[Birdtalk] Common Loon at Pineview Reservoir

[Kristin Purdy]

What's a Common Loon doing at Pineview Reservoir in Weber County in July?, 
you're thinking. Wasatch Audubon saw a Common Loon at Pineview today from 
the north end of the Winter's Grove Nature Trail that runs through Jefferson 
Hunt Campground. The bird was a subadult and by assumption, a non-breeder 
rather than an impossibly early juvenile migrant. It was odd to see a loon 
in July, however. The southernmost breeding areas for this species north of 
us are northwest Wyoming and Montana, so the bird seemed a bit out of place. 
Several enlightened literature sources tell me that non-breeding Common 
Loons may remain throughout the year in wintering areas, especially those at 
relatively high latitudes.

Another highlight of today's birdwalk was multiple Soras sounding off in the 
marshes on both sides of the campground road and one Sora that allowed many 
participants to get a look. The bird weaved through a flooded grassy area 
next to the shady road through the campground just 10-15 feet away and 
inspired an iconic image of birders pointing, whispering, jostling for 
position, peering into the marsh, and all wearing funny hats and binoculars. 
We just about jumped out of our shoes when the bird gave a piercing whinny 
at that close proximity.

The woodpeckers were active in the campground as they are year round. We saw 
four species--Northern Flickers, Downies, Hairies, and Red-naped Sapsuckers. 
This is a relatively low elevation (less than 5300 feet) for Hairies, but I 
did see a Hairy Woodpecker nearby in Huntsville a couple months ago.

We heard big spashy noises coming from the flooded willow areas west of the 
trail and expected to see families of Canada Geese or at least, American 
Coots. The splashers were neither of those. I identified a pod of Humpback 
Whales moving in the water so vigorously that they even made the willow 
saplings sway. There's a possibility that the whales were actually HUGE 
carp, but based on the volume of splashing, whales are much more likely.

Jefferson Hunt Campground is located at about milepost 18 of SR-39. Winter's 
Grove Nature Trail cuts both west from the entrance parking lot and north 
through the campground; the trail ends at the west end of 500S. in 
Huntsville.

Kris