[redcliffs] Zion Canyon and Springdale Pond

[Rick Fridell]

Hello,
Sorry for the late notice on this one.  On January 15 and 16, Kristen and I
made our annual winter trip to Zion Canyon. Avian highlights included a
Winter Wren along the outflow from Icicle Rock (er, I mean Weeping Rock),
and up to 10 Red-naped Sapsuckers near the Visitor's Center.  The pecan
trees around the Visitor's Center parking lot are a magnet for birds, and
held several species of woodpeckers, Scrub Jays, Chickadees, Juncos, Spotted
Towhees, American Goldfinches (there seem to be a lot of these around this
winter!), and others both days. Another hotspot is up the canyon from the
Court of the Patriachs parking lot across to Birch Creek canyon.  I'm always
amazed at the number of wintering Hermit Thrushes in Zion Canyon, while they
are spread out throughout the canyon, the highest concentrations are feeding
in the hackberries in the side canyons. We probably saw at least 2 dozen in
along Birch Creek.

Also the wintering Varied Thrush, first found by Kevin and Aaron in
December, is remaining at the Springdale Pond.

Best Regards,

Rick Fridell
Hurricane, UT