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Q: What bird is black and white and gorgeous
all over?
A: It's the male Lark Bunting observed twice
today in Weber County by participants in the Layton Wild Bird Center's
birdwalk!
MarJean Muhlestein, LaNita Larson, Amy Owen, Joanne
Cole, Jim Poulter, Liz Poulter, Caitlin Poulter, Norma Purdy and I saw a male
Lark Bunting around the entrance to the private 'Rafter "S" Ranch' off UT 39
this morning around 9:00 and again this afternoon around 3:00. The Lark
Bunting is classified as a rare summer resident on the 2004 Utah Field Checklist
and was a new bird for all of us. Believe me, our excitement over the
sighting bubbleth over!
The male Lark Bunting is a striking bird. His
strong white scapulars contrasted with his dark plumage as he flew across
the road in front of the truck. The bird also landed on sage, on
a tall post marking a fork in the road, and on a fence post. He gave us
unexpected and excellent opportunities to study. Not only did we
get marvelous looks at the bunting, but we also listened to him while he
serenaded us from a fence post. These first sightings were on the
private ranch property. However, when we left the ranch in the
afternoon the Lark Bunting was outside the gate on public land. He teed up
on sagebrush several times and we even had the opportunity to call
folks back to see him.
The flock of birders inside the truck must have
been strongly anticipating a second sighting in the afternoon. While
scanning the sage fields for the bunting, LaNita drew our attention to the
vehicle we had just exited. It was obvious a crowd of excited birders
were in the area. The truck was parked with front wheels cocked.
Dust dunes had collected on the back window and on the Great Blue
Heron license plate. All the doors were flung open and left just like that
while the birders glued their binoculars to their eyesockets and scanned the
fields. There was no time to either park straight or close the doors
before we searched for the bunting. We were rewarded with the second
sighting a few hundred feet down the road.
To reach the Lark Bunting's location, take UT 39
(I-15 Exit 347). In the vicinity of mm 39 (approximately 35 miles
from I-15), you'll see a brown sign noting a left (north) turn to Hardware
Ranch. Turn left onto that road and immediately left again on an unmarked,
dirt road. Drive .7 miles to the 'Rafter "S" Ranch' sign over the
road. This afternoon, we saw the bunting on the gentle rise to
the left (south side of the road) of the gate, within 100 feet of the fence
behind which lies the ranch. For access to the 'Rafter "S" Ranch', please
contact Bill Fenimore at the Wild Bird Center at 525-8400.
Kris
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