[Birdtalk] Weekend Birds

[Colby Neuman]

Hi all,

Joyce Lew and I went birding along the Provo River below Jordanelle
Reservoir on Saturday afternoon.  We found many of the expected breeders
including Plumbeous Vireo (1 heard singing), MacGillivray's Warbler,
Gray Catbird (1 heard), 2 Western Wood-Pewees, American Dipper, Yellow
Warblers, House Wrens, Cedar Waxwings, etc..  However,  I think the time of
day contributed to the apparent lack of a few expected birds.  We did not
hear or see any Swainson's Thrushes and Dusky Flycatchers, which have
been quite common in past years.  We also heard the AMERICAN REDSTART in
roughly the location previously reported, but we were unable to actually see
the bird.

We then drove to Potter Lane and 525 West on the edge of Heber City to find
Joyce her life BOBOLINKS.  We saw at least 4 different males
singing/skylarking along 525 West.  Also present in the surrounding fields
were several Wilson's Snipe, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, singing Savannah
Sparrows, Western Meadowlarks, Brewer's Blackbirds and a White-faced Ibis
with a severely mangled leg.

This afternoon (Sunday) I biked up Millcreek Canyon and heard many of the
expected breeders.  Most surprising were 3 different HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS
giving the first call note of their song on various north facing slopes.
These birds were all heard along the road above where the road is closed to
vehicle traffic until July 1st.  I have never heard Hammond's Flycatchers in
Millcreek before.  Interestingly, Dusky Flycatchers have been relatively
numerous in past years (at least several singing along the upper section of
the road), but I only heard one distant singing Dusky Flycatcher today.
Even more surprising was the fact that I did not hear a single Cordillerean
Flycatcher.  Perhaps the time of day contributed to this so I guess at least
another trip up Millcreek is required at a more favorable time of day.  Song
was relatively lacking in the lower half of the canyon with Lazuli Buntings,
Warbling Vireos, Song Sparrows and Yellow Warblers comprising most of it.
The upper half of the canyon had more diversity with many singing
Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped and MacGillivray's
Warblers, Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes, Western Tanagers, Warbling Vireos,
etc..

For a complete list of birds at all locations visit www.ebird.org

Colby
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://secureserver.securesites.net/pipermail/birdtalk/attachments/20060612/31fa598e/attachment.htm