Salt Lake Birders Tri-County Contest Results

by Susan Thomas

Patches were awarded to the following club members for their hard work in the tri-county contest: Steven Carr, Alan Godwin, Dana Green, Carol Gwynn, Letitia Lussier, Julie Van Moorhem, Kathy Roach, Mark Stackhouse, Susan Saffle, Yvonne Stroup, Susan Thomas, Larene Wyss. Honorary Mentions went to the following: Caleen Cox and Donna Thorum. The award for the most counties went to Dana Green with ten! (Box Elder, Toole, Rich, Summit, San Juan, Salt Lake, Davis, Wasatch, Washington, and Utah). Two awards were given for the most unique counties one to Dana Green for San Juan County and the other to Mark Stackhouse for Daggert County. For the most birds in Salt Lake County we had a tie at 156 bird for both Mark Stackhouse and Steve Carr. The most birds in one County went to Mark Stackhouse , with a whopping 186 in Washington County.

On Friday, February 5th, after our board meeting, the patches for the contest were awarded to the participants. I want to thank everyone for participating in this winter social. Pins, coffee mugs, and a large supply of peanuts were given as prizes. Some of the noted hot spots were discussed at our Christmas party. Some areas of Salt Lake County that were under-birded have been thoroughly investigated. Noted by Letitia Lussier as a favorite spot, was Jordan Narrows. Donna Thorum likes Tanner Park. Carol Gwynn cruised the Saltaire Frontage Road. Steve Carr was impressed by the International Center. I regularly checked Brown's Pond on 3rd East and 128th South in Draper. Some rare birds were seen by Julie Van Moorhem and others; a Rose Breasted Grosbeak and the Northern Parula. The Hermit Warbler in Washington County was Letitia Lussier's best bird. We had some fun. All of us got to know our city and county better. From the faithful newsletter reports by Steve Carr, we commiserated and applauded the effort it took for this feat of 125 bird in three counties. I apologize for not reporting sooner the results of this contest. It was created, after all, to unify our club and to make birding more challenging. I am afraid that one of the results had the opposite effect. It created a lot of Lone Birders. I went out by myself more than I ever had to find birds. That dang contest promoted a lot of independent birding. It was the consensus of the board that another contest would have to be devised that included more field trips. How about a contest for attending the most field trips? Let's think of what would be appropriate for the 10 year anniversary of the club next year.

I missed the summer social for the Salt Lake Birders organized by our hostesses Donna Thorum and Kathy Roach. Thank you for the generous offering of time and energy; giving us another memorable event. Kathy, it is good to have you back

Our Board will be having elections this year. The term is two years with a two term maximum for that position. I will be leaving as president and hopefully will shift to another position on the board. We have had great momentum with our all new board. We didn't know each other two years ago but we have hopefully infused new energy into the club. I have deliberately tried for a more loosely structured club that focused on birding and not meetings. Thank you all for being so patient while I have tried to enter the computer age and have dallied on the reports of our meetings. Our club does not have a secretary and it may be that we need that position delegated to someone on the new board. We will be looking for new volunteers to do the newsletter and to help with field trips. The nominations and positions for the new board will be discussed in the October board meeting. The nominating committee will consist of Letitia Lussier, Kathy Roach, and Stan Smith. Please contact Letitia by phone (435-649-6982) or e-mail ([email protected]) if you are interested in participating on the board. I want to thank the members of the board whose positions have been under-utilized, as well as those whose positions have been highly challenging . You have all jumped in to fill the positions we were just defining two years ago and have done a great job. Some faithful members have been attending our board meetings . Without their support the club history could not be kept intact Even without being on the board all the members-support is needed and appreciated. All your individual expertise is vital to making this club work socially and educationally. I am proud to be acquainted with all of you. It just reconfirms that birders are as great and as fascinating to know as the birds.

Welcome to the following new members, we hope to see you soon at a field trip! Bob Huntington, John Jacobsen, Robert MacDougall, Milton Moody, Deedee O'Brien, Michael and Margaret Smith, Richard and Carol Waite, Elaine Wonsavage.

Calender of SL Birder Events

Saturday, August 7th - Uinta Mountains

Meet at 7:00 AM at the US Forest Service Building in Kamas. The building is on the right side of the road (Highway 150) as you head up the Mirror Lake Highway, about 1/2 block off the main road through Kamas. If you wish to join a car pool or have questions, please call Stan Smith at 278-5875. Trip leaders: Calleen Cox and Randy Cox. This is a full day field trip, so bring beverage and food for lunch - and remember your $3.00 use fee for the area. We will end this field trip with our traditional and ever-popular ice cream social in Kamas.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday August 27-29-Unita Mountains

Larene Wyss will be leading an unofficial club trip to the Uintah's to see the White-tailed Ptarmigan on August 27 - 29. We will leave mid-afternoon on Friday and drive to Henry's Fork Campground. The next morning we will hike approximately 8 miles into Dollar Lake where we will set up camp. We will then hike another mile to the base of Gunsight Pass to where the Ptarmigans are. If we don't see them Saturday evening, we will have another chance to try for them on Sunday morning before hiking back to the cars. This trip is open to anyone in Salt Lake Birders, Utah County Birders or Salt Lake Audubon, but it will be limited to the first 8, maybe 10, people who call her. Her number is 278-8758. Call to sign up or to ask any questions you may have about the trip.

Saturday, August 14 - Mtn. Dell, Summit Park, and adjacent area

Meet at 7:00 AM at the parking lot of the Mtn. Dell Golf Course in Parley Canyon. We will begin birding at Washington Park and the area around Mtn. Dell and Little Dell resevoir and then on to Summit Park, Pinebrooke and other areas near Park City. Leader will be Kathy Roach. Bring food and beverage for lunch as the birding may go into the afternoon for those who wish to do so.

Saturday, August 28th - Farmington Bay and Antelope Island Causeway

Meet at 7:00 AM at the parking lot of the Utah Travel Council at the corner of State Street and 300 North across from the State Capitol Building to arrange to car pool. This will be a good opportunity to observe migrating shore birds and water fowl. Increased bird sightings and activity has been reported along the causeway. Leader will be Carol Gwynn. Bring food and beverage for lunch as birding may continue into the afternoon for those who may wish to bird Antelope Island and look for the burrowing owls.

Saturday, September 11 (tentative) - Deseret Ranch

Mark Stackhouse has again agreed to lead a Salt Lake Birders trip to Deseret Ranch. As of press time the date has been tentatively set for September 11. More details will follow in the September Newsletter. You will want to reserve the date as this trip led by Mark is one of the highlights for each year. Because the number of participants must be limited it will be necessary to register for this trip. To do so or if you have questions, please call Stan Smith at 278-6170 or Susan Saffle at 582-6603.

A Field Trip To Utah County

by Cub Reporter, Donna Thorum

On Saturday, May 22nd,the S.L. Birders scheduled a field trip to Utah Co. with leader Milton Moody. Matt and I decided to attend this trip to see if we could learn some new places to bird in Utah Co., and perhaps the Little blue heron would still be hanging around.

We left in plenty of time to be at the Monty Bean Museum parking lot to meet the rest of the group at 8:00 AM. When we arrived at 7:50 there was no one around but a lot of empty cars. You get the feeling you read the newsletter wrong or they told you the wrong time and left you behind. That's what you get for not meeting the group at Shopko.

At 8:00 A.M. Milton arrived and introduced himself to Matt and I. We waited for more to arrive and sure enough about 8:25 Sue Saffle's big green wagon arrived with Stan Smith, Sheila Smith, Maxine Martz, and June Ryburn in it.

All right!!! We're ready to go. Matt and I piled in Milton's car and headed for McDonalds at East Bay in Provo to look for grackles, and other necessities. There were no grackles. From here we moved onto Springville to find the missing blue heron. Sure enough, it was still missing. So far our odds have been great.

From here Milton took us to Swede Lane north of the town of Lake Shore. We saw the usual birds you see along the way. California gull, Starling, Mallard, Red-winged blackbird, Coot, and hey, things are starting to look up, a Forester tern, Canada Goose, Cinnamon teal, Black -necked Stilt, American Avocet, Robin, Barn Swallow, and overhead a Turkey Vulture. While moving along Swede Lane we saw Meadowlark, Mourning Dove, Western Kingbird, Ibis, Ring-necked Pheasant, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Magpie, Goldfinch, White-crowned Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, and Great Blue Heron.

At the end of Swede Lane where it meets with Utah Lake we found the mud flats had given way to the very high water of the lake. There was no place for shore birds. We did get a spotted sandpiper. Also Clark's Grebe, Green-winged Teal, Redhead duck, Caspian Terns, (that's good), and a beautiful Lark Sparrow.

Look!! In that tree!!! There's a flycatcher. You call it! Does it have an eye ring? Does it have wing bars? Definitely an empidonax. Is it bobbing its tail? Is there any yellow wash? "I can't call it. Neither can I" was all anyone could come up with. Finally Donna said it obviously it was a Willow Flycatcher. After all, it was sitting in a willow tree. No one would give it to me.

Next sightings as we were heading for the area Milton called 40th West, we saw Yellow Warbler, Cattle Egret, Kestrel, Rock Dove, House Sparrow, Snowy Egret, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. In a riparian area where the Spanish Fork River flows into Utah Lake, there were Western Tanagers, Bullocks Oriole(beautiful), Song Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Getting close to 40th west, Milton showed us a bridge where you can always get Cliff Swallows. A Snipe posed beautifully for us on a fence post. In a pasture puddle we saw Blue-winged Teal Wilson's Phalarope, and a Chipping Sparrow.

40th west turned out to be a great spot. Here we saw 3 Great Egrets, Pelican, Marsh Wren, Gadwall, audible on Virginia Rails and Soras thanks to Milton's tapes. The leader was well equipped. We also got Willet, and Black-crowned Night Heron. The list is growing.

At Lincoln Beach we got Ring-billed Gulls, and more Spotted Sandpipers. Up the road at Lincoln Point we had great fun pulling out passerines along the road where the apple orchard begins on the south side of the road. We saw beautiful Wilson's Warbler, House Finch, Yellow-rumps, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and what's that? Another empid! Dusky? Willow? It's not a Pee Wee. Where is Stackhouse when you need him?!!! We also saw Eared Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe and Eastern Kingbird.

Next Milton took us to Rock Canyon east of the Provo Temple. This is the spot I had been wanting to learn about. Here we got Black-chinned hummers, Broadtail hummers, Warbling Vireo, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Virginia warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Lazuli Bunting, Coopers hawk, and Scrub Jay.

From this area Milton was nice enough to invite us to his home to see his feeding station. He has a wonderful yard with everything a yard habitat is supposed to have. Brush piles, berry bushes, fruit trees, lawn flowers, and garden. What bird wouldn't want to stop here? We added a Cassin's Finch here. You know that a White-throated Sparrow spent the winter here with Milton. Our field trip broke up here. We saw 74 species. A good Spring birding trip. Many thanks for showing us Utah County Milton Moody. You can sail on my ship any time.

Post Script: Next time you see Stan Smith ask him about the little blonde that wandered up to him in the Rock Canyon parking lot, grabbed his right leg, looked up at him with wondering beautiful eyes and said "Grandpa" When her embarrassed mother pulled her away all Stan could say was, "I'm a good grandpa.'

Birding Willard Bay and Great Salt Lake, June 26, 1999

by Kathy Roach

Julie Van Moorhem (leader), Letitia Lussier, Sheila Smith, Carol and Bill Redeker, Janet Frost, Sharon Bailey, Stan Smith, Donna Thorum, Helen Burnett, Charlotte Welsh, and Kathy (zipper-up) Roach.

Another day in Paradise and what birds we saw. I'll not list the usual Robins, Magpies, and MoDo's, but instead rave about the beautiful looks at Bullock's Orioles and their babies, Willow Flycatchers, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Catbirds, Cormorants, Red-tailed Hawks, Clark and Western Grebes, a Downy Woodpecker, a Northern Harrier, a Swainson's Hawk, and a quick glimpse of a Snowy Egret. The campgrounds were busy, but our feathered friends were also very active and visible. On the way home to Park City, Charlotte, Letitia and Kathy stopped at Henefer to observe the Great Blue Heron rookery with the young Great Blue's all proud and ready to fly. A great day was had by all. 1999 Summer Social Picnic by Kathy Roach

June 22 brought warm sunshine, singing birds, and many happy birders to the annual picnic at Washington Park in Mountain Dell Golf Course. In addition, it brought some of the best salads, desserts, and chili in town! Thank-you to everyone for going the extra mile with all of those wonderful food dishes. Also, thank you to Donna Thorum for all of her time and effort in planning the wonderful evening. Birds attending the picnic included Pine Siskins, Robins, Magpies, MacGillivary's Warblers, Warbling Vireos, Lazuli Buntings, Red-tail Hawks, Yellow Warblers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Chipping Sparrows, Northern Flickers, Western Tanagers, Broad tail and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Spotted Towhees, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tree Swallows, Swainson's Thrushes, and Song Sparrows. The birders present included: Carol and Bill Redeker, Sharon Gander, Bob and Margaret Huntington, Yvonne Stroup, Barbara Stubblefield, Julie Van Moorhem, Sheila Smith, Stan and Marjorie Smith, Susan Saffle, June Ryburn, Helen Burnett, Maxine Martz, Kelly Holtman, Jan and Hugh Gillilan, Doug and Calleen Cox, Alan Fuchs, Dave Thompson, Dick and Charlotte Welsh, Carol Gywnn, Letitia Lussier, Kent and Sally Lewis, Laura and Maisy Lockhart, Kathy Anderson, Deedee O'Brien, Larene and Robert Wyss, Donna and Glen Thorum and Bob and Kathy Roach. News From the Board

Our apologies for any confusion of the Tri-county Contest. If you are working on the contest for this year, keep it up and you will receive a patch, but it is not an ongoing contest.

If you have submitted an article to the newsletter and do not see it, please resubmit. Apparently some articles were lost in transit (Carol, your article will appear next month). Please submit by e-mail or disk, if at all possible. Please remember that the newsletter is a volunteer position and any typos or mistakes are probably from the editor and not the writer. Thanks for your understanding.

Donna Thorum would like everyone to mark on their calender the first Tuesday after the Summer Solstice for next year's Summer Social. It will continue this format for the next year.

Instead of a Christmas party, we are considering a Winter Party as a kick-off for our 10 year Anniversary as a club. If you have ideas for themes, contests, etc., please contact a board member.

The next board meeting will be held on October 21st at Donna Thorum's house. A map will be in next month's issue.

We appreciate your support and comments and look for seeing all of you at future board meetings and field trips.

Please feel free to "toot your own horn" or someone else's. We love to know when exciting things happen to our members.