by Sora Shirley

  
       1st of May 2020

Big Day in May

      by Lynn Garner

I had decided to try for a Big Month of 120 species during May (Category 32 of the UCB Challenge), so on the first day of May I set out to see as many birds as I could. The emphasis was on adding species to the month; I had seen 99 species in April, so I decided to go first where I had recently been. I was able to see 60 species that day (only one of which was a FOY bird for me) and decided to make it the Big Day in May for the new UCB Challenge (Category 37?). I also heard four species that I couldn’t see that day: Marsh Wren, Sora, Virginia Rail, and Ring-necked Pheasant. The outing took over 6 hours and 70 miles, all in Utah County.

Here are the places I visited and the new species I added at each place. The number with each location is the total number of species seen there; only the additional species are listed.
 

My yard in Provo (6):
       California Quail, Black-capped Chickadee, Cassin’s Finch, Pine Siskin, House Finch,
       House Sparrow
McWane Marshes (9):
       American Robin, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Canada Goose, Cinnamon Teal,
       Mallard, Western Kingbird, Bullock’s Oriole
Flow Serve Ponds (9):
       Snowy Egret, Brewer’s Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Eurasian Collared Dove, Black-billed
        Magpie, European Starling
Springville (2):
        Barn Swallow, Western Meadowlark
East Bay (4):
       Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow, Caspian Tern
Airport Dike, west side (22):
       Yellow-headed Blackbird, American Coot, Turkey Vulture, Yellow Warbler, Double-crested
       Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, Vesper Sparrow, Forster’s Tern, Mourning Dove, American Whitez
       Pelican, Western Grebe, Clark’s Grebe
Swede’s Lane (24):
       Common Raven, White-faced Ibis, Red-tailed Hawk, Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel, Northern
       Rough-winged Swallow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Great Blue Heron
Lakeshore (3):
       Violet-green Swallow
4000 West (17):
       American Avocet, California Gull, Black-necked Stilt, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler
Lakeshore (7):
       Swainson’s Hawk, Osprey, Redhead
Benjamin Slough (8):
       Eared Grebe
Lincoln Point (12):
       Sand Hill Crane, Willet, Northern Harrier
My Yard (5):
       Black-chinned Hummingbird

 
      9th of May 2020

Big Day in May

      by Keeli Marvel
 

From there I moved on to the Jordan River trailhead at picked up an exciting vagrant Harris’s Sparrow and a few other fun species including a Swainson’s Hawk, White-crowned Sparrows, and Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge. A quick swing by the Smiths’s Marketplace parking lot on the way home for lunch added Great-tailed Grackles to my list.

After a lunch break I headed down to the walking path along the lake shore in my neighborhood and nabbed a few more fun species including a vagrant Northern Waterthrush being skulky in the reeds along a marsh next to the trail and Brewer’s Blackbirds.

I finished off the afternoon and my big day lists before dinner by driving up the bottom of the Israel Canyon trailhead, picking up Horned Lark and a weirdly out of place Pine Siskin. I was aiming for 100 species but a few odd misses (like Great Blue Heron) left me happy with a solid 72 species for the day! I had a great time trying to find as many species that close to home as possible, and now I have a new goal for next time.

Happy Birding!

Keeli Marvel

  
      14th of May 2020

Big Day in May

      by Suzi Holt

Right after the Short-eared Owl

White-faced and Glossy Ibis

  
       15th of May 2020

Big Day in May

      by Yvonne Carter
  

This was a very different Utah County Big Day---Missing my dear birding friends. I started out a number of years ago, when I met Dennis Shirley, Milt Moody, and others at the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival in Farmington. Two days after meeting fellow birders at the Center and with a $10 pair of binoculars, I joined the group on the traditional field trip that is always held on the last day of the festival on Mondays. I have never missed any of the Utah County Big Day field trips since then.

So as I started out my Big Day on May 15th, I was mentally reminiscing over the years, the favorite hot-spots that the field leaders have taken us, like the Salem Ponds, spots in Payson, Warm Springs WMA, Goshen ponds, Goshen Canyon and the fields south and west of Goshen, Slant Road, and Dividend Road. So with a large Coke, and classical music playing, I started out at a somewhat relaxed pace.

Since I live in Highland at the very north end of the valley, I decided to bird some different spots that I have found successful this Spring. I started out at Powell Lake, and found the usual waterfowl, Pelicans, some shorebirds, and a Black-capped Night Heron that I had been searching. From there I checked the Pioneer Crossing Ponds, and guess what folks! I am afraid that developments are affecting that area--very little water. So on to 4000th West Lake Shore, meeting up with the Shirley family as Dennis was hunting for the infamous Glossy Ibis. There was the usual waterfowls, the usual shorebirds including Stilt Sandpipers, hundreds of Ibis, pelicans, and I came up with over 30 species at that spot.

And then on to Lincoln Beach, and Wow! a great assortment of shorebirds including a Snowy Plover. And as well, Benjamin Slough, but it was quieter that earlier in the Spring. And on to Warm Springs WMA, I looked for the Blue Grosbeak but it hadn't arrived. Darn! but found other species there and along toward Goshen Ocean for new species, and by that time the weather was becoming really windy which I feel contributed to low numbers in Goshen Canyon by 4 P.M. But the Golden Eagle was there on the favorite nest. It was too late for Slant Road or Dividend Road--but that will be another day.

But I must say that there is a great value to be birding in a group, for there are 10, 15, or 20 pairs of eyes instead of just my eyes. Also, I learn so much from well experienced birders. Not only helping with identifying the species, but sharing in stories and experiences in birding--the camaraderie of what I consider a great group of people in love with this earth and its creatures.

My total was 65 species--I felt okay about it. When we have done the Utah County Bird Day for the festival and with 15 or so people, our numbers have been in the high 90's!

                21st of May 2020

Big Day in May

   by Tammy Linebaugh Northrup

  
       22nd of May 2020

Big Day in May

      by Jeremy Telford