[Birdnet] Vernal area birds

[utahmtndogs at netscape.net]

Clay and Cliftia have been doing such a good job of reporting NE Utah birds that I got inspired to join in.? First, a few notes on yard birds then I'll post lists from 2 walks I often do near town.? The walks are partly for birding and partly to exercise dogs, so I'm sure there are more species present than I list below.

Yard - unlike Jensen/Brush Creek, Eurasian collared-doves (ECDO) have been resident for a couple years and easily outnumber mourning doves in Vernal (or at least Maeser, where I live).? I can see 2-3 ECDO just about any time I look out the window this time of year, but it's a red-letter day when I see a mourning dove at my feeders.? No white-winged doves, though - Clay, send some over this way, OK?? Other feeder birds are the usual house finches, American and lesser goldfinches, house sparrows, pinyon jays, California quail, and black-chinned hummers.? I had Cassin's finches and pine siskins as of the end of May but haven't noticed any lately.? Best yard bird by far was just last week, while a friend and I were standing in the driveway talking one evening.? A falcon flew over with several small birds harassing it - we both looked up and said "peregrine?!".? It was a quick look so I can't swear to it, but the black helmet was distinctly visible and more extensive than the narrow mustache of a prairie.? I'm only a couple miles as the falcon flies from a known peregrine eyrie so it's not as far-fetched as it seems.

Trails -
Dry Fork - this is described in the Eastern Utah Birding Trails map (trail #12).? The list below is from the BLM portion of the Flume trail.? Birds seen or heard in the past couple days:

Mourning dove (I do still see these regularly outside of town)
White-throated swift
Broad-tailed hummingbird
Hammond's flycatcher (I think, based on voice)
Cordilleran flycatcher
Plumbeous vireo
Warbling vireo
Mountain chickadee
Red-breasted nuthatch
Canyon wren
Swainson's thrush
American robin
Cedar waxwing
Yellow warbler
Yellow-breasted chat
Green-tailed towhee
Black-headed grosbeak

Rojo Trail/Red Mountain? - this is on the SW flank of Red Mountain just north of Vernal.? Habitat is PJ, sage and mountain brush at the lower end with some ponderosa pine as you go higher.? The trail follows a (usually) dry wash with potholes and occasional pockets of riparian vegetation for about a mile before branching off to an overlook point.? Birds in the past week:

mourning dove
white-throated swift
northern flicker 
gray flycatcher
ash-throated flycatcher
American crow
mountain chickadee
juniper titmouse
white-breasted nuthatch
rock wren
American robin
blue-gray gnatcatcher
Virginia's warbler
black-throated gray warbler
spotted towhee
chipping sparrow
Brewer's sparrow
Cassin's finch

If this is of interest to folks I can post lists from both trails semi-regularly.? They're 20 minutes and 10 minutes from my house, respectively, so I walk them often throughout the year.
Kathy

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