[Birdnet] Unusual Black Rosy-finch Behavior

[Tim Gorman]

Some interesting birding was had on a backpacking trip in the High Uinta Wilderness Area from August 28 thru August 31. I traveled the upper reaches of the West Beaver Creek surrounding Gilbert Peak in Summit county. Much of my time was spent at or above 12,000' elevation in the tundra near rocky cliffs; prime rosy-finch habitat. The rosy-finches nest in the drainage's red-rock cliffs. Literally hundreds of rosy-finch, most of which were Black, were seen. There were some Gray-crowned in smaller flocks. The Rosy-finch's worn plumage made it difficult to differentiate between the first year birds of the two species. One particular flock of Blacks held about 70 birds.

On three occasions I observed the Blacks bathing in the high spring-fed seeps and streamlets; each time close to red-rock legdes. The birds would bathe in the water then preen. Then they would take a dust bath. After the dust bath they would hop over to nearby red-rock mini-ledges, squeeze into very narrow cracks in the rocks and roll around, some turning over a full 180° while still "wedged" tightly in the rock crevice. Some of these rosy-finch observations were at a distance of thirty feet or less. 

Is this behavior to rid the birds of parasites? Does the rubbing "drive" the dust thru the feathers to coat the skin below?

Another weird sighting was two Northern Flicker at 12,600' elevation. I seen what I believe was the same birds twice; once at about 11,700' elevation hanging out around some twelve inch tall willows, then later in rocky tundra at the base of Gilbert Peak, far removed from timber.

White-tailed Ptarmigan, viewed in this drainage in August 2003, could not be found on this trip.

Other species found above 10,000' elevation:
Mallard
Ringed-necked Duck
Golden Eagle
Northern Goshawk (3 together)
Merlin (unusual at 12,200' elevation)
sandpiper sp.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Red-naped Sapsucker
Empid flycatcher (Hammond's I think)
Common Raven
Gray Jay
Clark's Nutcracker
Mountain Chickadee
American Dipper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin (hundreds, feeding on currants)
Townsend's Solitaire
American Pipit
Townsend's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
Pine Grosbeak
Cassin's Finch 
Pine Siskin

>From Mountain View Wyoming take Rt 414 2 miles past Lonetree. Turn south on the Hoop Lake Road. The West Beaver Creek Trailhead is 2 miles west of Hoop Lake. The roads are well marked. 
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