[Birdtalk] Uintah Basin surprises

[Brian Maxfield]

I have had a couple of interesting sightings this past week in the Uintah Basin.  The first is a Boreal Owl that was delivered to me that was picked up along a highway.  The area it was found was near the junction of U208 and US 35.  This is just east of Tabiona.  The area is along the Duchesne River.  The main habitats are pinyon-juniper, pastures, and narrow-leaf cottonwood riparian bottoms.  The owl was an adult bird in apparently good condition.  Unfortunately, the owl passed away from head injuries.  This is the second Boreal Owl I have received that was hit by a car in atypical habitat.  The other owl was a delivered to me a couple of years ago and that owl survived.

The second bird was a Bonaparet's Gull.  I saw this gull on a small pond in Lake Canyon.  This is a small canyon surrounded by steep rocky slopes and this is the first gull of any species I have seen on this pond.  Lake Canyon is just upstream from Starvation Reservoir along the Strawberry River.

Brian
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