picnic area north of the parking lot. The trees were loaded with lots of other common migrants also.

Feb 2003

Nate Hart - (11 Feb 2003) Nate Hart reported sighting a Gyrfalcon at the Bicknell Bottoms.  The  Bicknell bottoms are at the base of the boulder mountain.  He saw the  gyrfalcon on January 28th. ... This is a white color phase gyrfalcon.   

Tom Clark - (Wed, 17 Jul 2002)  A male NORTHERN PARULA was captured on July 16 at the MAPS station run by Park Service personnel along the Fremont River in Capitol Reef National Park. It was captured in the large cottonwoods along the river south of the Petroglyph Panel on State Route 24. Photos were taken after the bird was banded.

Barbara and Dan Williams (from Rockford, Illinois) - On the 28th or 29th of January, a Varied Thrush was seen "...along the creek behind the nature center in Fruita." 

A male NORTHERN PARULA was seen and heard singing in Capital Reef NP on Sunday, 04/15 (LN). The bird was along the Fremont River trail, just past the bridge in two large cottonwoods.

May 1999

A PHAINOPEPLA was seen in Poison Springs Wash, about 15 miles southeast of Hanksville, during the week of 05/23 to 05/30 (BO).