[Birdnet] Prothonotary Warbler - SL Co.

[Colby Neuman]

Hi all,

Tim Avery, Katy C. and I went birding in the west (NW) desert last evening
and today and did not see too much that was noteworthy.  We arrived back in
Salt Lake around 4pm today.  Because we did not see much to the west, I
wasn't satisfied and talked Tim into going out to the Salt Lake
International Center (SLIC) this evening.  I remember seeing quite a few
migrants at the Salt Lake International Center late last fall so I wanted to
check it out and get some birds into ebird for the area.  It certainly paid
off!  Tim and I were driving north along Wright Brothers Drive (I believe
the exit on I-80 is called this as well...also, it's the exit to the west of
the airport).  Literally, the second stop we made along the road to pish
birds in, we came across the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.  This was just south of
the junction of 575 North and Wright Brothers Drive (4000W).  As Tim pished
a couple Spizella sparrows into the trees on the east side of the road, I
noticed a bird fly into the pine to the west of us.  When I got my
binoculars on it, I immediately saw a yellow colored bird.  When the bird
turned, I saw the bluish/gray wings along with the white undertail coverts.
After stuttering a couple times because I couldn't really believe my eyes, I
got Tim on the bird.  After quite some time of following the bird through
the Russian Olives and pines along the drive, Tim was able to snap some
photos.  Kris Purdy, Glenn Barlow and the Summerfields were all able to make
to the SL International Center and see the bird this evening as well.  The
bird moved along the trees for several hundred yards in the N/S direction of
the intersection several times.  However, the bird was refound twice in the
Russian Olive that's on the southwest corner of the intersection of 575
North and Wright Brothers Drive (4000W).

Pics of the warbler can be seen here...

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/prwa_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/prwa_02.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/prwa_03.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/prwa_04.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/prwa_05.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/prwa_06.jpg

Because we spent so much time watching the warbler, Tim and I did not bird
the area as much as we would have liked.  But we still found a number of
other migrants including...

Dusky Flycatcher - 1 - same area as the warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ 6
Orange-crowned Warbler - 4 - after everyone left, we found these birds
towards the NW part of the center
Yellow-rumped Warbler ~ 17 - many places
Wilson's Warbler - 1 - Tim only
Western Tanagers - 8 - several places around the center
Lazuli Bunting - 3
Savannah Sparrow - 2
White-crowned Sparrow - 15 - several places
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
Green-tailed Towhee - 1 - north side

Also, at least 10 flocks totaling 1500+ WHITE-FACED IBIS flew over heading
south during our stay at the SLIC.  A flock of 7 GREAT BLUE HERONS were also
seen flying high overhead going south as well closer to sunset.

As for the west (NW) desert, we had a SHORT-EARED OWL and a BURROWING OWL
last night along the dirt road that goes from Wendover to Lucin.  We birded
Lucin (Box Elder Co) this morning and it was unexpectedly quiet.  We flushed
a WOOD DUCK upon arrival.  Other migrants included a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER,
four BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, a CEDAR WAXWING, a YELLOW WARBLER and one
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.  Amazingly slow!

Next we headed to Owl and Rabbit Springs where we had a WILLOW FLYCATCHER
and a couple more YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

After this we went south and birded a section of trees belonging to a
private ranch.  A few more migrants were seen here including a RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH and 2 WILSON'S WARBLERS, but again numbers were much lower than
expected.

We stopped at the 'Salt Flats' Reststop along I-80 at ~MM10 and saw a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, LAZULI BUNTING and 2 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS.  Someday
we'll see something unusual in this pitiful patch of Russian Olives.

I guess that's about all...

Colby
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