[Birdtalk] Washington County Saturday

[Tim Avery]

750 miles, 31 hours and 3 life birds later (and I didn't even have to 
leave the state!) my whirlwind trip to St. George is over and I can only 
say I am quite satisfied with the results. So it all got started after 
the photo of the Lawrence's Goldfinch was posted in the middle of the 
week. I thought to myself, "Self, what else do you have to do this 
weekend besides chase this bird?" And with that simple question it was 
off to the races! I left Orem on Friday at around 12:30 pm, a late start 
due to some job-difficulties (hopefully no repercussions on Monday), but 
steadily made my way south. I stopped briefly at Chicken Creek Reservoir 
to scan the water. The lake was covered with Waterfowl and a few 1,000 
coots. 3 Greater Scaup made up the best birds on the water, which hosted 
15 species of waterfowl.

I made it to Dammeron Valley right before 5:00 pm, and timidly walked up 
the road to the Lawson residence where I was greeted by Bob who I had 
talked to the night before on the phone. We talked about the bird for a 
short period and both were convinced the bird had moved on to greener 
pastures… Or at least back towards the coast. I set up to watch the 
feeders in Bob's immaculate backyard. Okay to be honest his backyard is 
right in the junipers and just melts into the woods, it is quite the 
habitat. IT was amazing seeing the birds coming and going as I watched. 
Lesser Goldfinch were the most numerous species and were coming and 
going as they please. Scrub Jays flew over on occasion, Chipping 
Sparrow's and Titmice meandered around. Bob and his wife left for dinner 
shortly after I arrived and I just enjoyed the birds as they cam and 
went. On several occasions a Sharp-shinned Hawk came crashing into the 
tree nearest the house and sent the birds for the woods.

It was just after 6 and I ventured outside after the Sharpie's 3rd 
appearance. I was sitting on the walk near his garage when a flock of 
about 15 Goldfinches came in to the trees. I looked up and was shocked 
to see the Lawrence's sitting side by side with a Lesser about 30 feet 
away. I watched it for a minute then snapped a couple shots. I got up to 
get closer and the flock lifted and flew over the house and to the 
north. Satisfied with the brief view and bad pictures (they are bad), I 
headed out knowing I could come back on Saturday afternoon and watch 
again if I would like.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/lago_01.jpg

I stopped at Gunlock Reservoir where I added a few new year birds. There 
were 4 Common Loons on the lake, 3 of which were sporting their breeding 
plumage. One bird that was sporting the 1st summer plumage had me 
excited when the bill showed yellow in the sunlight. Unfortunately, 
that’s all that it was, the sunlight!

As I watched the loons a flock of 13 Bank Swallow's flew overhead and 
north towards Gunlock. There were a number of Black-throated Sparrow's 
at the Reservoir as well as all the usual suspects. I headed down to the 
Beaver Dam Slope for the night and promptly passed out, exhausted form a 
long day.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/btsp_01.jpg

This morning it was up bright and early and headed to Lytle Ranch. As I 
pulled in and parked I could hear birds singing, and what I presumed 
were Lucy's Warbler. I soon tracked one down and as I watched it, a 
Bell's Vireo burst into song about 3 feet below it. Then another vireo 
started singing about 20 feet away. The vireo was a lifer and was very 
photogenic.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/bevi_01.jpg

I headed north through the ranch and up the wash. The Lucy's were 
everywhere, and I got brief glimpses of 3 Crissal Thrashers. In 
comparison to three weeks ago the Verdin didn’t seem to be everywhere, 
and I only heard them on 2 or 3 occasions. Surprising this trip were 2 
pairs of Black Phoebe (assuming they are paired up), and a single bird. 
One pair was at the pond and another was at the smaller pond just north 
of the gate. I saw my first Brown-headed Cowbird of the year as a single 
bird flew north up the wash.

I was hoping to find a Black-Hawk to add to my Utah list so I headed 
north of the ranch to a patch of trees that looked really promising. (I 
had checked a spot near the monument that I was told to but no birds 
were there). I walked up the river hoping to flush a bird that might be 
perched over the water hunting. As luck would have it that is just what 
happened! I was about 50 yards away and the bird flew away from the 
stream up into a cottonwood as I got closer it again flew and I managed 
a quick view of the black and white striped tail as it flew away. Just 
then my phone rang and it was Rick Fridell. After chatting with Rick for 
a short time I Started looking for the bird again. It took me nearly an 
hour to finally relocate the bird in a tree about 50 yards from where I 
first saw it. I used a cottonwood to block the birds line of view with 
me and slowly crept up to within about 60 feet of where it was perched.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/cbha_01.jpg

I sat down and watched the beautiful hawk for about 15 minutes before a 
Kestrel started mobbing the large black hawk. The bird took flight and 
circle about 7 times before flying off to the north and landing again.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/cbha_02.jpg

Happy that my target bird for the wash was out of the way I started 
heading back towards Lytle. My phone rang and it was Bob Lawson alerting 
me that the Lawrence's Goldfinch had returned! All I could think was I 
needed better pictures! I headed back but not before hearing a 
Clay-colored Sparrow singing across the wash on a hillside… I made the 
decision to keep going and pass on looking for this bird as the 
Goldfinch was a higher priority in my book. I added Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher to the year list as I walked back to the Ranch house. At the 
ranch house I made a quick stop at the feeders on Rick's advice. Glad I 
did, as 3 male Costa's Hummingbirds and 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird were 
enjoying the sweet sugar water!

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/cohu_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/cohu_02.jpg

I hit the road stopping only twice. Once to watch a Cassin's Kingbird 
that was perched on a Joshua Tree, and once to scan a flock of sparrows 
on the road. I was hoping to add Black-chinned to the list but could 
only make out Black-throated. I made it back to Bob's house at 1:00 and 
stayed till about 4:00. The goldfinch apparently stayed most of the 
morning, but by the time Rick Fridell showed up at 12:30 it was gone. I 
added another year bird in Bob's backyard a Wild Turkey strolled into to 
pick up left over seeds on the ground.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/marc07/witu_01.jpg

And finally here I am back in Salt Lake at my computer, 3 life birds 
richer and satisfied with a great "quick" trip to Washington County! A 
huge thanks to Bob Lawson for allowing me to hang around his home the 
last two days. Thanks to Colby for posting yesterday and Kris for 
updating the RBA last night!

Good Birding

Tim
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com
Salt Lake City, Utah