[Birdtalk] Moab and San Juan County update

[Jason Pietrzak]

I recently started some bird surveys in the area and we've had a lot
of migrants moving through. In the last week or so, I've seen Yellow,
Yellow-rumped, and Virginia's Warblers along with Northern
Waterthrush, Yellow-breasted Chats, Plumbeous Vireos, Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, Lazuli Buntings, and Western Kingbirds. While camping in
the Hovenweep area, I saw tons of Wild Turkeys and Gambel's Quail
along with all the regulars. Overnight at camp, I could hear
"conversing" Western Screech-Owls as well as Common Poorwills.

Finally, when I returned home, I found two new yard-birds: Western
Kingbirds and Black-headed Grosbeaks. The Grosbeaks appear to be a
mating pair and the female looks quite healthy while the male looks
like he's taken quite a beating on the back of his head - there's a
large spot on the back of his head where I can see his pink scalp!

The Black-chinned Hummingbirds seem to be doing quite well also with
as many as 6 around my feeders at a time. Some of these guys have been
really aggressive toward each other, but I have had as many as 3 at
one feeder at a time.

With all the awesome reports coming from up north lately, I'm kinda
wishing the drive to northern Utah was a little shorter. Keep the
reports coming!

Good birding,

Jason Pietrzak
Moab, UT