[Birdtalk] Utah RBA, February 20, 2007

[Tim Avery]

* Utah Rare Bird Alert
* Statewide
* February 20, 2007
* UTAH0702.20

Number: 801-538-4730
E-mail: utah-rba at timaverybirding.com
Compilers: Phone - Bill Fenimore, Online - Tim Avery
Date: February 20, 2007 7:49 p.m.

- Transcript

This is the Utah Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, February 20 at 7:49 p.m. 
sponsored by Layton Wild Bird Center and timaverybirding.com

Species included in this report:

**probable GILDED FLICKER** (Washington)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Washington)
**SCALED QUAIL (San Juan)
Acorn Woodpecker (San Juan)
CACKLING GOOSE (Utah)
LONG-TAILED DUCK (Davis)
Northern Shrike (Davis, San Juan)
Cinnamon Teal (Davis)
Merlin (Davis, Grand)
Snow Goose (Box Elder, Millard)
Ross's Goose (Millard)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Wasatch, Cache, Box Elder)
**LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Davis)
Glaucous Gull (Davis)
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Davis)


To report a RARE BIRD, please send an email to 
utah-rba at timaverybirding.com.
Note, you DO NOT need to send an email if you posted to either BIRDNET 
or BIRDTALK.
Please include your name, phone number/email, detailed directions and 
dates for all sightings.
It would be helpful if you would spell your last name and identify the 
county of the sighting.
You can also report via phone at 801-538-4730, please include 
information listed above.


*********************ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!*********************

Sunday, February 19th, a probable female GILDED FLICKER was reported by 
Kevin Wheeler and Rick Fridell on the Beaver Dam Slope in Washington 
County. On their way out of the Beaver Dam Wash, they observed a flicker 
flying overhead. They managed to get the scope set up on the bird after 
it landed and noticed immediately it was a female flicker with a plain 
gray cheek off set by a brownish cap extending down the nape of the 
neck. It had a large black central breast patch, and underside spotting 
and overall size also appeared to be appropriate for a Gilded Flicker. 
When it flew, it appeared to be yellow-shafted, but unfortunately it 
flew over the hill to the north. They were not able to study the barring 
on the back, and unfortunately it didn't stick around long enough to get 
any photos. The bird was in the area of dense, large Joshua Trees north 
of the Lytle Ranch Road, just before it drops down the hill into the 
Beaver Dam Wash (about 3 - 4 miles east of Lytle Ranch). There is a 
corral on the south side of
the road from the area where they observed the flicker. At this time 
there are no confirmed sightings of this species in Utah.

**************************************************************


Box Elder County:

-- A flock of 35 Snow Geese was reported by Kris Purdy. The birds flew 
over the road to Bear River NWR a couple miles west of I-15 on February 16.


Cache County:

-- A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was reported by Ryan O-Donnell and Stephanie 
Cobbold along the Canal Trial in Logan on February 13.


Davis County:

-- 2 female LONG-TAILED DUCK were reported by Dave Slager and Tim Avery 
along the Antelope Island Causeway on February 17.

-- An adult Northern Shrike was reported by Dave Slager and Tim Avery on 
the road to Garr Ranch on Antelope Island on February 17.

-- A pair of Cinnamon Teal were reported by Kris Purdy at Farmington Bay 
WMA on February 16.

-- 2 Merlin were reported by Kris Purdy on power poles about a quarter 
mile apart on South Harrison Blvd in Ogden on February 16.

-- An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Tim Avery at 
Farmington Bay WMA on February 10 and was seen again on February 11, by 
Ed Leite.

-- An adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was reported by Ed Leite at Farmington 
Bay WMA on February 11. The bird was near the first bridge on the main 
road.


Grand County:

-- A taiga subspecies Merlin was reported by Joel and Kathy Beyer along 
Potash Road outside of Moab.


San Juan County:

-- The 3 SCALED QUAIL hanging around the dry seep in Montezuma Canyon 
were found again, by Joel and Kathy Beyer on February 16.

-- An Acorn Woodpecker was reported by Joel and Kathy Beyer at Devil's 
Canyon Campground on February 16. This location remains a reliable 
location for this species. The Campground is around ~10 miles south of 
Monticello on hwy 191.

-- A Northern Shrike was reported by Joel and Kathy Beyer along hwy 191 
in San Juan County on February 16.


Utah County:

-- 2 CACKLING GEESE were found by Colby Neuman and Tim Avery along the 
Skipper Bay Trail at Utah Lake State Park on Waterbury 19. The geese 
were in the field east of the trail about 3/4 of a mile north
of the parking lot. One bird had a distinct white neck collar while the 
other was a very typical Richardson's subspecies.


Wasatch County:

-- A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was reported by Ned Bixler at Deer Creek 
Reservoir on February 18th. Dave Hanscom tracked down the directions to 
the bird.
The bird was seen feeding on the ground as you enter the park,on the 
dirt road that leads to the reservoir, just after crossing the bridge 
over the Provo River on SR-113.


Washington County:

-- A probable GILDED FLICKER was reported by Rick Fridell and Kevin 
Wheeler on February 19 along the Beaver Dam Slope. Details about this 
sighting can be read at the top of this report. There are no confirmed 
sightings for this species in Utah.


***********************************
Upcoming Birding Events:

February 21st (Wed): Wasatch Audubon Society Bird Walk - Kays Creek 
Parkway: Meet at 8:15 at McDonald's (5745 S. Harrison) for breakfast, or 
meet there at 8:45 for carpooling to the trail access.

February 24th (Sat): Salt Lake Birders Field Trip - Meet at the Shopko 
lot at 8:00 a.m. to carpool down to Delta for the first day of their 
annual Snow Goose Festival. Call Bob MacDougall for details.

February 24th (Sat): Wasatch Audubon Society Eagle Count - Meet at 8:00 
at DWR (515E 5300S, South Ogden) for carpooling to the Spring Chicken 
Inn for breakfast. We’ll then head out to East Canyon. Bring a lunch.

February 28th (Wed): Wasatch Audubon Society Bird Walk - Farmington Bay 
with GSL Audubon: Meet at 8:00 in the Macy's parking lot on Riverdale 
Rd. for carpooling. We'll join GSL Audubon for breakfast at McDonald's 
in Centerville and then tour the bay.

***********
Layton Wild Bird Center free, Saturday Bird Walks and other upcoming 
bird events. Bird Walks leave from the Wild Bird Center at 10 a.m, in 
winter, unless otherwise posted.

February 24th - Kaysville Ponds, USU Botanical Gardens
March 3rd - Tundra Swan Migration at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management 
Area
March 10th - Riverdale Weber River Parkway
March 24th - Kayscreek
March 31st - East Kaysville Foothills

***********
- End Transcript

Thank you and good birding

Tim Avery
Salt Lake City