[Birdtalk] Singing in the Dark (Flammy Photos), etc

[Tim Avery]

NOTE: Please do not contact me asking for "exact directions" to these birds, as I won't give explicit information on where I photograph these guys.  Flammulated Owl are a common species across the eastern half of Utah and in the northern part of the state typically inhabit aspen woodlands between 6,000-8,500', but are also often found in mixed coniferous/aspen habitats.  This species is also known to nest in Ponderosa pine forests as well.  With a little footwork, and a few hours in the dark they are quite findable.

It seems to be getting into the high time for Flammy's singing.  This past week has been incredibly good along the Wasatch front, with many birds hear without the use of tapes.  On Wednesday and Thursday night I led field trips in conjunction with classes about owls and nightjars, into the mountains just east of Salt Lake, the goal to see or hear as many species as possible.  I also went scouting earlier in the week to try and pin down some spots to pick up the more common species present.  On Tuesday night I spent several hours andhad pretty good luck hearing numerous GREAT HORNED OWL, and around 10 FLAMMULATED OWLS at various stops.  I was able to take some pictures which are posted here:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=522&page=1&sort=na 

One stop produced a singing NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL that wouldn't come out of the top of a 90' spruce despite my best impersonation of competition.  COMMON POORWILLS and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were numerous and found rather frequently.

On Wednesday I took 20 individuals out to revisit some of the locations, and our success was similar.  All members of the party were able to get decent looks at a Flammy, and most saw both Comon Nighthawk and Great Horned Owl.  Only a couple poorwills were heard.  A nice surprise was a distant singing LONG-EARED OWL at one stop.  The Pygmy-Owl from the night before responded briefly before shutting down.  On Thursday 23 of us had similar success with the nightjars and the Great Horned and Flammy's.  At one stop while doing a pygmy-owl whistle, it sounded like a Pymgy responded with a  loud single clear whistle, although I can't remember ever hearing one just emit a single note.

Among the other birds heard and seen, most of the groups also were able to see AMERICAN DIPPER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, American Robin, and Brewer's Blackbird.  At a stop in Salt Lake County there was a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD that myself and one other observer were able to see.  I also saw or heard the following over the three nights:

Mourning Dove
Broad-tailed and Black-chinned Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie and Common Raven
Barn, NRW and Cliff Swallow
Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Gray Catbird
MacGillivray's Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Virginia's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Spotted and Green-tailed Towhee
Brewer's, FOX, White-crowned and Chipping Sparrow
Western Meadowlark
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Bullock's Oriole
House and Cassin's Finch
Pine Siskin

It was a great week to spend some time up in the mountains away from the city, and with so many great birds it was extra nice.

Good Birding

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


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