[Birdtalk] Utah RBA, February 23, 2007

[Tim Avery]

* Utah Rare Bird Alert
* Statewide
* February 23, 2007
* UTAH0702.23

Number: 801-538-4730
E-mail: utah-rba at timaverybirding.com
Compilers: Phone - Bill Fenimore, Online - Tim Avery
Date: February 23, 2007 11:49 p.m.

- Transcript

This is the Utah Rare Bird Alert for Friday, February 23 at 11:49 p.m.

Species included in this report:

**probable GILDED FLICKER** (Washington)
BLACK SCOTER (Washington)
Horned Grebe (Washington)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Washington)
CACKLING GOOSE (Utah)
LONG-TAILED DUCK (Davis)
Northern Shrike (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.

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


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.


Utah County:

-- 2 CACKLING GEESE were found by Colby Neuman and Tim Avery along the 
Skipper Bay Trail at Utah Lake State Park on February 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:

-- 2 BLACK SCOTER were reported at Sand Hollow State Park by Rick 
Fridell on February 23. A first winter male and female scoter stayed in 
very close proximity to each other, diving and swimming in tandem. The 
birds were actively foraging directly south of the main parking lot, and 
east of the west dam.
-- Several Horned Grebe were reported at Sand Hollow State Park Rick 
Fridell on February 23.
-- 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 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