[Birdtalk] Sanpete Big Day

[Tom Williams]

On Saturday, May 12, Robin Tuck and I conducted what we consider a very
successful - 82 species - big day in Sanpete County.

We left Provo at 5:30 a.m. driving past Nephi, through Levan on Utah Highway
28 to the Sanpete County Line, then turning into the Yuba State Park, where
we had good views of the back third of Yuba Reservoir. While in Yuba and
environs we saw 29 species: Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, American White
Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Canada Goose, Gadwall,
Mallard, Ring-necked Pheasant, American Coot, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull,
California Gull, Mourning Dove, Western Kingbird, Purple Martin, Tree
Swallow, Bank Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Pinyon Jay, Black-billed
Magpie, Common Raven, European Starling, House Finch, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and
Bullock's Oriole.

Then we continued down Highway 28 crossing to the west side of the Sevier
River (wetland) bypassing Fayette and ultimately returning to pavement at
Gunnison.  During this leg of the trip we added another 23 species: Eared
Grebe, Great Blue Heron, White-faced Ibis, Cinnamon Teal, Sora (heard only),
Turkey Vulture, Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Sandhill
Crane, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson's
Phalarope, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Horned Lark, Barn Swallow, Marsh Wren,
House Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Western Meadowlark,
and Brewer's Blackbird

Then we proceeded to Nine Mile Reservoir and bumped around the dike on the
rutted dirt track. Back on the pavement on Highway 89, we slowed down,
obeying the speed limit through Sterling, and made a right turn towards
Palisade State Park. After glassing the water and hillside, we drove 5 miles
or so up Palisade Canyon before returning to Highway 89.  During this leg of
the trip we added another 17 species: Common Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk,
Cooper's Hawk, Wild Turkey, Forster's Tern, California Quail (heard only),
Rock Pigeon, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Violet-green
Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, and Chipping
Sparrow

We continued up Highway 89 on the way from Manti and eventually found Wales
Reservoir. From there we made jaunt to the saddle above Freedom Campground,
before heading up Maple Canyon through towering cliffs that looked for
anything like piles of round rocks, or aggregate, almost ready to fall in on
us. Whatever glues the rocks together held yet another day, because we made
it up, through the campground and up several switchbacks to the summit. We
hurried through Manti but just past town found a nesting Great-horned Owl.
We then stopped in Mount Pleasant where we drove around town looking for a
Black-capped Chickadee. We then climbed Fairview Canyon, finishing the day
at Fairview Lakes. On this final leg of the trip we added another 13
species: Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Great Horned Owl,
White-throated Swift, Red-naped Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Western
Wood-Pewee, Mountain Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Black-capped Chickadee,
Mountain Chickadee, Pine Grosbeak, and Brown-headed Cowbird. 

 We returned home at about 9:30 pm, having put in 16 hours and 260 miles to
find 82 species of birds.  That's a little over 5 species per hour or about
one species every 3 miles. 

 

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