On May 13th an intrepid band of 11 hard-core (or not too bright) birders left Salt Lake City to fly to Detroit. The agenda had a week worth of birding packed into only three days. We arrived in Detroit at about 4:00 P.M., got into our van and headed toward Toledo. In Toledo we went to the world famous(?) Packo's restaurant (Klinger from MASH 4077). Everyone enjoyed the food and after we were treated to Chimney Swifts flying like dive bombers into a chimney at an old church in the parking lot. Also, saw a Common Nighthawk and a few other species. The next morning we left Toledo at 5:00 A.M. and arrived at McGee Marsh at 6:00 A.M,, the first people at the park. This area is located on the south-west shore of Lake Erie and is a great warbler trap. We braved the wind and cold and spent about eight hours walking around the boardwalk which was only 1/2 mile long. Fantastic looks at Blackbumian, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Water thrush, Mourning and a number of warblers seen here in the West. We also picked up some nice vireos: Philadelphia, Red-eyed,  Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated. After lunch we birded more and then left at about 3:00 P.M. for the long drive to Grayling in northern Michigan. We spent a long time taking scenic routes as there was construction everywhere and we tried to get around some of it.

We arrived in Grayling late and the next morning slept in until 6:00. Had our first, last and only nice breakfast and then watched a 10 minute film on the Kirtland's Warbler. Three rangers then took us out to a site where they had been seen. We got out of the van and immediately heard one singing. Within  minutes it was in our scopes and suddenly the long drive was completely forgotten. I felt quite humbled knowing that this bird had numbered as low as 200 individual species in 1975 and last spring approximately 800 pairs had been counted. This was the first time I had ever seen a cooperative effort between the forest service, the department of natural resources and the Michigan Audubon society (or any other Audubon society) at work. It can happen and it is comforting to know that maybe we can save some of  these species from extinction. Right up the road from the Kirtland Warblers' territory we found a pair of Upland Sandpipers and also saw the Eastern Towhee. We spent the rest of the day winding our way back to Detroit, stopping at Hartwick Pines State Park (a forest of old growth Monarch White Pines) and seeing Purple Finches, White-breasted Nuthatches and other forest birds at close range at the visitors' center feeder. Again, we arrived in Detroit late, met Dennis Shirleys' sons and slept a few hours at the motel

We left at 4:30 A.M. for Point Pelee, crossing into Ontario in the dark and arriving at the park early. But this time we were not the first; in fact there were hundreds of cars. Later in the day it reminded me of Lagoon there were so many people. We caught the train down to the point and saw Great Black-backed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, American Pipit and a few other water birds. We then went back to the visitor's center where we walked around the Tillden Wood's trail. The birding was slower as it was a much larger area and birds were not as concentrated. We were able to round out our warbler list nicely with Blue-winged, Tennessee, Northern Parula, and Connecticut Warbler that brought out the worst in a number of birders trying to see it. We also saw many Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo nesting, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher and a number of thrushes: Wood, Veery and Swainson's. I particularly enjoyed the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and the Indigo Bun- tings, also Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Brown Thrasher.

It was hard to leave but we arrived at the airport exhausted but with visions of warblers in our heads (does this sound familiar?). The plane took off and then the fun started.

This is a trip that everyone needs to make, if possible. Most of the group got from 10-30 new life birds, with a couple getting less and a couple getting more. A total of 26(27?) warblers were seen and the group list total was approximately 130. Few waterfowl or birds of prey were seen but this was not very disappointing as the majority of us went for the warblers. The complete list is available from Dennis Shirley or Milton Moody if you are interested. Our group consisted of Junece Markham, Laterte Wyss, Carol Gwynn, Lois Clark, Milton Moody, Dennis Shirley, Stan Smith, Tuula Rose, Eric Huish, Robert Parsons and Sue Hinde.

Meet at 6:30 A.M. at the Park and Ride lot in the mouth of the canyon to car pool or at 7:00 A.M. in the parking lot at the entrance to the Spruces Campground. Larene Wyss will be our leader. This field trip will be combined with the annual Brighton Bird Count conducted by the Great Salt Lake Audubon. Bring food, beverage for lunch. For further information call Larene Wyss at 278-8758.

The summer board meeting will be held at 6:30 P.M. at Letitia's home in Park City. Directions: 1-80 heading east up too Parley's Canyon, turn off at exit 140 Parley's Summit. At the end of the off ramp take a right at the stop sign. At the next stop sign take a left onto the frontage road and head east. Drive approximately 6/10 of a mile. On the way you will pass a big white maintenance garage on your right, at the top of the hill. Next you will pass a driveway. The next right is Timberline's entrance. Take this right and take an immediate right. Take a left at the Y From here you will take your second right. My house is the 6th house on the left, right after the red barn house. It is set back from the road, with natural siding and green trim. 7870 N. Cedar Way Park City 649-6982 Everyone is welcome to attend.

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 fidl 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.

There was some confusion with the last t-shirt order for the club. If you ordered a shirt or sweatshin that you did not receive, please call Lisa at 538-0186 at let her know. Please leave the size you ordered and if it was a t-shirt or sweatshin. Sorry for the confusion.

OURAY--WITH A TWIST

by Kathy Anderson

I've never considered myself lucky when it comes to birding, and this trip did nothing to change my opinion. I've never been able to make the Ouray trip before, as it always seemed to be scheduled when I already had other commitments, so I was excited to finally be able to attend this year. Larene, Lyn, and I had decided that we would make a weekend of the trip, and stay overnight in Dinosaur National Monument. The plan was to go to Josie's Cabin in the morning, then to look for the mountain plovers before we came home.

As the weekend drew near, and the rain continued to pour down in the valley, we began to take bets as to whether anyone would actually show up for the trip--especially since the rain was supposed to continue through the weekend. The three of us decided to go ahead with our plans, however, regardless of whether anyone else showed up or not.

Saturday morning found us loading camping gear into my car. I quickly added a quart of oil, and we began our trip. The day was incredibly beautiful and clear, and we enjoyed the drive to Heber immensely. As we pulled into the appointed meeting place, however, Larene commented that she could smell something burning. So could I, although, with a 10 year old wreck for a car, I'm pretty good as ignoring rattles, pings, and sometimes even odd smells, so I didn't think much of it. As we got out of the car, however, I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood, so I figured I'd better check this one out. As I opened the hood, I discovered, in one of those Aif I had another brain, it would be lonesome@ moments, that my oil cap was nowhere to be found, The smell and smoke were from the oil splashing out all over the engine. After discussing various options, none of which seemed viable, we decided the best option was to send the rest of the group on ahead, while I waited for the auto parts store to open, then to meet the group at Ouray. At least I didn't have to go all the way back to Salt Lake, and I would still get most of the field trip in. Fortunately, the auto store had an oil cap, and I was on my way within an hour. I had expected to catch up with the group before they reached Ouray, but they didn't make any stops along the way, so I caught up with them just as they were starting the auto tour loop at Ouray.

The first sight I was treated to was a splendid view of two American Bitterns as they flew overhead, banked, then flew back again. Another treat a short while later, was a Great Horned Owl, with a young one. This was a terrific find for Elaine, who had never seen an owl in the wild before.

I was quite amused, after we spent a considerable amount of time trying to identify which empidonax flycatchers we were seeing, to learn that the refuge managers didn't even try, On the checklist for the refuge, flycatchers were simply listed as Empidonax species. The day at Ouray passed swiftly and pleasantly, and soon it was time for Larene, Lyn and I to bid goodbye to the rest of the group, and find our campsite for the evening. After setting up camp, we went to Josie's cabin, which is supposed to be a warbler trap, I think we missed the main migration, though, The warblers had already been trapped and released. We were looking for something rare and wonderful that would make everyone jealous, but the best we could come up with were plumbeous and warbling vireos, and a black chinned hummingbird. We thought sure we heard a yellow billed cuckoo, but searched in vain for the bird.

I was actually quite impressed with Dinosaur National Monument. It had been years since I had been there, and I think it is a place I would like to visit again. Sunday morning found us again at Josie's cabin trying to locate that elusive Cuckoo, but with no luck. We were lucky enough, however to see a flock of Pinyon Jays on our way out from the cabin. After a quick stop at the quarry, and a view of a sage thrasher, we headed to the oil fields of Myton, to look for the mountain plover. After several hours of driving along dirt roads, checking oil pads, walking through fields, looking around the edges of ponds, we still had not located a mountain plover. We flagged down a couple of oil workers, both of whom knew about the bird, said they had seen them recently, that the BLM had just been out here yesterday monitoring their nest, and that someone they knew had just seen them. The trick seems to be to figure how to follow directions to a certain spot in a maze of dirt roads, none of which are marked. I think I've decided that this whole mountain plover thing is a hoax, and the oil workers that we talked to are in on the joke. After searching in vain, we were forced to admit defeat in both our quest for the plover and for the yellow billed cuckoo, and reluctantly headed for home.

I do have to admit that it was a very pleasant weekend, despite our lack of success with the plover, and the cuckoo. The 10 participants included our leaders, Randy and Calleen Cox, Sharon Coons, Bob Huntington, Elaine Wonsavage, Timothy Morris (from Long Valley, New Jersey, who joined us for the day at Ouray), Julie Van Moorhen, Larene Wyss, Kathy Anderson, and Lyn Christiansen. Species seen ( about 80 total, including sightings after the group split), included American Bittern, Snowy Egret, Great Homed Owl, Mountain Bluebird, Sora, Virginia Rail, Olive sided Flycatcher, Western Wood Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Pinyon Jay, and several species of ducks, swallows, wrens, etc. among others. We had a sunny, cool-and rainless --weekend, which, from what I could tell when we arrived back in Salt Lake, is more than those who stayed in the valley can claim. I think I will have to make the Ouray trip a must do trip on my list from now on. See you next time.