[Birdtalk] Beaver county ladder-backed woodpecker

[Lu Giddings]

    I spent yesterday birding in Pine Valley and the south end of the
Wah Wah mountains. I have not yet had a chance to compile my data so I
can't present a list of everything that I saw, but there are a few
highlights.

    A ladder-backed woodpecker was seen in pinyon-juniper habitat on
Jockey road, about 7-8 miles east of the intersection of Jockey road and
Pine Valley road. It flew in front of me as I drove down the road so I
got out to investigate. It seemed to be on a territory, as it did stayed
pretty well put within an area about 150 yards in diameter. I got
several good looks at it and got it to respond to a call once or twice.
But I spent over an hour trying to get photos of it and I learned the
hard way that if there's one thing that's worse than chasing a sapsucker
from tree to tree in an orchard, it's got to be chasing a woodpecker
from tree to tree in a pinyon-juniper forest. I finally gave up.

When I first saw the bird I thought I was hallucinating. I always
associate this species exclusively with low desert cottonwood riparian
habitat. But I spoke with Merrill Webb last night, who told me he has
seen this ladder-backed woodpeckers along the Motoqua road, in the P-J
habitat that use to be found along the road before it was incinerated by
fires last year. And according to the "Birds of North America"
ladder-backed woodpeckers are known to inhabit pinyon-juniper habitat in
Colorado. The things you learn. . . .

    Other noteworthy birds included four golden eagles, a ferruginous
hawk, and lots of sparrows. There is an eight mile stretch of the Pine
Valley road along which at least a half-dozen sage sparrows were heard
and seen at every stop, and I stopped roughly every half-mile to check.
Also seen were black-throated sparrows, lark sparrows, Brewer's
sparrows, and a chipping sparrow. I saw my first western wood peewees of
the year. Ash-throated flycatchers were also observed.

    If you've never seen a horned lark this a good place to go. Lots of
horned larks, although as Joel Beyer observed, it seems that number are
probably down a bit this year. Perhaps the dryness has forced them
elsewhere? Just a thought.

    Pine Valley road begins between MM 38 and MM 37 as you drive west
out of Milford on Highway 21. It runs to the south, eventually leading
one to Lund, and it parallels the Wah Wah mountains to the east. Jockey
road intersect Pine Valley road about 23 miles south of Highway 21. It
runs east, through the south end of the Wah Wah mountains, and
eventually leads one back to Minersville. This is a marvelous drive
through beautiful but seldom visited country. It is about as isolated as
any place in Utah of which I am aware.

Lu Giddings