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The National Audubon magazine
will be including an article in a future publication about our SW Utah Birding
Trail Map. I just finished accompaning their journalist for 2 days of
birding 2 of the map's birding sites. On Friday we visited Lytle Ranch and
Welcome Springs. We got to Lytle about 9:30 am on the trailing edge of the
storm that drenched the state. The wind, rain and cold air made for
a startling rearrangement of species at Lytle. Most unusual was
the presence of 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches and a Steller's Jay. Strange to see a
Nuthatch and a Phainopepla in the same tree. Also seen were Juniper
Titmouse and Pine Siskin. Welcome Spring yielded the bird of the
day; a Flammulated Owl!
Saturday we chose the Kolob
Terrace road to Kolob Reservoir because it represents the other extreme of the
habitats shown on the map. Cordell Peterson joined us as we challenged the
snow covered road. First seen were 2 small flocks of Red Crossbills and
numerous Steller's Jays (right where they were supposed to be). Most
exciting birds of the day were 7 California Condors. One Condor was
perched in a Ponderosa, gripping a large, lateral branch with its huge yellow
feet. An adult with a red head! At Kolob Reservoir we found some
birds clearly forced down by the storm. At the reservoirs edge; a
pair of Western Bluebirds and lone American Pipit, Lincoln's Sparrow and
White-crowned Sparrow.
Charlie Sheard
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