[Birdtalk] Utah RBA, May 5, 2007

[Utah Rare Bird Alert]

* Utah Rare Bird Alert
* Statewide
* May 5, 2007
* UTAH0705.05

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 Saturday, May 5th at 10:30 p.m.



Species included in this report:

VAUX'S SWIFT (Box Elder)
Dunlin (Davis)
Common Tern (Davis)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Davis)
Purple Martin (Utah)
RED KNOT (Davis)
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (Washington)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Washington)
Evening Grosbeak (Utah)
White-throated Sparrow (Wasatch)
Northern Waterthrush (Davis)
White-winged Dove (Uintah)
Whimbrel (Davis)
Painted Redstart (Washington)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Washington)
Acorn Woodpecker (Washington)
Red-necked Phalarope (Davis)
California Condor (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.

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

Box Elder County:

-- 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS were discovered and reported by Kris Purdy on May 3rd 
just to the north
of Willard Bay State Park.  The birds were seen actively feeding over a 
large wet field with
5 different species of swallows.  The birds were initially seen in the 
early afternoon, but were still
present till nearly 6:15 pm when these pictures were taken:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/species/vauxs_swift.html

Directions: Take I-15 to exit 357, Willard Bay. At the end of the exit 
ramp, turn west (left) and then
north (right). Follow the road as it curves west and then look for the 
pink tape tied on a willow on the
embankment 90 yards after the next right turn (that's the road that runs 
east of the Willard Bay sewage
treatment pond; pass it by). The swifts field is due south of the pond.




Davis County:

-- 2 Northern Waterthrushes were reported by The Sommerfeld's as well as 
Colby Neuman and Tim Avery at Garr
Ranch on May 5th.  The Sommerfeld's reported that 2 birds were seen 
around the pond just to the south of the
ranch.  Colby and Tim reported 1 bird at this pond and another along the 
fence where the spring at the Ranch
flows into the fragmites and cattails.

-- A probable COMMON TERN was photographed by Tim Avery at the ponds at 
Glover Lane on May 5th.  Colby Neuman and
Tim Avery observed the bird feeding over the ponds.

-- 2 Dunlin were reported by numerous individuals along the AIC on May 
5th.  The birds were
seen to the south of the causeway between MM 4 and 5.

-- Around 40 Semipalmated Sandpipers were reported by Colby Neuman and 
Tim Avery along the AIC on May 5th.  This is an
unusually high concentration for this species in Utah.

-- 10 RED KNOTS were reported by Tim Avery between MM 5 and 6 on the 
north side
of AIC on April 30th.  The birds were about 350 yards north of the 
causeway and
appeared to be in breeding plumage.

-- A Whimbrel was reported by Jack Binch and Bob Huntington at AIC near 
between MM
5 and 6 on April 27th.

-- A flock of about 30 Red-necked Phalarope were photographed by Tim 
Avery at AIC
on April 30th near MM 5.




Uintah County:

-- A White-winged Dove was reported by Clay and Cliftia Johnson visiting 
their feeders in Jensen on May 2nd.
Clay reported that a White-winged Dove has shown up at their feeders 
each April or May the past four years: 5/23/2004, 4/23/2005, 4/23/2006, 
and now on 5/2/2007.




Utah County:

--  A flock of Evening Grosbeaks was reported by Alona Huffaker in 
Springville on May 3rd.
The birds are usually seen hanging around in Chinese Elm trees in the 
area of 1195 South and
700 East in Springville.  Apparently the birds have been around for 
several weeks now.  The
birds will still present as of the 4th when relocated by Tim Avery.

-- 2 Purple Martins were reported by Reed Stone in the Palmyra / Lake 
Shore area on May 5th.



Wasatch County:

-- A White-throated Sparrow was reported by Dave Hanscom at Deer Creek 
Reservoir on May 3rd.
The bird was seen just a couple hundred yards from the trailhead near 
Soldier Hollow.  A WTSP
was reported nearby, about a half mile east (across the water) on 
February 18th.




Washington County:

Passerine migration is in full swing with as many as 10 warbler species 
being reported.  Scott's
Hooded and Bullock's Oriole as well as both Summer and Western Tanager 
have been reported.

-- A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was reported by Larry Tripp at Lytle Ranch on 
April 28th.
The bird was seen in the area just west of the parking lot.  Tim Avery 
relocated the
bird several hours later near the restrooms and again on April 29th in 
the same area
where Larry initially found the bird.

-- A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was flushed from the trees to the north of the 
parking area at
Lytle Ranch on April 28th by Tim Avery and Colby Neuman.  Larry Tripp 
later saw the bird
and confirmed that it was indeed a Broad-winged.

-- 2 Painted Redstart were reported by Colby Neuman and Tim Avery from 
Zion NP on April 28th.
The birds were found by Colby about 100 yards down the road from the 
Temple of Sinawava parking
area.

-- 2 Pectoral Sandpiper were reported by Rick Fridell on the pond in 
Fort Pearce Wash (south of River Road)
in St. George on April 28th.  Colby Neuman and Tim Avery visited the 
area on the 29th and the birds had appeared
to have moved on.

-- A a male Acorn Woodpecker was reported by Rick Fridell in the large 
aspen grove just south of the Kolob
Reservoir on April 28th.

-- Several Condors were reported by Rick Fridell flying over Lava Point 
and the
Kolob Meadows on April 28th.



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

May 10th - 12th (Thu-Sat):  Salt Lake Birders Field Trip - A special 
over-night jaunt to see the birds of Daggett County, then to Stewart WMA 
near Jensen, Pelican Lake and Ouray NWR. This will be in conjunction 
with the Utah Ornithological Society.  We will leave Thursday night, 
spend the night at Pat Jividen's cabin in Tabiona, then get an early 
stare to the Uintas Friday a.m.  Watch for details to come.

May 12th (Sat): Utah County Birders Field Trip - Utah county desert 
birds - the great Utah county - day trip; leave Payson WalMart 7:00 a.m. 
More details TBA.

May 12th (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 8 a.m, in spring/summer, unless otherwise posted.

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

Abbreviations:
AIC - Antelope Island Causeway
WMA - Wildlife Management Area
NWR - National Wildlife Refuge
GSL - Great Salt Lake
GSLA - Great Salt Lake Audubon
UCB - Utah County Birders
SP - State Park
NP - National Park
MM - Mile Marker

- End Transcript

Thank you and good birding

Tim Avery
Salt Lake City, Utah