Adventures
in
the Field- continued
La Verkin Creek /Confluence Park
May 16, 2009
Highlights included: Green-tailed Towhee, Western Tanager, Summer Tanagers and a plethora of Phainopeplas. Other birds seen: Canada Goose, Blue-winged Teal, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Mourning Dove, White-throated Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, and House Sparrow. We also heard, but did not see: Cactus Wren and Canyon Wren.
Lytle Preserve - Field Trip In The Rain
April 11, 2009
Everyone wants to go to Lytle Preserve! People come from all over to see what they can find at Lytle. The Red Cliffs Audubon Field Trip was to be at Lytle this Saturday, but it rained. Let me tell you that the road looks like it would be great even in the rain, but we found out 'that just ain’t so' today. We drove about half way to Lytle and decided to turn around while we were still smiling! So how can you top a trip to Lytle?
The
sky was dark and full of rain, and our
hearts were filled with hope. Our second
choice was to travel to Gunlock Reservoir.
What a sight that was! The wet sandstone
made everything more beautiful. Spring
flowers were just beginning to show like the
bright red Indian Paintbrush, the blue
Desert Lupine, and the yellow Desert
Marigold. We pulled over at Gunlock
Reservoir and there were more
surprises. Four double-crested Cormorants
and a beautiful Osprey flew overhead. A
noisy Black-throated Sparrow flew from
Cholla to Cholla singing in competition with
some Rock Wrens on the hillside of black
lava rocks. What else could
make this trip better than to find
Red-tails, Sharp-shins, and Ravens on
our way back to Grandma Gubler’s in Santa
Clara for a yummy Cinnamon Pecan
Roll. Even the birds knew we were
stopping for food, because a
Mockingbird and Robin were singing in the
trees. What can I say, but that it’s Spring
and they were "Singing and dancing in the
Rain."
February 14, 2009
Wow did you miss a once in a lifetime event! Kevin Wheeler told us at Wednesday’s meeting that his favorite bird that evening was the one we would see on our Audubon Field Trip Saturday. He wouldn’t tell us the name. He said "if you want to know which bird it is you will have to come with me on the field trip". Saturday couldn’t come fast enough! When we were assembling at the BLM for the trip on Saturday morning, Kevin still would not be bribed to tell us what the bird was.
We saw a nice variety of waterfowl, along with a few pleasant surprises. At several of the ponds, the number of each species was noted and submitted to the Backyard Bird Count. To see the results of this year's count, as well as past year's data, go to: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc
| Southgate
Golf Course: Mallard Great Egret Northern Shoveler Green Teal Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe American Coot Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Great-tailed Grackle Eurasian Collared Dove Saint George Golf Club Pond: Mallard American Wigeon Canada Goose Wood Duck Great Blue Heron American Coot Red-tailed Hawk Common Raven White-crowned Sparrow Domestics included: Muscovy Duck Mallard Mutants Chinese (Swan) Geese Mute Swan Graylag Geese |
Springs
Estate Park Pond: Ruddy duck Mallard Bufflehead American Coot Pied-bill Greebe Greater Scaup Red-tailed Hawk Northern Flicker Northern Mockingbird Crissal Thrasher Abert's Towhee White-crowned Sparrow Domestic: Graylag Goose (Mr. Grumpy Peckyourtoes) Mallard Washington Fields: Burrowing Owl Meadowlark Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Say's Phoebe |
Sky Ridge Golf Course:
(Hurricane) American Wigeon 1 Eurasian Wigeon White-fronted Goose Canada Goose (Stratton) Grandpa's Pond: Buffelhead Canvasback Ringneck Greater Scaup Hooded Merganser Northern Shoveler American Coot Ring-billed Gull Thayer's Gull |
~~~~
Santa
Clara Arboretum & Halfway Wash
November 15, 2008
Where were you on
Saturday, November 15? Nine of us birders left
the BLM and headed out to Santa Clara. Fifteen
minutes later we were birding at the Santa
Clara Arboretum. I hadn’t gone birding out
there since before the fires. It is so
beautiful now and I encourage you to take some
time and go out there birding. It is so close
and we saw numerous birds in the morning.
There were new trees planted and they finished
building a terrific bridge over the water. We
headed up the trail through the lava rock area
and what a view of Snow Canyon! Many plants
& bushes were still blooming, and again we
saw more birds.
The
species
at the Arboretum area in the order of which we
saw them were: Common Raven, White-crowned
Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Marsh Wren, House
Sparrow, Prairie Falcon, Verdin, Song Sparrow,
Rock Wren, Gambel's Quail, Cooper's Hawk,
American Kestrel, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Eurasian Collared Dove, Northern Mockingbird,
Bewick’s Wren, Say's Phoebe, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Great-tailed Grackle, possible
Red-tailed Hawk.
We
later
went to the Halfway Wash area going South and
then turned around and went North. Again, more
birds. It was a wonderful morning and became
quite warm. Halfway Wash area: House Finch,
House Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow
Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, Northern Flicker
(lots of them), Mourning Dove, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, Sharp-shinned
Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon), Black Phoebe.
We
saw
a total of 28 species, not too bad for a short
field trip. Both of these places act as
refuges and corridors for wildlife in the
growing St. George area. Thank you to Pam and
Kevin Wheeler for being our trip leaders.
Be
sure
and come on the next field trip on Saturday,
December
13th. Meet at the BLM
parking lot, 345 E. Riverside Dr at 8:00 am.
Bring your lunch and warm coat as we are
heading up to the Cedar Valley looking for
Raptors, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, falcons,
and maybe a Black-billed Magpie.
If you are entering the Winter Bird Festival Photo Contest, be sure to also bring your camera as you will be sure to get some great photos on this trip. (See home page for instructions and entry form link) -- Denise Blyn