Recently in 2008 Utah Birds Category

I haven't had a lot to say about birds here of late but, while it isn't quite Fall yet (though this morning's low was 28), birds are on the move around here. A new species for me about 10 days ago, paying a visit to the bird bath, was a couple of female Evening Grosbeaks. Oddly enough they appear on the 2000 species checklist for the park, but are absent from the 2006 revision. Hmmm, guess I'll have to fix that. Yesterday I found a pair of Orange-crowned Warblers near my place, and over the past several days quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through in basic (non-breeding) plumage.

Today was interesting finding 4 different raptors on the way to and at the reservoir: Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, and Peregrine Falcon. But the real surprise was the pair of Greater White-fronted Geese mixed in among the hordes of Canada Geese. The Greater White-fronted is considered rare for the state and not listed on the Bryce Canyon checklist at all. I didn't have a still camera with me, but did get them on video. They were way out there, too, so the video ain't great but it is possible to see their orange feet and bills and other field marks.

I've never been much of a "lister" but, just for fun, I've decided to see how many species I can total during the year here in Utah. I'm sure things will be lean for a couple of months until migrants begin to make their way north, but 50 or more could be possible. I don't intend to treat as some kind of "big year" where I chase across the state based upon some vagrant showing up at a marsh near Salt Lake. Nor will I limit it to what I see within a few miles of the park. I've created a special category - 2008 Utah Birds - if you care to follow along and, when I write about Utah birds in an entry, will note the total plus update this entry and the table when I add a new species. Of course it may all be futile because I really don't know at this point if I will still be at Bryce come May (since I will have to compete for a summer position). But, we'll see where it all goes . . .