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Odonata... Dragonflies
Recently I have taken more of an interest in Odonata. Odonata is an order of insects, encompassing dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera). The word dragonfly is also sometimes used to refer to all Odonata. The term odonate has been coined to provide an English name for the group as a whole, but is not in common usage; most Odonata enthusiasts avoid ambiguity by using the term true dragonfly, or simply Anisoptera, when referring to just the Anisoptera. Last weekend I went to Antelope Island to see what was around and earlier this week I went to a few locations along the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. Below are a few pictures of some of the species I found.  Black Saddlebags  Lance-tipped Darner  Variegated Meadowhawk  Saffron-winged Meadowhawk  Western Meadowhawk  Twelve-spotted Skimmer  Eight-spotted Skimmer  Western Pondhawk  Paddle-tailed Darner
Salt Lake County First - Glossy Ibis
Yesterday (08/14), I was conducting a survey in Northwest Salt Lake County on private property near the Great Salt Lake when I had an apparent adult GLOSSY IBIS flyover twice. I flushed the bird off a canal and it flew away to the north before looping back and passing. On the first pass I saw what looked like a blue facial skin but didn't have time to snap a shot. The bird circled and then flew by yet again, this time I was able to get a nice clear shot as it passed over and out into a marsh. The bird was with 3 White-faced Ibis, but there were at least 500 White-faced Ibis in the area.  Glossy Ibis in Salt Lake County  Glossy Ibis in Salt Lake County Although the area is private, it may be worth checking the Lee's Creek Area along I-80 between 7200 West and Saltair. Other birds of note were a COMMON TERN, as well as a Black-chinned Hummingbird (odd for being out in a marsh). Shorebird migration as usual is rather slow in Salt Lake. No peeps were seen, but a flock of around 400 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were seen, as well as a lone Wilson's Phalarope and a single Long-billed Dowitcher.
August Birding Forecast
Well, July is over and with that fall migrants are on a steady move south. Shorebird migration has thus far been quite impressive, with a number of good birds seen in July, including Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel and several Solitary Sandpiper. August is typically the height of shorebird migration on the Great Salt Lake, and the hundreds of thousands of Wilson's Phalarope and lower concentrations of Red-necked Phalarope will remain a staple along the causeway for much of the month. Peep numbers should peak as well, with large numbers of Western Sandpipers coming through. Baird's Sandpipers, as well as small numbers of Least and Semipalmated Sandpiper are also usually present. Pectoral Sandpipers also start coming through around now, but are much more common later in the fall. Along with the peeps, it is a great time to see plovers along the lakefront. Large numbers of Black-bellied Plover are not uncommon, with the occasional American Golden-Plover as a plus. Numerous Snowy Plover and fewer Semipalmated Plover are also usually present along the causeway as well. August also marks the start of movements of large flocks of Long-billed Dowitchers usually in brackish areas and freshwater along the lake. These flocks occasionally contain Short-billed Dowitcher as well as Stilt Sandpiper. As with July, August is a good time for shorebird vagrants, and the best time of year to see Ruddy Turnstone in Utah. Whimbrel are typically seen along the causeway this time of year as well. In 2006 a Pacific Golden-Plover showed up along the causeway. Interestingly there was a report of one from Fish Springs NWR in July of this year. There are 3 records for migrating Mountain Plover around Utah in August, so there is potential for this hard to get species. There are also several records for Upland Sandpiper from August, but along with migrant Mountain Plover there is no real pattern to where they show up. There is a lone August record for Hudsonian Godwit along the lake, but there is potential for this species near the end of the month. There is a single sight record for White-rumped Sandpiper from Salt Lake County in August. This species has only been recorded in Utah twice in the fall, but late August has potential. Late August into early September also provides the best window for Curlew Sandpiper in Utah. It is a little on the early side for Dunlin, so anything Dunlin-esque should be looked at more closely. And finally, there is a lone report of Red Phalarope from the causeway in 2004. I observed a juvenile bird, but the early date was odd. However, there is no reason that this species couldn't be found with a large flock of Red-necked Phalarope. In 2007 we scanned thousands in August without luck. But August isn't just for the shorebirds, it marks the start of passerine, and raptor migration, and migrant traps deserve some special attention. After about August 15th, is when things start to pick up, and places such as Garr Ranch, Willard Bay, The International Center, Lucin, Lytle Ranch, and Fish Springs NWR typically have a good mix of songbirds from day to day. Red-eyed, Cassin's and Blue-headed Vireo should be on the move, as well as lots of warblers. Warbler migration won't peak until August, but there are numerous records for various species of eastern Wood Warbler in August in Utah. The entire month provides the best time of year to find a Hermit Warbler in the pine-oak forests in southwest Utah. The area around Lava Point at Zion National Park has historically been a great location, as well as Oak Grove Campground, just north of St. George. And of course August is a great time for hummingbirds! On a good day during the last half of the month it is possible to see Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbird all at the same feeder. Garr Ranch is one very reliable location to see this kind of gathering. I could go on for pages about August birding in Utah and the endless possibilities for vagrants. But the best way to learn more and see any of these birds is to get into the field and find some! Last August I saw over 230 species of bird in Utah, so it is a great time of year to be out in the field, with lots to see! With all the birding to do, and only 30 days it will fly by, and be September in no time!
Leidy Peak in July
This weekend (07/25-07/27) Colby Neuman (and his dog Lucy), Samantha Sargent and I headed to the Leidy Peak area in hopes of finally tackling White-tailed Ptarmigan in Utah for Colby, and photographing them for me, as well as some other birding, hiking, and relaxation. On the way over on Friday afternoon, there was a single American White Pelican on one of the sewage ponds in Duchesne. We got a late start into the mountains and ended up getting to the parking area above Hacking Lake just after sunset, as it started to rain. We had planned on doing some owling but it rained late into the night, making that impossible. Saturday morning as it started to get light, the typical birds of the high Uinta's started to sing and call. Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Pine Grosbeak, Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Chipping Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco all added to the mix. And it shouldn't seem odd given the numbers this year, but a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was singing in the dim morning light in the trees around camp, and throughout the weekend they could be heard singing, calling, and the occasional fly-over was seen for added satisfaction.
 Leidy Peak from the east
We started up the mountain at 7:45am and worked along the east slope. Colby and Lucy made their way up to the NE side and onto the top while Sam and I worked along the east slope. Several BLACK ROSY-FINCH flew over and one cooperative bird sat on a rock just long enough for me to shoot a few shots.
Black Rosy-Finch at Leidy Peak
Colby and Lucy made their way back down onto the north side, and we criss-crossed the entire north slope as well as the meadows at the base down to the tree-line without any luck on ptarmigan. The only sign that there may be any in the area this year was a single flight feather (possibly a long covert or tertial) that I picked up on the NE side near a snow drift. Colby and Lucy continued along the north and towards the NW and west side while Sam and I scoured out into the meadows and tree-line back on the NE and east side. We made our way to the SE slope and I climbed up the ridge to the remaining snow pack to see if I could get any rosy-finches to come in for shots in good light. No luck there. However, we did see a lone NORTHERN HARRIER soaring several hundred feet above the 12,000'+ peak, somewhat odd, and bringing back memories of the odd Prairie Falcon I observed last year on the mountain.
Around 11:00am, Sam and I ventured back through the tree-line towards camp, where many White-crowned and Chipping Sparrow were still busy singing away. Back at our camp, I heard an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER drumming, and tracked the male bird down for a photo.
American Three-toed Woodpecker near Hacking Lake.
A short time later a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD came buzzing through and off into the distance. Colby got back just after noon, and we ate some lunch. While lounging in the shade commiserating about the lack of Ptarmigan, Colby spotted a PEREGRINE FALCON circling above us. GRAY JAY came and went, stealing dog food, and a few bits of cereal I tossed for pictures.
Gray Jay near Leidy Peak
After lunch we took off down the mountain and checked out a few back roads, looking for potential owling spots. However, this soon grew old and we headed back to camp, just in time for the rain to start coming down. We spent most of the rest of the day, in tents, under trees, and in the back of the car, watching it drizzle, and occasionally pour. A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was the next visitor through camp during one of the breaks.
By about 7:00pm the rain halted and we ate dinner, while fighting off mosquito’s near a fire. We waited for it to get dark, and headed several miles down the road to start playing for owls. We made 8 stops playing for Boreal Owl, the first 4 were all in sketchy habitat, and running water nearby prevented hearing much. On the 5th stop, about 1/3 mile below Hacking Lake after playing the song for 45 seconds a small owl flew low over me, and Colby and I both heard the wing beats. WE frantically searched in the trees for the bird, and even thought we heard it scratch a couple times. I thought I heard a small cough call once, but wasn't sure. We made our 6th stop just at the entrance to Hacking Lake, and after playing the song just 2 times, we heard wing beats flyover and through the trees. Twice we caught glimpses of a bird flying through the woods, and into trees, but were never able to get clear, or close looks at the bird. Finally, our 8th stop was at the Highline Trail stop along the road just above Hacking Lake. We played here for about 30 seconds before I had another bird buzz me, the wing beats, loud enough that I jumped in the air, freaking out at how close the bird had came. I think Colby was probably laughing as I was pretty shaken and began scanning all the surrounding trees. I caught some movement high in a spruce/fir but never got a clear glimpse of what the bird was.
Although, we never got good looks at a bird, and had no feedback in terms of song or call, the actions of the tiny birds were consistent with that of BOREAL OWL in surrounding states at this time of year. As with other possible interactions with this species in Utah, this was somewhat a frustrating experience, as it is truly impossible to say that the birds weren't saw-whet or pygmy owls. However, I would like to think that based off the birds flying over when a Boreal song is played, in what is seemingly perfect habitat, it would make sense that the birds were indeed Boreal Owls.
This morning (07/27) we didn't exit the tents till almost 8am. Colby and Lucy took off up the mountain to try for Ptarmigan again, while Sam and I packed up camp. Colby did not have any better luck today, but did find another white flight feather. On the way down the mountain, we saw plenty of Mountain Bluebird, and American Robin. At one stop on the sage flats where there was a spring we stopped to check out a large willow patch. Only bluebirds and 3 Brewer's Sparrows appeared upon pishing. As we passed through the sage into the juniper near the start of the dirt road an empid chased a bluebird out over the car. It was probably a Gray or Dusky based off the location, but it didn't want to cooperate and land close enough to the car to look at.
Besides the birds, there were lots and lots of butterflies. We ran into a guy from Florida who was collecting in the meadows around the peak. He had a nice variety of catches!
 Painted Lady at Leidy Peak
 Western White at Leidy Peak
Milbert's Tortoiseshell at Leidy Peak
Test post from phone
Just seeing if I can actually post here from my phone!
Salt Lake County Shorebirds
This afternoon (07/19), Jeff Bilsky and I spent some time birding along the south
shore of the Great Salt Lake in the vicinity of Lee's Creek. Lots of shorebirds on
the move as with last week, below is a complete list:
Total number of species: 37
Snowy Plover 2
Killdeer 2
American Avocet 100
SOLITARY SANDPIPER 2
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Willet 7
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Long-billed Curlew 4
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 10
Wilson's Phalarope 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
 Snowy Plover along the South Shore.
With the small flock of dowitchrs were two birds that struck me as odd. There
appeared to be 2 juvenile birds, that in plumage and shape fit SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER. I took some pictures and will upload them later tonight.
Also had a nice adult PRAIRIE FALCON fly by and near a 100 White-faced Ibis on the
edge of Lee's Creek.
Some of the above reported birds were on private property.
Exploring Salt Lake County
This morning (07/13), Jeff Bilsky and I did some exploratory birding around Bluffdale and the Jordan River/Bluffdale Narrows Area which is basically the furthest point south in Salt Lake County. We were in search of several species in the riparian area, mainly Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak, and Ash-throated Flycatcher. We also had hoped to come across Black-throated and/or Sage Sparrow in one of the sage patches in the area. For the most part it was just what I stated above -- exploratory, and we did not find most of the species we had hoped for. Along the narrows at the county line, we did have 2 singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and more Bullock's Orioles than I have ever seen in one location. We also in the same area had a single SAY'S PHOEBE. Further to the north we found a nice patch of sagebrush that I thought looked great for sparrows. When we got out of the car I heard a sparrow that sounded odd. I couldn't pinpoint what it was. I thought Black-throated at first, but when it sang again it clearly wasn't. It sounded like a Sage Sparrow, but more warbled at the beginning, definitely not the typical song. I was pretty sure they had an alternate song, but I didn't have it. However, after getting home and doing a little searching, I am fairly certain I found that song on birdweb.org. I guess I will need to head back and try again earlier in the morning. Also in this area (near the war memorial park) we had several Lark and Brewer's Sparrow, and several nice buck Mule Deer.
We ended up on the Jordan River along the Brighton Canal where a GREEN HERON gave an emphatic croak from what remains of the russian olive lined canal. The enitre field to the south has been clear cut, leaving an enormous open area, where I am assuming that some type of development is about to take place, ugh...
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