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Red Cliffs May Field Trip.

Hi folks.

Here is the write up of our field trip with Bob Showler that I sent
Carol for posting.

Enjoy. Bill


ZION NATIONAL PARK/VIRGIN RIVER
May 11, 2002

This months field trip, organized by Judy Jordan, began for 13 dedicated
members and friends of Red Cliffs Audubon here in St. George, at the
small pioneer settlement, now ghost town, of Grafton, Utah, on the banks
of the Virgin River. Being and old pioneer settlement, there are plenty
of majestic old fruit trees and green pastures around to attract a
variety of birds. Then it's proximity to the Virgin River and its
lowland riparian habitat just enhances its birding opportunities.
Grafton is at an elevation of approximately 3700?.

Following Grafton, we ventured up to the Springdale Pond area. Again we
continued the riparian habitat of along the Virgin River, but increased
in elevation to 3900?. Upon leaving Springdale, we went into Zion Park
itself, and birded Oak Creek Canyon. An area just inside the entrance,
to the left, that takes you up into the maintenance area for the park
and beyond, into prime pinyon-juniper and upland desert shrub. Here too,
there is a bit of riparian habitat with it's beautiful old cottonwoods.
Elevation here averages 4100?.

It was at this point that most folks returned home, but a few diehards
went so far as to venture up to Kolob Reservoir on the Upper Kolob
Plateau, at an elevation of 8000?. Here you encounter spruce-fir, aspen,
mountain meadow and mountain riparian habitats. Blue Springs Reservoir,
a stop before getting to Kolob, proved uneventful as a result of
extremely low water.

I bring to your attention the elevations because most folks think of St.
George as a good place to bird in the desert. But less than an hour away
are mountains reaching up to the sky some 10,364? (Signal Peak) in the
Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness and 11,306? (Brian Head) behind Cedar
City on the Markagunt Plateau just north of Cedar Breaks National
Monument. Add to this the confluence of the Mojave Desert, Colorado
Plateau and the Great Basin biodiversities and is it any wonder that
this area produces such an abundance of bird species.

But enough of this geography lesson, let's get to the birds! Our thanks
to Bob Showler from Zion National Park who led our group and helped us
encounter over 61 species, 76 if you include Kolob. the weather was
great, clear, breezy, with temperatures ranging from 58 to 69 degrees F.
The following is a break down of the birds seen at each particular
location.

GRAFTON: Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose - in flight over the river, Osprey
(1), Gambel?s Quail, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird,
Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say?s Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher,
Cassin?s Kingbird (1), Western Kingbird, Warbling Vireo (3), Common
Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff
Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (2), Bewick?s Wren, American Robin, Northern
Mockingbird, European Starling, Phainopepla, Orange-crowned Warbler,
Yellow Warbler (6), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon?s), MacGillvrayís
Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (1), Wilson Warbler, Yellow-breasted
Chat (2), Summer Tanager (1), Western Tanager (18), Spotted Towhee,
Chipping Sparrow (1), Black-throated Sparrow (4), Black-headed Grosbeak
(7), Blue Grosbeak (1), Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark,
Brown-headed Cowbird, Scottís Oriole (1 male), House Finch, Pine Siskin,
Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

SPRINGDALE POND: Cooperís Hawk, Common Black-Hawk (2), seen circling
overhead while gaining in altitude. As they gained altitude they began
to move down canyon. My experience in the past month with Black-Hawks at
Lytle Ranch and another location near St. George where I was within feet
of two individuals, helped in identifying these birds. Very broad wings
with a solid black ventral surface, on an all black hawk with only one
pure white band at the base of the tail were the key features used to ID
the two birds. White-throated Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Northern
Flicker, Empidonax - Willow (1) based on minimal eye ring without taper
and habitat..., Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow,
House Wren (1), American Robin, Common Yellow-throat (1), Summer Tanager
(1), Green-tailed Towhee,  Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak.

OAK CREEK CANYON - ZION NATIONAL PARK: Turkey Vulture, Cooperís Hawk
(2), White-throated Swift, Empidonax - Dusky (2) from coloration and
habitat..., Ash-throated Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo (3), Warbling
vireo, Western Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2),
Virginia's Warbler (1), Black-throated Gray Warbler (6), Western
Tanager.

KOLOB RESERVOIR: Common Loon (3), Eared Grebe, Western Grebe (1),
White-faced Ibis (2), Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Osprey (1),
Bald Eagle (1), American Coot, American Avocet (20+), Northern Flicker,
Tree Swallow (1000+) all ?dancing? on the beach, alighting then taking
off to fly in a crescent only to flutter to Earth again and repeat their
adventure. Mountain Bluebird, Green-tailed Towhee, Brewer's Sparrow,
Savannah Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird.

Two earlier trips to Kolob Reservoir showed a broader range of waders
and ?peeps?....
Bob Showler - April 21, 2002: Common Loon (9), Western Grebe (5),
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1), Osprey (2), Willet (35), Marbled Godwit
(59), Bairdís Sandpiper (1).

Charlie Sheard - May 2, 2002: White-faced Ibis (1), Snowy Plover (2)
w/pictures, Black-necked Stilt (1), Spotted Sandpiper (4), Long-billed
Curlew (5), Marbled Godwit (1), Long-billed Dowitcher (14).

Next up is our annual field trip from Silver Reef up to Oak Grove
Campground following Leeds Creek through the chaparral into the
conifers. ?Leeds Creek is a rushing (well, maybe not this year) mountain
stream that descends through a number of vegetation zones before flowing
into nearby Quail Creek Reservoir. The perennial stream and its narrow
riparian corridor attract a variety of birds....? [Birding Utah, D. E.
McIvor] So, will we see you at 7:00AM on June 8, 2002 at the St. George
BLM office to partake? Hope so. (Bill Hunter)