St. George Birding Fun (+ ID help)

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Stephanie Greenwood

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May 29, 2012, 2:22:57 AM5/29/12
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Last Friday I intended to arrive in St. George, to straight to bed, and meet up on Saturday at 6 am with the group that was going to Lytle Ranch.  Unfortunately it turned out to be one of those nights where my brain wouldn't let me sleep.  So, I missed the group outing to Lytle.  But I decided to take the chance to get in some solo birding around town. And while I may not have seen as many species as I would have going to Lytle, I did have some fun finds. 

I mapped out a nice loop northwest of the town.

I started out at TONAQUINT NATURE CENTER where I picked up a good amount of lifers, including a glimpse at a Ladder-backed Woodpecker that caught me by surprise and absolutely took my breath away.  This was a bird I had always wanted to see and I just have an absolute fascination with woodpeckers.

At the pond there was a handful of beautiful little Black Phoebes.

Surprisingly, my first ever Wilson's Warbler


I got this little flycatcher and originally ID'ed it as a Dusky Flycatcher.  But now I'm wondering if it isn't a Willow?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277266310/in/photostream/ I ID'ed it as a Dusky because of the messy eye-ring, but I dunno, the habitat might be better for a Willow.  Thoughts?

I then headed out towards Santa Clara, where I stopped at the JACOB HAMBLIN HOME.  I enjoyed a couple Mockingbirds, Turkey Vultures, Greater Roadrunner, a Red-Tailed Hawk, and caught some delightful little Verdin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277384828/in/photostream/

Continuing further out of town, I reached GUNLOCK RESERVOIR.  Below the reservoir at the first sign I stopped and saw a couple birds flitting about in the brush from a pretty far distance.  Not knowing what they were I snapped continuous photos of these drab grey small birds.  Finally, in my very last photo before they disappeared, I caught the diagnostic ruddy patch on the rump: Lucy's Warbler, another lifer!  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277386866/in/photostream/

The day was pretty windy, so I didn't stop to look for much action on the reservoir.  There were some Eared Grebes, a couple of Gadwall and tons of swallows, Violet-Green I believe.  Above the reservoir I figured that the line of dense cottonwood trees would be good habitat, and I was right.  Where the trees cross the road I stopped and pulled in to a little dirt road.  There were copious amounts of these Willow Flycatchers http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277393690/in/photostream/ a couple of Say's Phoebes, and two fun little Bewick's Wrens.  Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277389044/in/photostream/  and a shaky little video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277392094/in/photostream/  And of course the usual smattering of Yellow Warblers. 

I looped around to SNOW CANYON where I picked up one of the most striking of sparrows, in my opinion: Black-Throated Sparrow.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277397194/in/photostream/  More Bewick's Wrens, Gnatcatchers, Western Scrub Jays, and a cool iridescent blue lizard: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277395512/in/photostream/

Back in town in the last bit of time I had before I needed to move on to Vegas, I hit up the WASHINGTON FIELDS and watched a couple of bumbling Turkey Vultures and not much else. 

SPRINGS POND PARK yielded the two mute swans that continue to hang out there.  One lonely Black-necked Stilt made an appearance, and a pleasant surprise, a Cattle Egret: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bubblesteph/7277401904/in/photostream/

All-in-all it was a great day of birding.  The temps weren't too high and I had some great finds.  

Good birding!
Stephanie



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