[Birdtalk] Utah RBA, March 16, 2007

[Utah Rare Bird Alert]

* Utah Rare Bird Alert
* Statewide
* March 16, 2007
* UTAH0703.16

Number: 801-538-4730
E-mail: utah-rba at timaverybirding.com
Compilers: Phone - Bill Fenimore, Online - Tim Avery

- Transcript

This is the Utah Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, March 16 at 7:55 a.m.

Species included in this report:


BLACK SCOTER (Washington)
Harris's Sparrow (Washington)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Washington)
Ross's Goose (Box Elder, Washington)
Caspian Tern (Washington)
Merlin (Washington)
Winter Wren (Cache)
Great Egret (Cache)
Greater Scaup (Uinta)
Horned Grebe (Washington)
Bonaparte's Gull (Washington)


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.

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Box Elder County:


-- An estimated flock of 15,000 Snow and Ross's Geese were reported by Kris
Purdy in a stubbled cornfield 2 miles west of the center of Corinne and 
south
of SR-83 across from the Wal-Mart distribution center on March 10th.
Paul Higgins reported seeing the flock there again at dawn on March 11th.
Best viewing is from 2400 North in Corinne. The flock has continued 
through the morning of the 13th.
typically being seen between 7:30 and 11:00 am.

-- Members of Wasatch Audubon also saw a single Ross's Goose in the east 
unit
at Salt Creek WMA from the Compton's Knoll viewing area on March 10th.



Cache County:

-- A Winter Wren was reported by Sue Drown along the Logan River trail,
upstream from the Stokes Nature Center and below the irrigation diversion
dam.  The Wren was maybe 50-150 yards below the irrigation dam, along 
the trail on March 11th.

-- The Great Egret hanging out just north of the Logan Landfill was most 
recently reported on March 10th
by Allen and Usha Spaulding.



Uinta:

-- Greater Scaup were reported at Ouray NWR by Clay Johnson on March 11th.



Washington County:

-- 2 BLACK SCOTER were reported by Tim Avery and Dave Slager on Sand 
Hollow Reservoirs on March 11.
The birds were previously reported by Rick Fridell two weeks ago. Rick 
reports that the birds were seen
again on March 14th.

-- A juvenile Harris's Sparrow was located by Tim Avery and Dave Slager 
2 miles north of Lytle Ranch in the
Beaver Dam Wash on March 9. This bird may be the same juvenile that has 
been hanging around the ranch all winter.

-- Ross's Geese continue at several different Washington County 
locations as of March 14th.

-- A prairie Merlin was reported by Dave Slager and Tim Avery from 
Washington Fields on March 10.

-- Five (5) Caspian Tern were reported by Dave Slager and Tim Avery from 
Quail Creek Reservoir on March 10. Although not a rare bird the
early date was worth mentioning. The birds were not present on the 11th.

-- 2 Greater White Fronted Geese were reported by Laurie Rasmussen and 
Kevin Wheeler on the western pond along Larkspur Rd. at the St. George 
Golf Course on March 12th.

-- Between 25 and 30 Horned Grebe were reported by Rick Fridell on Sand 
Hollow Reservoir on March 14.  This is
the single highest day count in recent history in Utah.

-- The first Bonaparte's Gulls of the season were reported by Rick 
Fridell at Sand Hollow Reservoir on March 14th.
Rick reported a flock of 14 birds.


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

March 17th (Sat): Red Cliffs Audubon Field Trip - Condors and Lee's
Ferry, It's time to go check on the Condors and then to Lee's Ferry.
Mike Small from the BLM will lead this trip. Meet at 8:00 AM at the BLM
in St.George or Judd?s Gas Station in Fredonia at 9:30 AM.

March 17th (Sat): Great Salt Lake Audubon Field Trip - LOOKING FOR
TRACKS and SIGNS - Leader: Bruce Thompson - Come and learn from an
expert. Bruce will lead us off from Mirror Lake Highway above Kamas.
This location features some of the widest variety of tracks and signs.
Our route will consist of deep, untrailed snow along uneven woodland,
meadow and stream side terrain over a distance of 1-2 miles over the
course of the day. We will move at a speed appropriate to a mixed age
and observant group, stopping to talk and explore frequently, but travel
may at times be strenuous simply due to deep snow and terrain. People
need to be FIT! Snowshoes only; no skis. (The two don't mix well for
large-group tracking.) No dogs. Minimum age of 12. Group size limited to
15. YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS TRIP. Participants should bring:
snowshoes (poles advised), layered clothing, well insulated boots, a
warm hat, warm gloves or mittens, sunglasses, ample water, lunch and
snacks, a tracking field guide, a comfortable day pack. Call Kathy
Coleman at 944-5773 to register and to learn details of the meeting place.
***********************************

Abbreviations:
WMA - Wildlife Management Area
NWR - National Wildlife Refuge
GSL - Great Salt Lake.

- End Transcript

Thank you and good birding

Tim Avery
Salt Lake City, UT