[redcliffs] RSAS Field Trip, May 6, 2006

[Charles/Marilyn Sheard]

    11 experienced RCAS birders took full advantage of the rapidly expanding spring migration on Saturday,  May 6th.  We began with a visit to the old, abandoned town of Grafton.  Grafton, situated on the Virgin River has stands of old Cottonwoods, ancient orchards and fallow pastures, all of which attract a great variety of migrating songbirds.  Our rewards were immediate.  A gorgous Summer Tanager presented himself in full view for several minutes, then was joined by his mate, a goodlooker in her own right.  Many photos were taken of this pair!  The surrounding Cottonwoods were full of warblers, grosbeaks and orioles all singing at once.  Each species, in turn. emerged from the canopy to exhibit itself for all to see.  Closer to the river the songs of the aforementioned birds were drowned out by Yellow-breasted Chat.  Encouraged by one of our birders who does a reasonable job of imitating the chat,  others of this species soon joined in.  Loud as the chat is, it can be a challange to find him in the tangle of willows.  But we did!  
    On to the Springdale Pond Park for more birding and a picnic lunch.  The pond held a small but interesting group of ducks.  A pair of dabblers were found on the far side.  A Mallard drake and hen.  Nope, as they paddled their way to a log near the center of the pond the hen turned out to be a Cinnamon Teal. Odd couple!  When they hauled out onto the floating log they were joined by what appeared to be a immature, male Common Goldeneye.  Besides it being late in the spring for this plumage there appeared to be some other anomilies.  The head and bill color were definitly female as was the head shape. The head had the typical male, white, round spot.  An immature male or a "cross dresser"?
     Here is the  list of species seen is: Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Common Godeneye, Wild Turkey, Gambel's Quail, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mouring Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downey Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, American Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Phainopepla, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Black-throatd Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow.
    Please join us on our next field trip on Saturday,  May 20th. We'll be going to the Wildcat Canyon trail in Zion National Park.  Walk a mile or more along a moderately easy hiking trail from the Kolob Reservoir Road.  See many of the birds present at moderate mountain elevations.  Time permitting we'll drive on to the Kolob Res. to see what's swimming.  The meeting place and time will be announced later.

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