[Birdtalk] First Time Visitor to Utah Seeking Info

[Kurt Gaskill]

Hello!

 

My name is Kurt Gaskill and I plan to visit Utah starting the first full
week of August.  I live in Northern Virginia.  And in preparation, I have
noted sightings reported on the Utah listserver and have been reading the
Falcon Guide.  There are a few species and destinations I have interest in
finding and so I am writing to you to request some guidance on these. Any
help that you can send my way would be much appreciated.  

 

My visit will be centered mainly close to Salt Lake City - perhaps about 3
hrs in radius, maybe a bit more.  My very understanding spouse has arranged
for a few places for us to stay during the week - Ogden, Logan, Kamas,
Midway and Menti.  Ending at SLC.

 

My main target is 3-toed.  I have read of great successes at Mirror Lake
which is on our agenda.  Other suggestions (and advice for Mirror L) would
be most welcome.

 

I am also interested in owls, esp. those that may be visually observed.
Flammulated and Western Screech are of interest, not to mention No. Pygmy
and No. Saw-whet - observing the latter two visually are not essential.  If
you have a recommended spot or two to try (esp near my overnight stops noted
above), along with any suggested strategies, that would be most welcome.  I
hear that Short-eared Owl can be seen at Bear River but if there are other
locations to consider please let me know - thanks! 

  

Snowy Plover is a species seldom seen on the east coast and so advice on
finding it would be wonderful.

 

(I am looking forward to the shorebird spectacle! And so Antelope and Bear
River are on the agenda.)

 

Advice on areas to view flycatchers would be most welcome, esp. empids,
which I find interesting.  Likewise for good sparrow locations - I know down
south that Lark Buntings arrive the second week of August so is there any
chance of finding them in your area about then?

 

There may be a few other species that I will ask about as I fine-tune my
agenda/route.  Probably nothing too amazing.  I tend to be interested in
seeing a wide variety of bird life in a wide variety of habitats.  I have
little experience out west (save Washington, California and Arizona), so
this trip should be very fun and educational.

 

I will gladly share my highlights on the listserve.  And again, thanks for
any info that you can pass on.  

 

Kurt Gaskill

 

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