Mar 2013

Eric Huish (30 Apr 2013) - There is a Solitary Sandpiper at Lakeshore Drive Pond in Provo.

Eric Huish (28 Apr 2013) - I woke up this morning to the sound of Evening Grosbeaks outside my bedroom window.  A flock of about 20 have been here all morning long...

Jeff Cooper (28 Apr 2013) - [Pleasant Grove] - 1 summer Common Loon on Manila Creek Pond.

Douglas Mead (28 Apr 2013) - [Lehi] - 3 Glossy Ibis now along with the other species previously reported on Powell Lake..

Eric Peterson (27 Apr 2013) - [Lehi] - I visited Powell Lake this evening...was able to locate a Horned Grebe in the north pond close to where the Baird's had been seen...

Dennis Shirley (27 Apr 2013) - A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen this afternoon by Steve and Cindy Summerfeld and I at Powell Lake , west Lehi in the north mud flat. Least, Western, Baird's, and Spotted Sandpipers were also present.

Eric Huish ( 27 Apr 2013) - I birded the foothills at the south end of Saratoga Springs early this morning to look for the Grasshopper Sparrows ....

Eric Huish (26 Apr 2013) - I birded the east end of the Provo Airport Dike this morning...A Western Kingbird and Green-tailed Towhee were new arrivals.
   --Last night at my feeders in Pleasant Grove I had new arrivals, 3 Lazuli Buntings and 1 male Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Cassin's Finches continue.

Dave Hancom (25 Apr 2013) - I visited Dennis Shirley's favorite little marsh yesterday in hopes of
finding a Blue-winged Teal. No luck on that, but there was a lone Red-necked Phalarope there...

Eric Huish (25 Apr 2013) - I birded Powell's Lake and Pioneer Crossing Ponds in Lehi this afternoon. At Pioneer Crossing Ponds there were over a hundred Marbled Godwits and about 50 Red-necked Phalaropes and 20 Wilson's Phalaropes.

Felicia Pimentel (22 Apr 2013) - Just barely had the first LAZULI BUNTING (male) briefly at my feeders. Feels way early, but exciting, too. I live in Highland by the mouth of AF canyon.

Douglas Mead (21 Apr 2013) - Observed 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS in the sage and grass near the SE corner of Camp Williams in Saratoga Springs at 3:20 p.m. today. 

Kay Stone (18 Apr 2013) -  Have just been to Powell's Lake west of Lehi and have seen the following birds: Great Egret, ... Black Crowned Night Heron,... Lesser Yellowlegs, Lesser and Western Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpipers...and many, many AW Pelicans.

Jeff Cooper (13 Apr 2013) - [Provo Airport Dike] - Northern Mocking Bird, fence line and phragmites 200 yards south of control tower. White-throated Swifts, south of control tower mixed with swallows.

Brad Stevenson (11 Apr 2013) - [Pioneer Crossing, American Fork] - Thanks to reports from others I was able to find the Eurasian Wigeon at the Far East side of the Pioneer Crossing ponds.

Eric Huish (10 Apr 2013) - I woke up early this morning and drove up Spanish Fork Canyon to check out the Emma Park Sage-Grouse lek... Yesterday evening I stopped at Lindon Beach and saw 3 Bonaparte's Gulls fly by. One landed on the beach for a moment. I also got my FOY Violet-green and Cliff Swallows. On Monday Morning there was a small flock of Red-breasted Mergansers in Utah Lake near the Southwest Corner of the Provo Airport Dike.

Alona Huffaker (7 Apr 2013) -[Springville] -  I have had a few Evening Grosbeaks visiting my feeders off and on yesterday and today. They are also in the trees just south of my house and I can hear them in the trees about a block west of here. 1195 S 700 E.

Jeff Cooper (4 Apr 2013) -[Provo Airport Dike] - I saw and photographed an adult Neotropic Cormorant around 2:40 this afternoon. The bird was in the moat on the east side of the airport. I took 3110 West from Center Street to get onto the dike road. It was about 1/4 of a mile south on the dike road. The bird had the white "V" bordering the bill and dark lores.

Bryant Olsen (4 Apr 2013) - This past Sunday I headed down to Washington county for some spring fun and birding. First stop was Skipper Bay trail in Utah county, where I finally got the EURASIAN WIGEON about a 1/4 mile north of the gate,50 feet off the trail. ...Stopped by Lincoln beach and saw 2 SNOWY PLOVERS. Spring has definitely sprungeth.

Jeff Cooper (3 Apr 2013) - I did a little drive yesterday afternoon along SR 68 (aka Redwood Rd) near Saratoga Springs to do some thinking and try for a glimpse of my first Burrowing Owls of the season. I ended up seeing my first Sage Thrasher and Burrowing Owls for the year.

Eric Huish (1 Apr 2013) - There were 23 Turkey Vultures at the Provo Center Street Roost this morning.

Mar 2013

Eric Huish (30 Mar 2013) - I stopped at the Pioneer Crossing Ponds at 8:15 this morning. The ponds and field were full of birds, mostly gulls and ducks. There was a EURASIAN WIGEON with American Wigeons in the field past the close pond on the south side of the road about 200 feet east of mile post 1. You will want a scope to get a good look. Other good birds at the ponds were 34 Marbled Godwits and 2 Franklin's Gulls, both FOY for me. There were also Am. Avocets and a Peregrine Falcon.

Kendall Watkins (28 Mar 2013) - At about 1 this afternoon I found two Baird's and one Spotted Sandpiper out on the beach at Lincoln Point. Other shorebirds included 4 Am. Avocets, a Snowy Plover and many Killdeer. Also at the beach I saw 2 Bank And 5 Tree Swallows flyover.
   --At Benjamin Slough we saw a single Eared Grebe, 1 adult male Hooded Merganser, and a Greater Yellowlegs amongst the numerous duck species...Also in the area was one, maybe two Say's Pheobe and a Vesper Sparrow.

Doug Mead (24 Mar 2013) - Some Burrowing Owls near Saratoga Springs.

Eric Huish - [18 Mar 2013] - In spring I drive by the Provo Center Street Turkey Vulture roost on my way to work each morning watching for the first vulture to show up. This morning there was one vulture at the roost. ...

David Wheeler (17 Mar 2013) - The beautiful male Eurasian Wigeon was still (as of 2:30) in a flooded pasture east of the Skipper Bay Trail just a few hundred feet north of the parking area... Less than a quarter mile from the north end of the trail was a flock of Canada geese, one Lesser Canada goose, and three of what appeared to be minima Cackling geese...

Eric Huish (16 Mar 2013) - The UCB field trip has only just started but we've already found a EURASIAN WIGEON, Peregrine Falcon, Snow Goose, and Tundra Swans. The Eurasian Wigeon is a bright male in the fields just off Skipper Bay trail. Just a little ways down from the parking area, before you get to the woods.

Bryan Shirley (15 Mar 2013) - I just had a group of 7 swans at Santaquin Reservoir. Of the 7, at least 3 were Trumpeter Swans.

Jeff Cooper (12 Mar 2013) - I heard the dawn song of a Say's Phoebe this morning as I was taking my daily walk along the newly improved Murdock Canal Trail along the Pleasant Grove/Cedar Hills border. The Phoebe was singing from the rooftop of a home bordered by a large open field.

Danny Nelson (8 Feb 2013) - Went for a ride up Payson Canyon this morning. The snow has started to melt and the temperature was above freezing. We could hear Northern Saw-whet Owls in two of the large parking spaces. The first parking lot is before the N.F, sign at the Payson campground the owl was by the restrooms. The next parking lot is before the switchbacks, an owl worked its way all around the parking lot.

Bryan Shirley (6 Mar 2013) - Say's Phoebe in my yard today in Payson - five days earlier than last year.

Dennis Shirley (6 Mar 2013) - I spent this afternoon checking out the waterfowl areas of south Utah County... Of special note --- two pair Cinnamon Teal and a single Hooded Merganser at Lincoln Point, five Tundra Swan at Benjamin Slough, a single Ross's Goose at the north Salem fields just east of the water treatment plant in a flock of gulls, and two Greater Scaup on Salem Pond...

Bryan Shirley (5 Mar 2013) - Benjamin Slough is starting to melt and fill with water and birds. Last week there was no water and not a bird to be seen, today there was a couple large flocks of CA Geese, hundreds of ducks (mostly Pintail but some of everything), and 10 Tundra Swan.

Bryan Shirley (4 Mar 2013) - I had almost given up in seeing a Common Redpoll in Utah county, but just had one at my dads feeder in Elk Ridge! There was one here nearly 2 months ago, but only for one morning.

Kendal Watkins (2 Mar 2013) - [Pleasant Grove] - After seeing the Winter Wren this morning (Grove Creek park) my dad and I found a huge flock of Blackbirds consisting of about 4,500 birds (4650 N 2000W). In this were about 180 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 1500 Red-wings, and 2000 Brewers. ... Another thing of note was an escapee African-collared Dove.

Eric Huish (1 Mar 2013) - This afternoon there were 3 Snow Geese and 2 Ross's Geese with a large flock of Canada Geese on the sod farm north of the town of Vineyard, south of Lindon Boat Harbor. There were 2 swans in an open area in the ice out on the lake at Lindon Boat Harbor. They kept their heads tucked in and were too far to ID...

Feb 2013

Bryan Shirley (28 Feb 20913)- There's a couple hundred Bohemian Waxwings eating Russian olives at Goshen Warm Springs

Norm Jensen (26 Feb 2013) - Sandhill Cranes, west of 4800 W about 5500 S in county.

Bryan Shirley (25 Feb 2013) - GREATER SCAUP at Salem pond. Lots of Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, and other ducks.

Eric Huish (19 Feb 2013) - I was just at Grove Creek Canyon in Pleasant Grove where I saw a WINTER WREN (1:00 pm, Feb 20th). The wren was in the bushes (skunkbrush) right near the picnic tables next to the parking area at the mouth of the canyon. It was moving around a lot (or there may have been two birds). Grove Creek Canyon is at the East end of Grove Creek Dr (500 North) in Pleasant Grove, Utah County.

Eric Huish (15 Feb 2013) - Early this morning (7:20 am, Feb 15) there were 3 Sandhill Cranes in a field just off Boat Harbor Dr in West Provo. They were Northeast of the Provo River Parkway Oxbow parking lot. ....  I walked a short distance along the Provo River Parkway downstream from the Oxbow parking lot and saw a Barn Owl fly from the trees and hunt out over the field for a few minutes (7:30 am). Stopped at River Lane this evening.  There was a Clark's Grebe at the end of River Lane, where the river enters the lake.  There were also a few Bald Eagles on River Lane and a Prairie Falcon on a power pole next to the road on my way out to River Lane. 

Jeff Cooper (8 Feb 2013) - I got a call from Eric Peterson yesterday after he found a bird he knew I was trying to add to my year list--Northern Pygmy Owl. I joined him near Aspen Grove and observed the bird for a while. Watching it heave and cast a pellet was a unique experience. (posted in Birding In Utah)

Bryan Shirley (4 Feb 2013) - A few Bohemian Waxwings at Goshen Warm Springs. Spring Lake has 34 Canvasbacks and 2 Goldeneye - 1 Common and 1 Barrows.

Milton Moody (4 Feb 2013) - Yesterday at about noon I saw about 20 Bohemian Waxwings with about 12 Cedars about 100 yards down the path going west along the stream at Kuhni's Wetlands.

Keeli Marvel (1 Feb 2013) - [American Fork] - Just pulled up outside my house and I could hear waxwings. I grabbed my binoculars, and sure enough, there were at least 20 Bohemian Waxwings in the neighbor's tree. They were keeping company with a dozen or so Cedar Waxwings, and a handful of American Robins and Starlings. Ten minutes later the majority of the flock took off heading east. Glad they decided to pay a visit!

Jan 2013

Bryan Shirley (25 Jan 2013) - Yesterday afternoon there was a flock of about 50 waxwings in northern Utah County. It looked like about half of them were Bohemian Waxwings. I think it was Eagle Mtn, but I still haven't figured out where I am out there. They were at the intersection of Pony Express Parkway and Saddle Rock Road (7870 North). Also I heard a report of a flock of 300-400 Black/Gray-crowned Rosy Finches between Elberta and Eureka along the hwy.

Dennis Shirley (19 Jan 2013) - [Elk Ridge] - I finally had a COMMON REDPOLL at my feeders this morning between 8:30am and 9:30am. I thought the winter was going to end before one showed up. It was mixed in with the large flock of Pine Siskins, common Goldfinches and other everyday feeder birds that have been hanging around. I also am still feeding 13 WILD TURKEY.  

Eric Huish (17 Jan 2013) - I made a quick stop at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo. There was a flock of about 40 Cedar Waxwings with 2 or 3 Bohemian's mixed in. There were also a few Wild Turkeys wandering around.

Ned Bixler (17 Jan 2013) - At 8:00am this morning, the three Sandhill Cranes, reported on Lakeshore Dr. Provo, 3100W & Lakeshore on the West side, in a large field.

Eric Huish (15 Jan 2013) - Twice in the past week I saw a Barn Owl hunting in the early morning near the East end of the Provo Airport Dike, in the field by the paintball obstacle course...
   --Last week I drove up to Aspen Grove (above Sundance) to hike in the snow. I saw almost nothing at Aspen Grove but on my way up there I found a Northern Pygmy-Owl sitting in a tree right next to the road between Sundance and Aspen Grove. Then on my way down Provo Canyon I spotted another Pygmy-Owl in a tree over the Provo River next to the highway. Across the highway from the Squaw Peak turn off.
   --I have a Screech-Owl nest box in my backyard in Pleasant Grove. Usually the owl sits down in the box, out of sight, but the past few weeks I have seen it almost every day sitting up at the nest box entrance sunning itself.

Eric Huish (14 Jan 2013) - [Pleasant Grove] - I drove by my neighbor's feeders on my way home today (4:00 pm Jan 14th) and found the WHITE-WINGED DOVE up in their tree above the feeders. The feeders are near the corner of 700 East 100 North in Pleasant Grove.

Jeff Cooper (1 Jan 2013) - The first bird species I photographed for the new year was unexpected, a PYGMY OWL. ... Eric Peterson and I came across a small flock of these birds frolicking in the freshly-fallen snow at Canyon View Jr High in Orem on New Year's Day. ... We saw some Red Crossbills down there at the [Provo] cemetery, but we missed the Parula during our brief visit.

John Kreitzer (10 Jan 2013) - While on a birding field trip with some high school students, I found two American Avocets in the shallow pond at the West end of the Kuhni Wetland trail (next to I-15). They were present on both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Other birds at the pond included: American White Pelican, many Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canada Geese, and two Wilson's Snipe. A flock of Evening Grosbeaks was present along the trail just before you can see the pond. They were apparently feeding on the Russian Olives....

Jeff Cooper (7 Jan 2013) - I came across a Barn Owl engaged in daylight hunting on my way home from grocery shopping Saturday. This is likely one of the Barn Owls that roost in some silos near my home...

Dennis Shirley (1 Jan 2013) - This afternoon while unsuccessfully searching for the white-throated sparrow at the previously described location at the Kunhi's ditch bridge, SE Provo, Dave Wheeler, Josh Kreitzer, and I, found a 1st year HARRIS'S SPARROW. It was mixed in with a flock of White-crowned Sparrows, in the Russian olive tree just east of the RR tracks at the D track sign 50 yards south of the bridge. Later, a hen HOODED MERGANSER, three WOOD DUCK, and a pair of CINNAMON TEAL were seen at the black-crowned night heron island at East Bay. Dave also reported a flock of 15 EVENING GROSBEAK in trees west along the north side of the ditch...

Milt Moody (1 Jan 2013) - At about 2 PM today the Provo Cemetery (Center and 4th South)  Northern Parula was seen for the first time this year by Josh Kreitzer, Leena Rogers and Milt Moody ...

Keeli Marvel (1 Jan 2013) - Thirteen birders met this morning in single digits temps to kick off
the new year with a new list of birds and bird a couple of hotspots in southern Utah County. Our first stop was the Lewis' Woodpecker spot in Woodland Hills where we saw at least 2 Lewis' Woodpeckers, and got good looks at several other species...
. ... In one of the ponds in northwest Payson [Salem] we found a female Cinnamon Teal. We ended the trip with around 38 species of birds for our 2013 list.

Eric Huish (1 Jan 2013) - KC Childs and I searched through thousands of Horned Larks this morning around Eagle Mountain and Fairfield.  We were hoping for Snow Buntings or Longspurs but couldn't find any.  Neither of us has ever seen a lonspur in Utah County. There was a smattering of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches and at least 1 Black Rosy-Finch with the thousands of Horned Larks in Eagle Mountain.  They were along Pony Express Parkway near where the new school is being built.

Dec 2012

Eric Huish (30 Dec 2012) - I drove by my neighbors house on my way out this morning and stopped to check their feeders at the intersection of 700 E 100 N in Pleasant Grove. They had a White-winged Dove up in a tree with several collared-doves...

Bryan Shirley (28 Dec 2012) - ...Glad I did. I just got great looks at the Northern Parula in the Provo cemetery...
   --This evening after seeing the Northern Parula in the Cemetary I birded my way through East Bay and found a White-throated Sparrow. It was at the entrance to the Kuhni's Wetlands...

Norm Jenson (23 Dec 2012) - [Provo City Cemetery] - ...I walked underneath the Ponderosa tree and saw a few Ruby Crowned Kinglets in the top of the tree. ...It was then I saw what I first thought was a Yellow-rumped Warbler, but there was no streaking, just a yellow breast and throat and clean white belly.  ...The Northern Parula was polite enough to give us a top view, olive colored back a couple of wing bars and a faint eye ring. ... What a great way to end the year with a beautiful bird, and a Lifer!

Alton Thygerson (22 Dec 2012) - While snowshoeing with a son and three grandsons, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen about 1/4 mile from the Aspen Grove trailhead on the trail the Stewart's Falls.

Eric Huish (18 Dec 2012) - I just saw a NORTHERN PARULA in the Provo City Cemetery. (1:45 pm Dec 18). It was hanging out with a mixed flock of about 10 kinglets, 5 nuthatches, 5 chickadees and a Yellow-rumped Warbler...

Alan Jensen (17 Dec 2012) - I observed an Osprey sitting on a post along I-15 just north of Payson today about 11 am.

Bryan Shirley (16 Dec 2012) -  [Provo CBC] - It looks like we ended up with 92 species - the lowest we have had since 2000. Besides the snow, Utah lake had no ice at all and that probably hurt our waterfowl numbers (all the ducks stay in the middle of the lake too far to see). We did have a couple of both  Prairie & Peregrine Falcons, a few Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Northern Mockingbirds, and our East Bay resident AW Pelican.

Eric Huish (16 Dec 2-12) - Found a flock of about 30 Cedar and 15 Bohemian Waxwings at about 815 Heather Road, Orem, Just north off Skyline Drive which is south of Dry Canyon.

Eric Huish (11 Dec 2012) - There were several Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills in the Provo Cemetery today. They were just north and west of the cemetery intersection Main St and 400 West.

Eric Huish (8 Dec 2012) - KC Childs and I saw a flock of 16 COMMON REDPOLLS up Spanish Fork Canyon this morning. We were on Dairy Fork WMA on the south side of hwy 6. We were between somewhere around 2 miles up Dairy Fork road when a flock of small finches flew in. A few landed up in the trees and a bunch landed down in the willows by the stream. ... On our way home we stopped at Evergreen Cemetery (Springville/Mapleton). We found a flock of 7 or 8 Red Crossbills in one of the ornamental cedar trees.

Jeff Cooper (6 Dec 2012) - [Pleasant Grove] - I had another one of those experiences when the feeders seemed eerily quite when they should have been buzzing with finches, juncos, and sparrows. I checked the perimeter of the yard and discovered and adult Sharp-shinned Hawk perched in a locust tree.

Nov 2012

Eric Huish (24 Nov 2012) - There was a Pacific Wren at the Mouth of American Fork Canyon this afternoon (11/24). It was at the east end of the Highland Irrigation Facility parking lot at the Mouth of AF Canyon. I birded the area for 30 minutes and this was the only bird I could find.

Jeff Cooper (14 Nov 2012) - I stopped by Highland Glen Park this morning on the way to work. There were a couple hundred MALLARDS and more flying in, lots of COOTS, and a handful of WOOD DUCKs on the pond.
   --Eric Peterson and I have noticed a beautiful dark Red-tailed Hawk along the north side of SR-92 (Timpanogos Hwy) in Lehi in recent weeks. It tends to be on the north side of the highway a half mile or so west of Smith's Market. The bird has a beautiful chocolate color.

Eric Huish (3 Nov 2012) - I stopped at River Lane this morning (11/3). There was a Pacific Wren hopping around in some low brush right next to the road (north side of the road) about 0.1 miles east of the beach end of the road. The wren was calling loud enough for me to hear as I was driving up the road. ...
   --There were two Say's Phoebes on Swede Lane just south of the boat launch parking area.
   --There were about 20 Least Sandpipers at Lincoln Beach.

Jeff Cooper (2 Nov 2012) - I'm now seeing two adult Peregrines daily at the River Park business complex in South Jordan. I have not seen a band on the leg of either bird. They have several perches on two separate buildings that appear to be their favorites. They seem to prefer perching in some nooks that are shaded so they change their perch throughout the day based on the location of the sun.

Oct 2012

Eric Huish (30 Oct 2012) - I stopped at River Lane today. On Sandy Beach at the end of River Lane there were a few shorebirds. 50 Killdeer, 8 Greater Yellowlegs, a Wilson's Snipe, 5 Least Sandpipers, 3 Western Sandpipers and 5 DUNLIN. ...There was a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets on River Lane. I don't often see them down in valley.
   --There was a late Savannah Sparrow on Swede Lane.
   --I stopped at the Provo Airport Dike to look for the White-throated Sparrow Bryant Olsen reported there last week. But I couldn't find it. ... but there was a late Wilson's Warbler there...

Bryant Olsen (25 Oct 2012) - Monday I headed down to Washington county to get some warmth before the cold set in, and do some birding along the way. First stop was at Provo Airport dike on the way down, found a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW just west of the tower.

Kay Stone (15 Oct 2012) - Today about noon I saw a White-Throated Sparrow, tan striped morph, along the Jordan River Parkway southwest of Lehi...Just before the river there is a parking lot where people fly model air planes; go north on the trail until you come to a little abandoned pump house on the east side of the trail; its is about a half mile walk....

Eric Huish (6 Oct 2012) - I had a single Evening Grosbeak at the Provo River Oxbow earlier this week. This spot is down in the valley. The oxbow is just upstream from Utah Lake.

Nancy Matro (6 Oct 2012) - [Jeremy Ranch, Park City, UT] - I had males and female Evening Grosbeaks at my house today, eating some seed off the ground below my feeders....  First time I've seen them this fall.

Sep 2012

Eric Huish (30 Sep 2012) - Several Utah County Birders met yesterday (sat 29th) to do some hawkwatching at the Squaw Peak Overlook Parking Lot. Some of us stopped at Hope Campground on our way up. The campground was very quiet at first but our patience paid off with a little flock of birds that included a Townsend's Warbler, Brown Creepers and RB Nuthatch.
   --We hawkwatched from the overlook for about 3 hours. We saw several hawks (I counted at least 42 while I was there) and many of them gave us great close views. The best bird was a Northern Goshawk.

Bryan Shirley (28 Sep 2012) - I hiked up White-Pine Hollow (trail starts just above Tinney Flat campgroud) in Sanatquin Canyon today looking for Ruffed Grouse. I never found a Grouse, but was surpirsed to find 2 different Pacific Wrens. Both were located by their call ("chip" not song). They were probably about 1-1.5 miles up the trail...

Eric Huish (24 Sep 2012) - This evening at the Provo Airport Dike there was a Horned Grebe in the moat at the Southwest corner of the dike. One of the Great Egrets that has been regular at the south extension over the past week was still out there...There was a Cattle Egret between the south extension and the southwest corner...

Eric Huish (22 Sep 2012)- The Prothonotary Warbler was still at the end of River Lane this morning (Sat 22nd)...   --There was a lot of bird activity all along River Lane. Mostly Yellow-rumps and Orange-crowned Warblers. I saw one Nashville Warbler today. Last Wednesday there was also a few Townsend's Warblers and a Cassin's Vireo in the mix.

Eric Huish (21 Sep 2012) - [Pleasant Grove] - I was sitting at the table eating supper and watching the birds at the feeders this evening when a White-winged Dove flew in and landed on my platform feeder. New yard bird! Yay!

Eric Huish (21 Sep 2012) - There is a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at River Lane (Utah County). Out at the end of River Lane on Sandy Beach.  In the willows and brush pile on the beach just east of the river...

Dave Hanscom (15 Sep 2012) - We got a phone call from the Sommerfelds saying that they found a juvenile NORTHERN PARULA at River Lane. Also, they had a HUDSONIAN GODWIT in their sights at about noon at Provo Airport dike, in the mudflats east of the south extension.

Jeff Cooper (13 Sep 2012) - I ... had a hankering to drive up to the summit of the Alpine Loop via American Fork Canyon...I drove back over the summit toward the Utah County side and pulled over at another one of my favorite owling spots. We immediately heard one coyote calling from about 100 yards away and several yelping back from a much more distant location. As soon as the howling stopped I heard the faint call of a Flammulated Owl. Soon there were two others calling and one sounded closer than the others... I was able to get a light on it while my wife looked through the binoculars to see her very first Flammulated Owl...

Ned Bixler (13 Sep 2012) - There was a Common Loon at Deer Creek Reservoir this afternoon.

Eric Huish (11 Sep 20122) - [Provo Airport Dike] - Possible Tropical Kingbird. I am right now looking at what I think may be a Tropical Kingbird on the South side of the South Extension of the Provo Airport Dike. I've been watching it for about 40 minutes at it seems to be staying right here...

Bryan Shirley (11 Sep 2012) - There was a Solitary Sandpiper at Spring Lake in the northern pond.

Bryant Olsen (11 Sep 2012) - Yesterday I twitched and headed down to River Lane to look for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I didn't find it, but I did see some interesting birds...at least one was a female PURPLE MARTIN...Not a lot of Warblers, but I did find 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER among the butter-butts and orage-crowneds...   --Then I went to Lincoln Beach boat launch area, and found many peeps and plovers, including 1 SNOWY PLOVER,5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS...

Keeli Marvel (10 Sep 2012) - I hiked Mt Nebo for the first time yesterday, and while birding was not my focus (getting up and down the trail in one piece was), I saw/heard some great birds along the way. Clark's nutcrackers were everywhere along with Steller's jays and woodpeckers...A mile or so up the trail, in a thick wooded area, we heard what we think was a Western Screech Owl calling a couple of times. We also heard it once in the same area along the trail on the way back down... Other species spotted along the way included...Mountain Chickadees,...and a Ruffed Grouse that our four-legged hiking companion, Amos, flushed on the hike back down...

Jeff Cooper (8 Sep 2012) - Eric Peterson and I were on River Lane Friday morning and discovered a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (probably the same one located by Eric Huish about a week ago). We watched it for several minutes before it flew across the road and provided further views. We also observed Townsend's, Nashville, MacGillivray's, and Wilson's Warblers along the road. There was a lot of activity in the trees at the end of the road near the lake. I assume some of these warblers had flown across the lake and stopped at the first sight of trees...

Norm Jenson (1 Sep 2012) - There were several Cattle Egrets at about 2600W on Hwy 77. [west of Springville]

Mike Hearell (1 Sep 2012) - The GWF geese were no longer there when we came back through around 12:15 pm. We found 1 Pectoral Sandpiper @ Lincoln. Three roosting Common Nighthawks and how many birds, were the highlights at River Lane.

Eric Huish (1 Sep 2012) - This morning KC Childs and I ran out to River Lane and Lincoln Beach. At the end of River Lane on sandy beach was a lone Stilt Sandpiper. Afterwards we ran to Lincoln Beach and ran into Mike Hearell and Taylor Abbott. They told us of Greater White-fronted Geese they saw near Palmyra. Best bird at Lincoln beach were a few Semipalmated Plovers. We ran out to 1402 W 4000 South ( highway 77 ) we saw a flock of 7 Greater White-fronted Geese on north side of road in the harvested yellow field with Mallards and Sandhill Cranes.

Aug 2012

Eric Huish (29 Aug 2012) - There were some good shorebirds at Lincoln Beach this morning just before sunrise. 3 Stilt Sandpipers, 6 Snowy Plovers, a Semipalmated Plover, several Western Sandpipers and a few Baird's, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers.

Eric Huish (29 Aug 2012) - There was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Black-and-White Warbler at River Lane this morning...

Eric Huish (27 Aug 2012) - [Provo Airport Dike] - I made a quick stop to check the mudflats at the SW corner of the Provo Airport Dike this afternoon... I couldn't stay long but they looked like mostly Western Sandpipers. I picked out 2 Juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers before I left...

Eric Huish (22 Aug 2012) - I ran out to Lincoln Beach this morning and on my way back made a quick stop at 4000 West Lake Shore. Best birds at Lincoln Beach were a dozen Baird's Sandpipers, a Peregrine Falcon and thousands of swallows. At 4000 West Lake Shore there was a Northern Waterthrush along the canal South of the Observation Tower. It looks like warbler migration has begun.

Eric Huish (25 Aug 2012) - 17 birders birded the Provo Airport Dike this morning. Here are some Highlights..   --An immature Sora feeding at the edge of the marsh. Seen from the east side of the south extension...  --Baird's Sandpipers and Marbled Godwits out on the mudflats at the Southeast corner...  --A Northern Mockingbird and a Sage Thrasher just east of the south extension...  --Two immature Black-crowned Night-Herons and a Green-tailed Towhee at the Southwest corner...  --4 Sandhill Cranes flew by on the east side of the dike loop...

KC Childs (10 Aug 2012) - ...I would check to see if migrants had started moving on River Lane. Despite not seeing anything incredibly rare, it was evident to me that migrants had started to move through the area. A Hairy Woodpecker was a surprise down in the middle of the valley. Also a good number of Virginia's Warblers, Yellow Rumped and Orange Crowned Warblers meant that migration is slowly beginning. Other birds like Empids and Rufous Hummingbirds were other clues...

Jeff Cooper (5 Aug 2012) - I went for a drive up American Fork Canyon Saturday night before the
sun went down... I decided to stay up near the summit until after the sun went down to check the responsiveness of Saw-whet and Flammulated Owls now that their young have fledged. That effort proved productive for the Saw-whet Owl, but not a hoot from a Flammulated.

Jul 2012

Eric Huish (30 Jul 2012) - I stopped at Lower Hobble Creek WMA this morning before work to look for the Indigo Bunting reported in eBird by Rindee. I found it! A bright male singing a little over half way down the trail from the parking area. I also spotted a Solitary Sandpiper down at the end of the trail.

Jeff Cooper (20 Jul 2012) - Recently, I've made a couple of trips up American Fork Canyon to check out Mutual Dell for hummingbirds and the birds along the first few miles of the unpaved Timpooneke Road--at about 8000 ft and on the NW end of Mt Timpanogos....We watched large flocks of Pine Siskins fly circles above us for several minutes. It was cool to see such large flocks. We stopped and spent some time in one spot and found some Clark's Nutcrackers, a Cooper's Hawk, Chipping Sparrows, a Dusky Flycatcher, a Western Wood-Pewee, Fox Sparrows, a family of Red-naped Sapsuckers, and some Rufous and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, to name a few....

cinbo@flightline.com (19 Jul 2012) - [Highland, UT] - July 5 or 6, 2012 I was standing on our back porch when a gray bird with a hooked bill lit in our tree. The tree is not more than 10 feet from the porch & I saw it very clearly. I called to my husband, who was in the garden, but the bird flew away toward the south. When I described the bird, my husband thought it was a falcon. However, just now when I looked it up, I immediately knew it was a GRAY HAWK. It looked exactly like the picture on this website, & I had a very good look at this hawk as it was in the tree at my eye level. It was magnificent! Exact location is 5324 W. 10280 N., Highland.

Alona Huffaker (13 Jul; 2012) - [Springville, UT] - Lazuli Bunting, Black Headed Grosbeak, Black Chinned Hummingbird, Broadtailed Hummingbird, a couple of Rufous Hummingbirds and a couple glimpses of a male Caliope Humming bird! Fun times!

Jeff Cooper (10 Jul 2012) - I was talking to Eric Huish the other day about how I've missed more frequent birding and photography over the past few months due to other priorities. I told him I really wanted to see Blue Grosbeaks this summer...  --This morning I got a text from Eric indicating he had found my summertime friends near the Lindon Beach, about a half mile south of the boat harbor and settling ponds. I had a meeting with a potential client in Lindon this morning so I dropped by the boat harbor area on my way back to house. I observed two adult males and one female so I'm not sure if territory has been established, unless they are willing to share close territories. The females tend to stay down low so there may have been two pairs in the area.

Jeff Cooper (9 Jul 2012)- I would have questioned it had I not seen it myself, but an unmistakable male Calliope Hummingbird was just at my feeder.

Donel Jensen (7 Jul 2012)- Summer Tanager in lower Provo Canyon.  It was down the paved trail on the South side of the river from the parking area that is on the south side of the river before the diversion. Lot is on the south side of the river from the Mt. Timpanogos Park, Provo Canyon. The T
Tanager was in a cottonwood overhanging the trail about 130 meters west on the foot path from the end of the parking lot.

Jun 2012

Alona Huffaker (24 Jun 2012) - I had a Rufous Hummingbird at my feeder this afternoon. I also have a Lazuli Bunting from time to time--they are usually here in May and then gone!

Jeff Cooper (23 Jun 2012) - ... I decided to try the Alpine Loop (SR92) via American Fork Canyon to see if I could find success. I did not hear or see a Saw-whet Friday night, but I found a number of places on the loop (both the Utah County and Wasatch County sides) where I heard then located Flammulated Owls rather quickly and easily. I stopped looking for them after seeing a few and stopped counting them after hearing more than ten. All my usual saw-whet locations were occupied by multiple flammulated owls...
   --Saturday morning I drove over to SR68 (Redwood Road south of Saratoga Springs) to check out the burrowing and short-eared owls Doug Mead has been reporting... I was fortunate enough to see four Whimbrels and a Long-billed Curlew...

Eric Huish (16 Jun 2012) - I noticed in eBird that a couple of Williamson's Sapsuckers were seen Thursday afternoon on the Nebo Loop (Utah County).

Jeff Cooper (16 Jun 2012) - I got a late start, but I was able to spend a couple of hours in American Fork Canyon this afternoon... I just happened to look up to a peak as I was leaving Mutual Dell and noticed two adult No Goshawks flying circles above and below the ridge...

Douglas Mead (14 Jun 2012) - It was a banner day for owling today. I went to look for the Sharp-tailed Grouse I have seen before between Saratoga Springs and Lake Mountain. I didn't locate the grouse today but did find a Burrowing Owl family with 6 fledglings. I also had good looks at 3 Grasshopper Sparrows singing their hearts out on territory near where Eric Huish and I found them a couple of weeks ago...From that area I continued south to the Soldier Pass road to check on some other BO's that I knew about. I didn't find them, but I did have great close-up views of a mature (F?) Short-eared owl with 2 fledglings.

Scott Abbott and Lyn Bennett (10 Jun 29012) - A Hooded Oriole visited us in Woodland Hills Thursday.

Eric Huish (3 Jun 2012) - KC Childs and I went out to Soldiers Pass at the south end of Lake Mountain in Utah County this morning. Our goal was to find Gray Vireos for our Utah County year list....We also saw a few Black-throated Sparrows, Mockingbirds, several Gray Flycatchers and a Prairie Falcon. We spotted a Short-eared Owl, some Long-billed Curlews and Mockingbirds along SR 68 on our way out to Soldiers Pass and a couple of Burrowing Owls on our way back...

May 2012

Caren (27 May 2012) - We were on Skipper Bay Trail today at about 1:30-3:00. We saw a female Wood Duck and 4 babies that she kept very close to her. She was in one of the little marsh ponds.  Among lots of birds that we spotted one of the better ones were spotting 2 different Soras. One in clear view.

Jeff Cooper (24 May 2012) - Eric Peterson and I set out before sunrise today for an early morning of birding, exploring, and photography... in the Chimney Rock area...We got target birds such as Black-throated Sparrow and Sage Thrasher along with some other regulars for the area,...Highlights included two Northern Mockingbirds, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and a single Pinyon Jay. A complete surprise, in the middle of the desert, was hearing the call of a bird I grew up hearing back in Kentucky--a NORTHERN BOBWHITE...

Eric Huish (20 May 2012) - I birded with Doug Wheeler yesterday... behind his house in Saratoga Springs... When I stepped out of the car I heard a Grasshopper Sparrow singing! A County lifer for me! I also discovered a Burrowing Owl burrow just North of where I stopped...also spotted a Short-eared Owl flying around just up the road from this spot. ...

Eric Huish (14 May 2012) - There was a female Northern Parula at the very east end of the Provo Airport Dike early this morning...

Eric Huish (12 May 2012)- Milt Moody and I walked Skipper Bay Trail this morning. We found a Northern Waterthrush in the flooded woods at the north end of the trail, on the lake side of the trail... --The flooded fields were full of birds including 3 Horned Grebes in full breeding plumage...

Yvonne Carter (11 May 2012) - Kaye Stone saw a COMMON LOON at the Highland Glen Park pond, which is behind the Lone Peak High School, on Thurs. May 10th...

Milt Moody (11 May 2012) - Eric Huish and I just saw three BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in northeast Provo. ...go to 930 East and 2620 North and go three or four houses west and look north on the telephone lines behind the houses...

Eric Huish (11 May 2012) - The Bank Swallow colony is nesting in the bank at Lindon beach again this year... Also a Semipalmated Plover out on the beach just south of the south pavilion. Lindon Beach is south of the Lindon Boat Harbor and Settling Ponds.

Jeff Cooper (7 May 2012) This evening I drove SR92 into American Fork Canyon just before sunset to see if flammulated owls had returned... I was fortunate to see one DUSKY GROUSE cross the road in front of me just before the hair pin turn below Pine Hollow trail head....just above the Mutual Dell turn off... I was able to hear (no visual) several FLAMMULATED OWLS giving simple hoots from the pine trees...

Eric Huish (4 May 2012) - I spotted a GLOSSY IBIS this evening along the dirt cutoff road between River Lane and Swede Lane. It was with a flock of White-faces Ibis in high grass. Probably the same bird Dennis and Alton saw near this area a couple of weeks ago.

Dennis Shirley (1 May 2012) - I was going to rest my eyes today and not even pick up my binoculars. But when I noticed the flock of powder blue headed birds at my feeder I couldn't resist. Sure enough 8 male Lazuli Bunting arrived this morning...

Apr 2012

Bryan Shriley (30 Apr 2012) - 2 Dunlin at Lincoln beach. Also Semipalmated Plover, Western and Least Sandpiper. Seen on the field trip this morning. Still there as of 5:30.

Eric Huish (29 Apr 2012) - KC Childs and I drove up American Fork Canyon this morning to try to find the Evening Grosbeaks at Mutual Dell.   --On our way home we stopped at Highland Glen Park in hopes of seeing the Lazuli Buntings that have been reported there. We never saw a Lazuli but we got our first Black-headed Grosbeak of the year.

Dennis Shirley (28 Apr 2012) - ...  --We fared much better on #12, with 23 birders seeing about 35 species on the Tintics Saturday morning. New trip birds included: Gray Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Bewick's Wren, Virginia's Warbler, Green - tailed Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting (At Lyle Bingham' yard in Payson- Thanks Lyle and Katrina!!!
   --Other birds seen by birders on off field trip days have included: Glossy Ibis - In a flooded field with 90 W. F. Ibis near the Spanish Fork River Bridge at River Lane, Lake Shore; Purple Martin - In large flocks of swallows west side of West Mt.; Caspian Tern and Snowy Plover at Lincoln Point.

Alton Thygerson (26 Apr 2012) - The following birds were seen in the Dairy Fork Wildlife Management: BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER... WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, JUNIPER TITMOUSE...CASSIN'S FINCH...MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD...

Dennis Shirley (26 Apr 2012) - ...Alton and I on Wednesday (April 25th) saw the following:
The last needed swallows - Cliff and Bank at Goshen Reservoir; Green-tailed Towhee - Tintics; Gray Flycatcher - Tintics; Bewick's Wren - Tintics; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Tintics; Virginia's Warbler - Tintics; Wilson's Phalarope - Phil Green's Pond (NW Goshen)...

Alton Thygerson (23 Apr 2012) - For the 10th UCB April Big Month field trip, 19 birders met at the mouth of American Fork Canyon.  Over 20 species were seen which included these highlighted birds: RUFFED GROUSE only heard, WILD TURKEY only heard, COOPER'S HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, STELLER' S JAY, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN DIPPER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, FOX SPARROW, EVENING GROSBEAK

Keeli Marvel (22 Apr 2012) - I went for a walk down the Skipper Bay trail in Provo this afternoon and spotted a FOY Bullock's Oriole. There was at least one Blue-winged Teal still present in the flooded fields east of the trail and it was keeping company with a whole smorgasbord of other birds that included 7 Cattle Egrets... I also heard a Virginia Rail call while I was scoping out the bird party going on in the field.

woohead@gmail.com (20 Apr 2012) - My family and I saw a pair of Northern Bobwhites in our back yard in Eagle Mountain! It was a fun sighting. We still hear them every once in a while in the horse fields next door.

Eric Huish (20 Apr 2012) - I saw a hybrid Gadwall x Mallard on the Provo Airport Dike early this morning. It was down the gated road past the pump house on the east side of the dike loop. I also saw my first Caspian Terns and Brown-headed Cowbird of the year this morning.

Keeli Marvel (18 Apr 2012) - Just stopped at the ponds on Pioneer Crossing on my way home from work. There was a GREAT EGRET in the pond right next to the north side of the road...

Dennis Shirley (14 Apr 2012) - This mornng 17 UCBABM birders spent 5hrs birding the Sheep Creek - Ray's Valley - Diamond Fork loop. We saw 31 species...including; Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Fox Sparrow, Canyon Wren (only heard singing), Belted Kingfisher, and RUFFED GROUSE. The grouse was first heard drumming, then with a little sneaking around in the thick stuff, located on its drumming log, and then great close up looks by all. It was a dynamite moment and Life Bird by many. On our way back home we stopped and saw the Lewis' Woodpecker in east Salem. It was not the best weather day, but good enough!

Douglas Mead (10 Apr 2012) - ...a hike of about a mile along the Jordan River Trail near the RC Park provided views of SONG SPARROWS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SAND HILL CRANES, and a HERMIT THRUSH, which permitted a long examination...

Keeli Marvel (7 Apr 2012) - ...We started the trip in the fields north of Goshen along the road to Goshen Bay where the highlights were a GOLDEN EAGLE on the nest, 16+ GREAT BLUE HERONS in the rookery, a FOY CATTLE EGRET flying over the field west of the rookery, several LONG-BILLED CURLEW, SAVANNAH SPARROWS, TREE SWALLOWS, HORNED LARKS, and a HORNED GREBE in the pond on private property on the little spur road west of the Goshen Bay Road...

Jeff Cooper (7 Apr 2012) - ... --9 new bird species for the year made it an exciting day to be with a fellow birder & photographer
GREATER YELLOWLEGS at the Pioneer Crossing Ponds
   --Lots of VESPER and LINCOLN'S SPARROWs around the Provo Airport Dike. The Lincoln's are showing very bright yellow/buff coloring in their chests and malars. Fresh breeding plumage is always nice to observe
   --NORTHERN HARRIERS doing flight displays as part of courtship ad Provo Airport Dike
Getting two first-of-the-year birds in a graceful and impressive white egret flyover. Ten SNOWY EGRETS and a single CATTLE EGRET flew a large, lazy circle about forty feet or so above us on the Provo Airport Dike. That really was an impressive sight
   --Running into Ned Bixler at the head of Skipper Bay trail and then spotting the male BLUE-WINGED TEAL which was located earlier in the week by a Utah County Birder's group
   --A GREAT EGRET fly-by at Pioneer Crossing Ponds
   --Finding a mix of dabbling ducks, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS, a pair of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a pair of BAIRD'S SANDPIPERs in and around the marshy area on the south side of the Saratoga Springs Public Works facility.

Jeff Cooper (7 Apr 2012) - I saw  two Baird's Sandpipers at the Saratoga Springs Public Works marsh Friday evening. I did not see them fly or hear them call before having to leave for other business. ... I also saw two Long-billed Dowitchers in non-breeding plumage there. Other birds were expected birds.

Jeff Cooper (6 Apr 2012) - Horned Grebe, south pond Geneva Settling Ponds, Lindon.

Jeff Cooper (5 Apr 2012) - [American Fork] - ...with my kitchen door open I can hear the soft song of a Say's Phoebe high on the rooftop of some homes behind me. I sure hope he gets a mate because I want him to stick around.

Alton Thygerson (5 Apr 2012) - ...I drove to Pioneer Crossing and westward on the parkway....immediately on the north side of the parkway in a small pond were 2 Snowy Egrets and 1 Great Egret.

Milton Moody (5 Apr 2012) - 17 Birders showed up at Sam's Club for this morning's "Big Month" UCB field trip. ...At the Skipper Bay trail we saw a lot of waterfowl in the flooded fields east of the path, including a nice BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and a late RING-NECKED DUCK. We also saw some more Sandhill Cranes, another pair of Osprey on the platform and an early WHITE-FACED IBIS. About half the group dropped by to see the local WOOD DUCKS on the way back, which brought the total number of species to 46 for the half-day trip.

Mar 2012

Bryan Shirley (31 Mar 2012) - Yesterday I birded along the road between Elberta and Saratoga Springs. Curlews are back, as well as a pair of Burrowing Owls toward the North end... it was about mile 12 or 13). Also in that same area we spotted our first Short-eared Owl. It was soaring quite high, so maybe migtrating?... Near the dairy south of Elberta we found another pair of Short-eared Owls, then a 4th at the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve parking area between Goshen and Genola... Our other birding stop was in 5 mile pass. Both Sage Sparrows & Sage Thrashers were easily located just west of there. Lots of Pinon Jays a bit north of there.

Alton Thygerson (31 Mar 2012) - While hiking up Rock Canyon (east of Provo) just west of the first bridge (this bridge is about a 30 minute hike up the canyon from the parking lot) and near a slide area, a small flock (7 or 8) of Bushtits were seen. Also, in the canyon this morning were: Townsend's Solitaire, Canyon Wren, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, Chuckar (heard only), Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, and Magpie.

Alona Huffaker (30 Mar 2012) - I just saw and heard a Juniper Titmouse at Evergreen Cemetery in Springville--the west part of the cemetery.

Eric Huish (19 Mar 2012) - I stopped at Grove Creek Canyon this afternoon and found a flock of about 150 Rosy-Finches up on the cliffs at the mouth of the canyon, south side. They were mostly Gray-crowned with a few Black Rosy-Finches mixed in. They flew up and moved around a lot and gradually moved up the canyon. Jeff Cooper joined me and we hiked farther up the canyon to get a closer look. About 30 seconds after we rounded a bend in the trail and finally had a closer look at part of the flock a Sharp-shinned Hawk dove in and took a Rosy-Finch mid-air! ...It all happened so fast. Very exciting.

Eric Huish (17 Mar 2012) - KC Childs and I drove up Spanish Fork Canyon very early this morning to get a Sage-Grouse on our Utah County Year List... We only found 4 Sage-Grouse. Three strutting birds appeared to be just on the Carbon County side and one was walking down the hillside behind them in Utah County.

Jeff Cooper (16 Mar 2012) - For lunch I drove by the Lindon Marina and Geneva Settling Ponds area. I observed about ten first of season (FOS) TREE SWALLOWS flying between the ponds and the road. I also saw BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (mostly females), and a single FOS BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD in a tree in the field east of the north pond. I heard the whistle call of a male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD about a minute before locating it on the tree. Hearing that call prompted a "where is Waldo" scan of the birds in the tree. I followed the birds in my binoculars when they flushed from the tree further east and then to the ground. I noticed a few birds on the wires above where the bulk of the birds were foraging and quickly recognized a SAY'S PHOEBE.

Ned Bixler (7 Mar 2012)- Yesterday, I saw 4 Sage Sparrows at Hobble Creek WMA, and 6 at River Lane.

Jeff Cooper (7 Mar 2012) ...   --Pioneer Crossing Ponds & Marshes: Great Egret, hundreds of gulls worth studying more closely, but raptor-induced ADD kicked in and caused me to give chase to a Peregrine Falcon instead

J.Peter Maughan (7 Feb 2012) - I saw a Great Horned Owl up South Fork in Provo Canyon about 100 yards past the parking lot of Big Springs. Looked like it wad just sunning or hurt. ...I was not more than 10 ft away.

Reed Stone (7 Mar 2012) - Yesterday  (3/7/12) I saw at least four SAGE SPARROWS on the Provo, Utah airport dike. They were spotted about 100 yards north of the S. W. corner of the dike road.  I also saw a flock or 10 SNOW GEESE fly over. Good birding!

Eric Huish (3 Mar 2012) - [Pleasant Grove] - This morning (Saturday at 8:00 am) I birded Dry Canyon again. This time I found a small flock of about 40 birds feeding up in the canyon between the 1st and 2nd cliff on the north side of the canyon...They were mostly Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches including a few "Hepburn's" Gray-crowned and 2 or 3 Black Rosy-Finches...

Eric Huish (1 Mar 2012) - Highlights at Dry Canyon included Wild Turkeys up past the top cliffs, a couple of Golden Eagles and a large flock of Juncos. There was a Northern Shrike along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail above the water treatment plant just north of Provo Canyon."

Feb 2012

Jeff Cooper (29 Feb 20123) - Turkey Vulture seen in Lehi Field north of Lehi block. Jerry Liguori, Mike Shaw and I saw it soaring above the field.

Jeff Cooper (28 Feb 2012) - I drove by the small wetland area on the south side of North Vineyard Road (Vineyard, Utah County) on my way back to Pleasant Grove following a meeting in Provo. I noticed a lone WILSON'S SNIPE and stopped to observe and photograph it.

Doug Mead (28 Feb 2012) - Flock of 50 American White Pelicans just flew north at low alt over Saratoga Springs.

Ned Bixler (27 Feb 2012) - [Skipper Bay Trail - highlilghts] - ...Cinnamon Teal...Sandhill Crane...Great Horned Owl...

Alan Jensen (18 Feb 2012) - [Payson] - We had four Pine Siskins on our thistle sock feeder yesterday in Payson - first of the year.

Jeff Cooper (10 Feb 2012) - So I took a late lunch today and then called and met up with Eric Huish near the Lindon Marina/Geneva Settling Ponds area in Utah County. We didn't see a lot of birds, but we did find some wintering White-faced Ibises, a female Hooded Merganser, and what we believe was a 1st winter Glaucous-winged Gull....

Eric Huish (10 Feb 2012) - Jeff Cooper and I just had a Glaucous-winged Gull fly past, heading south, at the south end of the settling ponds south of the Lindon Boat Harbor...

Donna Thorum (7 Feb 2012) -My husband Glen and I went to see if we could find the Pygmy Owl up South Fork Canyon this midmorning. Couldn't find it. Found Eric and Jeff looking for it too. No luck! However I did find a flock of 20+ Wild Turkeys in the field on the right side of the road just south of the beaver pond. That was good. Haven't seen them for a while...

Eric Huish (1 Feb 2012) - Eric Peterson and I went birding up American Fork Canyon today. There weren't a lot of birds around. Our best bird was a Pacific Wren on the left side of the road (not river side) just above the Roadhouse Picnic Area. It was calling and flitting about when we first spotted it, but it quickly disappeared and we couldn't relocate it....

Jan 2012

kayaklibrarian@gmail.com (29 Jan 2012) - I have seen a Northern Pygmy Owl twice now in the same tree. I found him off the parking lot of the first National Forest access road up South Fork Canyon..

Eric Huish (26 Jan 2012) - I saw an adult Northern Goshawk in the woods along the river at River Lane today (2:30 pm). KC Childs was able to refind it at 3:10 pm.

Felicia Pimentel (26 Jan 2012) - I had a couple of hours to kill this morning and stopped at the Lindon Marina.  The best sightings for me were the 6 WHITE-FACED IBIS and 2 adult BALD EAGLES having a midair scuffle.

Oliver Hansen (22 Jan 2012) - LESSER YELLOWLEGS. 4:30 pm in Springville 1400 N exit. Turn right at the first street (heading towards the Stoffer's outlet) look in the ponds in the fields to the east. That's where I saw it if anyone is interested.

Jeff Cooper (20 Jan 2012) - On my way home from work at 5:35 I saw two White-faced Ibis  flying near the Pioneer Crossing exit of I-15. I guess some are still wintering here.

Eric Huish (16 Jan 1212) - I went birding this morning with KC Childs and Oliver Hansen. We decided to head up Provo Canyon even though the weather was ominous... We saw a flock of Wild Turkeys and a flock of Pine Siskin in the Sundance area...Down in Provo Canyon we found a PACIFIC WREN in the 'usual spot', the swampy area on the Provo River Parkway about 0.1 miles down stream from Canyon Glen Park. The only other birds we saw in this area were two Dippers. We found a NORTHERN PIGMY OWL up South Fork Canyon. The owl was in a tree on the North side of the road 3.1 miles after turning off Provo Canyon Road,...

Erich Huish (4 Jan 2012) - I just got a call from Reed Stone. He spotted a White-winged Scoter in the Provo River between the Provo Center Street bridge and the small foot bridge in Utah Lake State Park.

Deedee O'Brien (1 Jan 2011) - [Saratoga Springs] - 37 species (+3 other taxa)...Species seen: [highlights] - Snow Goose...Great Egret, White-faced Ibis...Sandhill Crane...

Oliver Hansen (1 Jan 2012) - There were 27 (that I could count) Wood Ducks at the "wood duck spot" just N. of Provo Center street. I think this is the most I've counted here. I'm pretty sure there were probably more in the willows that I couldn't see. Great way to start the new year.

Dec 2011

Jeff Cooper (27 Dec 2011) - ...near Highland Glen Park in Highland I saw an adult Bald Eagle perched in a tree on the west side of the park and south of Lone Peak High School...I pulled into the area for a better look at the eagle and noticed a large flock of Canada Geese (probably 100 or so) in an adjacent field. Mixed in with that flock was a Snow Goose and at least one Cackling Goose...

Bryant Shirley (26 Dec 2011) - Today was the Payson Bird Count. I don't know how other groups did or how the count went as a whole, but my group covered the Salem area. Here are the highlights for us: Say's Phoebe, White-faced Ibis, Canvasback, Hooded Merganser, (on the part of Salem pond North of the hwy), 10 Wild Turkeys terrorizing my dad's bird feeders.

Alona Huffaker (21 Dec 2011) - I found a couple of Juniper Titmice at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery today. They were on both sides of the main road going between the East side of the cemetery and the West side of the cemetery, not through the cemetery...

Eric Huish (21 Dec 2011) - I saw a 1st winter Harris's Sparrow south of Lindon Boat Harbor this morning. It was in a bush out in a field along the road about 1.5 miles south of the boat harbor. It was across the street from the south end of the paved walking trail...

Bryan Shirley (19 Dec 2011) - [Provo  CBC] - Highlights of the Provo Bird Count included:
   --3 Say's Phoebe (only seen one other year), 1 Ferruginous Hawk (only seen one other year), 25 White-faced Ibis, 1 Am White Pelican, 2 Lincoln's Sparrow, 8 Am Tree Sparrow. For count week we had a Eurasian Wigeon in the East Bay Golf Course Ponds. We were unable to relocate it on our count, but did get over 800 Am. Wigeon on the Golf Course, so the Eur Wigeon is probably still in there somewhere. We also had 1 Hooded Merganser for count week. We ended up with 96 species total.

Eric Peterson (7 Dec 2011) - ... I took a trip around the Provo Airport Dike... I saw a Great Horned Owl at the south end at the turn to head east...

Jeff Cooper (4 Dec 20-11) - ... drove a short piece of Vineyard Rd in Vineyard (in Utah County and bordered by Lindon, Orem, Utah Lake and Provo). I stopped at a spot where a small water hole is bordered by cattails...I was able to see several Virginia Rails and one surprise Sora there this weekend. I also saw a late Lincoln's Sparrow near the rails Saturday afternoon.

Nov 2011

Oliver Hansen (27 Nov 2011) - One drake Wood Duck was at the "Wood Duck spot" off of Provo Center Street this evening about 4:30. A few Cedar Waxwings and a Ruby-crowned kinglet flew in to say hi to me

Eric Huish (22 Nov 2011) -  birded the Provo Airport Dike this evening with Ned Bixler and KC Childs. There are still large numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers hanging out around the dike. On the south side of the airport, between the south extension and the southwest corner we found a flock of yellow-rumps that included a 'Myrtle' Yellow-rump and a Wilson's Warbler. I was surprised to see a Wilson's this late. It was a bright male...

Douglas Mead (6 Nov 2011) - I observed my first-of-the-season American Tree Sparrow this afternoon while on a walkabout West of Redwood Rd. in Saratoga Springs. Also two Prairie Falcons and a large flock (30+) of Horned Larks and an even larger flock (200+) Rock Pigeons in a field just below Camp Williams.

Jeff Cooper (6 Nov 2011) - I worked in Spanish Fork Friday so I hit a few of the hot spots between Spanish Fork and Pleasant Grove on the way home. Highlights were:
   --Two Snowy Egrets in the midst of cattle on the north side of SR77...
   --At least 25 Sandhill Cranes working a field east of Swede Lane (I'm sure there were more, but a large group of trees kept me from seeing the whole group
   --An unexpected Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on River Lane
   --Western Screech Owls calling from the trees at the turn off from Provo Center Street to the Provo Airport Dike Road (Just before crossing the river and entering Utah Lake SP)...
   --Four Snowy Egrets in the settling ponds and a small flock of American Pipits on the rocks along the shoreline of Utah Lake, opposite side of the dike forming the settling ponds...
   --Finished the night with a Northern Saw-whet Owl at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon

Eric Huish ( 5 Nov 2011) - Ned Bixler and I drove around the Provo Airport Dike this morning. The White-throated Sparrow is still there...We also saw a Northern Shrike on the west extension of the PAD.

Milt Moody (5 Nov 2011) - This morning (Saturday) there were somewhere between one and two hundred (maybe more!?) Sandhill Cranes in the fields north of Salem. The most I've ever seen.

Ned Bixler (4 Nov 2011) - Two Snowy Egrets at the Geneva Settling Ponds.

Eric Huish (2 Nov 2011) - I drove past the old Geneva Settling Ponds and Lindon Boat Harbor today. Best bird was a female Hooded Merganser on the south end of the pond...

Eric Huish (1 Nov 2011) - There as a bright white striped White-throated Sparrow on the west side of the Provo Airport Dike. It is hunkered down in some willows on the lake side of the road just north of the control tower.

Oct 2011

Ned Bixler (26 Oct 2011) - My first mature Bald Eagle of the season - entrance to the West Provo airport dike.

Joel Beyer (15 Oct 2011) - This evening I saw a female Tennessee Warbler at River Lane (Utah Co.)...Only other birds about were YR Warblers, robins and RC Kinglets.

Tim Avery (14 Oct 2011) - A RED-NECKED GREBE at the Thanksgiving Point Golf
Course in the North Pond...

Eric Huish (11 Oct 2011) - First winter Blackpoll Warbler in the last bunch of tamarisk on the left as you are headed east from the southwest corner of the Provo Airport Dike.

Eric Huish (11 Oct 2011) - ...Around 10:30 am we started seeing flocks of Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows flying past/over us heading south. While scanning the swallows we were surprised and excited to see a Vaux's Swift fly past. It flew by pretty close and we got a good look at it but It didn't stick around...

Sep 2011

Eric Huish (25 Sep 2011) -There was an albino Barn Swallow on the East side of the Provo Airport Dike early Friday morning.

Bryan Shirley (15 Sep 2011) - 7 Townsend Warblers in Payson Canyon today. 5 at the Nebo trail head, 2 a bit below that.1 Three-toed wp at the trail head as well. Later had a Peregrine Falcon in Benjamin at the observation tower on 40th west.

Jeff Cooper (5 Sep 2011) - [Labor Day birding] - I started out this morning at 6 am with a BARN OWL in the field near my home in Pleasant Grove. I drove south about an hour and fifteen minutes and visited the Nebo Bench Trailhead high above Payson and Santaquin and was able to locate two AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS and one PINE GROSBEAK along with DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, RED-TAILED HAWK, several flocks of Pine Siskins, scattered Red-breasted Nuthatches, Kinglets, and a few other species.
   -- On River Lane, near Palmyra, I was able to locate a COMMON NIGHTHAWK resting on the branch of a mostly-dead tree. The Nighthawk held my attention long enough to see the following in the same location: GRAY CATBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, GREAT EGRET (two flyovers)...

Jeff Cooper (2 Sep 23011) - I got off work a little early today and decided to look for migrants on the American Fork Boat Harbor Road (100 West American Fork/6000 W Utah County Rd), where I have had a fair amount of success with migrants in the past. The timing was fortuitous as the first bird I raised my binoculars for was a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. It appeared to be a female. I made a couple calls to local birders and lost sight of the warbler. I relocated it in the same area about 20 minutes later. Eric Peterson arrived shortly thereafter. We looked for a while without success and then decided to look at that group of trees from a field on the east side by walking to a gate about 50 yards east of 100 West. We located a NASHVILLE from that angle.

Aug 2011

Jeff Cooper (29 Aug 2011) -  [mountain above Timpooneke Campground]  ... I've not confidently seen Calliopes before so I was excited to get the photo at the next link below. I've checked my ID with a couple of sharp birders and they concurred that this is most likely a female Calliope Hummingbird based on the shape of the central tail feathers, the white around the base of a short bill, and the length of wings to tail.
       A juvenile Northern Goshawk was a surprise sighting on the way down from the mountain above the campground...

Douglas Mead (25 Aug 2011) - Yesterday on the Nebo loop rd while returning from summiting Mt. Nebo I had a bird fly across the road in front of me at close range. My immediate ID was a Lark Bunting--mostly black with obvious white on the wings and tail. It did not perch and was too fast for a photo. It seemed out of habitat but I can't think of any other options.

Bryan Shirley (18 Aug 2011) - [Nebo Loop] - Northern Pygmy-Owl... American Three-toed Woodpecker... Purple Martin... Pine Grosbeak (Heard Only)...

Eric Peterson (7 Aug 2011) - [West Desert] I went out to the west desert Friday and had a blast... I started at 9600 West and headed west to Chimney Rock Pass up to Homansville Road. Along the way I found the Black Throated Sparrows that I had been looking for to photograph...I was able to see a Pinyon Jay towards the top and saw 3 Clark's Nutcrackers at the top. I saw another Rock Wren at the top and a few minutes later saw 2 Bewick's Wrens. I then headed over to Dividend road. I came across three Juniper Titmouses or Titmice. It looked to be two adults trying to teach a young how to feed...

Jul 2011

Eric Huish (27 Jul 2011) - Went out to the west desert yesterday.  Started in Eagle Mountain and took the gravel road to Fairfield.  The first bird I ran into was a Ferruginous Hawk perched on a power line.  I saw many Sage Thrashers as I was looking for.  I then went to Fairfield and took the gravel road to Allen's Ranch road.  I saw some Horned Larks and a rather friendly pronghorn. There was also a large flock of Lark Sparrows right at the ranch.  I also saw 3 Loggerhead Shrikes.  I then went over to Chimney rock pass.  There I was able to find a Rock Wren and more Shrikes.  By the time I got to Chimney Rock it was kind of windy so the birding was a little slow. 

Oliver Hansen (20 Jul 2011) - I hiked powerhouse mountain last night. Powerhouse mountain is the large chunk of rock that is on the N. side of hobble creek canyon near Springville (across the street and up a few thousand feet from the golf course).... I got great views of quite a few birds on the road that I would most likely have driven past including WILD TURKEY and a family of RUFFED GROUSE... Another highlight was when I hit the top of the ridge (about 7800 ft) at around 9:00pm I heard COMMON POORWILLS calling (at least 2).

Milt Moody (17 Jul 2011) - There are PURPLE MARTINS in their usual place on the Nebo Loop road (Payson Canyon) and at least one AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at the Monument Tail head just a bit further down the road.

Jeff Cooper (16 Jul 2011) - I had to drop off some people at a trail head around 6:30 this morning above Timpooneke Campground (up American Fork Canyon). I decided to walk about a mile above the campground (Timpooneke Rd # 056) after leaving them. I spotted a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER and watched it for a few minutes... Closer to the campground area I stopped to attract some MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES to see if I could get some decent photos. I did get some close shots of a Mountain Chickadee. Just as I stopped photographing the Chickadee an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew through the trees about five feet above ground. It flew past me and then above the road leading down to the campground. That was a pleasant surprise that didn't last nearly long enough.

Milt Moody (11 Jul 2011) - There are at least 3 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS at the corner of 2680 North and 880 East in Provo on the telephone wires behind the house to the south. (Go to Robin and Julia Tuck's house then 1/2 block west and 1/2 block south). I saw them on an early morning walk and went back with binocs to confirm what they were.

Carol Jean Nelson (6 Jul 2011) - A GREEN HERON at the first part of the east side of the Provo Airport Dike in a dead bush across from the "practice helicopter."

Jun 2011

Eric Huish (20 June 2011) - Alona Huffaker saw Bobolinks in Springville. Take I-15 exit 260, drive west on SR 77 (4000 South) to 2000 West and turn right. She two males in these fields this evening.

Lyle Bingham (15 Jun 2011) - Eight birders visited three hotspots in and near Payson. We visited two wooded areas with walkways and Spring Lake, between Payson and Santaquin. Highlights included a Black-chinned Hummingbird on a nest, discovered by Alona's sharp eyes. And we found Yellow-breasted Chats near the mouth of Payson canyon ( Payson-Greenridge Hollow).

Eric Huish (13 Jun 2011) - Last night Dennis Shirley led 12 Utah County Birders out to Goshen for an evening field trip. Our target species were Short-eared Owls and Bobolinks. Target acquired!...

Ryan O'Donnell (7 Jun 2011) - This morning I was one of the lucky ones who saw the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER near the tower on the Provo airpot dike. After seeing my first lifer for the day, I took a good walk along the Provo River parkway, where I saw an adult male COMMON GRACKLE, and saw 4 GREAT HORNED OWLS (momma with 3 chicks, and heard a WESTERN SCREECH OWL at 10:30 am,which was weird.
   --After that I headed to Bridal Veil Falls,where I saw several BLACK SWIFTS...

Jeff Cooper (6 Jun 2011) - [Provo Airport Dike] - Northern Bobwhite. This bird was walking along the road going west toward the southwest corner of the dike. Closer to the extension that goes further south from the airport.

Eric Huish (6 Jun 2011) - SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER .... Provo Airport Dike south end of west extension! 

Eric Huish (4 Jun 2011) -  [Lake Mountains - Utah Co. UT] -  Birding with KC Childs. We birded the Soldiers Pass Road area at the South end of the Lake Mountains. We went hoping for Scott's Oriole, Lu Giddings and Dennis Shirley reported one there 4 years ago. Number of species: 34  [highlights:]
...Burrowing Owl, Common Nighthawk, Black Swift ...Gray Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Gray Vireo... Pinyon Jay... Juniper Titmouse, Rock Wren, Bewick's Wren...Northern Mockingbird...

Eric Peterson (3 Jun 2011) - [Highland Glen Park] - I was at my favorite place other than my house that I like to bird which is Highland Glen.  I was really excited cause I had never seen a Western Grebe there in the pond.  I then ran across a Common Nighthawk.  I was on my way out and I saw yet another Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  I am wondering why they keep following me...

May 2011

Eric Huish (30 May 2011) - Scarlet Tanager on Provo airport dike in moat north of control tower. Red-eyed Vireo at north end by Center Street bridge.

Glenda Cotter (29 May 2011) - At least two Yellow-breasted Chats in the gully at the first turnout in Goshen Canyon (and several farther up the canyon)...

Eric Huish (17 May 2011) - KC Childs and I drove the Provo Airport Dike this afternoon...  Our best birds were 2 small groups PURPLE MARTINS along the west side of the dike. 3 males and 1 female sitting on top of a short tree south of the control tower. Then 3 males and 2 females sitting on top of the tree and flying around at the Southwest corner...

Eric Huish (14 May 2011) - KC Childs and I drove the Provo Airport Dike this morning (May 14). Our best bird was a male Northern Parula on the West side of the Dike Loop, West side of the road, just South of the control tower. ... We walked down the gated road on the East side of the loop and were treated to were a Great Egret...

Milton Moody (14 May 2011) - For a couple of hours, yesterday (Friday) morning, I went with my sister, her husband, her daughter and four grandkids to explore the birds around Salem. I was surprised to see a COMMON LOON at Salem Pond this late in the year...

Eric Peterson (8 May 2011) - [American Fork, UT) - I just got home from showing dogs this morning and my wife said what kind of bird is that on the feeder.  I looked out to see a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and a Black-headed Grosbeak on the feeder together.

KC Childs (6 May 2011) - I went hiking today up Slate Canyon which is located on the south end of Provo about 900 S. and Slate Canyon Drive. I hiked up about 2.5 miles from the parking lot and was quite surprised when I ran across a Pacific Wren being very vocal about a half mile up from the red gate...

Jeff Cooper (6 May 011) - I dropped by the ponds by mile marker 1 at PIoneer Crossing last night on the way home from work. This time there was a lone RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in the pond off the road ..

Bryan Shirley (6 May 2011) - There are 2 Common Loons at Santaquin Reservoir. (To find the reservoir take 500 South west past where it turns to a dirt rd)

Norm Jenson (5 May 2011) - Snowy Plover, Lincoln Beach.

Bryan Shirley (3 May 2011) - This evening at about 7:30 pm I observed a Short-Billed Dowitcher at the Benjamin Slough. It was just north of the corner where you can park to look over the wetlands...

Felicia Pimentel (3 May 2011) - I walked a big chunk of the Provo Airport Dike road today. The first bird I saw was right at the entrance of the road by the river. It was about 6 inches or so, very dark (almost black), with a contrasting white lower breast. ... It looked to me like it had to be a BLACK PHOEBE, but I know they don't usually get up north this far.[hightlights:]... LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE... NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER...VESPER SPARROW...  Another great sighting today was a small flock of 13 EVENING GROSBEAKS at my feeder, seen right after I sent in a report of other feeder birds this morning...

Mike Mahoney (2 May 2011) - Plenty of Green-tailed Towhee's on the Skipper Bay Trail. Saw the first one 5/1/11 Mike

Bryan Shirley ( 2 May 2011) - Black-Bellied Plover at SR-77 and 1750 west. It is just north of the intersection. SR-77 is the rd to River Lane from Springville.

Apr 2011

Eric Huish ( 30 April 2011) - 15 Birders met at 8:00 this morning to bird the Provo Airport Dike and nearby areas. We saw Wilson's Snipe, 2 Solitary Sandpipers and a couple of Savannah Sparrows in the fields along Harbor Road (Lower Provo River Parkway area). There were 6 Solitary Sandpipers at the Pond on the North end of Lakeview Drive. Also at the pond a Forester's Tern and Spotted Sandpiper were year firsts for most of us.  On the Provo Airport Dike in the Flooded Field on the South extension we saw a Western Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope and a Marbled Godwit. Between the South extension and the Southwest corner we saw a Clay-colored Sparrow (unfortunately not seen well by everyone) and a Rock Wren. On the West side of the loop, by the control tower, a Sage Thrasher gave everyone great views. In the woods along the river at the North end of the Dike Loop we saw 2 Townsend's Solitaires and a Yellow Warbler was a year first for everyone in the group. 

KC Childs (30 April 2011) - Today on a field trip to the Provo Airport Dike a Clay-colored Sparrow was spotted. It was only seen by the first car. It was seen halfway along the southern road of the dike. It was halfway between the extension and the southwest corner of the dike. There are a lot of sparrows along this road. It was coming into breeding plumage, but not quite there.

Mike Mahoney (30 April 2011) - Spotted two Wilson's Phalarope on Boat Harbour dr. 3/10ths of a mile West of Lakeshore dr. in Provo. in the little ponds on the South side of the road.

Eric Peterson (29 April 2011) - ... I started to wash the inside windows, when what would appear on my humming bird feeder, a bright orange Bullock's Oriole. Right behind him on the seed feeder was a male Lazuli Bunting trying to share a few seeds with the Cassin's finches, Chickadees and White Crowned Sparrows...

Alona Huffaker (28 April 2011) -  I've had a couple of pretty male Lazuli Buntings at my feeders in South Springville this week!.  Still getting some Evening Grosbeaks once in awhile, too.

KC Childs (24 April 2011) - Today while going to study the Glossy Ibis more in west Provo I stopped by the pond at the end of Lakeshore Drive in Provo. Take 1520 north off of Geneva Road and Lakeshore Dr. is about 3100 west. The road dead ends and the pond is on the other side of the chain link fence. I was able to view 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Semi-palmated Plover, 2 Sanderlings and a peep that didn't wanna show itself very well...

Norman Jenson ( 23 April 2011) - [Pioneer Crossing, Lehi, UT] -  stopped by PCP today and in the field west of the mile marker, the area without the concrete fence I saw this Sandhill Crane. The little pond at the mile marker was virtually empty, but the area just east had a nice collection of birds including one Blue-winged Teal cavorting with half a dozen Cinnamon Teals.

Casey Day (22 April 2011) - Spotted a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER mixed in with BLACK-NECKED STILTS, AVOCETS, and KILLDEER. There were also a couple of YELLOWLEGS, I think lesser but who knows. The birds are at a pond visible from 3110 west in provo. If you head west on 1390 north off of lakeshore drive and follow the road you will pass right by the pond.

KC Childs (21 April 2011) -  Stopped by on my l lunch break at the pond on the south side of Pioneer Crossing at mile post 1. The majority of all the birds sighted were still there, but in much smaller numbers. With the exception of Marbled Godwits, there was easily over 50 of them. I was not able to find a Hudsonian in with the flock though. Also a Blue-winged Teal was there, as was a few Bonaparte's Gulls and Franklins. I was able to observe 1 Cattle Egret. I also saw a few peeps flying out into fields to the west, but could not locate them.

Ned Bixler (20 April 2011) - Today, in a field on North Harbor Road, Provo, there were 200-300 ibis. There was at least one Glossy Ibis in this group. They were on the South side of the road. This road leads to Skipper Bay Trail. There were also several cattle egrets along with other birds.

Dave Walton (20 April 2011) - A lone Bar-headed Goose caught my eye while watching BC Night Herons on East Bay island. The goose was crossing the golf green just north of the island about 11:30 am this morning.

KC Childs (19 April  2011-  I was out in the area of mile marker 1 on Pioneer Crossing for work today ... Highlights were an all together impressive number of birds. I estimated low on my number below. Highlights included the continuing Bonapartes Gulls. A Peregrine Falcon that was working on catching some dinner. A first of the year Blue-winged Teal was gorgeous. There were more Great Egrets then there were Snowy Egrets, that was interesting.

Jeff Cooper (18 April 2011) - This evening I dropped by the ponds near mile marker 1 on Pioneer Crossing in Lehi and saw my FOY Cattle Egrets. There were four of them mixing with nine Snowy Egrets. The place was hopping with birds.

Jeff Cooper (16 April 2011) - BLACK-THROATED SPARROW on Provo Airport Dike (west side of airport between the tower and the bend in the road, closer to the bend at the south end of the dike).

Alona Huffaker (14 April 2011) - There are a dozen or so Evening Grosbeaks at the feeders in my yard this morning. They were here this time (7:45 am) yesterday, too. There were many more on Saturday afternoon. (1195 S 700 E Springville)

Bryan Shirley (14 April 2011) - Today had a great day. Started with a Pacific Wren in the Provo South Fork Canyon, It didn't get the mileage, but I think less than 1 mile up the canyon near the gate and Provo city water signs. Next there were a bunch of Wild Turkeys displaying in the road just above Sundance and then a Nor. Pygmy Owl enjoying the sun just above Aspen Grove. This afternoon there was a Whimbrel just east of milepost 15 on the hwy from Saratoga Springs to Elberta. It was with a few curlews.

Flora Duncan (10 Apr 2011) - Saturday afternoon sighted Blue-wing Teal on east edge of the water just south of Lindon marina.

Ned Bixler (10 Apr 2011) - North Harbor Road, in the fields, there were Greater Yellowlegs, and a Great Egret this afternoon.

Dennis Shirley (9 Apr 2011) - In between snow squalls I took a couple hour spin around southern Utah County this afternoon. New FOY birds included: Red-necked Phalarope - Benjamin Slough, Snowy Plover - Lincoln Beach, Barn, Cliff, Bank, and Violet-green Swallows, mixed in large flock of Tree Swallows - Lincoln Beach. Additionally, Lewis's Woodpecker along the Salem canal and Osprey at Salem Pond are still there.

Eric Huish (9 Apr 2011) - ...7 Utah County Birders stood on the side of the road overlooking beaver ponds in South Fork Canyon. We listened to the babbling brook, singing Robins, a Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrows and Fox Sparrows. We patiently waited over 30 minutes before we heard what we had come for.   -- Thump...thump...thump..ump..ump..mp..r-rrrrr, a drumming Ruffed Grouse. Heard Only. It was on the far side of the beaver ponds just downstream from South Fork Park...

Alton Thygerson (7 Apr 2011) - Close-up and prolonged looks occurred this afternoon (4:30 p.m.) in Diamond Fork Canyon of a FOX SPARROW, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK...

Douglas Mead ( 4 Apr 2011) - At 12:15 today there were 3 Lesser Yellowlegs in the remainder of the pond on 2300W in Lehi. Also present were several Mallards, 4 Canada Geese and 3 very frisky Sandhill Cranes.

Dennis Shirley (4 Apr 2011) - Alona Huffaker just called to report EVENING GROSBEAKS in her next door neigbors yard in Springville this morning. In years past Alona and Bonnie Williams have periodically had them at their feeders, so there's a good chance they may stick around. 

Mar 2011

Dennis Shirley (30 Mar 2011) - We had a fun night, owling, last night. Fifteen UCB's first tried to locate a Short-eared Owl at several locations, but had no luck. Our luck changed in Payson Canyon after dark, where we got great looks at Western Screech Owl, a brief look and accompaning hooting of a Great Horned Owl, and a dynamite eye-level look at a Saw-Whet Owl. It was one of those "golden birding moments" for all.

Eric Huish (29 Mar 2011) - count at the Provo Center Street Roost this morning was 34 Turkey Vultures. There were only 9 yesterday.  400 east Center, Provo.

Eric Huish (26 Mar 2011) - This morning (Mar 26) 17 Birders met at the mouth of American Fork Canyon for field trip #9 in the 'Utah County March Big Month' series.   ... After everyone arrived, instead of heading up the canyon we drove along the foothills south of the canyon toward Cedar Hills to chase the finches.  We found the flock of 150 ROSY FINCHES feeding in a sandy cut in the foothills about 1/2 mile south of A.F. Canyon.  There were about 140 Gray-crowned and 10 Black Rosy-Finches.   We got very close long looks at the flock as it fed on the open ground. ...
   --On our way back up the canyon the last car in our group saw a Golden Eagle feeding on a carcass near the road. The rest of us missed it...

Dennis Shirley (23 Mar 2011) - Twenty four species were seen by seven "stick-with-it"  March Big Month UCB on Tuesday morning in the P/J/sage areas of southwestern Utah County. Target species seen included: Juniper Titmouse (2), Pinyon Jay (2 flocks), Praire Falcon, and Ferruginous Hawk. Misses included: Sage and Brewer's Sparrow, Bushtit, Loggerhead Shrike, and Long-eared Owl.

Jeff Cooper (16 Mar 2011) - I stopped by the Geneva Cooling Ponds this evening about 5:30 on the way home from working in Spanish Fork for the day. The cooling ponds are just south of the Lindon Boat Harbor (Utah Lake). There was one male HOODED MERGANSER among the regular species for the ponds. I also saw AVOCETS in the same pond for the first time this year.

Eric Huish (16 Mar 2011) - Ned Bixler and I birded the Provo Airport Dike this morning. Police barricades are still blocking the south part of the loop. New PAD Arrivals - Tree Swallows, Clark's Grebes, Western Grebe, DC Cormorants. I saw a large flock of cormorant flying north at Powell Slough. On the Lower Provo River Parkway we saw a pair of Wood Ducks sitting high in a cottonwood tree.

Bryan Shirley (16 Mar 2011) - Just after somebody reported a Fox Sparrow a couple of days ago I found one in the Campground in Diamond Fork on Monday evening. Yesterday there was a FOY Marbled Godwit and Bonaparte's Gull in Lehi.

Dennis Shirley (16 Mar 2011) - Eight UCB spent four hours Tuesday morning on #6 March Big Month Field Trip in the Genola, Goshen, Elberta, Goshen Canyon areas. We saw 45 species of which several were new for the month: Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Sage Thrasher, Merlin, Say's Phoebe, and Bewick's Wren. Other good birds included: Ferruginous Hawk, Evening Grosbeak, and Sandhill Crane.

Douglas  Mead (16 Mar 2011) - At 4:30 yesterday afternoon I observed a Northern Goshawk near 10400 W and Jordan River in Lehi. I approached on foot across a field and was able to observe it from a distance of 50 yds for abt 10 minutes before it flew to the West across the river. Way Cool!!

kd7mnr (14 Mar 2011) - A Long-eared Owl has been seen at this address last 3 weeks check at 31 North 775 East American Fork so as to not frighten it away.

Dennis Shirley (12 Mar 2011) - A large group of 24 UCB went on the field trip this morning to the Payson,Spring Lake, Santaquin, Genola, areas. Forty six species were seen. New birds for our field trips included: Tundra Swan at Santaquin Reservoir, Virginia Rail and White Pelican at Goshen Warm Springs, Spotted Towhee in Santaquin Canyon, and Yellow-headed Blackbird at Santaquin (for those who got a look at it). Other always-good-birds-to-see included Barn and Great Horned Owl and Mountain Bluebird. Our total for the five morning field trips now stands at 89. 
   
Jack Binch (11 Mar 2011) - [Provo Airport Dike] -I went back down this afternoon prepared to walk the west side. It was very pleasant and I had the place to myself. ... I saw a bird doing an imitation of a chipmunk. It was running down the side of the road with its tail straight up in the air. I did not need to look in the binoculars to know it was a Sage Sparrow. It stayed fifty feet ahead of me, but I got some good looks at it. Along the road were Cinnamon Teal, Coots, Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Flickers, Mallards, and kind of a surprise Northern Shrike.

Kay Stone (10 Mar 2011) - This morning I saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers on Powell's Lake west of Lehi. To get there go west out of Lehi on main street which becomes U-73 until you come almost to the Jordan River. It will be the last left lane turn out before the Jordan River. It is called Willow Lane. Proceed south until you come to a stop sign and turn right on Willow Reed and you will find the lake.
   -- The Evening Grosbeaks were found on the Jordan River Parkway, just north of the R.C. Flying Field about a half a miles north on the trail.

Jack Binch (5 Mar 2011) - ... I drove around a bit and saw some Sandhill Cranes fly over River Lane, but nothing else noteworthy.

Ned Bixler (3 Mar 2011) - [North Boat harbor Rd] - Cackling Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Black-billed Magpie, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird

Dennis Shirley (1 Mar 2011) - We started the Utah County Big Month field trips this morning in west Provo. Six birders saw 45 species at Skipper Bay Trail, Utah Lake State Park, Provo Airport Dike(part), Provo River Trail, and the "Wood Duck Pond." Best birds of day were: Northern Shrike, Herring Gull, Snow Geese, Great Horned Owl, Brown Creeper and Wood Duck.

Douglas Mead (1 Mar 2011) - Observed 34 American Avocets near 145S 2300W Lehi/Saratoga Spgs. today...

Bryan Shirley (1 Mar 2011) - After leaving the group this morning me and my 2 girls birded at Goshen Warm Springs where we saw several hundred Cedar Waxwings and 1 Bewick's Wren...

Feb 2011

Robert Williams (19 Feb 2011 - I birded the Skipper Bay trail today, definitely a hot spot right now! There were 1000+ Northern Pintails, 500+ Green-wing Teals, 200+ American Widgeon, 150+ Canada Geese, 6 Cinnamon Teal, 100,000,000 Mallards (slight exaggeration), and the best bird of the day a Snow Goose. The airport dike is still closed due to the Ice build up. 

Reed Stone (19 Feb 2011) - Female Red Breasted Merganser - # 132 on my yard list.

Jon Watkins (19 Feb 2011) - Kendall and I drove along the western edge of Utah Lake this morning, birded around Goshen and Elberta, and then swung over to Lincoln Point. Highlights for us was a Great Horned Owl roosting in the Goshen cemetery, several Juniper Titmouse along Goshen Canyon road (struck out on the Pinyon Jays), a flock of 200+ Cedar Waxwings at Warm Springs...

Jeff Cooper (19 Feb 2011) - This morning I drove SR 73 through Lehi, past Eagle Mountain and then through Cedar Fort and Fairfield to watch my first Utah Sky Trials (Falconry Competition). I half birded along the way and saw typical birds until just before entering the very small community of Cedar Fort where I was fortunate to come across a flock of about 50 PINYON JAYS.

Douglas Mead (17 Feb 2011) - [Saratoga Springs] - Says Phoebe. Observed in my N Saratoga Springs yard this morning. Blew in with the storm.

Tim Avery (16 Feb 2011) - [American Fork] - Tree Swallows. Had 8 "flying" (I mean how much flying can you in 40 MPH winds anyway? More like pushed around.) over I-15 in American Fork this afternoon.  Might be a rough couple days for them with the incoming storms.

Eric Huish (9 Feb 2011) -  saw a Northern Shrike in my backyard this morning!

Ned Bixler (9 Feb 2011) - Lower Hobble Creek WMA - Snow Geese along with other ducks, and Canada geese.

Jeff Cooper (4 Feb 2011) - I was above Sundance this morning between 8 and 8:30, before heading to work. The Evening Grosbeaks were there in the same spot I found them last week. Pass mile marker 24, make the hairpin turn to the right and look left where the snow is absent due to an underground spring. There is a small pullout just past this spot on the right. I saw two Pygmy Owls as well.

Ned Bixler (2 Feb 2011) - [Sundance] 3:30 PM - Sundance. From a sign that reads "North Fork Fire Department" continue (.1 mile), and on the left there is a small tree. A northern pygmy owl was sitting on the top branch. The owl is only 20 feet from the cars on the road.

Bryan Shirley (2 Feb 2011) - [Utah Lake State Park] - Yesterday afternoon there were 8 Swans on the ice at UT Lake SP.  They were a couple of hundred yards west of the dike sitting on the ice.  All but one had their heads tucked under a wing, but I assume they were all Tundra Swans.

Paul Lombard (1 Feb 2011) - [Sundance] I visited the area reported by Bryan Shirley yesterday. Temperature was 7 degree F. and a brisk wind at about 1:30 pm today. I waited about 45 minutes and a flock of better than a dozen Red Crossbills arrived and began feeding on the cones in the conifers next to the road. I watched for about 15 minutes as they moved from one tree top to another. Thanks Bryan for the tip. No Grosbeaks but a couple of Steller's Jays crossed the road.

Jan 2011

Bryan Shirley (31 Jan 2011)  - After reading about the Evening Grosbeaks seen on Saturday near Sundance, I thought I would give it a try this morning.  Above Sundance a couple hundred yards above mile marker 24 the road makes a big corner.  On the left there are a lot of pines full of cones.  I found 12 Evening Grosbeaks in the top of one of the pines and about 15 Red Crossbills working the pine cones of another tree.

Robert Williams (28 Jan 2011) - Made a quick trip up to Aspen Grove today, we found 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Ruffed Grouse sitting in a tree at the far end of the parking lot (the big one at the end of the road). My girlfriend Jen spotted a Goshawk that flew over giving semi decent but short looks, and finally we saw one Pygmy Owl about .5 miles above the turn off for the ski resort, very close to where I saw one a few weeks ago.

Lu Giddings (22 Jan 2011) - Spotted an American White Pelican in the water at East Bay as I drove north on the freeway yesterday at about 10 am. ... The bird was seen in the water east of I-15 between the north Springville exit and the University Avenue exit.

Bryan Shirley (20 Jan 2011) - I relocated the Barrow's Goldeneye reported last week at Salem Pond this morning. There was also a drake Red-Breasted Merganser. They were both on the main pond. The Snow Goose at the small pond behind the houses North of the HWY was still there as well.

KC Childs (18 Jan 2011) - I ran out to Utah Lake State Park in Provo this afternoon. Where the Provo River meets Utah Lake on the south side of the park was one female Greater Scaup loosely mixed with two Lesser Scaups...

Brian Shirley (15 Jan 2011) - A beautiful Merlin landed on the top of Peteetneet in Payson today (while I was there sledding).  There is a lot of poop up there so maybe he perches there often. Also there are lots of Wood Ducks hanging out in the regular place in West Provo.  I counted 16 today, but Reed Stone said there were 25 there a few days ago.

Robert Williams (15 Jan 2011) - I drove around the lake today between Saratoga Springs and Elberta. I saw 3 Rough-legged Hawks, two Ferruginous Hawks, 6 Red-tail Hawks, two were dark morphs, tons of Kestrels, Horned larks and Ravens, 1 Meadowlark and that was about it. In Goshen Canyon I found Song Sparrows and a Pacific Wren near the bridge at the far side of the canyon, and a Black-billed Magpie. I stopped at the Salem ponds on the way home and along with the regular things saw a pair of Barrows Goldeneyes.

Eric Huish (12 Jan 2011) - KC Childs and I drove around Utah Lake today (Jan 12) ... We didn't spend a lot of time at any of these spots. Most interesting birds were; two Northern Shrikes, a few Titmice and a Pinyon Jay in the Goshen Canyon area, Mountain Bluebirds at Warm Springs WMA, and a few Prairie Falcons and 5 Rough-legged Hawks on the West side of the lake.

Eric Peterson (12 Jan 2011) - This morning my wife Holly and I went for a drive up South Fork Canyon in Provo Canyon. We were looking to see some moose but didn't find one. We saw lots of Mule Deer and Elk. Some of the other animals of interest were the Northern Pygmy Owl at the top of the canyon right by the Big Springs turn off. It was roosting in the tree in the field. We saw a small flock of Bushtits...

Robert Williams (12 jan 2011) - Yesterday I birded around Sundance ski resort saw 1 Pygmy Owl, lots of Chickadees, Steller's Jays ....  I did hear a Golden Crowned Kinglet.

KC Childs (9 Jan 2011) - I decided it was too nice of a day to not get out and take advantage of some of the beautiful weather today. I started out at Evergreen Cemetery in Springville. The highlight there was a White-Breasted Nuthatch. Beautiful bird to watch...

Eric Huish (8 Jan 2011) - Robert Williams and I birded Dry Canyon this morning from 8:20 am - 10:40 am. We went specifically hoping to find Rosy-Finches. ... We hiked up to where we last saw them but it took another hour to find them. Robert spotted them working around the top back of the second cliff up on the North side of the canyon. ...They were mostly Black Rosy-Finches with at least a couple Gray-crowns. Back at the parking area on our way down we saw a Northern Shrike and a Bald Eagle flew over.
-- After Dry Canyon Robert and I met up with KC Childs and we headed up to South Fork, Provo Canyon. Not a lot of birds there but we did get a good look at a Northern Pygmy-Owl about 3.4 miles up the canyon.

Leena Rogers (8 Jan 2011) - Milt Moody, Tuula Rose and I spotted a GREAT EGRET this morning at the FlowServ pond, in south Provo. There were also several Belted Kingfishers in the same area.

Robert Williams (2 Jan 2011) - at the East Bay golf course this morning there was a flock of maybe 200 Canada Geese amidst these geese there were at least four and maybe up to six CACKLING GEESE. I am not an expert but these little guys were little, dark and had very stubby short bills. Also of note were 3 Common Mergansers, 2 Wood Ducks, and about 300 American Wigeon.

Eric Huish - (1 Jan 2011) - Ned Bixler, Jeff Cooper and I birded around Utah Lake in Provo, Orem and Lindon this morning from 9:00 - Noon. .. .Most interesting birds were; an American White Pelican at Utah Lake State Park out on the ice in the harbor, a Prairie Falcon and Merlin west of the park in Vineyard. Close looks at Virginia Rails out in the open where the water spills into the cooling ponds South of Lindon Boat Harbor, and an American Tree Sparrow and Hermit Thrush at the Sportsman's access at Powel Slough.

WASATCH COUNTY

David Wheeler (30 Jan 2011) - Above Wasatch Mtn State Park, above Midway: I saw two flocks of EVENING GROSBEAKS  a mile or so above the little power station. The first flock was in conifers, the second in aspen. Both were noisy. Also present were CASSIN'S FINCHES and PINE SISKINS, along with tits, etc.

Dave Hanscom (30 Jan 2011) - The Homestead Resort, just south of WMSP headquarters. As I drove in their access road, I ... was pleasantly surprised to see a flock of Evening Grosbeaks in a nearby tree. There were many more all through the grounds.

Kris Purdy (29 Jan, 2011) -- A baker’s dozen of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS made an appearance briefly this afternoon at about 4:00 along the Pine Creek Nature Trail (snowshoe trail) at Wasatch Mountain State Park, Wasatch County.

Dave Hanscom (9 Jan 2011) - headed for South Fork of Provo to look for Northern Pygmy-owl. This continues to be my nemesis bird, I'm afraid, but did see Kingfisher reported yesterday and a flock of Turkeys. Also took a side trip to Wallsburg to see if the LEWIS' WOODPECKERS were in their usual spot, and indeed they were. Best sighting of the day was at the Deer Creek Marina, where there was just a bit of open water. Two HORNED GREBES were hanging out with some Common Goldeneyes.

Dec 2010

Jeff Bilsky (21 Dec 2010) - [Lower Provo River Parkway] -Birded around the Provo River/Skipper Bay. The bird that captured the majority of my interest was a yellow, ragged looking warbler that didn't give me another look after my initial view - must've snuck out the back of the thicket. It's chip note was quite reminiscent of an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER as was it's appearance. I'd like another look, but I'm sure that's what it was. Where the heck were the White-Crowned Sparrows.    
Number of species: 25.
     - Wood Duck, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Northern Flicker, Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow .

Robert Williams (16 Dec 2010) - I saw a Red-napped Sapsucker on BYU campus on my way to final today (it was in  the trees on the north-east corner of the law building). Also had a Townsend's
Solitaire at my house just off Ninth East behind Gold's Gym.

Robert Williams (15 Dec 2010) - At Utah Lake State Park today there were 6 Herring gulls 2 adults 3 third years, and one 1st winter. Also there were about 6 California gulls and about 20 Ring-billed gulls. There was one fly over Pipit, 2 Buffleheads, some Golden-eyes and not much else.

Eric Huish (11 Dec 2010) - This morning Jeff Cooper and I saw a flock of Rosy-Finches flying around the cliffs in Dry Canyon as we were walking up the road to the canyon. Jeff ran back to the car for the spotting scope then we hiked up the canyon but we never got a close enough look to determine species. They wouldn't land near us. All we saw were the flocks flying over the canyon. ..

Robert Williams (11 Dec 2010) - Birded the Airport dike, Utah Lake State Park, and Provo River Parkway trail today not much around but there was a Black Swan on the river that was a bit unusual, the two Nuthatches seem to be hanging around there were present at the trail parking lot, i had bad, and short looks at a what i think was a Prairie Falcon on the dike, also saw a Merlin. a few days back (last Sunday)  there was mixed flock of black birds mostly Red-winged that had to be 3-5 thousand strong!

Gloria A - (4 Dec 2010) - I've been seeing one Black Swan on the Provo River for several days. I've never seen one before so I am assuming it is unusual and worth reporting.

Nov 2010

Jeff Cooper (27 Nov 1010) - This morning, I stopped by the Lindon Boat Harbor/Geneva Cooling Ponds to see if the ponds were frozen. They were lightly frozen over along with Utah Lake.  A BELTED KINGFISHER announced its entry with a lot of chatter and it flew in from behind and down into what turned out to be a small oasis of bird activity. It was the one place where the water had not frozen due to water that was pouring in from the Geneva area. I watched the Kingfisher feed and then notice that VIRGINIA RAILS were frolicking and foraging. I counted at least ten over about a 30-minute period. I have never seen so many in one spot. In the same small area I saw the following: GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SNIPE, DOWITCHER, COOT, MARSH WREN, GREAT BLUE HERON, one shore bird I'm stilling working on identifying with my photos, and SORA (heard calling only). It was a busy little place with more to share, I'm sure, if I would have stayed longer.

Jeff Cooper (22 Nov 2010) - Sorry about not being more specific about the location in my previous report of the WHITE-WINGED DOVE. I didn't think it likely the dove would return so I didn't give the specific address. However, several people have asked for the address. I saw it at about 1200 N. 900 E. in American Fork (the road leading from the Mt Timpanogos LDS Temple toward Lone Peak High School).

Eric Huish (20 Nov 2010) - KC Childs and I drove around the Provo Airport Dike today (Nov 20). The most interesting birds were; a late Barn Swallow on the West side of the airport, 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers right at the beginning of the dike loop (the Airport Entrance side not the Provo River side), a Male and Female Hooded Merganser in the moat just East of the South extension and an American Tree Sparrow at the same spot as the mergansers. 

Dennis Shirley (9 Nov 2010) - At about 2:00pm today I found a single SNOW BUNTING on the south jetty at the Utah Lake State Park west of Provo in Utah County. It was seen about half way out the dike after it turns back to the north. It was skiddish and would fly a short distance down the dike each time I got too close. It appeared to be a 1st year male, with much buffy coloration, but still lots of white. A nice looking bird and a pleasant surprise.

Alona Huffaker (9 Nov 2010) - 20-30 Sandhill Cranes were flying way high above North Mapleton about 2:30 this afternoon. There were twice that many on Sunday morning near the same area.

KCChilds (7 Nov 2010) - [Provo Airport Dike] -I decided today to run down around the airport dike to see what was moving down there. The first bird of note I saw while I was on the dike was a great close look at a Horned Grebe. It was seen along the slightly paved section in the moat when coming from the airport side on the east end. It was seen with a Pied-billed Grebe. I had to look through gaps in the Tamerisk to be able to view the bird. A good bird for Utah county. Where the pavement ended I had a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. It's getting late in the year for these species to still be around in northern Utah. Out on the mudflats were still a good number of American Avocets. I am sure they will be taking flight soon for the south. Also flying over the moat on the dike was  Caspian Tern. This is also starting to be late in the year for this species. Nothing incredibly rare but still wonderful to be out on a beautiful day like today.

Robert Williams (5 Nov 2010) - Birded the park and dike for a little this morning, of note were the 12-15 AMERICAN PIPITS out on the pier in the state park, 12-15 fly over TUNDRA Swans (truth be told the swans were yesterday) and a pair of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS also the regular wc sparrows, yellow-rumped warbler, coots, western/clarks grebes, pheasant, harrier, flicker, etc etc...

Oct 2010

Jeff Bilsky (27 Oct 2010) -There are about a dozen American Crows feeding on the ground at 960 North and University in Provo right now.

Jeff Bilsky (26 Oct 2010) - Drove through both last night. Lots of Clarks/Western Grebes at the State Park and a bunch of Ringbilled Gulls. Not much else. At the airport dike: some later Barn Swallows, a few American White Pelicans, Dowitchers, Caspian Terns and Avocets were the highlights. Bring on the old squaw (long-tailed ducks) and scoters.

Eric Huish (23 Oct 2010) - At Deer Creek we saw a Herring Gull and 2 Bald Eagles from the pull-out on hwy 189 just west of the Charleston turn-off.  There were Common Loons scattered around at various places on the reservoir and at the Provo River inlet there were Pintail, Bufflehead, Coots, a couple Caspian Terns and some pipits flew over.

Jeff Bilsky (18 Oct 2010) - There's an Eastern Phoebe at the provo airport dike. It is on the south straightaway that runs east to west. It was flycatching from the fence and hanging out with a yellow-rumped warbler. The frantic downward tail wagging was my first indicator then I saw the dark head and light belly. Cool bird.

Eric Huish (9 Oct 2010) - Yesterday at the Provo Airport Dike several Utah County Birders spent the day birdwatching in one spot at the East corner of the dike road. Best birds were a Peregrine falcon in the morning and a Barn Owl, our last bird of the day, at 7:30 pm...

Eric Huish (9 Oct 2010) - I ran out to the Provo Airport Dike this morning (Oct 9th) to pick a spot for the Big Sit. On my way along the East side of the dike loop I saw a Merlin and a Wilson's Warbler. Out on the mudflats at the East corner of the dike loop there were 4 Great Egrets all standing together...
     Alona Huffaker called me about an hour ago. She saw a Lewis's Woodpecker at the East corner of the Provo Airport Dike on a power pole. She also said the Great Egrets were still there.

Sep 2010

Jeff Bilsky (16 Sep 2010) - I decided to hike Skipper Bay (Utah County) after work tonight. There were pockets where it was quite prolific. Nothing rare or unusual that I found, but some nice migrants with CASSIN'S VIREOS and 6 species of Warblers....

Jack Binch (12 Sep 2010) -  ...River Lane had a warbler-fest today. I saw Black & White, Nashville, Townsend's, Virginia's, lots of Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumps, MacGillivrays, Yellow, and Wilson's Warblers. Also present were a couple of Warbling Vireos, Common Nighthawks, Lincoln Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadees, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and of course some Song Sparrows...

Ned Bixler (6 Sep 2010) - ... Today, lake side of Provo Airport, I saw an American Tree Sparrow...

Jeff Bilsky (4 Sep 2010) - [Provo Airport Dike - Blackpoll Warbler] We were never able to relocate but I had fantastic initial looks. If you want to try to find it, go to the southwest corner by the lake and work your way north, looking in the thickets on the river side. That's where I initially found it before it played disappearing warbler...

Jeff Bilsky (3 Sep 2010) - At the Provo Airport dike, just before sunset, I observed a bird on the road that was flying short distances, running, and repeating as I pursued it (reminiscent of a sage sparrow in behavior)...  I believe that indeed what I saw were LARK BUNTINGS. The one I studied was a female and the others seemed similar in appearance but could've been winter males as well as my looks were brief on these other 3.

Jeff Bilsky (2 Sep 2010) -  Not too birdy at Swede and River after work this evening but I did have 5 Warbler species: Nashville (1), Yellow-breasted Chat (2), Yellow (3), Yellow-rumped (7), Orange-Crowned (1) Other highlights included several Common Nighthawks, a Savannah Sparrow, and a couple Loggerhead Shrikes.

Aug 2010

Eric Huish (28 Aug 2010) -  I went birding with Jeff Cooper this morning to Lindon Boat Harbor and American Fork Harbor (Utah County). Best birds at Lindon Boat harbor area were 3 Solitary Sandpipers where the water runs out of the Settling Pond into the lake, South of the Boat Harbor....
     At American Fork Boat Harbor we birded the road North of the Harbor. At the first T intersection up from the harbor we found a little flock of birds that included Townsend's, Orange-crowned, Virginia's, Wilson's and Yellow Warbler and at least 3 Blue Grosbeak.

Alona Huffaker (5 Aug 2010) -  I've had a couple of Lazuli buntings visiting my feeders again! Cool! Nice for my August list.

Jul 2010

Craig Fosdick (26 July 2010) - Yesterday evening Ryan O' Donnell, Guillaume (sorry didn't catch your last name), and I made the trip to Bridal Veil Falls to look for Black Swifts returning to presumed nest sites behind the falls.  We watched from 750 to about 905, and spent most of our time scanning the waterfalls and the cliffs. We saw White-throated Swifts and swallow species, but no Black Swifts, although I did see one bird that I think may have been a Black Swift. 

Oliver Hansen (22 Jul 2010) - My brother and I hiked Provo Peak yesterday. About 4-5 Clark's nutcrackers way up at the summit around 11,000 feet squawking their little hearts out...

Robert Williams (15 Jul 2010) - yesterday i went to goshen to look for bobolinks, i did not find any but
i did find in some tall cottonwood trees about 20-25 great blue herons and one pair of great egrets they flew in and circled above me for about 2-3 minuets and then both landed near a large nest that was much more tight nit than that of the great blue herons...

Lu Giddings (10 July 2010) - Utah County Birders enjoyed a trip up beautiful Santaquin Canyon and
along a portion of the Nebo Loop this morning. ... We enjoyed stops at Tinney Flat campground, Santaquin Meadows, the Purple Martin stop on Nebo Loop, and Nebo Monument trailhead. The best birds of the day were arguably the pair of Red Crossbills Dennis Shirley spotted at the monument trailhead, but the Olive-sided Flycatchers, Cordilleran Flycatcher, and Purple Martins were also favorites.

Lu Giddings (9 July 2010) - Just had my first Rufous Hummingbird of the season stop by my feeders. I noticed earlier this week that the Bullock's orioles nesting in a neighbor's trees are gone. It may be the first half of July, but Fall migration has begun in the foothills.
 

Jun 2010

Alona Huffaker (23 June 2010) - Bonnie and I were surprised to see a beautiful male BOBOLINK west of Springville tonight at about 8:30. Take the Walmart exit and go west on 4000 S to 2000 W. and go north, he was not quite to the end of the road--before you get to the last house. Alona

Alona Huffaker (19June 2010) - [Goshen] - Bonnie and I birded around the South End of Utah Lake and Goshen area on Friday.  We did not see any Bob-o-links or Blue Grosbeaks .  Has anyone else seen them there?  We saw an adult CURLEW with 2 chicks at the end of the road going north out of Goshen and the Great-Blue Heron rookerie was pretty neat.  Be sure to roll down your windows or get out and listen to them!  Alona

David L Walton (14 June 2010) - Found my first ever Yellow-breasted Chat at 7:30 this AM about a
quarter mile up the maintenance road which leaves the main pavillion at Mt Timpanogos Park in Provo Canyon. I walked up the road to the first group of scrub oak trees on the west side after the road turns northwest.

Jeff Bilsky (13 Jun 2010) - Today I led a small but determined group...to Utah County in search of birds... Highlights were EASTERN KINGBIRDS at almost every stop, a male BLUE GROSBEAK at River Lane, and two PURPLE MARTINS at River Lane out near the end over the water. Any questions let me know.

Kay Stone (4 Jun 2010)  -  This morning I saw a Yellow-Breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak in Goshen Canyon along the stream. I also saw a Burrowing Owl west of Utah Lake just about three  quarters of a mile south of the 14 mile marker on a post on the east side of the road. I don't recall the number of the road [UT 68], but is Redwood road that extends south to Elberta.

May 2010

Leena Rogers (30 may 2010) [Provo] - Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak in my daughter's yard, foothills of Provo.

Dave Wheeler (23 May 2010) ..... went to River Lane and wandered the portion along the river.  Saw many warblers, plus a lovely Yellow-breasted Chat, again a bazillion Western tanagers . ... and two Purple Martins (male & female) near the lake .....

Eric Huish (22 May 2010) - Jeff Bilsky just called.  He is right now looking at an American Redstart at Utah Lake State Park.  Walk the footbridge over the river then walk the path downstream.  The bird is near the open clearing.

Cheryl Peterson (21 May 2010) - Bonnie Williams and I went up Diamond Fork this afternoon.  In the campground we saw a Black Phoebe (a few yards upstream from the bridge flycatching from the rocks and bushes), Fox Sparrow, Red-breasted Sapsucker (possibly 2 since they were seen at opposite ends of the campground) and Yellow-breasted Chat.

Eric Huish (21 May 20100 - [Lower Provo River Parkway] - Jeff Bilsky and I birded the Lower Provo River Parkway this afternoon. We walked around the oxbow then downstream from the oxbow parking lot. Among others saw Barn Owls, Wilson's Warblers, MacGillivray's Warbler, Willow Flycatchers,  Cordilleran Flycatcher, Western Wood Pe-wee

sisterscott123 (21 May 2010) - Spotted a Plain-Grey Titmouse today. Eagle Mountain Foothills.

Lu Giddings (20 May 2010) - [Diamond Fork] - The best bird sightings were an Eastern Kingbird sitting on a cedar post about 0.5 miles above the Diamond fork campground, and a Sora walking across the algae mat covering one of Diamond Fork's lower ponds ... Red-naped Sapsuckers, House Wrens, and Green-tailed Towhees were common .... Fox Sparrows were found in the Diamond Fork campground. Plumbeous Vireos are around ....

Eric Huish (20 May 2010) - [Highland Glen Park[ - Birded Highland Glen Park this morning with Milt Moody, Sirpa Grierson and Leena Rogers.  Bird activity was down from a few weeks ago.  Black-headed Grosbeaks singing everywhere. No loons in the pond. Among other sightings: MacGillivary's Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Horned Lark (heard), Black-chinned Hummingbird.

Eric Huish (18 May 2010) - [South Fork Canyon] - There was a Yellow-breasted Chat singing next to the park-and-ride lot at the mouth of the canyon.  At the Beaver ponds, about half way up South Fork Canyon, we saw a Wilson's Warbler, heard Gray Catbird and Fox Sparrow singing and from across the ponds we could heard a Ruffed Grouse drumming.  Lots of Yellow Warblers everywhere in the canyon

Jeff Bilsky (6 May 2010) -  [Northern Parula]...I stumbled on a presumed Warbler that confused me. Here's what I can tell you. Yellow throat. Clean white from there on down, through to the undertail. Pure white. Not dingy. No streaking. When I saw the head, the eyes appeared to have white arcs above and below. I wasn't able to get a feel for the colors of the head, wings, body. I have theories but none that fit perfectly...

Eric Huish (8 May 2010) - Jeff Cooper and I birded the American Fork Boat Harbor area this morning. Best bird was a Northern Waterthrush Jeff spotted along the American Fork River about a half mile upstream from the boat harbor...
     We saw lots of Yellow Warblers, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, a few Hermit Thrushes and and a few Green Tailed Towhees. A Warbling Vireo was a first-of-year for us.

Jeff Bilsky (6 May 2010) - In the hot spot that is my office in Provo, I just had a NASHVILLE WARBLER and a couple BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (M+F), as well as continued numbers of the other common Warblers - no Vireos today...

Reed Stone (6 May 2010) - This morning I got a BLACK THROATED GRAY WARBLER in my yard. This is a new yarder making my list up to 128...

Ned Bixler (5 May 2010) Today, along with the wind, several birds showed up. Skipper Bay trail: warblers: yellow-rumped, yellow, orange-crowned, Virginia's, and common yellowthroat. Several other birds: chipping sparrows, hermit thrush, and Bullock's orioles.
     At Utah Lake State Park the most interesting was a black and white warbler along with the rest of the warblers listed at skipper bay trail. Also 2 lark sparrows.

Jeff Bilsky (3 May 2010) - [From a list of 45 species of birds seen at Provo Airport Dike]  Red-breasted Merganser 1, Virginia Rail 1, Sandhill Crane 1, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs 2, Western Sandpiper 1, Franklin's Gull 1, Caspian Tern 1, Forster's Tern 1

Eric Huish (1 May 2010) -  Jeff Cooper and I birded Highland Glen Park for about an hour this morning in the rain.  One of the Harris Sparrows Jeff has been seeing in the park this winter is
still there, in breeding plumage and signing. It was with a few White-crowned Sparrows near the small parking area south of the playground.
     There was a Common Loon on the fishing pond. Loons can be hard to find in Utah County.
     We also saw 5 species of warbler, a Hermit Thrush and I'm pretty sure we had a Peregrine Falcon fly over.

Apr 2010

Jeff Bilsky (22 April 2010) [Heron Island, East Bay Golf Course, Provo] Saw with Eric Huish + scope during the past hour. All 4 Neotropic Cormorants are there.

Utah Birds (22 April 2010) A Great Horned Owl was spotted April 20th at the Camp Floyd-Stagecoach Inn State Park in Fairfield.

Eric Huish (20 April 2010) Birded with Ned Bixler. A Yellow Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler at the oxbow. A pair of Wood Ducks flying down the Provo River.  A lone Cattle Egret on the South side of Provo Center Street about 1/2 mile East of Utah Lake State Park and a Cattle Egret East of Lindon Boat Harbor...Got my first hummingbird of the year last Sunday (4/18) at my feeder in Pleasant Grove.  A Male Calliope!!  It came in a few times Sunday afternoon and was still here on Monday.

Jeff Bilsky (19 April 2010) - After work drive around the dike. 7 CASPIAN TERNS off the Eastern shoot with a large flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. Lone LINCOLN'S and CHIPPING SPARROWS were my first for the year in Northern Utah. .... Also should note I saw the HARRIS'S SPARROW in the same area it has been seen numerous times over by Skipper Bay. 

Dennis Shirley (15 April 2010) - A neighbor, Alex Leatham, and I birded Benjamin Slough area... Best three species were, 1] 20- Ross's Geese, 2] a lone Drake Blue-winged Teal, 3] and a Short-eared Owl. Have Fun!

Eric Huish (14 April 2010) -  A Black-throated Gray Warbler at Battle Creek Canyon in Pleasant Grove this morning. 

Kay Stone (12 April 2010) - The Varied Thrush is still hanging around on the Jordan River Parkway west of Lehi. 

Eric Huish (11 April 2010) - The White-throated Sparrow that started visiting my feeder in December had been a no show for almost a month.  It showed up again on April 7th ....

Jeff Bilsky (6 April 2010) - [Provo Airport Dike] ... I located a BLUE-WINGED TEAL .... A FORSTER'S TERN flew over and a couple FRANKLIN'S GULLS were in a farm field to the North a bit. 5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were located in the nearby moat. ... The West stretch produced a side by side view of a SAGE SPARROW and a SAGE THRASHER and a couple of SAVANNAH SPARROWS rounded out the drive. [Skipper Bay Trail] A quick stop in the vicinity of Skipper Bay produced 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (same 3 as before I'd surmise) and a PEREGRINE FALCON. 

Dennis Shirley (3 April 2010) - This afternoon I birded along the first two miles of the Santaquin Canyon road. The best birds were 1] a FOX SPARROW in the thick squaw bush clump near the mouth of the canyon ...  2] a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on a telephone pole just up from the canyon mouth, and 3] a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE...

Nathan Romney (3 April 2010) - I birded the southeast corner of the airport dike ... I did see 5 Long-billed Dowitchers, a Franklin's Gull, and a Red-breasted Merganser.

David Wheeler (3 April 2010) - [Provo Airport Dike]... there was a profusion of Black-necked Stilts. ... there were DOWITCHERS ... two MARBLED GODWITS ... a SNOWY EGRET... A little earlier, in the puddle NW of the SE corner of the runway extension, a YELLOWLEGS ... Finally found a silo with a Barn Owl.

Dave Hanscom (2 April 2010) - Drove down to Utah Lake today to see what new arrivals could be found. Best birds of the day were: Black-necked Stilts and one Blue-winged Teal at the Provo Airport Dike. From the easternmost southeast corner, walk east along the road from the pump house to where the road turns north. The birds were east of there. Long-eared owl at River Road.

Jeff Bilsky (2 April 2010) - Quick drive down the west (lake) side of the airport dike at lunch. ...  I did verify: Vesper Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American White Pelicans, Turkey Vultures, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow, couple Stray Cats that perhaps ate an unseen rare migrant.

Mar 2010

Jeff Bilsky(30 March 2010) - Decided to bird in the high winds after work to see what was in the vicinity of Skipper Bay. On some private property nearby I located 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, along with a moving flock of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. On the side of the road, I was lucky enough to spot a SAGE THRASHER. ... Other returnees included a TURKEY VULTURE and several TREE SWALLOWS. ...

Dennis Shirley (30 March 2010) - Hi All, Just made a quick tour of the west side of the Provo Airport Dike. The wind was really howling and the waves off the lake looked like ocean breakers. But the hour I spent there was rewarded with a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. It was seen first on the side of the dirt road straight west of the airport traffic tower, then feeding in the short weeds to the east of the dike. ...

Jeff Bilsky (29 March 2010) - Osprey were on the platforms before flying to the west. Clark's Grebes were walking on water at the end of the trail out in the lake. Nice! 

Ned Bixler (29 March 2010) - [Lindon Boat Harbor & Geneva Settling ponds] - Canada Goose, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Clark's Grebe, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, American Avocet, Black-billed Magpie, Tree Swallow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird  

Eric Huish (28 March 2010) - Utah County Birders Field Trip. Lu Giddings led a great field trip (Saturday, March 27). Over 30 participants came on the trip so my lists are lacking some of the birds on the group list. We saw a few spring arrivals - A flock of Tree Swallows, a few Vesper Sparrows, American Avocet, Say's Phoebes in a couple locations and a Snowy Plover at Lincoln Beach.

 [Benjamin Slough] - Number of species seen: 29. Partial list of species: Canada Goose, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Bufflehead, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, American Avocet, Eurasian Collared-Dove

Flora Duncan (24 March 2010) - I went around the Provo airport dike to see the Red breasted Merganser and saw my first American White Pelicans. 

Jeff Bilsky (23 March 2010) - There was a male Red-breasted Merganser at the Provo airport dike road .... Drive in from the East side entrance (you will be driving south) until the road bends directly to the West and you can look North and back down the canal. The bird was here. Also, of note, saw a Western Grebe and a couple of Sandhill Cranes in the area.

Kay Stone (22 March 2010) - The Varied Thrush was seen by me today at noon in the usual spot on the Jordan River Parkway west of Lehi.

Paul Higgins (20 March 2910) - Red-breasted Merganser, Provo Boat Harbor, March 20, 2010 (2 males).

usavettes (19 March 2010) - [Alpine UT] - [Sighting of a possible Bell's Vireo].

Matt Mills (17 March 2010) - This afternoon Stephanie Alvarenga and I saw a lone TURKEY VULTURE in the sycamores at 400 E Center St in Provo. Also in the neighborhood were 2 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, a MOURNING DOVE and a COOPER'S HAWK.

Carl Ingwell (17 March 2010) - Jeff Bilsky and I just located the HARRIS'S SPARROW near Skipper Bay Trail.  It was on the ground just outside the portable horse corral. We were also treated to 30 seconds of a Harris's Sparrow song. We relocated the 3 Greater White-Fronted Geese down the road from Skipper Bay trail.

Davis Wheeler (15 March 2010) - [Provo Airport Dike] - Yesterday afternoon, I took 5-year old, self-styled birdwatcher Petey and faithful Mojo birding at the Provo Airport dike loop.  I was seeking the SAGE SPARROW, which I haven't seen in seven years of slacking off, and found one at the southwestern corner of the loop.

Ned Bixler (12 March 2010) - [North Harbor Road & Lower Parkway River Trail, Provo] American Tree Sparrow was found along North Harbor Road on South side. The Snipes were found in the last section of the Lower Parkway River Trail.

Jeff Bilsky (11 March 2010) - [Swede Lane] birded Swede Lane in Utah County this evening just before sunset. Highlights: 1 PRAIRIE FALCON on a pole on SR-77 heading west towards Swede Lane, 2 SANDHILL CRANES that flew by, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE that gave great, diagnostic looks. The water at the end of the road ...  a good number of WESTERN and CLARKS GREBES and a couple DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS further out. 

Ned Bixler (7 March 2010) - Along North Harbor road (Provo) - half way between Lakeshore road and Skipper Bay- GREATER WHITE- FRONTED GOOSE. On North side of road. It was with large groups of Canada Geese.

Mark Mossing (7 March 2010) -  ...  [Benjamin Slough] Observation date:  3/6/10. Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Pheasant, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk (Western), Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, Sandhill Crane, ... Eurasian Collared-Dove, ... Horned Lark, ..., White-crowned Sparrow (Mountain), Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon), Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird

Carl Ingwell (7 March 2010) - Brittany Badger and I birded some Utah Co. spots this morning.  I won't bore anyone with a complete list.  Highlights: Jordan River trail @ Lehi-Sandhill Crane; Provo Airport-Dike-Double Crested Cormorant, Tree Swallow. Skipper Bay Trail- Cackling Goose, Ross's Goose and Snow Geese.

Eric Huish (6 March 2010) - [Skipper Bay Trail] Ned Bixler, Jeff Cooper and I were out there from 3:00 pm to 5:45.  We couldn't find the Cackling Goose. We did see a Peregrine Falcon, Sandhill Crane, and only 1 Starling!

Mark Mossing (6 March 2010) - Went out today searching for Sandhill Cranes in Utah County. Found two pairs in and around Benjamin Slough and three pairs in a stubble corn field about 3 miles east of Goshen just south of Route 6.

Carl Ingwell (6 March 2010) - [Skipper Bay trail] Steve & Cindy Sommerfield, Jeff Bilsky and I found two Snow Geese, one Ross's Goose and one Cackling Goose at the end of Skipper Bay trail.  Skipper Bay trail is near Utah Lake State Park.

Jeff Bilsky (5 March 2010) - [Provo Airport Dike]  At the dike, the highlight was a SAGE SPARROW close to the Southeast Corner of the main drive. .... At Skipper Bay, the SNOW GEESE and ROSS'S GOOSE continue near the North end ... There was a SAVANNAH SPARROW that hopped up and gave a very brief song, and allowed for great looks near the South end by the first East/West fence. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was the first I've seen there in awhile as well.

Eric Huish (5 March 2010) - [Lindon Boat Harbor and Geneva Settling ponds] Saw my first Clark's Grebe of the year in a narrow gap between the ice on Utah Lake south of Lindon Boat Harbor. Utah Lake still 95% iced over. Long narrow gap in the ice out on Utah Lake had the Common Mergansers, Northern Pintail, grebe and others. Ice free settling ponds contained most of the geese, Gadwall and Green-winged Teal.

Jeff Bilsky (4 March 2010) - A quick lunch time stroll at Skipper Bay - mainly just hoping for the Ross's Goose and found it with the 3 Snow Geese towards the end of the trail (North side) past the Osprey platforms and relatively close to the trail providing great side by side looks. .... Killdeer numbers are really growing over the past few days. Good Birding.

Ned Bixler (3 March 3, 2010) - [East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, Provo]. Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-capped Chickadee , American Robin , Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored), Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon).   

Jeff Bilsky (1 March 2010 ) - [Provo Airport Dike] The RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was at the bend in the moat on the East side of the dike.

Jeff Bilsky (1 March 2010) [Skipper Bay Trail] - Snow Geese just North of the canal that runs adjacent to the Osprey nesting platforms. American Tree Sparrow near beginning of trail. Other species observed: Canada Goose, Mallard,  .... Northern Pintail, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker (Red-shafted), ... American Pipit, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed), Red-winged Blackbird

Feb 2010

Ned Bixler (27 Feb 2010) - [SKIPPER BAY TRAIL] Seen: Snow Goose; Canada Goose; Gadwall; American Wigeon; Mallard; Northern Shoveler; Northern Pintail; Green-winged Teal; Great Blue Heron; Northern Harrier; Red-tailed Hawk; American Kestrel; Ring-billed Gull; California Gull; Northern Flicker (Red-shafted); Black-billed Magpie; Black-capped Chickadee; American Robin; European Starling; Red-winged Blackbird.

Eric Huish (20 Feb 2010) - Birded Skipper Bay Trail and Provo Airport Dike with KC Childs and Jeff Bilsky late this morning.  Best birds were a large flock of [American] Pipits on Skipper Bay Trail and a Northern Shrike south of the control tower on the airport dike.

Carl Ingwell (20 Feb 2010) - The Varied Thrush was still present at the Jordan River Parkway in Lehi.  It was just south (3M) of the pumphouse.  I saw it between 745 and 815 this morning. I also saw a Double Crested Cormorant flying over.

Joel and Kathy Beyer  (17 Feb  2010) -  Besides seeing the Varied Thrush yesterday morning, we also saw a Bewick's Wren and heard Sandhill Cranes (east of the trail) while walking to the pumphouse.

Matt Mills (13 Feb 2010) - Saw the Varied Thrush briefly today at the previously described spot along the Jordan River parkway. The bird was on the ground north of the old pumphouse.

Matt Mills (12 Feb 2010) - Spent the afternoon birding around Utah county with some folks from BYU.
Highlights include: LONG-EARED OWL continuing at Provo Airport Dike. NORTHERN SHRIKE: 1 ad. just north of the Owl in a tree on the dike. COMMON GRACKLE: 1 ad. male with Red-winged Blackbirds at about 3370  Center Street West. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 1 at Benjamin Slough. Also at Benjamin Slough amongst the many Canada Geese and Mallards were a few AMERICAN WIGEONS and a good number of NORTHERN PINTAIL. In in the area south of River Lane area there were at least 16 BALD EAGLES of various ages (mostly adults). ... Of interest was a dark morph RED-TAILED HAWK ('rufous' morph) near Lindon Boat Harbour.

Jeff Bilsky (12 Feb 2010) -  [Skipper Bay Trail]  100's of Canada Geese present. Personal highlights were 14 REDHEADS, a CANVASBACK, and a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.

Eric Huish (7 Feb 2010) - KC Childs and his roommate Sean glimpsed a Hummingbird fly out of a tree in their front yard Friday (Feb 5) around 5:00 pm. KC saw it again on Saturday around 5:00 pm, again just a glimpse. He is unsure of species. ...The sighting is in the area of 300 W 200 S, Provo. `

Eric Huish (7 Feb 2010) - I saw a couple Northern Mockingbirds on Friday (Feb 5) along the road about a mile south of the Lindon Boat Harbor, or about a half mile south of the settling ponds.

Eric Huish (7 Feb 2010) - In my yard this morning I saw a Merlin in the elm tree across the street. A  Sharp-shinned Hawk on a big blue spruce in the corner of our yard.
 

Jan 2010

Kay Stone (22 Jan 2010) - Kay Stone called to report a Varied Thrush on the Jordan River Parkway North of the Model Airfield (Lehi) this morning (Jan 22).

Dennis Shirley (19 Jan 2010) - Just saw my first good yard bird of the new year - NORTHERN GOSHAWK. It was an immature [female I believe], and was perched near my backyard feeders, watching all the activity. It hung around for about 20 minutes, then got tired of being harassed by four magpies and a flock of chickadees. It dropped down the ridge into Loafer Canyon, but could very well stick around for a while. Heaven help the pheasants and quail. Come to think of it they haven't been around much the last couple of days. I wonder why!!!

Eric Huish (6 Jan 2010) - Drove the Provo Airport Dike and Utah Lake State Park with Ned Bixler this afternoon/evening...We also saw a couple Long-eared Owls. One on the dike and one at the State Park.

Eric Huish (4 Jan 2010) - I saw a beautiful Male Yellow-shafted Flicker at Bicentennial Park this afternoon. It was in the woods on the back side of the boardwalk. There was also a Red-shafted there... At home I saw the Screech-Owl poking its head out of the nest box. Watching the deer below it.

Dec 2009

Matt Mills (11 Dec 2009) - Randy Larsen, a professor here at BYU, mentioned that there was a SAY'S PHOEBE just outside the Widtsoe Building on BYU Campus at 9 am this morning. The bird was immediately south of the building in one of the Locust trees before flying higher up on the side of the building. It then flew across the street to the south...

Eric Huish (5 Dec 2009) - Keeli Marvel, KC Childs and I birded the Saratoga Spring / Lehi area this morning... Most interesting birds were 2 Snow Geese with hundreds of Canadas on the East side of Redwood Road a mile South of Lehi Main Street.  We heard a Screech Owl calling from in a tree at Mitchell Hollow Wetlands...

Eric Huish (13 Dec 2009) - I just had a female Bullock's Oriole visit my platform feeder! I got so excited to see an oriole I ran to grab my camera thinking it could be something rare. I took a few photos through the heavy falling snow. After I studied it for a moment I realized it was just a Bullock's but still an interesting bird in December.  The White-throated Sparrow is still visiting the feeder and I had a Merlin fly through the yard yesterday.

Eric Huish (9 Dec 2009) - I've got a White-throated Sparrow at my feeders this morning. Yard Lifer!

Nov 2009

Abbajoe (13 Nov 2009) - I see a Ruffed Grouse just off 820 N at 1200 W in Provo.11:45 Friday11/13/09

Eric Huish (11 Nov 2009) - Birded the Provo Airport Dike this morning (Utah County). There were 5 Hooded Mergansers in the moat north of the southeast corner and two 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers between the south east corner and the south extension.

David L Walton (4 Nov 2009) - I found one Snow Goose among a hundred or so Canada geese at the irrigation pond just (half a mile) north of Lehi Costco...

Oct 2009

Jeff Bilsky (21 Oct 2009) - I birded the Utah Lake State Park after work tonight and found a 1st Winter SURF SCOTER. It moved around the marina area a lot and when I last saw it was in the canal where the river comes in on the South side of the park.

Jeff Bilsky (23 Oct 2009) - There is a large flock (75-100?) of mostly Wigeon at the East Bay ponds
right near the Island... Mixed into this flocked were what were 2 probable EURASIAN WIGEON. I say
probable because I guess I can't say for sure they weren't hybrids, but they had Wigeon bodies with red heads and seemed to fit the bill pretty well for Eurasian...

Jeff Bilsky (2 Oct 2009) - Right now at the Kuhni Wetlands in Utah County there are at least 15 COMMON GRACKLES making a ruckus.

Sep 2009

Jeff Bilsky (22 Sep 2009) - A trip to River Lane this evening. Only two warblers seen were ORANGE
CROWNED and YELLOW-RUMPED. Biggest surprise were 2 BLUE GROSBEAKS. Complete
list for tonight below. Last night in this same general area I saw a large (20ish) flock of SANDHILL CRANES.

Dave Hanscom (9 Sep 2009) - I had a meeting in Provo this morning and decided to try for the Green  Heron reported a week or so ago in the southeast corner of the airport  dike. No luck on that, so I walked the dirt road east from there... Not much activity,  other than a bunch of Caspian Terns, stilts, and gulls out on the mud  flats, and a few Marsh Wrens and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in the trees about  a quarter mile from the gate where the road turns north. Also in those  trees, down by the canal, was a WHITE_THROATED SPARROW...

Aug 2009

Bryan Shirley (12 Aug 2009) - This afternoon I saw a Solitary Sandpiper in the pond/marshy area on 5400 South 4800 West in Benjamin.  It was in plain sight on the edge of the pond, then flew into the grassy marshy area just to the west of the pond.

Jeff Bilsky (10 Aug 2009) - Birded Swede and River Lanes after work tonight. Swede Lane was packed with YELLOW WARBLERS. I had one tree that had at least 10 of them. Also located at least 7 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, and 5 BLUE GROSBEAK. River Lane had much of the same. Both locations seemed to be pretty heavy with migrants.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 

Larry Tripp (30 Aug 2009) - Today in Washington Co. I saw a Prothonotary Warbler along the creek near the power plant that is along the dirt road between upper and lower Sand Cove Res. Not a lot of birds in that area today but I did see 8 species of Warblers.

Keeli Marvel (11 Aug 2009) - On the way back down Kolob Scenic Byway toward the town of Virgin we stopped at the overlook just south of the little town of Kolob, where Kolob creek cascades past some dramatic looking cliffs, and we were treated to a fanstastic look at California Condor #97 as it flew over our heads sharing
the thermals with a bunch of Turkey Vultures, a Red-tailed Hawk, an Osprey and various swallow species.

Larry Tripp (17 Aug 2009) - This morning in Pine Valley ( Washington Co. ) there was a Hermit Warbler mixed in with a large flock along the equestrian trail about a 1/4 mile from where it meets the Whipple trail. It was a HY male/Female type looking bird. Different from the HY Female type looking birds annually seen this time of year in S W Utah. The next 2 weeks is probably the best time of year to look for them in any of the high elevation areas in the S W part of the state...

Jul 2009

Eric Huish (5 Jul 2009) - I drove the Alpine Loop this morning with my parents, up American Fork Canyon and down Provo Canyon. Pretty quiet. Best birds were a Pine Grosbeak along Timpooneke Road maybe a mile past Timpooneke Campground and a Peregrine Falcon at Aspen Grove.

Eric Huish (29 Jul 2009) - There was a flock of 1500 White-faced Ibis in the pasture southwest of where the road crosses the Spanish Fork River near the beginning of River Lane this morning (8 am). While scanning the flock I momentarily saw a Glossy Ibis then lost it shortly after. After 40 minutes I was able to find it again, this time it paused to preen. I should have studied it carefully but instead wasted my time trying to take a photo through my scope. The photos didn't turn out well. As soon as it started feeding again I lost it. With its head in the grass it looked just like all the other ibis...

Jun 2009

Dennis Shirley (1 Jun 2009) - The best birds of the morning were a very late BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a COMMON MOORHEN, both in Benjamin Slough. (Photo)\

Dennis Shirley (1 Jun 2009) - Early this morning I found an INDIGO BUNTING near Elberta, southwest Utah County. It was a brilliant male who was singing from the tops of scattered junipers when I drove up and continued until I left the area 45 minutes later. I was really surprised to find him here. The area is a juniper/sage slope habitat more tyical for sage sparrow, Bewick's Wren, and bushtits, but of course I couldn't find any of these.

Dennis Shirley (30 Jun 2009) - I was out in the Indigo Bunting area this morning and found a GRAY VIREO. Actually there were three. I think there were adults and young in the spot...
If they aren't calling and you have a tape place one quick note or two, then be ready to duck. I played the call briefly to verify for sure that's what they were and one almost flew in the truck with me...

May 2009

Alona Huffaker (3 May 2009) - On Saturday, Bonnie Williams had Evening Grosbeaks, a Blackheaded Grosbeak, Green-tailed Towhees and a Western Tanager drop by her Mapleton yard, along with the Lazuli Buntings, Green-tailed Towhees, Yellow Warbler and a Black-throated Gray Warbler she's seen this week. Most have just visited briefly and been on their way!

Caroly Heaton (5 May 2009) - We have had some Band-tailed Pigeons ( I am quite sure that is what they are) come to our feeder the past couple of days. What a beautiful bird. I guess they are just passing through the area. I live in Provo, north of Timpview High School.

Dennis Shirley (21 May 2009) - This afternoon I finally was able to find a GLOSSY IBIS. There was a flock of about 400 White-faced Ibis just west of Goshen on the north side of US50/6 in south Utah County. (breeding plumage adult)

Ben May (23 May 2009) - Subject: White-winded Dove  9:29am between 1742 and 1792 North Geneva Rd in Provo. In the pines just east of Geneva road. Watched it for about 7 minutes.

Apr 2009

Keeli Marvel (19 Apr 2009) - Birded around the Provo Airport Dike around noon today. Saw all the usual species, plus a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the trees on the east side of the road midway between corners where the road juts around the south end of the airport ...

Josh Kreitzer (23 Apr 2009) - I saw a Grasshopper Sparrow on the Provo Airport dike road on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 in the mid-morning. It hopped onto the road, crossed the road (going north) and then hopped through the fence and East.

Mar 2009

Jeff Bilsky (16 Mar 2009) - Birded Swede Lane after work. Best bird was a Northern Shrike...

Feb 2009

Matt Mills (25 Feb 2009) - Following Jeff Bilsky's post of the 'mounds of dead carp' at River Lane, Eric Huish and I headed out there this afternoon (Feb 25) to pick through the gulls. With the strong winds blowing we didn't smell a thing.  Among the many Ring-billed, California, and good number of Herring Gulls we managed to find a definitive basic LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. There were at least 5 BALD EAGLES in the area so the gulls kept rising off the field and doing a few circles before settling again so we managed to get great views of the bird both standing and flying around. At one point it flew away and disappeared out in a flooded field further out, but returned a short while later. We also had 2 TREE SWALLOWS and 5 SANDHILL CRANES flying around over the field.

Eric Huish (22 Feb 2009) - I drove up American Fork Canyon in Utah County this morning to look for crossbills. AF Canyon...My final stop was at the gate into Mutual Dell Lodge... I just waited here for my crossbills to show up. After a half hour of waiting (~10:45 a.m.) a flock of about 20 White-winged Crossbills flew into a tree close enough for me to get great views in great lighting. While waiting for the crossbills I enjoyed watching several Clark's Nutcrackers, a Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, a few Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Townsend's Solitaire and an American Robin.

Eric Huish (20 Feb 2009) - I drove up to the Timpanogos Trailhead parking at Aspen Grove after work today.  I'm nearly positive I had a female White-winged Crossbill in the top of a tree Southwest of the parking lot but it wasn't a satisfying look. There were crossbills in the area. I got a great look at a male Red Crossbill at the top of a tree right next to the road. I also found a couple Pine Grosbeak at the top of a snag south of the Parking area.

Eric Huish (15 Feb 2009) - I birded a couple local canyons here in Pleasant Grove this morning for the GBBC... Next I stopped at Grove Creek Canyon (East end of 500 North in PG). Walking through the snow at Battle Creek Canyon had tuckered me out so I had only planned on birding from the parking area but as I was watching a Golden Eagle up on the hillside I heard a flock of Rosy-Finches. By the time I located them they were flying into the canyon. So I hiked up the canyon after them. Less than a 1/4 mile up I found them at the top of some rock outcroppings on the North rim of the canyon. Looking through my scope I could only see Gray-crowned but I couldn't see the whole flock. A Sharp-shinned Hawk dove into the flock and they all flew over the canyon and disappeared over the South rim. I estimated around 60 finches.

Jan 2009

Bryan Shirley (29 Jan 2009) - Today there was a Turkey Vulture in Spring Lake along the hwy perched in a dead snag. He actually seemed to be enjoying himself - just sitting with wings spread trying to soak up
some rays. I was very surprised to see him, but not sure if there are other winter records for central utah.

Ned Bixler (7 Jan 2009) - Today on the Provo River Trail, I found a Winter Wren. It was near Canyon Glen Park.

Dec 2008

Lu Giddings (21 Dec 2008) - Early Friday afternoon a Western Kingbird was observed on private property about one mile north of the Spanish Fork airport. Unexpected as it was, I had pretty good looks at it for about 30-60 seconds in decent light at about 15 yards. It was perched on a wire with several house finches beside it. It was much larger than the house finches and - more or less - uniformly gray on top, with a creamy yellow belly and a black tail with very distinct white outers when it flew.

Tim Avery (7 Dec 2008) - [Snow Bunting] I decided I needed to finally head down and add this bird to my Utah County list. Sam and I drove out to Lincoln Point, and the bird was about 2/3 of the way down the south jetty in the middle of the road. It flew off to the north jetty when we got within about 75 feet...While we were there it spent a lot of time on the north side, and only flew back to the south side when a guy and his dog wandered out on the north side. It landed on a rock right in front of the car and I snapped a few shots. ..We finally took off and the bird was last seen perched on the large rock on the north jetty where it spent about 75% of the time.

Nov 2008

Jeff Bilsky (21 Nov 2008) - I birded Lincoln Pt at about 4pm and the Snow Bunting was present on the South jetty this time accompanied by a much more jumpy American Pipit.

Milt Moody (19 Nov 2008) - Leena Rogers and I showed up at Lincoln Beach this morning at about 9:30 and found the Black Scoter in the same place as reported earlier. We may have been too late for the Snow Bunting -- it wasn't around.

Lu Giddings (16 Nov 2008) - Just returned from a few hours at Lincoln Beach. I spotted the Black Scoter before I knew it had been posted. It was there all afternoon, feeding in water so shallow that at times killdeer were wading around it. Erich Huish, Ned Bixler, Cheryl Peterson, and Dennis and Bryan Shirley came out and saw the bird as well.  The Snow Bunting was spotted late this afternoon on the north dike, near the end.  A pair of Least Sandpipers was spotted in the company of roughly 40 killdeer, also at Lincoln Beach.

Dave Hanscom (16 Nov 2008) - I just got back from Lincoln Beach, where the Snow Bunting was still hanging around the south dike. A special bonus was the Black Scoter feeding in the shallow water with some coots just south of the two dikes. Thanks to the couple from Alaska who pointed it out to me. No luck on the Northern Shrike at Provo Airport dike.

Jack Binch (15 Nov 2008) - I decided it would be more fun to chase the Snow Bunting at Lincoln Beach rather than sitting home. I went around the Provo Airport Dike on my way down, and found a Northern Shrike in the northwest corner. Next I ran out to the beach without stopping anywhere else. The Snow Bunting was foraging in the rocks at the end of the south dike. I first saw it from the north dike after driving along the south one without seeing it. That was the only small bird I saw at the beach area.

Eric Huish (11 Nov 2008) -  I spent the morning out at Lincoln Point. When I got out of my car at the end of the South jetty of the marina a Snow Bunting spooked up and flew low over the water to the back side of the North jetty. I went around and walked slowly down the North jetty hoping to get a good look at it. It flew up well ahead of me, circled in the sky a few times calling while it flew, and landed again on the south jetty. It landed very near a fellow and his dog but I couldn't see the spot where it landed. A minute later I could hear it flying again but couldn't find it against the sky.

Eric Huish (8 Nov 2008) -  I made a quick trip around the PAD this evening with KC Childs and his friend Sean... The Dunlin is still on the mudflat on the East side of the dike loop. There were a few more Dowitchers there today and a Least Sandpiper.

Eric Huish (6 Nov 2008) -  Ned Bixler and I drove around the Provo Airport Dike this evening after I got off work. Best bird was a nonbreeding plumage Dunlin with 4 Long-billed Dowitchers on the mudflat at the East side of the dike loop (where you first see the lake when driving the dike clockwise). The Dunlin was a Utah County lifer for me.

Oct 2008

Kay Stone (31 Oct 2008) -  I saw a White-throated Sparrow on the Jordan River Parkway this morning. It was just north of the Jordan River Flying Field. It was located just where the dirt trail takes off to the left, and was on the chain-link fence. I watched it for at least five minutes. It was a tan striped morph. Finally it flew off to the west over the paved trail into the tamarisk. I watched it for a minute or so and then I lost it.

Eric Huish (25 Oct 2008) - Birded the Provo Airport Dike this morning. Best bird was a Northern Shrike at the Northwest end of the dike.

Jeff Bilsky (23 Oct 2008) - I birded Swede Lane yet again this evening.  I located my first Northern Shrike of the winter although he didn't impale anything on the barbed wire while I watched much to my disappointment.

Eric Huish (12 Oct 2008) - There is a Stilt Sandpiper in with the hundreds of Long-billed Dowitchers on the east side of the Provo Airport Dike today (10/12/08). There is also a lone Pectoral Sandpiper and a Merlin in the area. They are on the mudflats where you first see the lake when driving the dike clockwise.

Sep 2008

Jeff Bilsky (18 Sep 2008) - The River Lane area was quite birdy this evening. ...highlights included a Cassin's Vireo...

Jeff Bilsky (14 Sep 2008) - Carl Ingwell and I birded River Lane on Sunday morning and afternoon. It was pretty active - especially when hiking the little chutes that go off the main drag. Best migrants were a Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Cassin's Vireos, 2 Warbling Vireos, a Nashville Warbler and a late Western Kingbird.

Aug 2008

Lu Giddings (29 Aug 2008) - At about 3:15 p.m. today at LeBaron point I spotted what I believe was a Parasitic Jaeger chasing a ring-billed gull. The two birds were flying over the water, reeds, and fragmides, roughly 30 yards from the road. The bird was roughly the same size or slightly larger than the gull it was pursuing. It was very darkly plumaged, and I first thought it was a juvenile gull but quickly realized that its shape, coloration, and behavior indicated otherwise. ...This pursuit last roughly 30-60 seconds, which gave me enough time to pull over, exit my truck, and pull out my binoculars. As the bird flew north, away from me, it was still sufficiently close to see a pair of feathers protruding about 1-1.5" from its tail, one on either side of the tail's center line. I immediately consulted Sibleys and National Geographic in an attempt to identify the bird, as parasitic jaegers are not a specie I see on a frequent basis. I have since returned home and also checked "Harrison's "Seabirds of the World" and there is a photo in his book similar to the bird I observed. But I'd welcome any informed suggestions. LeBaron Point is the Utah Lake sportsman's access found near Genola.

Jul 2008

Ned Bixler (9 Jul 2008)  - 7:30 AM - Grant Jense and I birded Skipper Bay Trail this morning. We heard and saw a Least Flycatcher in the small woods at the end of Skipper Bay Trail.

Jun 2008

Dennis Shirley (29 Jun 2008) - Thought I'd provide a recap of the ABA field trips I conducted this past week. ...Highlights included: ... North Goshen Fields - Boblink[5-6 males, 2 females] - numbers continue to drop each year, White Ibis - Probably the rarest bird found during the conference. It was seen on the east side of the north Goshen fields gravel road across from the Bobolink colony in an irrigation flooded field on thursday. It was not seen on saturday, nor has it been seen by other birders since then. By saturday the fields in the immediate area were again dry and there were even only a few white-faced ibis in the area. I believe to find it again we need to search those areas where the fields are flooded and WFI are working...

Jack Binch (28 Jun 2008) - Somehow this morning on my way to work I must have taken a wrong turn. I ended up sitting in the upper parking lot at Bridal Veil Falls at 5:45 AM. Just before six I finally looked through my binoculars and could see them [Black Swifts]. I guess there was not enough light to see them with the naked eye. I set up my scope and got some pretty good looks. (life bird)

Ned Bixler (27 June 2008) - Friday - 6:15 AM - Shortly after dawn this morning - I had 7 Black Swifts in my scope at one time at Bridal Veil.  They circled in clear view for approximately 20 minutes.

Tim Avery (26 Jun 2008) - I figured with the ABA Convention in full swing a few reports might get posted but nope. In passing I have gathered that at least 4 and maybe as many as 6 Black Swift are in the Bridal Veil Falls area this year. Many birders have gotten to see them, and the best times are of course in the morning and late late late in the day.

Milt Moody (13 June 2008) - Reed Stone just called in a sighting of 3 Great Egrets on North Goshen Bay Road (the extension of Center St. in Goshen going north) just after the road turns to dirt (and the paved road turns left).

Ned Bixler (4 June 2008) - Several Indigo Buntings were on the Provo trail yesterday.

May 2008

Merrill Webb (27 May 2008) - After the rain finally stopped and the clouds lifted, my wife and I decided to drive around the Provo airport dike yesterday and look for late migrants. We totaled 44 species in two hours including two Purple Martins, five Forster's Terns and one Common Nighthawk...

Merrill Webb (16 May 2008) - As part of the Gt. Salt Lake Bird Festival, I had the opportunity to lead a group of participants on a fieldtrip to Diamond Fork Canyon Wednesday morning.  The birds cooperated and we had a combined total from all observers of 60 species, which is more than I had anticipated. We did not find White-throated Swifts or Red-naped Sapsucker which I had seen a couple days earlier, but the Lewis's Woodpecker and the Black Phoebe were unexpected. The pond at the mouth of the canyon was very productive (at least 22 species on or around it) as you can tell from the diversity of water birds...

Lu Giddings (14 May 2008) - Ordinarily a Black Phoebe isn't a big deal, or at least, not in the southern part of the state. But it's a different story in the northern portion of the state. A black phoebe was spotted at 16:05 today in the Diamond campground, site #22. Diamond campground is about 5 miles up Diamond Fork, which is itself found several miles up Spanish Fork canyon. The bird was extremely skittish. I never managed to get closer than about 100' or so. But it was easily viewed with binoculars for about 10 minutes.

Milt Moody (5 May 2008) - I saw four Common Grackles along the Provo River parkway yesterday at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. They were downstream from the 8th North bridge over the river and near the sign for 1050 West in Provo.

Apr 2008

Milt Moody (30 Apr 2008) - A male Calliope Hummingbird showed up at my feeder today at a little after 12 noon. I was a little late getting my hummingbird feeders out this year -- I put one out yesterday -- but it looks like it was just in time.

Deloy Pack (30 Apr 2008) - Yesterday afternoon and this morning I have had a White-throated Sparrow at my feeder (a lifer for me)... If anyone is interested, I am located at 882 S 1100 W Provo.

Tom Williams (26 Apr 2008) - I went to River Lane (Utah County) this morning. - mostly Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets – but I did see a Cassin’s Vireo and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Leila Ogden (21 Apr 2008) - I just got back from Bonnie Williams' home in Mapleton. Some good birds are in her back yard: Lazuli Buntings (About 8), Indigo Bunting (1). I waited a couple of hours and finally the Indigo Bunting came in about 12 noon. She said it came back around 6 p.m. yesterday. Also seen were: Chipping Sparrow, lots of Cassin's Finch, and a quick appearance of a female Evening Grosbeak , besides lots of American and Lesser Goldfinch, and Chickadees.

Alona Huffaker (20 Apr 2008) - An Indigo Bunting was seen by Bonnie Williams in her yard in Mapleton for a couple of brief times this morning, then it visited both Bonnie's and Alona's feeders at about 6 pm this evening--briefly. Are they on their way north, too?

Ned Bixler (16 Apr 2008) - Provo Airport Dike - Wed. 16th afternoon - ... one Great Egret...

Ned Bixler (3 Apr 2008) - afternoon at Skipper Bay Trail, seen were the following birds: mallards, magpie, starlings, red-winged blackbirds, coots, Canada geese, osprey, gadwalls, shovelers, cinnamon teals, flicker, wigeons, tree swallows, juncos, black capped chickadees, ruby-crowned kinglets, robins, pelicans fly over, and a Greater white-fronted Goose (at the North end of the trail - East side). A scope is needed to see it among the Canada geese. You can see the pinkish bill, and the speckled belly (black barring).

Mar 2008

Dennis Shirley (7 Mar 2008) -  I took a late afternoon spin around Benjamin Slough and Lincoln point today. Among all the common waterfowl species there was a drake and a hen Wood duck and a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese along Beer Creek in the slough. I glassed the area from the West Mountain hillside using a scope. They were found along the meandering "goosenecks" of the creek about a half mile from Utah Lake.

Feb 2008

(9 Feb 2008) - Kay Stone reports seeing an immature Harris's Sparrow the last two days, at the model airplane field along the Jordan River parkway near Saratoga Springs. The Harris's Sparrow is being seen with other sparrows near the piled up snow at the east end of the parking area. Turn left off Lehi Main Street onto Saratoga road (2300 W), The parking area is a few miles down this road, on your right just before you cross the river.

Lu Giddings (9 Feb 2008) - Dennis Shirley and went in search of longspurs and other winter birds this morning. We passed through Santaquin to Mona, drove the west side of Mona reservoir and through Goshen canyon into Goshen and Genola and then back into Payson and Salem pond. We did not see any longspurs but did have a few noteworthy observations: ...- Bohemian Waxwings were seen, in the company of cedar waxwings, in the Genola Warm Springs area - a probable White-throated Sparrow was seen in the brush along the Genola Warm Springs road, along with song sparrows and a hermit thrush...

Lynn Garner (7 Feb 2008) - Tuesday a couple of miles east of Goshen in Utah County I found some trees full of Bohemian Waxwings. I've never seen so many--must have been 600 or so. I could only see five or six Cedar Waxwings among them.

Jan 2008

Eric Huish (28 Jan 2008) - I just had a great new yard bird, a Northern Shrike was sitting in the tree above one of my feeding areas (Pleasant Grove, Ut Co.). It chased some juncos around for a while.

Carol Nelson (12 Jan 2008) - The Eurasian Wigeon surprised me today with an appearance under my feeders. He was grazing with a large flock of American Wigeons. Milt arrived in time to see him, but the flock flew back to the pond before anyone else arrived. We all tried to relocate him again, but to no avail. The backlighting of the sun made ID difficult. Perhaps this week with snow still on the golf course, and warmer temperatures predicted, the ice on the ponds will recede some more, and he'll stick around a while. If you are interested in seeing him, my home is open if I am here. If I'm not the south gate will be unlocked and you are welcome to use my patio at any time. If you want to know if the flock is in, you may call me at 362-8288. If you want to just come, do so. My address is 2831 N. Marrcrest West, Provo. (Turn west off University Ave. at about 2900 North. Provo. I'm on the west side of the Marrcrest circle, the only one level red brick, with white shutters.)

Milt Moody (11 Jan 2008) - Merrill Webb just called as he watched waves of Bohemian Waxwings coming into the trees between 4th and 5th North and 1050 East in Orem (near his home). He estimated there were about 200 Bohemians and about 40 Cedars in the waxwing flock.

Dec 2007

Ned Bixler - Dec. 27 - 4 PM - North end of Provo Airport. Several Snow Buntings were in the field on the West side of the Lakeside Storage buildings. They were along the road that connects the airport road, and the storage buildings.

Lu Giddings (23 Dec 2007) - There have been a few sightings of interest in southern Utah county over the last days. In our portion of the Provo CBC yesterday Bryan and Justin Shirley and I turned up a few species of interest including a white-faced ibis, a vesper's sparrow, 17 sandhill cranes, American tree sparrows, a yellow-headed blackbird, a Northern Shrike, and a merlin. ...

Tuula Rose (17 Dec 2007) - Since I have not seen any reports of Bohemians in Utah County, here goes. Sunday afternoon I was scouting around my CBC are for this coming Saturday and found lots of waxwings eating the berries of ornamental crabapple and pair trees that line the east end of Center Street leading to the State Mental Hospital in Provo. About half and half Cedars and Bohemians with a bunch of robins also. A couple of hundred birds total, I'd estimate. They were flying back and forth from the fruit trees to the tops of tall trees on the grounds. I hope they stick around.

Alona Huffaker (10 Dec 2007) - There's a Northern Pygmy Owl eating an American Goldfinch in my Maple tree in Springville--a new one for my yard list!

Ned Bixler - SUNDAY 2 PM - DEC. 9TH - Utah Lake State Park - At the end of the North dike, there were several Surf Scoters today. Birding over all was EXCELLENT today, in Utah County.

Nov 2007

Kevin Colver (25 Nov 2007) - There is also a flock of 20-40 Bohemian Waxwings hanging out near the upper LDS chapel in Elk Ridge. They spent half of Thanksgiving eating my juniper berries. They fly around with a few Cedar Waxwings. They've been eating Bradford Pear berries at the church and other berries, crabapples, ect. in surrounding yards.

KC Childs (10 Nov 2007) - I got a new yard bird today and a bird that I do not see often to be honest. I have a male Evening Grosbeak on my feeders.

Oct 2007

Dave Allen (28 Oct 2007) - I am sad to report that the Red-necked Grebe that had been at Clegg's pond in Orem was found dead today in the last described location. I believe that someone has been notified so that it can be collected.

Stephen Carlile (27 Oct 2007) - Just got back from Orem looking for the Red-necked Grebe at Clegg's Pond. When I arrived, around 10:00, Tom Fletcher was already there looking for the bird. Tom had been there for about an hour. It was a good day for grebes. We saw five species: Clark's, Pied-billed, Eared, Horned, and the RED-NECKED. ...However, where we found the Red-necked and its behavior raised some concerns. We had been scanning the pond and as we walked around we literally stumbled onto the Red-necked. It was found in a very small inlet of the pond just south (15-20 feet) of the large elm tree with the swing. (The tree is on the east side of the pond "access road".) We were within 25 feet of the bird. (We probably could have gotten closer, but decided to keep our distance.) The bird was up against the shore in only two or three inches of water. The entire time we watched it, 15 or 20 minutes, it did not move, except to reposition its head and occasionally raise its head slightly so the rusty/red on the neck was visible. The bird's eyes were closed as much as they were open. Unless the bird was having a very slow morning or just being lazy, it was acting like it wasn't feel very well.

Eric Huish (25 Oct 2007) - This morning Grant Jense called to tell me that he found a White-winged Dove in our neighborhood on his morning walk. The bird was with some Eurasian Collard-Doves at about 350 N 500 E Pleasant Grove. I drove around the area on my way home from work but didn't see any doves.

Carol Gwynn (13 Oct 2007) - The Red-necked Grebe was still at Clegg's Pond in Orem at 8 a.m. this morning. It didn't seem to mind the rain one bit.

Merrill Webb (11 Oct 2007) - This morning, Thursday, I observed a single Red-necked Grebe on Clegg's Pond (as it is known by the locals) in west Orem. To reach the pond take the University Parkway exit off I-15 and turn west. At Geneva Road turn north (right) and proceed to next stop light. Turn west (left) onto Sleepy Ridge Drive (which goes to the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course in west Orem) and travel for less than one mile to Golden Pond Way. Turn left. This road goes past a black metal gate. After two houses on the left turn south (left) onto a dirt road which takes you right down to the pond, which is between the road and the golf course. I had three different grebes in the same field of vision: Clark's, Pied-billed, and the Red-necked for easy comparison...

Dave Hanscom (7 Oct 2007) - The Salt Lake Birders had a surprisingly good morning yesterday at Utah Lake. ...Highlights were: - several hundred waders at the southeast corner of the Provo Airport dike, the majority of which were LB Dowitchers, but several Pectoral Sandpipers were in the mix, along with Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Avocets, one lone Black-necked Stilt, Caspian and Forster's Terns, Green-winged Teal, Black-crowned Night-heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, etc (but no Merlin) - west of the frontage road between the two Springville exits were Great and Snowy Egrets, and more than 100 Sandhill Cranes flying in and feeding in the fields...

Eric Huish (7 Oct 2007) - Tuula Rose, Larry Draper and I saw a Great Egret fly over at the southeast corner of the airport dike this morning. Tuula and I also got a look at what appeared to be a very dark Peregrine Falcon fly by. All the dowitchers, yellowlegs, avocets and gulls took off off the mudflat and started swirling around in crazy frenzied flocks. We knew there was something there but didn't see the falcon 'till it was past us.

Sep 2007

Milt Moody (23 Sep 2007) - Eric reported a Common Tern at the Airport Dike on Friday. Tuula saw one on Saturday morning and I saw two on Sunday Morning about 9:30 AM. They were at the edge of the water on the southeast corner of the Airport Dike.

Milt Moody (20 Sep 2007) - About 4:40 PM Thursday, 20 Sep 2007 Eric Huish found a Stilt Sandpiper at the Provo Airport Dike between the southeast corner and the southeast corner of the south extension.

Kris Purdy (8 Sep 2007) - Keith Evans and Jack Rensel saw a bird they were very sure was a Great-crested Flycatcher on the dirt frontage road about 100 yards north of the entrance to Camelot Woods in Utah County yesterday afternoon. They saw a large flycatcher that they described as obviously from the Myiarchus genus fly out from a Russian Olive, chasing a bug. The bird had a bright yellow belly and a strong demarcation between the yellow belly and the gray of the upper breast. The bird retreated into the olive and they were unable to locate it again...

Aug 2007

Larry Draper (7 Aug 2007) -  The Green Heron is still hanging around the dead tree at the south east corner of the Provo Airport dike (not the extreme south east corner of the extension, just the south east corner). It was sighted about 12:15 p.m. this afternoon as I ate my lunch.

Jul 2007

mdpack@juno.com - 9:30 am July 31. Alison and I saw a Green Heron on the canal side of  the Airport dike just past the first south east corner. It was in a dead tree preening just above the water.

Jun 2007

Connie Norheim (24 Jun 2007) - Bill Fenimore had suggested we try Bridal Veil Falls in Provo for our lifer Black Swifts. We struck out on the first attempt... We were successful however at finding the Black Swifts on our return trip this morning at 6:15. We watched about 10 or 12 of them fly around above the top of the cliff above the highest waterfall, with the blue sky behind them.

Lu Giddings (4 Jun 2007) - I had a chance to make a quick trip up Payson Canyon late yesterday afternoon. About six or so Purple Martins were seen in their usual nesting spot about five miles beyond the Santaquin Canyon turn-off, along with a single tree swallow and a number of violet-green swallows. A pair of Three-toed Woodpeckers were seen and heard about 1.1 miles down the Mona Pole Canyon road, essentially at the point where a large snow bank currently blocks the road.

May 2007

Milt Moody - (4 May 2007) - Reed Stone reported 2 Purple Martins in the Palmyra / Lake Shore area at about 4100 West on 5400 South (Between the Peacock place and the corner). This is located south and a bit east of the geodesic dome home if you're familiar with that interesting landmark.

Apr 2007

Cheryl Peterson (27 Apr 2007) - Bonnie Williams and I had a great morning. We saw Solitary Sandpiper, Blue-winged Teal, Great Egret, Wilson's Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Mockingbird, Cattle Egret and Sandhill Crane at Swede Lane.

Feb 2007

Dr. Wayne H. Whaley (20 Feb 2007) - On Monday 19 Feb. while on a hawk watching trip with ornithology students we saw several what appeared to be Eurasian Collared-Doves near Lake Shore along SR 147 and vicinity. They were relatively common around dwellings.

Colby Neuman (19 Feb 2007) - We then walked the path that follows the shoreline to the north of Utah Lake SP. We did find at least two Cackling Geese that were mixed in with a large flock of Canada Geese in the fields to east of the pathway.

Jan 2007

Ned Bixler (16 Jan 2007) - This afternoon, while walking the Skipper Bay Trail, I saw the Swamp Sparrow. It was about 1/2 way down the trail. The bird was sitting along side the trail, out in the open. White-crowned, and song sparrows were also in large numbers along the trail.

Jack Binch (13 Jan 2007) - I was scoping gulls at Lee Kay this morning when Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld pulled up. They asked me if I wanted to go chase a Swamp Sparrow. ...One had been found on the CBC in Provo at the end of the Skipper Bay trail. We found it foraging on a little snow covered island just north and west of the trail end. It was on the northwest edge of the little island just outside of the cattails. Be patient, it took us about twenty minutes to see it and another fifteen to get a picture.