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12 members and friends of Red
Cliffs gathered at the St. George BLM for a birding trip along the trails
bordering the Virgin River and other local environs. First was a pleasant and
rewarding hike along the river starting at the Dixie Conventioin Center where 27
species of birds were spotted. Highlights among these were the pair of
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and 4 Crissal Thrashers (2 seen, 2
heard).
Next, on to the nearby South
Gate Golf Course pond for ducks and geese which revealed 10 species of
waterfowl, including a Black-necked swan with a bright red bill. This bird is
identical to, but a different individual than, the swan that spent last winter
on Quail Creek Reservoir.
Last on the list of sites to
visit was Half Way wash. There we were entertained by a small flock
of Bushtits who preceeded us as we followed the wash. In the midst of, and
foraging with, the Bushtits was an Orange-crowned Warbler. This warbler was
originally mistaken by the author as a female Tennesee Warbler but he was soon
straightened out by Kaufman's Advanced Birding (pages 229 to 245) and Peterson's
Western Birds (page 216).
A total of
species were counted and are as follows: Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Flicker,
American Robin, Common Raven, Crissal Thrasher, Mourning Dove, Lesser Goldfinch,
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Western Meadowlark, Ruby- crowned Kinglet, Ladder-backed
Woodpecker,Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Bewick's Wren,
White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow,Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Rock
Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Abert's Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Oregon Junco, Belted
Kingfisher, Great-tailed Grackle, American Kestrel, Red-headed duck, Ring-necked
Duck, American Wigeon, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Shoveler,
Ruddy Duck, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Bufflehead, House Sparrow, Bushtit,
Verdin,Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-tailed Hawk(dark morph), and Northern
Mockingbird.
Charlie Sheard
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