[Birdnet] Grasshopper Sparrows, Antelope Island

[Nathaniel Nye]

Hello,

Last summer I moved from Provo out to Columbus, OH and am back in town for
to visit family.  This morning, my dad and I drove out to Antelope Island to
do some birding together.  We saw plenty of all the expected species,
including probably close to 100,000 Wilson's Phalaropes along the causeway
(incredible sight).  Easily the most unexpected bird of the morning was a
pair of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS seen at about 9:30 AM along the road slightly
north of Garr Ranch (at the site there was a brown road marker with a "9" on
it).  They were quite cooperative--we watched them from about 25 ft. away in
excellent lighting for a couple of minutes before they flew off into the
fields and began singing their "trip, trip, tip-tzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
song.  We could see well their buffy, unstreaked breast, yellow lores, wide
dark stripe on either side of the pale central crown stripe (seen from
above), and intricately patterned scapulars and tertials.  And if the great
views weren't enough to confirm the ID, their distinctive insectlike song
was a complete giveaway.  According to Sibley's guide, these birds were
somewhat out of their normal range but have been sighted in Utah
before--most of you probably know more details about their exact status in
Utah.  Cool birds and a Utah first for my dad and I!!!!

Take care,
Nate Nye
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