[Birdtalk] FW: Birding Grand Staircase-Escalante NM

[Utah Birds]

Birdnet Email -- from the website
 
It was submitted by Dan Weber on Saturday, July 05, 2008 at 20:31:04
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Subject: Birding Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
 
Email_Address: danweber1 at hotmail.com
 
Message: Hello- 
 
About 2 weeks ago, I requested information about birding Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I had a few responses-all very helpful. I had promised to send the results of my trip to the listserve, mainly because this region seems to be under-represented. The hike through the Boulder Mail Trai, Death Hollow, and the dry end of the Escalante River was very challenging. Because of our underestimation of the trekking, I had far fewer opportunities to bird. To top it off, my binoculars fogged up after submerging them under water to wash away sand. Terrible timing. Anyway, here is the list. 
 
6-25 Red Canyon Campground in Dixie NF. (Open Ponderosa Pine Forest)
 
Virginia's Warbler M 
Golden Crowned Kinglet pair 
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher pair 
 
6-26 Bryce Canyon (Present for less than a 1/5 hour) 
 
Common Raven 
Violet Green Swallows 
White Throated Swifts 
Western Bluebird 
American Robin 
Cliff Swallows 
 
Boulder Mail Trail 

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 
Yellow Breasted Chat 
Violet Green Swallows 
 
6-27 Death Hollow(Riparian) 

American Dippers (at least 10 pair) 
Western Kingbird 
Song Sparrow 
Spotted Towhee (4) 
Yellow Warbler (a few in larger box elders and willows and phragmites) 
Common Yellowthroat (same) 
Canyon Wren (numerous) 
White Throated Swifts (many) 
Common Raven 
Golden Eagle 
Black Chinned Hummingbird 
Rufous Hummingbird 
Mourning Doves 
Black Headed Grosbeak 
Red Winged Blackbird 
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 
Brown Headed Cowbird 
 
6-28 Escalante River-No sightings recorded 
 
While driving to SLC on 6-29, I saw a Band Tailed Pigeon at the intersection of Hwy 12 and Hwy 24. Also observed during the ride where: 
 
Snowy Egret 
Black Billed Magpies 
Ring Billed Gull 
Black Necked Stilt 
Ring Necked Pheasant 
Red Tailed Hawks 
 
I think that that's about it. I wish that I had had more time to bird and that my binos didn't crap out on me at the worst time ever. The scenery and the trip itself were over the top, so no regrets. I hope to visit your beautiful state again in the near future. 
 
Dan Weber 
Athens, Ohio 
 
Thanks and I hope 




      
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