Great Basin Regional Report, Summer 2001

["Ted Floyd" <tedfloyd57 at hotmail dot com>]

Hello, birders.

Here is a DRAFT of the Great Basin Regional Report
for the summer reporting period (1 June 2001 - 31
July 2001). If you see any errors or omissions, please
let me know about them BEFORE 15 September 2001. I
need to submit the report to ?North American Birds-
at that time.

Thank you!

Ted Floyd
Reno, Nevada
tedfloyd57@hotmail.com

- -----------------------------------------------------

GREAT BASIN
Ted Floyd
Great Basin Bird Observatory
One East First Street, Suite 500
Reno, Nevada 89501
gbbo@altavista.com

It is usually hot and dry during the summer months in
the Great Basin, and this year was no exception. In
Reno, only 2.8 inches of precipitation had fallen in
the twelve-month period ending 30 June 2001 - making
it the driest fiscal year in more than a century. In
the minds of many birders, low water is associated
with good shorebird conditions; but there was no
water at all in many of our wetlands, especially in
the western part of the region. Consequently, shore-
birds were scarce or simply absent at most sites except
for the Great Salt Lake. The "fall" shorebird flight
seemed to be somewhat early, however, with boreal and
artic breeders showing up in southern Nevada by the
end of June. The dry weather throughout the West also
was thought to be connected with the appearance of
several southern vagrants in our region.

Abbreviations: A.I.C., Antelope Island Causeway
(Davis, UT); B.C., Big Canyon (Washoe, NV); B.R.,
Bodyfeldt Ranch (Nye, NV); C.L., Carson Lake
(Churchill, NV); C.C., Corn Creek (Clark, NV);
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, F.S.N.W.R.,
(Juab, UT); H.B.V.P., Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
(Clark, NV); L.L., Lead Lake (Churchill, NV), M.V.W.,
Meadow Valley Wash (Lincoln, MV); M.R.S., Miller's
Rest Stop (Esmeralda, NV); M.R., Muddy River (Clark,
NV); O.C.T., Ophir Creek Trail (Washoe, NV); W.S.R.,
Warm Springs Ranch (Clark, NV).

Records marked with an aapstert (@) were documented
with a written description. Records marked with an
asterisk (*) are subject to review by the appropriate
state records committees.

BITTERNS THROUGH FALCONS
     Two Least Bitterns - an apparent pair - at Pahran-
agat N.W.R., Lincoln, NV 16 Jun (JC) were the only re-
port. Green Herons were noted at three southerly loca-
tions: along the M.R. throughout June (JW & NM); in M.V.W.
7 Jul (SS); and at Berry Springs Marsh, Washington, UT,
where a nest with four young was discovered 22 Jul (RF
& RD).
     A female Wood Duck with chicks at the Carson R.
Diversion Dam, Churchill, NV 8 Jun (TL & MM) provided
the only confirmed breeding record for the season. A
Northern Pintail with 3-4 young in M.V.W. 7 Jul (SS)
represented a southerly extreme for breeding in the
state. The Blue-winged Teal is an uncommon breeder in
the Great Basin; this summer there were reports from
Saltair, Salt Lake, UT 18 Jun (CN) and from four Nevada
locations 2 Jun - 14 Jul (v.o.). Canvasback is rare in
s. Utah during the summer, so the individual at Stratton
Pond, Washington, UT 8-22 Jul (RD) was notable. Also
notable was a pair of Ring-necked Ducks at Mountain
Home, Duchesne, UT 4 Jul (BR & LR). There were 2-3
Common Goldeneyes were at H.B.V.P. on the surprising
time span of 29 Jun - 15 Jul (RS & JC). A Red-breasted
Merganser at Parowan, Iron, UT 12 Jul (RD) was unusual.
A dark-phase Ruddy Duck at H.B.V.P. 5-20 Jul (ph. JS
et al.) was interesting.
     Summering or breeding Ospreys were noted at four
locales in northwestern Nevada (v.o.), and a breeding
pair at Deer Creek Res., Wasatch, UT had fledged one
young bird by 22 Jul (JB & KB). A Mississippi Kite
(*) was a one-day wonder at W.S.R. 6 Jun (ph. JW).
Summering Bald Eagles were found at two spots in the
Carson Range of w. Nevada: at Galena County Park,
Washoe 3 Jun (LW et al.) and at Spooner Lake, Douglas
11 Jun (fide LW). Red-shouldered Hawks were seen at
three Nevada locations 13-31 Jul (v.o.) and at
F.S.N.W.R. 16-19 Jul (JG). A Zone-tailed Hawk (*)
was at W.S.R. 6 Jun (JW). Peregrine Falcons were
found at three Nevada locations 5 Jun - 14 Jul (v.o.)
and at A.I.C. 21 Jul (DJ & LJ).

SHOREBIRDS THROUGH TERNS
     At least 7000 American Avocets were at L.L. by
the early date of 20 Jun (BH), and more than 11,000
were at C.L. 25 Jul (TF). The first Greater Yellowlegs
showed up at H.B.V.P. on the somewhat early date of 29
Jun (RS). The only Lesser Yellowlegs was a single bird
at H.B.V.P. 1 Jul (RS). Solitary Sandpipers were repor-
ted from H.B.V.P. 15 Jul (JC) and Lake Shore, Utah, UT
22-31 Jul (v.o.). A Wandering Tattler (*), first repor-
ted in May, continued at A.I.C. until 3 Jun (v.o.). Some
30 Marbled Godwits were at L.L. on the early date of 20
Jun (BH). Three Red Knots were at Bear River Migratory
Bird Refuge, Box Elder, UT 26 Jul (CN & TS). Several
Sanderlings - leftovers from the strong passage in May
- - lingered at A.I.C. until 4 Jun (KC); meanwhile south-
bound Sanderlings at four Utah locales 9-31 Jul were
led by 26 at A.I.C. 27 Jul (EC).
      The White-rumped Sandpiper (*) flock at Ouray
N.W.R., Uintah, UT had dwindled to two individuals
by 10 Jun (v.o.), and a lone bird made a surprise
appearance at F.S.N.W.R. 6 Jun (JBa). A Baird's Sand-
piper at C.L. 25 Jul (TF) was the state's only report,
but reports from three Utah locales 13-27 Jul (v.o.)
were led by 43 at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge,
Box Elder, UT 27 Jul (EC). An early Pectoral Sandpiper
was at Paragonah Pond, Iron, UT 14 Jul (RD). Two Stilt
Sandpipers were at Provo Airport Dike, Utah, UT 31 Jul
(DS et al.). At least 6000 Long-billed Dowitchers were
at C.L. by 25 Jul (TF). Some 4000 Wilson's Phalaropes
gathered at L.L. 20 Jun (BH), and 10,000+ were at C.L.
by 25 Jul (TF). Red-necked Phalarope maximum was 800+
at Soda Lake, Carson, NV 25 Jul (TF).
      Franklin's Gull maximum was 4266 at A.I.C. 21
Jul (DJ & LJ). A Herring Gull was at the unusual loca-
tion of Quichapa L., Iron, UT on the unusual dates of
5-8 Jun (@RD). Common Terns made a good early showing
in Utah, with reports at three locales 18-22 Jul led
by 17 at the Geneva settling ponds, Utah 18 Jul (RSt);
meanwhile, a single Common Tern at the Ruby Lake Fish
Hatchery, Elko, NV 28 Jun (WW) was notable. A Least
Tern (*) at the Geneva settling ponds, Utah, 22 Jul
(JB & KB) was a great find.

DOVES THROUGH VIREOS
     Eurasian Collared-Doves (*) stormed into Nevada
this summer. A bird along the M.R. 7 Jun (NM & KM) was
a probable state first, and an individual at Panaca,
Lincoln 7 Jul (ph., @SS) was well described. By 11 Jul
there were two at Panaca (SS). A Band-tailed Pigeon at
B.R. 8 Jun (DT) was unusual. White-winged Doves are
regular in Nevada only in the far southern reaches of
Clark; it was notable, then, that the species was re-
ported from five n. Clark locales during the reporting
period (v.o.). An amazing 14-15 Yellow-billed Cuckoos
were at W.S.R. in late June (@PSu, JW et al.), and sin-
gles were noted at B.R. 7-8 Jun (JBr & DT), along the
lower Provo River, Utah, UT 3-4 Jul (DS et al.), and
at Lytle Ranch, Washington, UT 22 Jul (RF et al.). A
possible Elf Owl (*) was heard at Lytle Ranch, Washington,
UT 21-22 Jul (RF et al.); the species has occurred here
in the recent past. A well-described female Magnificent
Hummingbird (*) was at Stout Canyon, Kane, UT 24 Jun
(@SS & PS). An Anna's Hummingbird was at Reno until 23
Jun (RR). At least six "fall" migrant Selasphorus humming-
birds were back at the O.C.T. 1 Jul (JD & TF). Two Acorn
Woodpeckers were at Devil's Canyon, San Juan, UT 26 Jun
(DG).
     An Olive-sided Flycatcher at the low-elevation site
of B.C. 31 Jul (FP) was early. A Contopus flycatcher at
C.C. 7 Jun was a good match for Eastern Wood-Pewee (*),
both in terms of plumage seen and vocalizations heard
(@RS); the observer did not get to study the bird long
enough to make a definitive identification, however.
Black Phoebes at Rancho San Rafael Park, Washoe, NV
24 Jul (FP) and at B.C. 31 Jul (FP) were northerly;
meanwhile, a good eight birds were counted in M.V.W.
7 Jul (SS). Vermilion Flycatchers numbered in the double
digits at W.S.R. in June (PSu et al.), and singles were
found at three other Clark locations 14 Jun - 24 Jul
(v.o.). Brown-crested Flycatchers at five Nevada lo-
cales 2-20 Jun (v.o.) were led by an impressive six
birds at W.S.R. 20 Jun (JW). A silent Myiarchus fly-
catcher at M.R.S. 14 Jun was thought to be a possible
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (*; @JBr). Cassin's Kingbirds
numbered 1-5 at four Nevada locales 9 Jun - 28 Jul
(v.o.). An Eastern Kingbird strayed to B.R. 2 Jun
(JB et al.).
     A Bell's Vireo at Tonopah 2 Jun (GS et al.)
was northerly. A belated report of two singing Gray
Vireos in the Palmetto Mountains, Esmeralda, NV 27
May (JD) was noteworthy; this area is well to the
north and west of where the species was documented
during the recently completed Nevada Breeding Bird
Atlas (1997-2000). A possible Philadelphia Vireo
(*) was reported from M.R.S. 10 Jun (JBr), and a
Red-eyed Vireo (*) was at Boyd Siding, Lincoln,
NV 7 Jul (@SS).

SWALLOWS THROUGH WARBLERS
     Purple Martins were confirmed as breeders in
Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah, UT 11-12 Jul (KC et al.).
A juvenile Black-capped Chickadee was netted at the
Mary's River banding station, Elko, NV 29 Jul (KV).
A singing Winter Wren was at Chimney Beach, Washoe,
NV 14 Jul (TF); the species remains unconfirmed as
a Nevada breeder. At least six American Dippers re-
mained in downtown Reno until 23 Jun (TF & KS).
     A possible Veery (*) was reported from Tonopah
2 Jun (JBr & DT). Migrant Swainson's Thrushes included
two at Tonopah 2 Jun (JBr & DT) and three at B.R. (JBr
& DT) also 2 Jun; meanwhile, a lone Swainson's Thrush
at Navajo Lake, Kane, UT 1 Jul (SS & PS) indicated
possible breeding well to the south of the species'
normal range. Unusual was a Hermit Thrush seen at a
nest in riparian habitat on the canyon floor at Zion
N.P., Washington, UT 2 Jun (SS et al.). The last
Catharus thrush of the spring migration was an uniden-
tified individual at C.C. 7 Jun (RS). One or two Gray
Catbirds were at B.R. 2-10 Jun (JBr et al.), and re-
ports from four Utah locales were led by six at North
Arm Natural Area, Weber 3-24 Jun (CD et al.). A tardy
Cedar Waxwing at C.C. 14 Jun (JC) was way to the south
of the species' breeding range in Nevada, while six
northerly Phainopeplas at Duncan Creek, Iron, UT were
a second county record (SS).
     Warblers of note included the following: a Golden-
winged Warbler (*) a little ways to the west Eureka,
Juab, UT 16 Jun (EH); single Northern Parulas (*) at
B.R. 14 Jun (JBr) and at Springville, Utah, UT 15 Jun
(JH et al.); a singing Chestnut-sided Warbler (*) at
Yerington, Lyon, NV 6 Jun (CR & DH) and another at
B.R. on the unusual date of 9 Jul (JBr); one or two
Black-throated Blue Warblers (*) at B.R. 8-10 Jun
(JBr & DT); a tardy "Myrtle" Warbler at B.C. 8 Jun
(TF & TL); two early Yellow-rumped Warblers at Duncan
Creek, Iron, UT 29 Jul (SS) and 5-6 at B.C. 31 Jul
(FP); an early Townsend's Warbler at Aspen Grove,
Utah, UT 27 Jul (EH); a Black-and-white Warbler at
B.R. 2 Jun (JBr et al.); American Redstarts at three
Nevada locales 2-30 Jun (v.o.); a Worm-eating Warbler
(*) at W.S.R. 1 Jul (GS); an Ovenbird (*) at B.R. 2
Jun (JBr); single Northern Waterthrushes at M.R.S.
1 Jun (JBr & DT) and at C.C. 5-7 Jun (RS); a Hooded
Warbler (*) at Dyer, Esmeralda, NV 3 Jun (DT et al.)
and a banded male at Capitol Reef N.P., Wayne, UT 27
Jun - 3 Jul (TC).

TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES
     A Summer Tanager at Dyer, Esmeralda, NV 3 Jun
(GS) and two at B.R. 12 Jul (JBr) were somewhat nor-
therly, while a stray to Holladay, Salt Lake, UT 7 Jul
(SC) was well to the north of its normal range. Mean-
while, a good nine individuals were tallied in M.V.W.
7 Jul (SS). An Abert's Towhee at Pueblo Park, Clark,
NV 4 Jul was notable; the species is highly sedentary
in Nevada and had never before been reported from this
location (RS). A Grasshopper Sparrow (*) near Caliente,
Lincoln, NV was seen carrying food or a fecal sac (@WW),
and two birds were noted at A.I.C., Davis, UT 3 Jun
(JB & KB). Lincoln's Sparrow is poorly documented as
a breeder in Nevada, so the following records were of
note: four adults on the O.C.T. 1 Jul, including an
individual seen carrying food (JD & TF); at least six
adults in Lamoille Canyon, Elko, 10 Jul, including
three individuals seen feeding young (MP & LP).
     Stray Rose-breasted Grosbeaks lingered at four
Nevada locales 1 Jun - 3 Jul (v.o.), but the only
Utah report was an adult male at F.S.N.W.R. 30 Jun
(JBa). A male Painted Bunting (*) at Providence,
Cache, UT 20-25 Jun (JL & WL), if accepted by the
Utah records committee, would be the first or second
for the state. Indigo Buntings at five Nevada locales
included three males in M.V.W. 7 Jul (SS); meanwhile,
there were reports of single birds at three Utah lo-
cales 24 Jun - 8 Jul (v.o.). Two Bobolinks were seen
near Lamoille, Elko, NV 27 Jul (JE & SW), and one was
at Goshen Canyon, Juab, UT 8 Jul (EH). A possible
Common Grackle (*) was at Tonopah, Nye, 9 Jul (@JBr).
Northerly Hooded Orioles were found at Reno, Washoe,
NV 29 Jun (BG) and at Fallon, Churchill, NV 30 Jul
(MA).
     Multiple rosy-finches atop Mount Grant, Mineral,
NV 22 Jun (LW) were interesting. Given the proximity
of this site to the Sierra Nevada, it seems most like-
ly that the rosy-finches were Gray-crowned - a species
that could not be confirmed as a breeder during the
Breeding Bird Atlas (1997-2000). Two or three Pine
Grosbeaks on the O.C.T. 1 Jul (JD & TF) were the only
report. Red Crossbills were present in good numbers
in the Carson Range, Washoe, NV but the only other
Nevada report was of three birds at Mt. Moriah, Elko
28 Jul (JE & SW). A black-backed Lesser Goldfinch at
Oxbow Park, Washoe, NV 26 Jul (JEl) was interesting;
this form is occasionally reported from our region.

Observers: Mike Amos, Jay Banta (JBa), Joel Beyer,
Kathy Beyer, John Brack (JBr), Steve Carr, K.C.
Childs, Tom Clark, Jack Cochran, Ed Conrad, Carol
Davis, Rob Dobbs, Jon Dunn, Jim Eidel, Joanne Ely
(JEl), Ted Floyd, Rick Fridell, Jim Graham, Dana
Green, Bill Grossi, Dan Harmon, Bill Henry, Jesse
Huffaker, Eric Huish, Dan Johnston, Laura Johnston,
Tim Lenz, John Lisonbee, Wendy Lisonbee, Karen Mc-
Donal, Neil McDonal, Martin Meyers, Colby Neuman,
Fred Petersen, Mark Ports, Lois Ports, Chris Ran-
dolph, Bruce Robinson, Lynn Robinson, Ron Rovansek,
Terry Sadler, Rick Saval, Greg Scyphers, Bryan Shir-
ley, Dennis Shirley, Kei Sochi, Reed Stone (RSt),
Je Anne Strott, Polly Sullivan (PSu), Priscilla
Summers, Steve Summers, Dennis Trousdale, Ken Voget,
Jack Walters, Walter Wehtje, Stuart White, Larry
Williams.

- -----------------------------------------------------

S.A. Until recently, the Upper Muddy River Valley of
Clark County, Nevada wasn't even on the radar screens
of most area birders. During the Nevada Breeding Bird
Atlas (1997-2000), however, this drainage was dis-
covered to harbor breeding Clapper Rails, Yellow-billed
Cuckoos, Vermilion Flycatchers, Brown-crested Flycat-
chers, and Cassin's Kingbirds. The Upper Muddy River
has also emerged as a prime spot for passerine vagrants
and stray raptors. In 2001, researchers from the Great
Basin Bird Observatory and the University of Nevada at
Reno conducted bird surveys along the Upper Muddy River,
to try to get a quantitative handle on breeding bird
densities in the valley. One site alone - the privately
held Warm Springs Ranch - supported 10+ pairs of Yellow-
billed Cuckoos and Vermilion Flycatchers. Meanwhile,
strays such as Mississippi Kite, Zone-tailed Hawk,
Worm-eating Warbler, and multiple Rose-breasted Gros-
beaks were found right through the summer season at
Warm Springs Ranch.

- -----------------------------------------------------

Photo captions:

The yumanensis subspecies of the Clapper Rail is a
federally listed taxon whose status in Nevada was
virtually unknown until the late 1990s. In recent
years, however, this furtive denizen of emergent
wetlands has been documented as a breeder at various
sites in the Colorado River drainage above Lake Mead.
This bird was photographed at Overton Wildlife Manage-
ment Area, Clark County, Nevada by Jack Walters.

This adult Mississippi Kite was one of many highlights
from the Warm Springs Ranch, Clark County, Nevada in
the early summer of 2001. Photograph by Jack Walters.










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