[Birdtalk] Neotropic Cormorant, Chicken Creek Reservoir (details from Apr 9)

[Matt Mills]

Hey,

I've been out of town at Lytle Preserve for the past few days and would like to thank Eric Huish for relaying the NEOTROPIC CORMORANT sighting from Chicken Creek Reservoir. I realize that there have been lengthy stays by an individual of this species in Utah the past two summers and that many people probably went to see it. But I'm curious if anyone has been down to Chicken Creek Reservoir to see if it is still there?
 
I was there with about 15 other BYU students and faculty at 11 am on Thursday, April 09th. The bird was flying around the reservoir with 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS before heading southwest and out of sight. A short time later it returned and I was able to get a scope on the bird as it circled the reservoir and came in for a landing. We walked down towards where it landing but were unable to see the very far south end of the reservoir. We were hesitant to walk all the way down because we didn't want the bird to fly away and disappear again.

Haha, in my excitement to Eric I said the bird was half the size. While it wasn't quite that small it was noticeably smaller, slimmer, slimmer-winged, longer-tailed and appeared paler than the jet black Double-crested Cormorants. Perhaps this is the same individual that has been sighted in the past.

Also at Chicken Creek Reservoir were:

Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Cinnamon Teal
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser (1)
Ruddy Duck

Aechmophorus Grebes - Many, with both species represented
Eared Grebe

Great Blue Heron (1)

Bald Eagle (1)
Northern Harrier (2)
Red-tailed Hawk (1)

American Coot

American Avocet (1)
Black-necked Stilt (3)

Ring-billed Gull
California Gull

Cliff Swallow
Violet Green Swallow

American Pipit (1)
Marsh Wren
Red-winged Blackbird

Chicken Creek Reservoir - Take Exit 207 from I-15, about 18 miles south of 
Nephi. Go north on UT 78 about 1/4 of a mile to the reservoir. 

Matt Mills
mattymills2005 AT yahoo.com