[Birdnet] Washington County Birds

[Rick Fridell]

Hello,

Last night (2/8) I saw a first-winter Mew Gull at Sand Hollow State Park
(Washington Co.).  It was perched on the 'cormorant rocks' directly off the
main parking lot with some Ring-billed and a few California Gulls.  There
were also 7-8 Tundra Swans at Sand Hollow (foraging along the south shore).

At Lytle Ranch, there is a interesting female flicker with yellow shafts,
however, since it has a gray nape, I believe it has at least a few Northern
Flicker genes, however all the other characters are good for a Gilded
Flicker.  In addition to the hybrid Gilded Flicker, there has also been an
adult male Northern 'Yellow-shafted' Flicker hanging around this winter.

I also photographed what I believe is a Hammond's Flycatcher at Lytle; it
was located along the fence line that runs south (downstream) from the
entrance gate. It was occasionally foraging in the cottonwoods along the
wash, but mostly hanging out in the creosotes, chollas, and desert willows
west of the entrance road.  This is only the fourth winter Empid that I know
of in Washington County (the other three were observed in Jan 2006), and if
it is a Hammond's, it's the first of that species.

There are some early signs of spring in the county with Double-crested
Cormorant numbers steadily increasing, a few reports of early Turkey
Vultures, and no kidding, over 450 Spotted Towhees at Lytle Ranch, there are
simply everywhere; I've never seen anything like it.


Finally, Tim Avery just called from Lytle Ranch (2/9) and this morning he
located an Eastern Phoebe along the Beaver Dam Wash immediately south of
Lytle Ranch.


Best Regards,

Rick Fridell
Hurricane, UT