[Birdtalk] West Desert Migrant Traps (long)

[Colby Neuman]

Hi all,

My dad and I spent the weekend birding various migrant traps in the west
desert.  Although we didn't see anything too rare, we did have a number of
good birds for the western part of Utah.  In addition, it was really great
to get a feel for migration over the past few days - for a lack of a better
phrase.  Highlights included an OVENBIRD, INDIGO BUNTING, a singing HARRIS'
SPARROW, 3 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 4 GRAY CATBIRDS, 4 BOBOLINKS, a STILT
SANDPIPER, a SANDERLING, a male COMMON GRACKLE, a LEWIS' WOODPECKER, a HAIRY
WOODPECKER, nesting LONG-EARED OWLS at eye level and 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS.

On Friday we stopped at migrant traps on the western side of the Great Salt
Lake.  We were fortunate and gained permission to bird two sets of trees.
The first set of trees we stopped at is truly an amazing migrant trap with
great habitat.  The first birds I put my binoculars on were two male
BOBOLINKS perched on fence posts.  One bird did sing briefly, and I really
am wondering whether or not they may actually breed at this location...the
habitat certainly looked reasonable.  Although our only other notable bird
at this location was a GRAY CATBIRD skulking in some dense vegetation, the
trees and bushes were loaded with birds...75+ WILSON'S WARBLERS, 7+
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, lots of YELLOW WARBLERS, WESTERN
TANAGERS, etc....it really was quite the sight to see.  Next, we stopped at
the second set of trees.  Here an alternate plumage HARRIS' SPARROW greeted
us by singing as we stepped out of the car.  Although I've heard their call,
the song was a first for me.  We also found our first NORTHERN WATERTHUSH of
the trip at this location as well.  From here we went onto Lucin (Box Elder
Co.) where a significant understory is developing now that the cattle have
been fenced out.  The trees were also filled with migrants, and we found an
OVENBIRD, another NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH in a tree that had fallen in the pond
and two more GRAY CATBIRDS.  I was also quite surprised when I heard a HAIRY
WOODPECKER call from one of the cottonwoods.  I sort of did a double take
before tracking it down.  I actually believe this is one of the more (or
most) unusual birds we saw on our trip given the time of year and location
(elevation).  I was pretty excited about it even though an Ovenbird and
Northern Waterthrush were just yards away.

Unfortunately, my dad wanted to sleep in a little on Saturday morning so I
wasn't able to get to Lucin at dawn to listen to nocturnal flight calls as
migrants came into Lucin.  Lots of migrants were again present though, but
the Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush had moved on overnight.  New migrants
were apparent by the presence of both goldfinches, Dusky Flycatcher, Cedar
Waxwings, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Lazuli Buntings.  We went to Owl and
Rabbit Springs (Box Elder Co.) where LEWIS' WOODPECKER and EASTERN KINGBIRD
were notable birds present.  We also came across several 'meat heads' who
were walking around Rabbit Springs shooting anything that moved...at one
point a bullet came close enough to us that we could hear it go by...which
is the point when we got out of there as quickly as possible.  Because we
were in the middle of nowhere, I really didn't know who to call to report
the individuals?

On Sunday, we drove south to Kaufmann Ranch (where we gained permission to
walk around the property ~ 21 miles N of Milford).  The wind made it
difficult to see many birds, but we did see a few migrants with the most
notable being another GRAY CATBIRD.  From here we then drove back north to
Fish Springs NWR where migrants were relatively scarce (quite windy).
However, highlights were a male BOBOLINK and a STILT SANDPIPER foraging with
a flock of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS.

This morning we conducted a breeding bird survey for Jay Banta at Fish
Springs and the nearby desert.  Highlights included a SANDERLING mixed in
with a flock of SNOWY PLOVERS, and a male INDIGO BUNTING and a NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH at the picnic area.  Also, there was a substantial overall
increase in the number of migrants present at the housing and picnic areas
today.

Just some odds and ends on overall migration patterns...

Wilson's Warblers were by far the most abundant warbler this
weekend...probably somewhere between 120-150+ for the weekend of which ONLY
3 were females.

MacGillivray's Warbler - of the 10+ seen all but one were males

Western Tanagers - 75% males & 25% females

Black-headed Grosbeaks - predominantly females

Only 3 empids were seen all weekend...2 Dusky Flycatchers (both sang, which
made it easier) and a Gray Flycatcher

We ended with over a 130 species for the weekend so you can email me
privately if you would like a complete list or any lists by location.  The
data should be in ebird relatively soon as well.  I guess that's all for
now...

Colby
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