Nov 2007
Weston Smith (22 Nov 2007) - the White-winged Dove is still coming into our fathers (Arnold Smith) feeder in Morgan Utah.
Joel and Kathy (12 Nov 2007) - The Red-throated Loon previously reported at East Canyon Reservoir was still present as of noon today. Several Common Loons were also there, but no Pacific Loons were seen.
Edson Leite (10 Nov 2007) - Beth and I tried to chase a few of the birds seen in northern Utah lately...we headed to East Canyon Reservoir... Pacific Loon (1)... Northern Shrike (1) at Park Entrance...
Tim Avery (8 Nov 2007) - This afternoon I made a quick trip... to East Canyon Reservoir to check out the loons. ... I spotted a "small" loon near the dam, so I drove around, finding a juvenile Pacific Loon swimming near a couple Western Grebes. I spent about 20 minutes watching this bird before heading back around the lake, and after turning back onto 65 south/west I pulled out where the lake splits to the east and south. From here I could see about 14 loons on the water, including a group of 2 Pacific Loons with a Common Loon. I could not age them at the distance and in the failing light. About this time a loon popped up in the east arm, directly north from where I was, even at 200 yards, the unique pattern of a Red-throated Loon in basic plumage was evident. ...Being able to see RTLO, PALO, and COLO all within 200 yards of one another was a "neat".
Kris Purdy (4 Nov 2007) - Arnold Smith saw a White-winged Dove in his yard in Morgan, Morgan County, late this afternoon. The bird was feeding on birdseed in the chicken's yard; when Arnold went outside to put the chickens in their yard for the night, the dove flushed. The city of Morgan hosts good numbers of Eurasian Collared-doves on the west side of town west of Main Street/SR-66. Perhaps the White-winged Dove will join that flock, so be on the lookout if you pass through town.
Oct 2007
Weston Smith (21 Oct 2007) - We had an adult winter Harris Sparrow at our feeder here in Croydon Utah this morning the 21st about 9am. All the birds flushed about an hour ago and I have not seen it since. Hopefully it will come back so I can try taking a picture of it.
Weston Smith (16 Oct 2007) - The Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen at our feeders here in Croydon, UT on Sunday(9/14) morning from about 9am to noon when I left for work. The bird looked to be a 1st winter male as shown in the Sibley guide but had the streaking across the entire breast, also seemed to be brighter than any Black-headed that I have ever seen. I was able to get a few "didgy scope" (digital camera shots through a scope) pictures of it but am not computer savvy enough to get them on here.
Kristin Purdy (7 Oct 2007) - I birded several reservoirs--East Canyon, Rockport, and Echo--along the Wasatch Back in Morgan and Summit Counties today. The highlights: Surprise Cassin's and Warbling Vireos (one of each) in the spruce trees in front of the restaurant at East Canyon Resort....
Sep 2007
Weston Smith (26 Sep 2007) - Here is an update on the rare birds in Croydon, Utah. I am still seeing the Golden-crowned Sparrow, when I have the time to sit down and look( last seen on the 25th). Also the White-winged Dove showed back up on Monday(9/24) and was here all day yesterday the 25th. It looks like it went through a hurricane, it now has more white showing on its wings and the wings are longer than the tail do to the molting. While watching it come in for a landing yesterday I witnessed one of its primary wing feathers brake loose and fluttered to the ground.
Weston Smith (11 Sep 2007) - Today, 09/11/07, at roughly 1430 and again at 1530 a 1st year juvenile Golden-crowned Sparrow was viewed by Weston, Aaron and Arnold Smith at Weston's home in Croydon, Utah.
Weston Smith (5 Sep 2007) - Just like to let you all know about a couple odd birds we have had in our backyard here in Croydon, Utah(Morgan County) in the last couple of days. First on Monday(9/3) after noon there was a juvinile White-winged Dove feeding with four Eurasin Collared Doves below our feeders. And the second was a Bewick's Wren foraging in our wood pile this morning(9/5). After talking with my father (Arnold Smith) I believe these are both firsts for Morgan County.
May 2007
Weston Smith (14 May 2007) - I live in Croydon, Ut(Morgan county) about 200 yards from Summit county and had two Eurasian Collared-Doves in my back yard last week, they flew towards Henefer. So there are Eurasian Collared Doves in Summit county at least in Henefer.
Dec 2006
Kris Purdy (25 Dec 2006) - I saw a Blue Jay at about 4:15 this afternoon in East Canyon, Morgan County, below SR-66 at mile 3.1. The spot on the road is marked by the only power pole in East Canyon with a raptor perch that extends above the top of the pole... The Blue Jay was hanging out with a gang of 4-5 Steller's Jays. They seemed like a bunch of delinquents looking for trouble. They were filtering through the trees at the dam end of a pasture below the road.
Nov 2006
Edson Leite (5 Nov 2006) - Beth and I started the day at Arnold's house looking for the Prothonotory Warbler, we saw it around 10:20 and again at 11. We went to East Canyon reservoir after that, and saw common loons, Horned Grebe, and all three mergansers.
Kris Purdy (2 Nov 2006) - The Prothonotary Warbler party at Arnold Smith's house in Morgan, Morgan County, was well attended this morning. Guests included Pomera Fronce, Keith Evans, Jack Rensel, Paul Higgins, David and Petey Wheeler, me and most importantly, the Prothonotary Warbler.
(1 Nov 2006) - At 0945 the Prothonotary Warbler showed up in the same location at Arnold Smith's house in Morgan, Utah. This time the bird was viewed by Arnold, Weston, Linda, Shauna, Celeste and Aaron Smith for at least 20 minutes. We were able to photograph the bird before it flew into the quaking aspen trees to the Northeast of their driveway. It looks like the bird is a first year male as it is not quite as yellow as an adult breeding male. At roughly 1010 the bird then flew to the neighbor's yard to the south. The warbler is feeding on aphids in the box elder/lilac/wild rose bushes next to Arnold's mail box. Birders are welcome.
Oct 2006
(31 Oct 2006) - Today at 2:50 p.m. in the front yard of Arnold Smith's house in Morgan, Utah Arnold, Aaron and Shauna Smith sighted a male Prothonotary Warbler. We watched the bird for several minutes getting excellent looks. The bird then flew to the neighbor's house across the street to the southwest. We watched the bird for at least 10 minutes before it flew.
May 2006
Christian Peay (8 May 2006) - I got a brief but good look of a Chestnut-sided Warbler today at Como Springs in Morgan. It was in a Cottonwood tree near bridge that crosses the little stream that runs through Como Springs. It flew away and I was not able to find it again.
Mar 2006
Kristin Purdy (19 Mar 2006) - I spent some time patrolling East Canyon in Morgan County this afternoon around 1:30, around 4:00, and again after 6:00 for the purpose of finding a Northern Pygmy-Owl. I almost passed the little sucker at 6:10 pm at about mile 3.6 of SR-66. The owl looked a lot more like a brownish-tinged junco sitting at the top of a scrub oak on the downhill side of the road than it did a pygmy-owl.
Feb 2006
Christian Peay (15 Feb 2006) - This morning I observed a flock of approx. 400 Bohemian Waxwings. They were in some large trees at 200 S. Morgan Valley Dr. in Morgan County.
Kathy and Joel Beyer (12 Feb 2006) - We were treated to quite a show by one of the East Canyon (Hwy. 66, Morgan Co.) Northern Pygmy-Owls this afternoon. It was at mile marker 3.2 (or about .4 miles south of the Mortensen Ranch driveway). We also saw approx. 40 Bohemian Waxwings in Porterville (Hwy 66, Morgan Co.), and 25 Wild Turkeys on the east side of Echo Reservoir (Summit Co.)
Jan 2006
Christian Peay (17 Jan 2006) - Today at 9:50 I saw two Eurasian Collared-Doves sitting on power lines at 360 W. Young St in Morgan. This is the first time I have seen them in Morgan County.
Kristin Purdy (1 Jan 2006) - Arnold Smith and his wife Linda saw the East Canyon/Morgan County Northern Pygmy-Owl again late this afternoon. Arnold said the bird was about a mile further up in the canyon; in other words, between mm 4 and 3 on SR-66 and closer to East Canyon Reservoir. He also said the spot is further up the canyon (toward the dam) than the DWR property at Redrock Canyon. I think there's a brown sign denoting the Redrock area as East Canyon WMA. Arnold also saw the Lewis's Woodpecker again; this bird is somewhat lower between mm 4 and 5. The male Long-tailed Duck is still on the reservoir.
Dec 2005
Kris Purdy (28 Dec 2005) - Paul Higgins photographed a flock of about 100 Bohemian Waxwings today in Porterville, the small community between the town of Morgan and East Canyon in Morgan County.
Kris Purdy (23 Dec 2005) - I just got a call from Arnold Smith, who's participating in today's Morgan Christmas Count and is counting birds in his own backyard. One of the birds he just counted is a Northern Pygmy-Owl...It's unlikely this is the same bird as the one seen recently in East Canyon. As the pygmy-owl flies, the two locations are approximately 8 miles apart.
Kris Purdy (23 Dec 2005) - I got a call from Arnold Smith tonight, reporting he saw a Northern Pygmy-Owl in East Canyon in Morgan County. The bird was originally seen twice by Paul Higgins last week or the week before. Paul described the spot (and Arnold saw the bird there also) as 2.2 miles below the East Canyon Dam on SR-66...Arnold also reported seeing a Lewis's Woodpecker from the road around the curve and below the owl's location. In other words, in the direction of Porterville. There's open water still in East Canyon Reservoir, where he saw a Long-tailed Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye...
Kathy and Joel Beyer (18 Dec 2005) - A mixed flock of 100 waxwings, about 60 Bohemian Waxwings and 40 Cedar, were seen Saturday afternoon off Highway 66, just south of the town of Morgan (Morgan County). The location was near a house numbered 4073, where the highway crosses a stream flanked by many large trees...
Kristin Purdy (11 Dec 2005) - One adult male Long-tailed Duck was at East Canyon Reservoir in Morgan County today. Like Tim's adult male at the causeway, this one also appeared not to have the long tail feathers. The bird still had an all-white head except for a dark oval on the side of the neck and the pale gray elongated scapulars. The duck was swimming adjacent to mile 16.5 on SR-65. This spot is just south of the Taylor's Hollow area... A handful of Barrow's Goldeneyes and three Hooded Mergansers were there along with beaucoup Mallards, Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers. I also saw a couple Pied-billed Grebes, Western Grebes and Bald Eagles.
Nov 2005
Kristin Purdy (22 Nov 2005) - Last stop was Lost Creek State Park in Morgan County...The 12-mile drive to the park offered a few nice birds. I saw a Northern Shrike at a place that's now lost to memory...
Tim Avery (17 Nov 2005) - I ran up to East Canyon this morning to see what was kicking around. Along SR 65 right before the big pool that goes under the road, a Northern Shrike was seen crossing the road and then perching in a scrub oak. I took several pictures of the bird. On the "pool" were 3 Hooded Merganser, 1 male and 2 female. On the lake were nearly 2 dozen Barrow's Goldeneye, about as many Common Goldeneye, and just as many Common Merganser. Also on the lake was a lone Common Loon still changing into basic plumage.
Kristin Purdy (2 Nov 2005) - All three merganser species were present at East Canyon Reservoir in Morgan County today--Hooded [Merganser], Red-breasted, and Common. Six Hooded Mergansers (five males and a female) and a male Bufflehead swam in the reservoir at the south end adjacent to mile marker 16 of SR-65. ...A flotilla of 12 goldeneyes also swam in the same area. All of the adults--six males and two females--were Barrow's Goldeneyes. The remaining four were juveniles.
Oct 2005
Kristin Purdy (31 Oct 2005) - Some of you may remember reports of a Blue Jay in Mountain Green in Morgan County last winter. The homeowners say that bird has returned.
Aaron Smith (16 Oct 2005) - We (Aaron, Shauna, Arnold and Celeste Smith) saw a Pacific Loon on East Canyon State Park Reservoir at about 4:30 p.m. swimming with two Common Loons. These birds were located on the southern arm of the reservoir toward the restaurant about 3/4 of a mile past mile marker 18. These birds were swimming to the north towards the main part of the reservoir. There are several Common Loons at East Canyon so check them all carefully.
Sep 2005
Kristin Purdy (18 Sep 2005) - I just got a call (11:00 am, Sunday) from Arnold Smith, manager of the Morgan Wastewater Treatment Lagoons in Morgan City, Morgan County. He and his son Aaron believe they have either a Common Ground-dove or a Ruddy Ground-dove at the lagoons. They're both sure the bird is not an Inca Dove. Aaron is leaning toward female Ruddy Ground-dove. They say the bird is rather wary; Arnold has put out seed to encourage the bird to stick around. The lagoons are normally locked and ground-dove seekers will need to contact Arnold for entry.
Kris Purdy (8 Sep 2005) - Pomera Fronce and I saw a Merlin near the Morgan City Water Treatment Lagoons in Morgan County this morning.
Nov 2004
Kris Purdy (23 Nov 2004) - ...East Canyon Reservoir hosted Hooded Mergansers in the east arm (2 drakes and a hen) and another drake at the south end. In addition, there were many goldeneyes of both species. I estimate at least a dozen Barrow's Goldeneyes were present. A Pacific Loon paired up with a Common Loon on the west side of the reservoir across from about mm 17 of SR-65...
Joel and Kathy Beyer (7 Nov 2004) - This morning we saw a juvenile Pacific Loon in the east arm of East Canyon Reservoir.
Lu Giddings (4 Nov 2004) - I visited East Canyon late this afternoon. At about 4:20 p.m. a Surf Scoter was seen in the company of about a dozen common goldeneyes in the vicinity of the boat ramp at the state park.
Oct 2004
Nonna (31 Oct 2004) - ...A female Rusty Blackbird was sighted at the Morgan Water Treatment Facility today Saturday October 30th. The bird was first seen by Arnold Smith and then seen by Aaron, Weston, Shauna, and Louise Smith. The bird was seen several times over a two to three hour period foraging in an empty pond on equatic insects. Several pictures were taken of the bird. Also of note was a Green Heron and the Surf Scoter was back. Anyone wanting to try and see these birds should call Arnold Smith on his cell at 801-791-5390 or at home 801-829-3383.
Kristin Purdy (27 Oct 2004) - I birded East Canyon Reservoir in Morgan County today and came up with a slightly eclectic mix of goodies. First, three juvenile Surf Scoters swam on the far side of the reservoir across from mile 16.5 on SR-65... Six Hooded Mergansers (five of which were males--gorgeous) swam down near the south end. I also saw a small flotilla of Red-breasteds and Commons throughout...
Glenn B. Barlow (17 Oct 2004) - ...Our next stop, thanks to Arnold's son, Aaron, was in Mountain Green, searching for a Blue Jay. ... we patiently waited the return of the jay. Merrill finally spotted it in a pine tree next to the house. We finally decided the best place for viewing was the platform feeder to the east of the house, which was near some scrub oak.... Shortly thereafter it appeared again on the feeder and we had a very nice view of the bird feeding on the feeder.
Dennis Shirley (14 Oct 2004) - Milt, Tuula, and I spent the day in several northern Utah counties today. Here's a list of the rarities we chased and the results....Surf Scoter - An immature has shown up at the Morgan Water Treatment Facility. We saw the bird at noon. It's apparently been around for a few days. The gates are locked to the ponds. You can either park at the gate and climb thru the fence or call Arnold Smith, who will let you in if he's available. Hm #829-3383 Cell #791-5390
Nov 2003
Julie Van Moorhem (7 Nov 2003) - ...We had better luck at East Canyon. We saw a Pacific Loon at the boat ramp area of the state park, and three Surf Scoters on the east side of the reservoir just north of Tayor's Hollow area. Many Common Loons were on the lake, and we saw two Greater Yellowlegs along the mudflats. American Tree Sparrows were at the Taylor Hollow pull-out. We also saw 42 Wild Turkeys along the road to the dam from Morgan and about 20 American Crows.
Jack (7 Npv 2003) - At East Canyon Res. I saw Common Loons, Common Goldeneyes, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, Herring Gulls, Northern Shrike, Gray Partridge, American Tree Sparrows, and thanks to Julie three Surf Scoters.
Edson Leite (6 Nov 3003) - I went to East Canyon Res today to look for the scooters and loons. There were two Pacific Loons one near the dam and the other in the second inlet. The Surf Scooter was at the first pull off area past the State Park entrance.
Joel and Kathy Beyer (2 Nov 2003) - We visited East Canyon Reservoir (Morgan Co.) this afternoon and saw several nice birds. Besides the 50 or so Common Loons there was one Pacific Loon (intermediate plumage between breeding and basic). Amongst the many ducks were 3 Surf Scoters, 1 White-winged Scoter, 5 male Barrow's Goldeneye, numerous Common Goldeneye, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Ring necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, etc. On the mudflats at the south end of the reservoir were a Baird's Sandpiper, a Red-necked Phalarope, an American Golden Plover, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, and Bonaparte's Gulls. An American Tree Sparrow was in the bushes along the road just south of the reservoir. Additionally, a Golden Eagle and 3 Bald Eagles were seen around the reservoir. On the south end of East Canyon, Little Dell Reservoir had a few birds, most notably a Horned Grebe.
January 2000
Another GREAT EGRET was seen on Saturday, 04/22, in a field just south of Henefer (M&MSm). The bird was on the east side of SR 65 a few hundred yards south of the town.
Two HARRIS'S SPARROWS, one adult and one immature, have been seen intermittently over the past month at the Morgan Wastewater Treatment Ponds. The most recent sighting was of the immature bird on the morning of Sunday, 1/16 (AS).
November 1999
A HARRIS'S SPARROW has been seen at the Morgan Wastewater Treatment Plant, as reported on Sunday, 11/21 (VAS). This may be the same individual which spent the winter there last year.
June 1999
An OVENBIRD was seen on Deseret Ranch, just north of Lost Creek SP on Saturday, 06/05 (MS,m.ob.).
May 1999
At the Morgan wastewater lagoons, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, a female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, and a HARRIS'S SPARROW were all reported from Wednesday, 05/12 (AS).
March 1999
A HARRIS' SPARROW continues to visit a feeder at the Morgan Wastewater Lagoons, as of
Wednesday, 03/17 (AS).
February 1999
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE has been visiting a feeder at a home in Morgan through much of the winter. It was most recently seen on Friday, 02/05 (AS).
A HARRIS' SPARROW continues to visit the feeder at the Morgan Wastewater Treatment Plant. It was also seen on Friday, 02/05 (AS).
The HARRIS' SPARROW, which has been coming to the feeder at the Morgan Wastewater Treatment Plant, continues to visit as of Sunday, 02/28 (AS).
January 1999
A HARRIS' SPARROW has been visiting a feeder at the Morgan Wastewater Treatment Plant. The bird was first sighted on Friday, 01/22, and was reported still visiting the feeder as of Tuesday, 01/26 (AS).