Utah Bird Report for 10/7/98
Submitted by Mark Stackhouse (westwings@sisna.com) to the bird net

Birds mentioned

Horned Grebe Davis Co.
Great Egret Davis Co., Iron Co.
Greater Scaup Davis Co.
Merlin Utah Co.
Blue Grouse Salt Lake Co.
Black-bellied Plover Davis Co.
Bonaparte's Gull Box Elder Co., Davis Co.
YELLOW-FOOTED GULL Box Elder Co.
SABINE'S GULL Box Elder Co., Davis Co.
Common Tern Box Elder Co.
RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER Washington Co.
Cassin's Vireo Salt Lake Co.
Hermit Thrush Davis Co.
Nashville Warbler Box Elder Co.
Townsend's Warbler Box Elder Co.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR Box Elder Co.

Transcript

Utah Birdline
(801) 538-4730
Compiler: Mark Stackhouse
Transcriber: Mark Stackhouse

BOX ELDER COUNTY

An apparent YELLOW-FOOTED GULL was seen on Sunday, 10/04, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR). The bird, which was in adult plumage, was seen between 4 and 5 pm about 2/3 the way down the east side of the auto tour loop, between the restrooms and the first bend in the road to the west (KE&GB). If confirmed, this will be the first record of this species in Utah. Efforts to relocate this bird have so far been unsuccessfull, however, many large flocks of gulls are in and around BRMBR, and birders in the area should check all flocks for large, dark-mantled gulls.George Barrowclough (of NY)

A first-winter LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen just north of Willard Bay State Park on Sunday, 10/04. The bird was feeding along the dirt road which runs east of the state park sewage lagoon. It was seen just north of the lagoon (MS&DW). To get there, take the Willard Bay SP exit from I-15 (exit 360), go west, and turn north on the dirt road opposite the state park entrance, following this road to the sewage lagoon.

An immature SABINE'S GULL was seen north of the entrance to Harold Crane WMA, west of Willard Bay, on Sunday, 10/04 (MS&DW). Also in the same area were several BONAPARTE'S GULLS and many COMMON TERNS.

In the campground at Willard Bay SP, a NASHVILLE WARBLER and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER were seen on Sunday, 10/04 (JB).

DAVIS COUNTY The immature SABINE'S GULL which has been seen along the Antelope Island Causeway since 09/17, was seen again on Saturday, 10/03 (CG). The bird was on the north side of the causeway where the road makes its first bend towards the south.

Also along the Antelope Island Causeway, on Sunday, 10/04, a pair of GREATER SCAUP was seen at about the midpoint of the causeway (RJA&MD), and near the causeway entrance, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen (AG&YS).

Near Layton Marsh, a GREAT EGRET and 2 HERMIT THRUSHES were seen on Sunday, 10/04 (AG&YS).

At Farmington Bay WMA, a HORNED GREBE and a BONAPARTE'S GULL were seen on Sunday, 10/04 (AG&YS).

IRON COUNTY Two GREAT EGRETS were seen in Parowan on Saturday, 10/03. The birds were in a small pond on Gap Rd. before the sewage ponds (SS).

SALT LAKE COUNTY Four adult male BLUE GROUSE were seen in a large evergreen tree along the Twin Lakes trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Friday, 10/02 (AM). The birds were beyond Twin Lakes, near the point where there is a cut-off trail to Lake Solitude.

A CASSIN'S VIREO was seen on the Jordan River Parkway on Tuesday, 10/06. The bird was on the section of the parkway near the Germania Park parking lot (SG).

UTAH COUNTY A MERLIN was seen on Friday, 10/02, at the southwest corner of the dike road at Provo Airport (CP).

WASHINGTON COUNTY A RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER was seen at Lytle Ranch on Tuesday, 10/06. The bird, which was apparently of the dagetti subspecies, was found in the back of the orchard, about 200 yards from the parking lot (CJG).

This concludes the Utah Bird Report for Wednesday, October 7, 1998.

Observers: RJA=R.J. Adams; GB=George Barrowclough (of NY); JB=Joel Byers; MD=Monica Davis (of CA); KE=Keith Evans; SG=Sharon Gander; AG=Alan Godwin; CJG=C.J. Grimes; CG=Carol Gwynn; AM=Alan Miller; CP=Cheryl Peterson; MS=Mark Stackhouse; YS=Yvonne Stroup; SS=Steve Summers; DW=David Wheeler

Please report your sightings by calling the Utah Birdline at: (801) 538-4730 or by e-mail to westwings@sisna.com You may e-mail questions and comments to westwings@sisna.com or you may call (801) 487-9453.