[Birdtalk] Recent travel highlights, 7&8 Aug

[kurtcapt87 at verizon.net]

Hello Utah Birders,

Highlights today were at least 3 Pine Grosbeaks at Mirror Lake, near the lake in the vicinity of campground 40.  Despite valiant efforts by others and yours truely, no 3-toed WP was located at the traditional Mirror Lake spots.  Instead, Cher and I found 2 birds about 200 yds behind campsite #50 at Trial Lake.  Also noted were 2 American Pipits near the trailhead at the high pass (Bear Pass?) which I almost passed off as more Pine Siskins (scads of them up there).  Some other interesting, but not unusual species were Lincoln's Sparrows at Trial Lake (incl juv), and White-crowned Sp singing at Mirror Lake.  And a Black-headed Grosbeak on the Wall Lake trail!  I gotta think this bird is a migrant!

Yesterday was very productive with Chuckar and Common Poorwills at Green Cyn, Logan, before dawn.  Up the canyon were 3 Dusky Grouse plus a couple of Black-throated Grays.

Bear Lake produced a Golden Eagle at the west side observation pull out.  The lake itself added Franklin's, Ring-billed and California Gulls and 15 Clark's Grebe - no Western Grebes in sight at the sourthern end!  7 Long-billed Curlews and 2 Western Willets on the beach. 

In the vicinity of Randolph there were two dark morph Swainson's Hawks - one was nearly black and the other "intermediate", i.e. dark rufous on the breast.  The darkest bird was near the road on the way to 6 Mile Pond.  By the way 6 Mile Pond sported ca. 8 juvie Am. Wigeon with adult nearby plus Ring-necked Duck, 8 Wilson's Phalarope and 1 Red-necked Phalarope (and Eared Grebes with young, 'natch).

In Randolph there is a Ringed Turtle Dove, or something similar. It was on a wire as you enter town from the north, across from the second gift shop.  Very pale, almost gray white head and neck with decurved demure bill and little or no tail color contrast with the back; it was ca. 10% smaller than a Mourning Dove.  For minute there, I thought I was back in Germany! 

Rockport Reservoir was fun with ca 130 California Gulls perched about and one Caspian Tern - and only Western Grebes (30)!.  Also, many Mallards plus 6 Common Mergansers.

Last night we ate from the barbie whilst listening to the next door neighbors, the Sandhills, and capped off with a Great Horned hooting once.

Thats all for now!

Kurt Gaskill,
Wandering Virginia Birder
somewhere east of Francis, UT