[Birdtalk] Big Day in Millard County: September 9th - Very Late

[Glenn B. Barlow]

On September 9th, Saturday morning early, Merrill Webb, Cindy and Steve
Sommerfeld, and I went to Millard County for a "big day."  We started at the
Kaufman Ranch, followed by Antelope Springs and Cudahy Springs.  Then we
went to Meadow on I-15 for a ice cream and rest break.  Then back to Clear
Lake WMA, followed by Gunnison Bend Reservoir.  The group saw a total of 94
species of birds!  The only problem was that at Kaufman and the springs the
wind blew incessantly.  So, before you go, make sure there will be NO WIND!


Previous to our visit we read a trip report by Rick Fridell, who reported
some birds at a “private ranch” in Millard County.  We suspected the ranch
might be the Kaufman Ranch.  One of the birds he reported, with Canada
Geese, was a Greater White-fronted Goose.  Sure enough it was present, just
as we entered the ranch proper.  Other great sightings included two Solitary
Sandpipers at the ranch reservoir, and a Long-eared Owl at Cudahy Springs.

The species sighted by the group, in taxonomic order, included the
following:

The geese and ducks included Greater White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose,
Gadwall, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal and a Ruddy Duck.  We also saw a Chukar, Pied-billed
Grebe, Eared Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested
Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and White-faced Ibis.
Raptors included Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Swainson’s
Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, and American Kestrel.  In and around
water we also saw American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American
Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted
Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, and
Red-necked Phalarope.  We saw a Ring-billed Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove,
Mourning Dove, Long-eared Owl (thanks to Merrill’s keen eyesight), Common
Nighthawk, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Rufous
Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Peewee,
Willow Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Western Kingbird.  Then, we saw Loggerhead
Shrike, Warbling Vireo, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Horned Lark,
Tree-Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow and
Barn Swallow.  Then, Rock Wren, House Wren, American Robin, Sage Thrasher,
European Starling, Unfortunately there were only a few warblers.  Those we
saw were Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s
Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat. The tanagers and sparrows included Western
Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, Vesper
Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and
White-crowned Sparrow.  Then, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Western
Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Great-tailed
Towhee, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, and finally, House Sparrow.

Good birding to all.

Glenn

 


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