Utah Bird Report for 12/26/99
Submitted by Mark Stackhouse (westwings@sisna.com) to the bird net

Birds mentioned

Horned Grebe Box Elder Co., Davis Co.
Western Grebe Box Elder Co.
American White Pelican Box Elder Co.
White-faced Ibis Box Elder Co.
"Bewick's" Swan Box Elder Co.
Hooded Merganser Tooele Co.
Merlin Box Elder Co.
GYRFALCON Box Elder Co.
Herring Gull Box Elder Co.
Long-eared Owl Salt Lake Co.
Short-eared Owl Box Elder Co.
Northern Shrike Box Elder Co.
Winter Wren Davis Co.

Transcript

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

BOX ELDER COUNTY

A male gray-phase GYRFALCON was seen in Pocatello Valley, along the Idaho border northwest of Tremonton, on Sunday, 12/26 (MS,DW). The bird was seen about one mile south of the Idaho border on the west side of 17200 West at about 12:20 pm. It circled and flew in that area for about 10 minutes before heading across the fields to the west. To get there, take exit 24 from I-84, and go north on 17200 West for about 10.5 miles.

Also in Pocatello Valley on Sunday, 12/26, were three MERLINS. All three were males of the Richardson's subspecies (MS,DW).

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen about one mile north of Snowville on Sunday, 12/26 (MS,DW).

Two NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen near Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR) on Friday, 12/24. One was on the north side of the auto-tour loop, and the other was about 5 miles east of the refuge. A MERLIN was seen about 6 miles east of the refuge. Other birds seen at BRMBR on the same day include WESTERN GREBE, 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, WHITE-FACED IBIS, "BEWICK'S" SWAN, and 5 SHORT-EARED OWLS (SG).

On Sunday, 12/26, at BRMBR, 5-6 HERRING GULLS were seen, and a HORNED GREBE was seen along the south side of the auto-tour loop (CW).

DAVIS COUNTY

A WINTER WREN was heard calling in Mueller Park on Wednesday, 12/22 (CN,MS). The bird was along the Mueller Park Trail, about 1/4 mile from the trailhead, near where the trail crosses a small stream.

A HORNED GREBE was seen at Farmington Bay WMA on Wednesday, 12/22. It was along the western dike road about 1/2 mile from the south end (NHi,LL,MS).

SALT LAKE COUNTY

A LONG-EARED OWL was seen along the Jordan River at about 2300 North on Tuesday, 12/21 (BH). The bird was at the point where the river makes a sharp bend to the east.

TOOELE COUNTY

Two male and one female HOODED MERGANSERS were seen at Stansbury Lake in Stansbury Park on Thursday, 12/23 (SG).

UTAH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS:

December 27:   Zion National Park; Marilyn Davis; (435) 673-0996
December 28: St. George; Charlie Sheard; (435) 879-2210
January 1: Jordan River; Jeanne LeBer; (801) 532-7384
January 2: Fish Springs NWR; Jay Banta; (801) 522-5353

This concludes the Utah Bird Report for Sunday, December 26, 1999.

Observers: SG=Scott Gruwell, NHi=Nigella Hillgarth, BH=Bob Huntington, LL=Laura Lockhart, CN=Colby Neuman, MS=Mark Stackhouse, CW=Cliff Weisse, 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.