[Birdtalk] Utah RBA, March 18, 2007

[Utah Rare Bird Alert]

* Utah Rare Bird Alert
* Statewide
* March 18, 2007
* UTAH0703.18

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 18 at 8:30 p.m.

Species included in this report:


BLACK SCOTER (Washington)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Washington)
Snow and Ross's Goose (Box Elder, Washington)
Winter Wren (Cache)
Horned Grebe (Washington)
Bonaparte's Gull (Washington)
Baird's Sandpiper (Salt Lake)
Black-necked Stilt (Box Elder)
Greater Scaup (Wasatch)


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.

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

Box Elder County:


-- The mixed flock of Snow and Ross's Geese in Corrine continued as of 
March 17th and were most recently reported by Keith and Judy Archibald. 
However the flock size appears to have
diminished to around 7,000 birds with about 1 in 25 being a Ross's Goose.

-- The first Black-necked Stilt of the season was reported by Colby 
Neuman and Tim Avery at Bear River NWR on March 17th.



Salt Lake County:

-- 3 Baird's Sandpipers were reported by Colby Neuman and Tim Avery on 
private property in Salt Lake County on March 17th. This represents not 
only an early arrival date for this species
in Utah, but also a rather rare spring migrant in the state.



Wasatch County:

-- Greater Scaup were reported by Ned Bixler at the Wasatch Mountain 
State Park pond, in Midway on March 18th.

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.

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

-- 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 20th (Tue): Great Salt Lake Audubon Monthly Meeting - GSLA 
Programs are held at the Sugarhouse Garden Center, NE corner of 
Sugarhouse Park (enter from 2100 South, just west of Highland High). 
Doors open at 6:45pm. Program runs from 7:00 to 8:30pm. We’ll have 
refreshments, it’s FREE and everyone is invited to join us. Call 
521-2939 for more information.

March 20th (Tue): Wasatch Audubon Society Meeting - Monitoring the Great 
Salt Lake : The Great Salt Lake ecosystem provides a unique and 
essential habitat for millions of both migrating and resident birds. 
John Luft is responsible for monitoring this resource for the Division 
of Wildlife Resources and will provide us with greater insight and 
understanding of this valuable and critical area. Plan on attending and 
bring a friend. At the Ogden Nature Center (966 W 12th).

March 21st (Wed): Great Salt Lake Audubon Field Trip - HOTSPOTS: ??? - 
Leader: Deedee O’Brien - We just never know what we are going to find on 
our Hotspots trips so call Deedee (272-8060) to find out the details a 
few days before.

March 21st (Wed): Wasatch Audubon Society Bird Walk - Jefferson Hunt 
Campground : Meet at Dylan’s (12th & Monroe) at 8:00 for breakfast or 
meet there at 8:30 for carpooling to Ogden Valley.

March 24th (Sat): Wasatch Audubon Society Field Trip - Harold Crane WMA 
: Meet at 8:00 in the old Fred Meyer parking lot, near Carl’s Jr. (12th 
and Wall) to carpool. Bring a lunch.

March 24th (Sat): Layton Wild Bird Center Bird Walk - Kayscreek - 
Saturday Bird Walks leave from the Wild Bird Center (1860 N. 1000 West, 
Layton) at 10 a.m, in winter, unless otherwise posted.

March 28th (Wed): Great Salt Lake Audubon Field Trip - FARMINGTON BAY 
WMA and NEARBY AREA - Leaders: Bob Huntington and Deedee O’Brien. Join 
us for our monthly half-day of birding. Meet inside the McDonald's just 
north of the Centerville exit #319 from I-15 at 8:00am for breakfast and 
camaraderie or 8:30am to head out. Bring your own water and snacks. Call 
Deedee (272-8060) if you plan to attend.

March 28th (Wed): Wasatch Audubon Society Bird Walk - Birdsong Trail 
Area : Meet at Dylan’s (12th & Monroe) at 7:45 for breakfast or at SW 
corner of Rainbow Gardens parking lot at 8:30.

March 30th - 31st (Fri-Sat): Utah County Birders Field Trip - 
Sharp-tailed grouse lek and Pocatello Valley, NW Utah - Friday: 
overnight stay in Brigham City Crystal Inn* 
(http://www.crystalinns.com/bgcut.html), UCB group rate $69, call to 
reserve your room at 435-723-0440 and remember to mention you're with 
the UCB group. Saturday: leave Crystal Inn Saturday morning 4:00 a.m.; 
leave Tremonton I-15 exit #385 4:30 a.m.

March 31st (Sat): Salt Lake Birders Field Trip - Greater Sage-grouse lek 
in East Canyon on the border of Morgan and Summit Counties. Meet at 
Shopko at 5:00 a.m. Make sure your car is gassed up. We will car pool to 
the lek site, then when the birds disperse, we will go on to East Canyon 
Reservoir to bird those environs. If people are interested, we can have 
breakfast in Morgan. Call Bob MacDougall for more information - 971-6077.

March 31st (Sat): Layton Wild Bird Center Bird Walk - East Kaysville 
Foothills - Saturday Bird Walks leave from the Wild Bird Center (1860 N. 
1000 West, Layton) at 10 a.m, in winter, unless otherwise posted.


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

Abbreviations:
WMA - Wildlife Management Area
NWR - National Wildlife Refuge
GSL - Great Salt Lake.
GSLA - Great Salt Lake Audubon
UCB - Utah County Birders

- End Transcript

Thank you and good birding

Tim Avery
Salt Lake City, UT