[Birdtalk] UOS Field Trips

[Steve Carr]

Birding Folks,

The Utah Ornithological Society would like to remind all birders of the up-coming field trips that were mentioned several weeks ago.

Trip #1 is in conjunction with the Salt Lake Birders' trip on April 13-14.  This is actually a new trip, being conducted by the Salt Lake Birders, but is being offered to all birders.  For those who were disappointed last April about not being able to see the Gunnison Sage-Grouse well because of DWR restrictions, this time we will be going with the DWR's sanction and help.  Salt Lake area birders can meet at the usual Sugar House Shopko parking lot, SE corner, at 7 a.m. Friday the 13th.  (Don't let that scare anyone because we will see the birds.)  Those coming from the north can carpool and meet those who may be collecting in Utah County at the East Bay mall parking lot at 8 a.m.  >From there we'll caravan to San Juan County.  (Any who can't make it at that time can come on their own after work and meet us Friday night.)  We'll probably take in the Matheson Wetlands in Moab then arrive at Monticello and check in at our motel.  At 7 p.m., Friday night, we have a mandatory meeting with the DWR people, where they will tell us of their policies, etc., and how we will function Saturday a.m.  After the meeting, we will run down to Devil's Canyon Campground, where we will do some owling and see if we can't bring in some night birds.
Saturday a.m., probably around 4:30 or 5:00, we will caravan out to the grouse leks and watch their activity.  When it gets light, we'll run back to Monticello, have breakfast and check out, then run down to Devil's Canyon again to try for the Acorn Woodpecker, nuthatches (all 3 are possible), etc., then go to Montezuma Creek Canyon to find the Scaled Quail.  If, for some reason, we can't find them where we saw them earlier, and where everyone else who has looked for them, as well, Pat Jividen, who is leading this trip, has heard from the DWR folks there of at least 3 other places where the Scaled Quail have been seen this year.  So, the chances of seeing these desert quail are really quite good.  In order for Pat to know how many are planning to come on this jaunt, please call him at 944-5001, or e-mail birderpat at hotmail.com<mailto:birderpat at hotmail.com>.   He will advise you of what motels there are in Monticello and which we will mostly be staying at.

Trip #2 is to several areas in Daggett County, then to the Ouray NWR, on May 10-12.  It is about a 5+ hour trip from the Salt Lake Valley to the Dutch John area of Daggett County, and that doesn't leave much time for birding; so, those who can will leave the Salt Lake area Thursday evening, probably around 6-ish p.m. (Provo area about the same) and meet in Heber City, then carpool over Wolf Creek Pass to spend the night in Pat Jividen's cabin in Tabiona.  That will put us at least 2 hours earlier Friday a.m. to get on the way and to make the most of Friday.  There will be no cost at Pat's place, just whatever food you may want to bring, and a sleeping bag.  In Daggett County, we'll hit the Brown's Park WMA in Utah, then slip across the border barely into Colorado to visit the Brown's Park NWR.  Coming back we'll try to see the area around Antelope Flats of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, then to the Sheep Creek loop area.  That will probably have us ending at dark when we'll try for some owls.  Some folks may want to camp overnight, say, at the Green's Lake Campground, or drive down to Vernal and stay in a motel.  We'll have some motel information later.  Saturday a.m., we'll check in at the Stewart Lake WMA, then plan to meet any others who will be coming from the Wasatch Front at 10 a.m. at the Ouray NWR.  Diane Penttila will be checking the week prior so she can tell us where American Bitterns are most likely to be seen.  After the refuge, there is Pelican Lake and a couple of other lakes and reservoirs on the way back home.

Trip #3 is on May 31-June 2, essentially the same as #2, for those who can't make #2.  Please notify me if you are planning to come and which date so we have a better idea of how many there will be, etc.  More details will be forthcoming in April and May.

--Steve Carr
UOS Field Trip Coordinator
stevecarr9 at msn.com<mailto:stevecarr9 at msn.com> 
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