[Birdtalk] High Uintas & Monte Cristo - Rosy-Finch, etc...

[Tim Avery]

Jeff Bilsky and I drove the high mountain loop from Salt Lake up the Mirror
Lake Highway and back through Monte Cristo to Salt Lake this morning
(07/03).  We were targeting high elevation conifer, and above the treeline
species, as well as a few other northern Utah specialties.

Highlights were as follows:

1 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at the Trial Lake Campground.  No
crossbills, and only a single Clark's Nutcracker.  Pictuers of the
woodpecker can be seen here:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=590&page=1&sort=na&id=atwo

3-4 BLACK ROSY-FINCH could be seen on the snowdrifts on the south slope of
Bald Mountain.  Jeff first spotted them fluttering above the snow and rocks
before they landed and we got one in the scope.

1 PINE GROSBEAK at nearly the same spot as last sumemr just past Mirror Lake
along the highway.

Red-naped Sapsucker, Sandhill Crane, Ducky Flycatcher and numeorus other
species were seen and hear along the scenic route as well.

In Wyoming we stopped at Sulphur Creek and Woodruff Narrows, both full to
the brim.  Woodruff Narrows lacked the usual marshy habitat on the south
end, due to the high water, so bird life wasn't quite up to the regular
standards.  2 CASPIAN TERN were seen, along with a handful of CANVASBACK and
otehr waterfowl.

We birded the raod across Deseret Ranch, which had most of the regular
shrubsteppe species: Sage Thrasher, Lark, Brewer's, Savannah, and Vesper
Sparrow.  A lone pair of Wilson's Phalarope allowed for some nice pix, and
Golden Eagle, Common Nighthawk, and asmattering of Waterfowl rounded out the
mix:

Wilson's Phalarope:
http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=590&page=1&sort=nd&id=wiph

Heading up SR-39 to Monte Cristo, we picked up a single male PURPLE MARTIN
(1 lousy photo due to light) at the location mentioned by Kris Purdy
previously.  The rain started pouring while we were looking for Williamson's
Sapsucker, so we gave up and headed out, btu did get to see 2 sweet funnel
clouds (pictures in previous links).

We stopped at Beus Pond in Ogden so I could take a few shots of the drab
WOOD DUCKS:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=590&page=1&sort=nd&id=wodu

Good Birding

Tim
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