[Birdtalk] Fw: Recent Highlights

[Kristin Purdy]

See the report below from Kurt Gaskill...



Aug 8, late PM in Woodland Valley, east of Francis.  Cedar Waxwing lands on 
tree outside patio doors of the Woodland Farm Inn B&B, new for trip.  At 
sunset above the southern ridge, 2 Common Nighthawks appear with the 
swallows and head off to the west.



Aug 9, Starting near 730am, a bit late, I do point counts near the B&B for 
about 1.5 hrs, 17 points.  Many juvenile birds noted as well as a good 
species mix given the season. The tallies were (if at least one juvenile 
observed, note made):



Cooper's  Hawk 1, American Kestrel 2, Sandhill Crane 5 (juv), Spotted 
Sandpiper 1, Mourning Dove 1, Rufous Hummer 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, 
Red-naped Sapsucker 1, Downy WP 2, Northern Flicker 4, W. Wood Pewee 2, 
Dusky Flycatcher 1, Dusky/Gray Flycatcher sp 1, Warbling Vireo 2, W. Scrub 
Jay 2, Black-billed Magpie 23, Barn Swallow 3, Black-capped Chickadee 9, 
House Wren 2, American Robin 23 (juv), Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Yellow 
Warbler 20 (juv), MacGillivray's Warbler 4 (juv), Western Tanager 2, 
Chipping Sp 1, Brewer's Sp 6 (juv), Song Sp 8 (juv), Black-headed Grosbeak 
3, Lazuli Bunting 12 (juv), Red-winged Blackbird 10, Brewer's Blackbird 24, 
Bullock's Oriole 2, Pine Siskin 4, and Lesser Goldfinch 5



We leave Woodland Valley, heading south-ish.  The first main stop was 
Strawberry Canyon, arriving near noon.  Highlights were Northern Goshawk and 
a 1/2 yr Bald Eagle.  Also interesting was a group of Bushtits.  Not found 
were Pinyon Jays.



Continuing on, we pass a dead Common Nighthawk on the roadside near 
Duchesne.  Next stop was Scofield Reservoir which had a fine showing of 
species associated near water.  The main tallies were: Canada Goose 180, 
Mallard 111, Ring-necked Duck 15, Ruddy Duck 15, Eared Grebe ca. 200 (ca. 60 
ON plus juvies with adults swimming), Western Grebe 50, Clark's Grebe 10, 
Am. White Pelican 89, Great Blue Heron 9, American Coot ca. 750 (juvs 
noted), Sandhill Crane 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, California Gull 68, Caspian 
Tern 2, plus Tree and Barn Swallows, Yellow and MacGillivray's Warblers 
(juvs for each), Green-tailed Towhee, and Spotted Towhee.



Aug 10, We leave for Capitol Reef NP heading south on Rt 89, passing a 
Common Nighthawk finishing its early morning (or late?) breakfast.  We pass 
a lake along Rt24 south of Sigurd.  A few waterfowl there, Canada Goose 15, 
Mallard 100, No. Shoveler 1, Ruddy Duck 10, Eared Grebe 15, Western Grebe 
15, Am. White Pelican 11.



Driving through Torrey we spot a Eurasian Collard Dove.  Light beige in 
color (almost sand-colored, lighter than a Mourning Dove), squared off tail, 
white band showing at end of remidges, overall large size perhaps about 20% 
larger than a Mourning Dove.  It was in a tree one street north of the main 
drag - sorry I did not get the number.  In Virginia, ECDO are recently 
established in 2-3 locations with indications of expansion to others this 
year; I am familiar with the species.



Highlights at Capitol Reef were 3 Chukar families, Olive-sided Flycatcher 
(picnic area), Say's Phoebe feeding young (near Sulphur Cr), Brown Creeper 
near the campgrounds, and Black-throated Sparrow across from the orchard 
along the footpath to the Visitor Center.  On the way home we noted a 
Ferruginous Hawk between Bicknell and Lyman.



Kurt Gaskill

Virginia Birder in Utah