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Western Washington County Birding

Greetings.....

The Dixie Birders were afield on Friday, ascertaining the damage to old haunts and trying to determine where the next hotspots are going to be.

In a few hours time we were able to see 37 species of birds. A pair of Marsh Wrens in my back yard here at SunRiver; Savannah Sparrows in the fields in Ivins, 2 American White Pelicans at Bloomington Country Club, and a Greater Roadrunner at Stonebridge.

But let's take a look at the damage and what's left:
1. SunRiver St. George; two of the four lakes are gone, silted in or drained.
2. Stonebrook; the ponds are intact, but the river has scoured out the channel and silted in much of the Squaw Bush, degrading one of the most impressive birding spots I've found here. Totally new look now. The tree with the old Black Hawk nest is gone.
3. Mathis Park; As Marilyn eluded to some time ago... gone. There are still a number of mature cottonwoods around, but no underbrush, nor stream side vegetation.
4. Tonaquint Park; some damage but the Nature Center and surroundings are intact. May become a real producer.
5. Stonebridge; the ponds here are fine. This area has been forgotten because of development right up to the waters edge. Actually, that has enhanced its potential and much of the shoreline vegetation has returned. There is now easy access to the dividing line between the two ponds on which are growing cattails, willows and cottonwoods. Several Audubon Warblers, a Black Phoebe, the Roadrunner and a nice variety of ducks were present. This may become a new trap for birds.
6. Lytle; currently off limits. But there is still much riparian growth that could be accessed with a little effort.
7. Gunlock; you can't get to it from the south. In our attempt to go in the "back way", we found the road rocked. Suspicious, as if the Shivwits Indians were preventing access. But we did find a small creek flowing and mature riparian growth. Obviously a place to keep tabs on. It is called Pahcoon Spring Wash. Great habitat.
8. Ivins Reservoir; after several years without water, it is now full again - culinary water storage. There were some birds here, including a Scaup, but the food source has not recovered, hence, a minimal number of birds. But the water is back.
9. SR91 bridge; still there!! But, all the stream side vegetation is gone. Mature cottonwood trees abound, but it's going to be a while. No telling where the beavers are that had built two dams down stream from the bridge. It was great warbler country. Perhaps it will recover, and be even more prominent.
10. Southgate; the pond is gone. Northern shore was eaten away by the Santa Clara River. The front nine holes are closed. SunRiver St. George's front nine are closed. Hence....
11. Dixie Red Hills Golf Course; still in fine shape, but probably with more play as the result of the losses mentioned in "#9", may create an access limitation, but I've not heard of any as of yet.

Perhaps of interest, the polygamists - who do all the excavation work here at SR St. George, are building a berm around the out side of the front nine golf course. Darcy (developer) and I had devised a five year plan that would place trail heads at the eastern end (near the new Calvary Church on Sugar Leo), and the southern end of the property. They would be connected with a trail atop a berm. Obviously, the flood has expedited matters. In time, there will be a birding trail linking the Virgin River Parkway series of trails with the mouth of the Virgin River Gorge. A pretty ambitious undertaking, albeit with the help of the City of St. George, SunRiver St. George and the BLM.

Always look on the bright side.

Mahalo... Dixie Willie

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