August 26 : Sue Drown reports: The best birds to report on the Lundstrom Park canal trail are Lewis' Woodpecker (one adult, one juvie) and (per Ron Ryel) an American Redstart, either female or first-year. Both were along the canal bank on the E side of Lundstrom Park on Sunday 8/26, both in the trees near the green benches and new foot bridge, about in the middle of the park's east side. There was also a Wilson's Warbler, and a couple Wilson's over on the Wellsvilles' Deep Creek trail as well. (Seems early for them.) Some Lesser Goldfinch on the Lundstrom trail as well. We still have plentiful Rufous and Black-Chinned Hummers. I've seen Brewers' Sparrrows moving through this week, as well. At Sherwood Hills, Cassin's Vireos. Everywhere I look, there are Western Tanagers and Warbling Vireos in good numbers. What a great time of year to look for for unexpected visitors!

August 25: Craig Fosdick reports: On the way home from Garr Ranch, Mo, Ryan, and I saw a minimum of 50 Swainson's Hawks moving south along US 89/91 at the south end of Cache Valley, near Wellsville. The birds were not in a cohesive group, but all were moving south on a broad front spread out over ~1 mile, and at various heights. Some were birds were very high, almost to the point where they were difficult to detect without binoculars, while many were very low. Given the general lack of cohesiveness to the flight and the time of the day (~345 pm) my best guess is that they had been migrating, and at least some of them may have been searching for roost sites for the evening. A single Turkey Vulture was tagging along. Regardless, it was a fantastic sight.

May 06 : Buck Russell reports: This evening I found a Calliope Hummingbird at Stewart Park in Logan. It was not a surprise to find the bird. On May 6, 2005, May 8, 2006, and today May 6, 2007 I've seen the bird. I had marked my calendar to visit the park today to look for the bird. I found it in the same tree, sitting on the same branch as last year. If the past two years are any indication, it will only be here for a few days. Lazuli Buntings are also back at the park.

The caretaker at the Spring Hollow Campground in Logan Canyon has put out his hummingbird feeders and they are loaded with Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. I did find one Black-chinned Hummingbird near the feeders.

I found several Lesser Goldfinches in the trees next to the USU Water Research facility (just below 1st Dam on the Logan River).

Yesterday the Bridgerland Audubon field trip to the Logan City Polishing Ponds found several Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Western Willet, White-faced Ibis, Eared Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, and Violet-green Swallow.

May 02: Buck Russell reports: I was standing in the middle of a marshy area in the Amalga Barrens in Cache Valley looking at a Savannah Sparrow. The bird was being very cooperative, perched on a small post. Normally I have trouble getting good looks at these sparrows. In the past I’ve never been able to get a photo of Savannah Sparrow. One of the drawbacks of digiscoping , at least with my set-up, is the amount time it takes to focus the scope, attach the camera, time spent to make sure the weight of the camera didn’t pull the scope off the bird, wait for the scope to steady itself, and the final fleeting hope that the bird didn’t get spooked by all of my movement. As I said this bird was being very cooperative and I was able to get about a dozen photos of the bird. As I took the photos I was standing very still and quiet. Also, I was wearing a canvas hat, the type with the extra wide brim which completely hid my head and face as I leaned over the scope. After I snapped the last photo I slowly looked up, only to be startled by seeing a Short-eared owl flying straight at my head with the apparent intention of landing. To say that I was shocked would be an extreme understatement. The bird also looked shocked as it realized that it’s would-be perch had moved and was now looking at it. The owl swerved and missed me. It was one of those moments when time slowed down and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Every time I look at my Savannah Sparrow photos I am thinking about an owl. I am grateful for a birding hobby that gets me out of the house and reminds me that there is an amazing world out there.

May 01: Jim Lofthouse reports: In the past three days we have had some new arrivals. Orioles, Western Kingbirds, Cowbirds, Yellow Warbler, Lazuli Bunting and one lone Calliope Hummingbird male. (First hummer of the season)

A pair of Magpies have built a nest in a Blue Spruce about 30 feet from my patio. Magpies are usually quite timid, but these two must have decided we were harmless.

A pair of Kestrels have taken the box I put up for them.

April 29: Buck Russell reports: This morning I went up Green Canyon and found a Black-throated Gray Warbler near the entrance to the “boy scout’ cave. In this area I found several Orange-crowned Warblers, Virginia Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, and a Chukar. After hiking Green Canyon I went to Amalga Barrens were I saw Wilson's Phalaropes, Snowy Egret, Franklin Gulls, Marsh Wren, Sandhill Cranes, Savannah Sparrow (looked for Brewer Sparrows but no luck), Vesper Sparrows, Marbled Godwit, numerous Long-billed Dowitchers. I took a lot of photos of dowitchers and hope to see if there was a Short-billed Dowitcher in the flock, but I could not pick one out of the flock. I will dig out my Birding Magazine article and start looking at the loral angles, but I am not optimistic. I heard my first Sora of the year at the barrens and saw a Western Kingbird. On the west side of the Logan Landfill I saw my first of the year Northern Rough-winged swallows.

April 28: Buck Russell reports: The White-throated Swifts are back in Logan Canyon. I saw over a dozen of them flying near some cliffs. They are in the same area where I've seen them for the past several years. Just before you enter Logan Canyon you will pass the Forestry Department building on the right side of the road (across the street from the golf course). The swifts can be found 12.6 miles from the forestry building on the right (south) side of the canyon. The best viewing point is right next to the Logan River. In past years American Dippers have nested in the same area, but I did not see the dippers today.

April 26: Buck Russell reports: This evening I walked the path around the Benson Marina, looking for some Night-Herons (no luck). While on the southside of the marina I watched the nesting Ospreys on their platform. As I watched them I was very surprised to see both birds suddenly leave the nest. There was a Golden Eagle flying over the nest. One bird attacked the flying eagle and forced it to the ground by dive-bombing the eagle. The osprey continued to dive-bomb the eagle on the ground. After several attacks the eagle took flight and went west. As the osprey attacked the eagle, the eagle would roll over in flight, talons up, and try to defend itself. The osprey chased the eagle until it was out of sight. The osprey returned to the nest area, did a couple of victory laps and settled in on the nest. I also saw a couple of Marbled Godwits at the Benson Ox-bow.

April 26: Buck Russell reports: I found a pair of Least Sandpipers on the mud flats at the Logan Fish Hatchery. Other birds in the area included American White Pelican, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, Cinnamon Teal, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird.

April 25: Stephen Peterson reports: This morning I found a White-throated Sparrow which has been reported in the past along the Logan Canal Trail, just east of the 'Philosopher's Way' sign and the house with the visible feeders in the backyard. I first heard a song that I was not really familiar with, 7 notes in a steady pace with a rise on the last note. I started looking in the underbrush, and finally saw the bird, showing the white-throat, white supercilium with yellow supraloral patch and the black crown stripes; rufous wings and gray breast and offwhite belly. I was able to see it singing as well. The song did not sound like the one that I have on Stoke's Eastern Bird Songs (Old-Sam - Peabody-peabody-peabody-). Instead of having the longer note(s) at first, this individual was singing 6 evenly paced notes (Sam-sam-sam-sam-sam-sam) on one tone, with the last note rising in pitch, no triplets as in the common song. Birds of North America states that this species may have 15 song patterns. White-throated Sparrows were reported in Cache previously by Ryan O' Donnell in February 2007 and by Keith & Judy Archibald and Ron Ryel back in January 2006.

April 25: Buck Russell reports: I saw my first of the year Western Sandpipers (two) and Long-billed Dowitchers (four) on the mudflats near the Logan City Polishing Ponds. The dowitchers are several weeks later than normal, but the sandpipers arrived at their normal time.

April 20: Buck Russell reports: This evening I found several Horned Grebes at Hyrum Reservoir on the east end of the reservoir (I was at Dave's Point). There were also a couple of Ospreys flying in the area. Other birds included Caspian Tern, Clark's Grebe, Eared Grebe, Common Loon, Northern Shoveler, and Franklin's Gull. I saw my first of the year Green-tailed Towhee in the riparian area just below the Porcupine Reservoir.

April 19: Tom Gordon reports a flock of Eurasian Collared-Doves hanging around Clarkston in the big conifers by the church.

April 09: Nancy Williams reporting for Reinhard Jockel: Reinhard Jockel birded Valley View Highway, Petersboro, Mendon highway and the Benson Marina between rain showers. He phoned last night to report seeing a flock of 2 dozen White-faced Ibis and two Long-billed Curlews. Also, two Ospreys at Benson Marina on the platform nest made of orange twine. Out by the airport he found a pair of Willets, and a Greater Yellowlegs. He saw American Pipits by the Bud Phelps area on Mendon Road, and Tree Swallows. Also, last Saturday on Hyrum Dam, he saw several Common Loons out in the middle of the lake, plus a Caspian Tern.

April 07: Keith Archibald reports that a juvenile Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk has been seen for the past week hanging out on the Benson Road, which is 3200 W. off Highway 30, west of Logan. This bird seems to be a pure form, every fits.

April 01: Brandon Spencer reports - Buck Russell and I met up and made a large loop around the western side of the valley. Some major highlights were the 7 Long-billed Curlews (minimum, could have been more) that were all active and calling in the field just West of the Benson Marina. Apparently, their average arrival date is April 1... and since Buck looked in that same field yesterday, I guess they knew their cue. Also, we spotted a juvenile Peregrine Falcon in the field across the road from the Clay Slough. Finally, we saw the first (for us) Franklin's Gull for the season on the dirt road just West of the airport.

April 01: Buck Russell reports - This morning Brandon Spencer and I went out birding. The best bird of the day was a Peregrine Falcon at the Clay Slough Recreation area (just north of Benson). We also saw and heard seven Long-billed Curlews. They were in the field west of the Benson Marina. They were singing really loud. Several were on the ground and the others were flying above the field. I was not familiar with their song. It was fun to watch the Sandhill Cranes hopping around, spreading their wings, and throwing stuff up in the air while doing their courtship dance.

April 01: Buck Russell reports - This morning I went out to Hyrum Reservoir and found a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers. I saw them from the "beach" area of the state park. They were in a mixed flock of gulls and Northern Shovelers. At the bridge at Cutler Marsh I saw my first Western Grebe for the year. It was swimming with a lot of American Coots. I found about eight Greater Yellowlegs in the marshy area just west of the Logan Airport. There was also a Short-eared Owl in the same area.

March 31: Sue Drown reports - Recent FOS sightings for me include: Cassin's Finch at my feeder (Friday) and this morning: Long-billed Curlew, American White Pelican, Western Grebe (interesting to me that Clark's came in a bit earlier than Westerns--I need to look if that's normal...), Swainson's Hawk, Double-Crested Cormorant, and a Red-naped Sapsucker along the Lundstrom Park trail where I walk the dog. A light sprinkling of Franklin's Gulls and Stilts here and there. I suspect some of these birds have been here a few days, but they are still great to see again. In the background everywhere in the marshes are Harriers doing unusual high flights. Also interesting--I've been watching Lesser Scaup males turn into Greater Scaup males before my eyes--I think it's a courting posture. They lower their heads, flatten the crown, and swim fwd low and very Greater-like. Does anyone know more about this? It even changes the beak-to-forehead ratio, right before your eyes! There are still reports of a Varied Thrush in Smithfield--near Mack Park. I've tried now 4 or 5 times for him, no luck.

March 29: Stephen Peterson reports - This morning at the Logan City Sewage Lagoons with Dr. Sullivans Ornithology class field trip we found a Greater White-fronted Goose flying overhead with a flock of 12 plus Canada Geese. I noticed at first a slimmer looking bird in the middle of the flock and was able to get great looks at the bird which showed the white frontal area at the base of a dull orange bill, very orange legs tucked up against a white undertail, lower belly area, and a thin white line on the side of the flank, separating the wing from the belly. I guess it could have been a domestic Greylag, but I cannot imagine that the heavier looking, beer belly farm goose could keep up with the geese I saw this morning. We also saw a first summer Bonaparte's Gull with white leading edge, dark ear spot, thin black bill and fairly dark orange-reddish legs.

March 29: Sue Drown reports - The lighting was perfect this morning at the ponds along 1900 W just south of 200 N--that's the ponds west of the landfill. The ducks there were unusually diverse: Lesser and Greater Scaup, Pintail, Ruddy, Canvasback, Redheads, Ring-neck, Common Goldeneye (f), etc etc. There were, I think, at least 3 male Greater Scaup. They were together, but Lessers were mixed in. They dive so much it's hard to count! Also enjoying the pond were Stilts and Franklin's Gulls, just coming back to town in the last few days.

March 25: Nancy Williams reports - Bryan and I were out this afternoon and saw a yellow-headed blackbird on the old west Hyde Park lane (airport road), as well as our first willets of the season.

March 24: Ryan O'Donnell reports - I saw my first Cache County Turkey Vultures of the year yesterday evening (Friday, 23 March). Around sunset a kettle of a dozen or so circled up above Logan and headed south down the valley from the top of a thermal.

March 24: Buck Russell reports - This morning my wife and I birded the Amalga Barrens and Benson Marina areas. We found some new birds for the year. In the Amalga Barrens we found an out of place Mountain Bluebird. Other birds in the barrens were Vesper Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows. The Yellow headed Blackbirds have returned to the barrens. At the Benson Marina we found a Swainson’s Hawk sitting on the Osprey platform on the north side of the marina. I got excited when I saw some birds flying in and out of the mud swallow nests under the marina bridge, but it was House Sparrows working on building a nest in a mud swallow nest. It looked odd to see a House Sparrow hanging upside down, clinging to the bottom of a mud swallow nest. In a field on the west side of the marina there were a couple of Snow Geese mixed in a flock of Canada Geese. There were the usual Clark’s Grebes swimming around the marina.

March 18: Buck Russell found a Mountain Bluebird. It was on a fence post just south and west of the Hyrum Reservoir dam at 2400 West 6800 South.

March 11: Nancy Williams reports: Bryan and I saw four Sandhill Cranes in Benson this afternoon near 2600 North and 3200 West, and the first pairs of Northern Pintails of the season. Saw Western Meadowlarks but they're still not singing.

March 11: Sue Drown reports: I got to enjoy a Winter Wren today along the Logan River trail
upstream from the Stokes Nature Center and below the irrigation diversion dam. (A Canyon Wren was also singing from across the way.) The Winter Wren was maybe 50-150 yards below the irrigation dam, along the trail, just before the first place where the snow still covers the trail.

March 10: Allen Spaulding reports: On 10 March, 11:00 AM, Allen and Usha Spaulding saw a
Great Egret along 200 North, across from the Logan landfill. Probably the same one others have been seeing.

March 01: Alice Lindahl reports - My class saw a Loggerhead Shrike this morning on the Mendon Road, on the Logan side of Spring Creek Ranch. We saw a large flock of Tree Sparrows at the PacficCorp recreational parking area on Valley View Highway.

Feb 24: Reinhard Jockel reported seeing a black-crowned night heron in the area in back of the fish hatchery on Valley View highway Saturday afternoon. This is the same area where a great egret has been seen recently.
Nancy Williams reports - In the same area later that day, Bryan and I saw a belted kingfisher and
several killdeer. Also, a single snow goose in a flock of 75+ Canada geese at Benson Marina
-- the water is open now, and there were several pairs of common mergansers and American wigeons hanging out. On the old airport road that's now closed (formerly West Hyde Park lane),
we saw two short-eared owls hunting, and on 3200 West in Benson, a prairie falcon.

Feb 18: Sue Drown birding in Benson found the following: In the Benson area Sunday, I found 2 Hooded Mergansers and 2 American Wigeons (Oxbow), 1 Snow Goose and 88 Tundra Swans
(Marina). The Snow Goose was with the Canadas on the Marina; the Tundras were in 40+ flocks overflight. Also several Common Mergansers and some Pintails, et al. A Ross's Goose was grazing in the fields on the N (Benson) end of the Benson/Valley View road on Friday. Along the trail to the RR bridge at the Benson marina, there's still a flock of American Tree Sparrows, Rough-legged Hawk and Bald Eagle still at the Oxbow.

Feb 18: Ryan O'Donnell posted the following report from the Great Backyard Bird Count:
On Friday I spotted a Merlin eating a female house finch on top of a power pole in front of the Logan Temple, at 200N 300E in Logan.
On Saturday I found a Golden-crowned Kinglet at Second Dam, up the Logan River from Logan into the Cache National Forest. Normally this might not be worth reporting but apparently this species was missed entirely in the Bridgerland Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, so I thought some people might be interested. The bird was in the first big tree just downstream from the dam itself. It was very active and vocalizing frequently. It was not with any other songbirds. It stayed in the same tree for at least several minutes, providing great views of all distinguishing characters.

Feb 17: Roger Mann reports - a Kingfisher on February 17 at 1800 South and 1000 West. I have seen this bird before, it seems to like hanging out near the small canal/pond on the east side of the road. A Great Horned Owl has been spending its days in the various willows at about 2000 North and 600 West the past month, but has not been as consistently there the past few days.

Feb 12: Ryan O'Donnell reports: Stephanie Cobbold and I saw a White-throated Sparrow in Logan, Cache County. The bird was seen from along the canal that runs between 400 N (Hwy 89) and Canyon Road, just south of the Utah State University campus. There is a trail along this canal that can be reached from the first driveway east of the intersection of 400N and 600E. The bird was seen on the north side of the canal across from a yard with a small sign facing the trail that reads "Philosopher's Way". This is near the east end of the trail. The bird matched Sibley's tan-striped
adult or perhaps his first-winter bird. Yellow lores, distinct pale throat patch, and rufous-tinged back and wings were all visible. It did not vocalize but was visible at close range, about 15 feet, for a minute or so before moving further back into the dense brush out of sight. It was seen at 5:00 PM and was accompanied by, or at least coincided with, dark-eyed juncos, pine siskins, house finches, and a female downy woodpecker. There are several backyard feeders visible from this trail that might be productive for relocating the sparrow.

Jan 13: Buck Russell reports: My wife and I found American Tree Sparrows at Bud Phelps WMA. We found the birds along the dirt road leading in to the Bud Phelps WMA, starting at the corner of 6th South and 36 West (the road between Logan and Mendon). We also found a flock on the north side of Bud Phelps (near 2nd North) close to the open water on the river. Other birds in the area included Song Sparrows, Marsh Wrens, Northern Harriers, Black-capped Chickadees, and Black-billed Magpies.
After leaving Bud Phelps went to the Logan Fish Hatchery where found a Greater Yellow-legs (Reinhard Jockel found the bird earlier in the week). The Great Egret that was counted on the CBC is still hanging out at the Fish Hatchery.
On the south side of the Logan Landfill we found a Ferruginous Hawk. When I got out of the car to get a better look at the Hawk I realized that there was a Red-tailed Hawk sitting in the same tree and was screaming at the Ferruginous Hawk. After a few minutes the Ferruginous Hawk got tired of the noise and flew to a nearby tree. Other birds in the area included a large flock of White-crowned Sparrows, and a gazillion Starlings.

Jan 7: Buck Russell filed the following report: This morning I found a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets in Mack Park in Smithfield. The birds were moving through the various types of evergreen trees near the senior citizen center. In Birch Creek Canyon I found a flock of roosting Wild Turkeys. I searched for owls, but no luck.

Jan 6: Buck Russell and his wife found a Sharp-tailed Grouse sitting in a tree just north of the Paradise Cemetery, Paradise, UT. This is the same general area where they saw them last January.

Dec 26: Jim Lofthouse reports two Long-tailed Ducks at Hyrum Dam, near the restrooms at the East Beach.

Dec 26: This morning Buck Russell and his wife found a male Varied Thrush in Mack Park, Smithfield, UT. The bird was about 20 feet east of the bridge at the entrance to the nature trail.

Dec 18: Joseph reports that today there were two Long-tailed Ducks on Hyrum Dam, swimming with a flock of 30 coots near the boat ramp at the main entrance to the park.

Dec 8: Keith and Judy Archibald report: We had some great gulling at the Logan landfill today. We had a Glaucous, Glaucous-winged, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. All three were first winter. Also multiple Herring Gulls of various ages and possible Thayers. For the last two days we've had a Great Egret hanging around the same area on warm water springs.

Dec 4: Sue Drown found a female Varied Thrush this afternoon on the trail along the canal by the Logan Golf & Country Club, on her usual dog-walking route. For those who follow this sort of thing, it's the same trail where Varied Thrushes are found when they are here (how do they know??). It was near the second-to-last house before the trails ends, and it was quite retiring, staying in the thicker branches.

Dec 2 : Buck Russell reports from Hyrum Reservoir:
This morning I visited the Hyrum Reservoir on the east end (Dave’s Point) and found a female Long-tailed Duck. Probably one of the same Long-tailed Ducks that Sue Drown reported last weekend. Other birds included Canvasback Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Pied-billed Grebe, several Tundra Swans, Bald Eagle, lots of Buffleheads, Redhead Duck, Common Goldeneye, and more than a few American Coots. The Reservoir still has a lot of open water.

Nov. 26: Sue Drown reports the following species at Hyrum Reservoir:
Large #'s of Pied-billed and Eared grebes and Buffleheads. The Trumpeter Swan reported by Buck Russell was still there, as were 3 Common Mergansers, some Green-winged Teal and the
ever-odd Great Blue Heron in a treetop. Best birds were 2 (maybe 3) Long-tailed Ducks, none males. These birds were in the SE corner of the resevoir, near the inlet.

Nov 26: Alice Lindahl and her husband Jim took a walk along the Riverside Nature Trail today and came across a very cooperative Bald Eagle. She was able to get a lucky shot of it, as well as a view of the flight feathers from below. (see sidebar). Alice notes that they look different than any shown in my field guides. Lots of variation out there.

Nov. 26:Buck Russell filed this report:
This morning my wife and I found about a dozen Herring Gulls in the mitigation pond just west of the Logan Landfill. Many of the birds were mature adults. Since most of the pond was frozen over, the gulls were up on the ice and their pink legs and larger size was in sharp contrast to the other gulls. I did my best to convert one of the Herrings into a Thayers, but no luck. We found a probable Trumpeter Swan on the north end of the Hyrum Reservoir. We observed the lone swan from Dave's point. The Barn Owl is still hanging out in the barn next to Dave's Point.
Thanks to a tip from Kristin Purdy, who received a tip from Mort and Carolyn Somer, I saw a Winter Wren this morning at the Spring Hollow Camp Ground in Logan Canyon. This was a life bird for me. Other birds in the area included a mature Bald Eagle who glided over the campground, six wild Turkeys (Thanksgiving survivors), lots of Mallards, Townsend’s Solitaire, Northern Flicker, and Dark-eyed Junco.

Oct 31: Stephen Peterson continues to see a male, black-backed Lesser Goldfinch and several female Lesser Goldfinches at his thistle feeder at home in Logan.

Oct 29: Joel and Kathy Beyer saw a female Surf Scoter, two Pacific Loons and several Common Loons at the southeast end of Hyrum reservoir.

Oct 26: Sue Drown reports seeing two Pacific Loons, a Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, several Pied-billed Grebes, Western Grebes, Clarks Grebe and Eared Grebe at Hyrum reservoir. In the farm fields about a mile SW of the reservoir, she found a first year Ferruginous Hawk.

Oct 25: Mike Wolford has been seeing a single juvenile Tundra Swan on 2nd dam, up Logan Canyon, for the past week.

Oct 22: Jim Lofthouse reports seeing five swans, more than likely Tundra Swans, at 1:30 pm on Hyrum reservoir.

Oct 21: Buck Russell reports the following birds on Hyrum Reservoir today:
Pacific Loon, just east of the "beach" entrance to the state park.
Great Egret,on the far east end of the reservoir, on the southern shore.
Great Blue Heron, Bufflehead, Gadwall, Redhead, Mallards, American Coot, Clark's Grebe, Western Grebe, and Northern Shovelers.
In the trees on the shore I found Cedar Waxwings, Black-billed Magpie (I saw one attacking a Kestrel), and the ever present Starlings.
A mature Bald Eagle spooked several hundred ducks off the east end of the reservoir.
Buck also found a Lewis' Woodpecker in some trees at 50 North 400 West (across the street from Cache High School) in Hyrum.

Sep 17: Ron Ryel reports the following birds at the Barrens:
pectoral sandpiper
sanderling
Baird's sandpiper
western sandpiper
least sandpiper
semipalmated sandpiper
marbled godwit
both yellowleg species

Sep 10 : Bryan Dixon filed this report: Jean and I went to the small park at the RR crossing on Rt 89 heading out of Logan (just south of the golf course), and walked up the RR tracks to the second water crossing, where saw some notable stuff:
Wood Duck
Virginia Rail - long, great looks on the west side
Cedar Waxwings - over a hundred in the trees to the west, feeding on berries in bushes on the east side; a couple flew by our heads and legs only a couple feet away
Flycatchers - a Hammond's, I think, but hard to tell without hearing them
Wilson's Warbler - east side
Townsend's Warbler - east side
McGillivray's Warbler - east side
Warbling Vireos, numerous
Gray Catbird - several

Sep 01 : Buck Russell filed this report from the south end of Cache Valley: On the outskirts of Avon I found a Sharp-tailed Grouse. Just before you enter the Porcupine Reservoir area, right before the hard top ends, I found two Ruffed Grouse. Along this stretch of road I saw Western Kingbirds, Warbling Vireos (silent), lots of Chickadees, American Kestrels, Magpies, and Barn Swallows. On the reservoir there were Eared Grebes, one Clark’s Grebe, and some Mallards. On the east end of Porcupine Reservoir, near the LDS girls camp area, at the Deseret pedestrian bridge over the stream, I found a Steller’s Jay, Wilsons Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Hammond’s Flycatcher, and Orange Crowned Warbler.

Sep 01 : Sue Drown and Keith Archibald reported the following birds along the outlet below Newton Dam: a group of 4-5 Blue grosbeaks, a Cassin's vireo, Wilson's warblers, along with Brewer's and Chipping sparrows, Western Tanagers, Lark sparrow.

Aug 08: Bryan Dixon, Jean Lown and Stephen Peterson were able to observe the following species out on the Amalga Barrens (Duck club side):
Baird's Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Willet, Killdeer, Caspian Tern, Franklin's Gull, Sandhill Crane, White-faced Ibis

Aug 07: Sue Drown reports seeing Lesser Goldfinch, Warbling Vireo flocks, Rufous Hummingbirds, Hammond's Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and Song Sparrows along the Lundstrom Park/Logan Golf & CC canal trail.

July 16: Sue Drown reports: Each summer, I get Lesser Goldfinch along the canal trail that goes along the east side of Lundstrom Park and alongside the Logan Golf & CC. This morning, they were in the trees along the homes between the LG & CC canal trail and the E end of 1080 N, where it loops into 1030 N. The birds are always noisy and in family groups, with feeding behavior and begging. Looking back at my records, their arrival time is not regular--anywhere between late June and mid-August.

July 15: Jonathan Felis saw a Northern Pygmy Owl this morning on the Spring Hollow trail.

July 14: Ron Ryel reports two singing male White-winged Crossbills (and two associated females) along the sinks road. Also, many Red Crossbills in these areas as well. They were seen at about 5.5 miles and 6.5 miles from the turnoff from Highway 89. Also, at about mile 7, a Three-toed Woodpecker was recorded.

July 3: Buck Russell reports: Reinhard Jockel, Cindy, my wife, and I birded the Logan Polishing Ponds this morning. The best bird of the morning was a Hudsonian Godwit. We found a single bird in non-breeding plumage walking at the edge of the water in the mudflat. We had a good look at the bird. It had a very bold white supercilium and dark eyeline. There was one odd thing about this bird, it joined a flight of Long-billed Curlews as they flew over the pond. The curlews had very distinct down curved bills and the godwit had a bill with a slight up-curve. We found about a dozen Baird Sandpipers, two Semi-palmated Plovers, and a Spotted Sandpiper. The pond where we saw the godwit and sandpipers was a large mudflat with very little water. The other ponds have a lot of water in them and were loaded with ducks. We also saw a Great Horned Owl. A farmer made a lot of noise dragging some irrigation pipe behind his ATV and spooked a Great Horned Owl from a group of trees next to the polishing ponds.
Here are the birds we saw this morning:
Pied-billed Grebe
White-faced Ibis
Canada Goose
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Mallard
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
American Coot
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Wilson's Phalarope
Great Horned Owl
Western Kingbird (sitting out in the mud flat)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Common Yellowthroat
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Sandhill Crane

July 1: Buck Russell made the following report: This morning Reinhard Jockel and I visited Tony Grove in Logan Canyon and had a great day birding. New birds for the year for me were Clark’s Nutcracker, Red-winged Crossbill, and Williamson Sapsucker. We heard several groups of Clark’s Nutcrackers flying through the area and saw one through the spotting scope on a tree on the cliff above the lake. We found one Williamson Sapsucker in the nature trail area on the east end of the lake and found a nesting pair higher up, just above the area where the trail splits to Mount Naomi and the short cut to White Pine Lake. I finally had some excellent looks at Red-winged Crossbills and Rock Wrens. The wild flowers are wonderful in the area around Tony Grove.
Full Species List:
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Spotted Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Red-naped Sapsucker
Williamson's Sapsucker (my 200th bird for the year in Cache County) J
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Dusky Flycatcher
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Tree Swallow
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Rock Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mountain Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Western Tanager
Lazuli Bunting
Green-tailed Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Cassin's Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

June 18: Joel Beyer reports: Kathy and I found a breeding plumaged Glossy Ibis yesterday evening in Benson (Cache Co.). It was in the same location described by Ron Ryel on June 6 -- on 3000 No. about 1/2 mile west of 3200 West, in a field south of the road -- and was with 125-150 White-faced Ibis. Also in this group of birds was what we believe was a first-summer Glossy Ibis. It resembled the adult Glossy Ibis but was not as brightly colored, and it still had the two-toned bill of a juvenile (as depicted in Sibley). We second (or third) the advice of looking at the ibis either early or late, as the lower sun makes viewing the specifics of the two Ibis much easier.

June 14: Buck Russell made the following report: Reinhard Jockel and I visited the mitigation pond on the west side of the Logan Landfill this evening and suggest naming the pond “The Nursery”. There were American Coot families with lots of fiery, red-headed babies, Ruddy Duck families with lots of ducklings, Pied-billed Grebe families (I love the Zebra markings on the heads of the young grebes), and Mallard Families. Other birds at the pond included a pair of Common Goldeneyes, Black-necked Stilt, Ring-necked Duck, Tree Swallows, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Nighthawks (new bird for the year for me), and the ever present Killdeer. The Blue Grosbeak that I reported the other day is still in the same area.

June 12: Buck Russell reports: This evening I found a beautiful male Blue Grosbeak. I saw it first in the top of a Willow tree and then on the top of a tall weed. The Blue Grosbeak is in the same area where they have been seen in recent years. The bird was in the area just east of Early Park on the Cache Valley/Box Elder county line. To get to Early Park, go west out of Logan on the Valley View highway (also known as state route 30) and turn south at the Box Elder county sign (2400 North). This hard top road will dead end on a dirt road, go south about a tenth of a mile following the Early Park signs, then turn west on 400 west. The bird was in the ravine at the bottom of the hill (about two tenths of a mile on 400 West).

June 10: Keith Archibald reports: I thought I would add my Glossy Ibis sightings to the mix to help any folks coming up to Cache Valley. I saw two birds, one positive ID, and one questionable. Both were at the end of May just before leaving town so I haven’t looked since. I looked through quite a few birds to get those and learned as David Wheeler stated that AM or PM light and short grass helped considerably. My birds were on Benson Road which is 3200 West 500 North on Valley View Highway. Turning West on 200 North off of main street in Logan puts you on Valley View Highway.

June 10: David Wheeler reports: Larene & I found a Glossy Ibis in a pasture about (very approximately) one third mile west of the Gossner's Foods cheese factory (which is at 1000 W
1000 N) along 1000 North. The pasture itself is just NE of the NE corner of the sewage treatment ponds and is grazed fairly low. We saw the bird at about 10:15 this morning. It had all the main markings (leg color, dusky blue face skin color, baby blue face outline--thin and ending at eyes, brown irises...). It flew off as we approached in a futile effort to photograph it, and we didn't relocate it (though it probably just went into the tall marsh plants around a small stream/ditch on the edge of the field). It was loosely associated with about 5-8 other ibis, all of which were clearly White-faced. We found it critical when observing ibis to position ourselves so that the light was really good (more
behind us than the birds) in order to have a clear ID, seeing as the markings can be difficult to see in bright light if the bird is backlit. Incredibly, these were the first ibis we scoped, so that in my opinion this search is very easy and there must be thousands of the glossies out there (based on
our statistical analysis of one Glossy out of about 20 ibis we looked at). But, seriously, they may actually be more common than one might have guessed.

June 6: Ron Ryel made the following report: I saw a Glossy Ibis this morning at about 8:00 am in the crop field south of Darrell's Appliance in Benson (2400 W x 3400 N) in a flock of about 1000 ibis. I did not see a Glossy Ibis at the original spot (3200 N) this morning, but there was a Great-tailed Grackle feeding with the cows and White-faced Ibis.
When looking for glossy ibis, note that there are many white-faced ibis with minimal (or very faded) white around the face and eye. Look for the dark eye, the fine light blue lines bordering the dark facial patch (no red or purple) between the eye and bill (not behind the eye), and grayish legs (possible reddish joints).

June 5 : Ron Ryel reports a Glossy Ibis in Benson. There was a breeding plumage Glossy Ibis this evening (June 5) in Benson, Utah. The bird was with about 150 White-faced Ibis. It was seen on 3000 N about 1/2 mile west of 3200 W in Benson in a field south of the road. Ibis flocks in the valley follow irrigated fields in the valley, so it (or others) may be found most anywhere.

May 30: Buck Russell reports: Reinhard Jockel and I visited Cherry Creek Canyon (east of Richmond, UT) this evening and found a Yellow-breasted Chat. The bird is in the same area where they were found last year. To find Cherry Creek Canyon, go east on 500 North in Richmond. The road will turn into a dirt road. When the road loops back on itself at the entrance to Cherry Creek Canyon, you are in the area where we found the Chat. The canyon has great riparian habitat. Other birds in the area included numerous Lazuli Buntings, Warbling Vireos, Black-headed Grosbeaks, MacGillivray's Warbler, American Goldfinch, Hermit Thrush and Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

May 27: Buck Russell reports: During the Bridgerland Audubon Bird-a-thon today we found a Lark Bunting in the field just west of the Benson Marina in Benson, UT. The bird was on the north side of the road sitting on a roll of wire. Another surprise was a Rufous Hummingbird at Spring Hollow Campground in Logan, Canyon. The bird was at the hummingbird feeders at the caretaker site. Sue Drown, Reinhard Jockel, and I saw both birds. Some of the other birds from the Bird-a-thon include an Eurasian Collared-dove, Olive-sided Flycatcher, MacGillivray's Warbler, Rock Wren, and Swainson's Thrush. There were lots of Western Tanagers in the trees at the Spring Hollow Campground. Considering the weather, we had a great day birding.

May 22: Stephen Peterson saw a Brown Thrasher flitting about between 3 dogwood (?) shrubs, on the ground, at Hardware Ranch (in Blacksmith Fork Canyon, east of Hyrum, UT), immediately east of the elk herd overlook area, just above the path that leads you to the sleigh ride ticket booth.
Yellow eyes, brightly rufous back, tail and wings, with two very distinct white bars in wings, with darkly streaked sides and neck, and white underbelly were very evident.

May 17: Mike Bullock saw a Northern Mockingbird in his yard this morning.

May 14: Buck Russell filed this report:
Reinhard Jockel and I went birding this morning and found Bobolinks in a field on Mendon Road (the main road between Logan and Mendon). The field is on the north side of the road and east of the bridge over the Logan River. This is the same place the birds have been seen in recent years. Further west along the road we found Soras and Common Yellow-throat near the Spring Creek Bridge (this is the small bridge just east of the Spring Creek rest area). In Mendon we turned north on the West Valley Highway (6000 West) and found a Lark Sparrow mixed in a flock of House Sparrows at the corner of West Valley Highway and Valley View Highway (200 North). Near the pedestrian bridge in the middle of Benson Marina we found an Eastern Kingbird, Common Yellow-throat, Black-crowned Night Heron, Long-billed Curlew, and Clark’s Grebe.

May 13: Buck Russell reports: I saw a really strange looking pheasant. It was not in my Sibleys, or the other multitude of birding guides I have accumulated. I found a picture of the pheasant at several commercial pheasant farm web sites. The bird is a Melanistic Mutant. According to the info from one of the sites the bird originates from Europe. There is a pheasant/chukar farm close to where I saw the bird, so I assume that it is an escapee. I saw the bird in a field on the south side of the Logan Airport Road, close to Darryl's Appliances. It is a beautiful bird.

May 12: Buck Russell reports:
My wife and I birded the Hyrum Reservoir area this evening. In the steep wooded area behind the Hyrum Reservoir dam we found a Bullock's Oriole, Western Tanager, one Evening Grosbeak, Mourning Doves and lots of Black-headed Grosbeaks. Other birds on this end of the reservoir included Yellow Warblers, Black-billed Magpies, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Western Grebe, and American Robins. On the trail along the north shore of the reservoir we found a pair of Ospreys. One was carrying a rather large fish. The fish was carried in an aerodynamic fashion with the fish head facing forward. There were also Northern Flickers, Yellow Warblers, Bullock's Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeaks and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

May 10: Buck Russell filed the following report:
This evening I found a Black-throated Gray Warbler in Green Canyon near the "boy scout cave". This is the same general area where the birds were found last year. Other birds in the area were Virginia Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Canyon Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Chipping Sparrow, and Black-chinned Hummingbird.

May 9: Buck Russell filed the following report:
Yesterday my wife and I hiked a portion of the Crimson Trail in Logan Canyon. We started the Crimson Trail hike from the Spring Hollow Campground. Just a short distance up the trail we found a couple of Wilson Warblers. Other birds we found along the trail were Orange-crowned Warblers and American Robins. The caretaker of the Spring Hollow Campground has his hummingbird feeders out, but no hummingbirds were present. He said that the birds were late this year. Last year when I visited his site I found upwards of 20 hummingbirds (most were Broad-tailed, but many were Black-chinned Hummingbirds).

May 8: Buck Russell and his wife visited Denzil Stewart Park in Logan this evening and found a Calliope Hummingbird. The bird was located up on the bench area of the park. When you enter the park take the trail that goes left up to the bench area. It was near the concrete utility building. Other birds in this area were the Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, several Northern Flickers, Barn Swallows, American Robins, Ring-necked Pheasant, and American Crows.

May 7: Buck Russell found a Sora along the Mendon Road that runs between Logan and Mendon, in a marshy area just east of Spring Creek. There were three birds on the south side of the road and at least one on the north side of the road. The one we saw was rushing between clumps of plants along the ditch. The bird's main body was a near perfect match for the dirt and plants in the area, but that bill was a distinctive yellow. Along the Petersboro Road he found lots of Western Kingbirds. It seem as though they were spaced out about 75 feet apart on the telephone pole wires, or along the fence. He also found a couple of Long-billed Curlews in a field near the Petersboro Road.

May 4: Buck Russell reports the following species along the Logan River at Rendezvous Park (south end of Logan): Hermit Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Flicker, and Mallards.

May 2: Buck Russell filed the following report: My wife and I found two Caspian Terns at the Hyrum Reservoir this evening. Other birds at the reservoir included several Common Loons, a Red-breasted Merganser, Bank Swallows, and California Gulls. We found several Common Grackles in the Poplar trees on the south side of Willow Park in Logan (the same general area where they nested last year). On Hyde Park Lane, near the Logan Airport, we found several Western Kingbirds, a Black-crowned Night Heron, Wilson's Snipe, Cinnamon Teal, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, and lots of Red-winged & Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

April 30: Buck Russell and Reinhard Jockel hiked up Green Canyon and found an Orange-crowned Warbler, Virginia Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ruffed Grouse, Black-capped Chickadee, and a Golden Eagle was flying over the ridge line. Reinhard heard a Canyon Wren, but did not get to see it.

April 27: Buck Russell reports: In the past week some great new birds have arrived at the Amalga Barrens. Reinhard Jockel and I went out to the Amalga Barrens this evening and found Semi-palmated Plovers, Solitary Sandpiper, Forster's Tern, Wilson's Phalarope, and Savannah Sparrow. In addition to these new birds, the following were also at the Barrens: Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sandhill Cranes, White-faced Ibis, Willet, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Redhead, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, Snowy Egret, American White Pelican, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, and Tree Swallow. The dirt road across the barrens is in great shape and the side road that leads to the ponds in Duck Club area is also in great shape.

April 25: Kim Sullivan's USU Ornithology class saw Pectoral Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper and
a Forster's Tern at the barrens this morning.

April 24: In Clarkston, Tom Gordon had three Eurasian-collared Doves in his yard this morning.

April 22: Buck Russell filed this report: I was at the Amalga Barrens in Cache Valley this morning and I believe that I saw a pair of Northern Mockingbirds. I know that this is not the normal habitat for these birds. This is also probably the wrong time of the year to see these birds. The birds matched the National Geographic field guide and they had very yellow eyes. They were in a farmers field, flitting between the fence and the tall, grassy area in the field. Is it likely that these birds were Northern Mockingbirds? Anyone else seen Northern Mockingbirds this early in the year? Do they typically have distinctive yellow eyes? Any suggestions for a similar species that would be more likely? Other birds at the Amalga Barrens included Lesser Yellowlegs, Brewer's Blackbirds, Killdeer, American Kestrel, Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Song Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Sandhill Crane, Northern Shoveler, American Coot, and Willet, Black-necked Stilt, and American Avocet.

April 20: Keith Archibald reports a Horned Grebe in breeding plumage on the west end of Hyrum Dam.

April 20: Bob Atwood found a Great Egret at the oxbow in Benson, Utah and a Solitary Sandpiper in Cache Valley on the Valley View Highway across from the fish hatchery in a small pond. This is before the road that turns west of the Logan land fill.

April 18: Buck Russell filed the following report: Reinhard Jockel and I found a flock of Evening Grosbeaks in Riverheights (around 6th South and 4th East). There were about six birds scattered in Poplar trees within a two blocks radius. Reinhard believes that the birds over wintered in the neighborhood. The Cliff Swallows have returned to the bridge over the Cutler Marsh. We found Eared Grebes at the fish hatchery pond, the polishing pond, and in the ponds just west of the Logan Landfill. South of the landfill we found a Virginia Rail (had a great view as it walked down the ditch along side the road). Another great birding day in Cache Valley.

April 17: Stephen Peterson reports 60 plus Bohemian Waxwings navigating the gusting snow storm in the trees on Old Main Hill, just west of the amphitheatre.

April 16: Stephen Peterson saw 2 Eurasian-collared Doves in Wellsville today at the corner of 300 South and Center Street, on the ground at the side of the road.

April 15: This morning Buck Russell found a Canyon Wren in Blacksmith Fork Canyon (near the dam). The bird was singing and gave him a great view of it sitting up on a boulder. He found Fox Sparrows also near the dam on Blacksmith Fork River. Other birds in the canyon were Song Sparrows, American Dipper, Belted Kingfisher, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Turkey Vulture, Juncos (pink sided), Northern Flicker, Townsend Solitaire, lots of Robins and Magpies.

April 14: Near the Logan Airport, Buck Russell found a really interesting mixed flock. The Cattle Egrets (about a dozen) were in a flock of California Gulls (about 20-30 birds), Franklin Gulls (about 8-10 birds), Ring-billed Gulls (three birds), and Long-billed Curlews (four birds). Normally when I see Cattle Egrets they are either alone, or in the vicinity of cows. Perhaps it was the rainy weather that caused this group to form up?

April 13: Keith and Judy Archibald saw a Great Egret this morning at the Oxbow.

April 13: Kim Sullivan reports: The USU Ornithology class spent this morning on the dead end road that runs on the north side of the airport. We saw a flock of Cattle Egrets, Swainson's Hawks on a nest, and at least 4 Common Snipe.

April 12: Buck Russell reports the following birds today: I found a pair of Blue-winged Teals mixed in a small group of Cinnamon Teal this afternoon on Hyde Park Lane (a dirt road that dead-ends into the Logan airport expansion runway). Along the road were about six Wilson Snipes, two of which were doing some courtship maneuvers. Their tail feathers were sticking straight up and they were darting about. Some snipes in the area were making the winnowing sound. Also along the road I found about ten Black-necked Stilts, American Coots, several Willets, Greater YellowLegs, Green Wing Teal, Northern Harrier, lots of Killdeers & Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Near Darryl's Appliance, close to the Hyde Park Lane turn off, were two flocks of White-faced Ibises, each flock consisting of 25-30 birds. No luck finding the Eurasian Wigeon reported earlier this week, but there were plenty of American Wigeons, Avocets, California & Ring-billed gulls.

April 11: Buck Russell made the following report: I found a Snowy Egret at the Benson Ox-Bow. In addition to the Egret, there were American Wigeons, American White Pelicans, Green-winged Teal, Canada Geese, Clark's Grebes, American Coots, and Killdeer.
At the Benson Marina I found my first Barn Swallow for the year. Also at the Marina there were Western Grebes, a pair of Osprey, Long-billed Curlews, Canada Geese, American Kestrels.
At Cutler Marsh I saw my first Ruddy Ducks for the year. There were a couple of males doing their best to impress a female and/or trying to drown each other. The ducks were on the north side of the road, near the bridge.

April 11: Stephen Peterson reports: The large flock of 500 plus Bohemian Waxwings are still frequent visitors on the USU campus. This morning they were hanging out by the CNR building.

April 11: Kim Sullivan reports that the USU Ornithology class saw 3 Greater Yellowlegs on 3200 W south of Benson, White-crowned Sparrows on the road from 3200 W to the Benson Marina and a pair of Osprey building a nest just north of the Benson Marina.

April 9: Sue Drown had a male California Quail visit her backyard this evening. (see pic on the left sidebar).

April 9: Ron Ryel reports that the male Eurasian Wigeon was seen again today (Sunday) in the flooded fields southwest of Darrel's Appliance near Benson.

April 9: Buck Russell saw Canvasback Ducks at the Hyrum Reservoir today. Also on the reservoir were Red-breasted Mergansers, Cormorants, Barrow's Goldeneye, California Gulls, American Coots, Western Grebes, Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Mallards, and Cinnamon Teals. As mentioned by Jim Lofthouse about two weeks ago, there are still Mountain Bluebirds along Mount Sterling road.

April 8: Kim Sullivan heard a Yellow Warbler singing near the Mount Logan Middle School.

April 7: Bryan Williams reported seeing a flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds out on 10th West.

April 7: Sue Drown reported these first of year sightings this morning: Greater Yellowlegs (a late sighting, but my first), Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Curlew, Osprey (at Benson), Swainson's Hawk. The Eurasian Wigeon was not at Darrell's this AM, but there was plenty to enjoy thereabouts.

April 6: Kim Sullivan reports that her USU ornithology class saw 2 White-faced Ibis in Benson and one dead on the road. They also saw a Eurasian Wigeon near Darrell's Appliance in a shallow pond just west of the building and on the south side of Airport Road.

April 4: Buck Russell reports this list of species from the Benson Oxbow area: several Black-necked Stilts, one Long-billed Dowitcher, lots of Green-winged Teals, American Wigeons, Canada Geese, Northern Pintails, Killdeers, and American White Pelicans.
At Hyrum Dam he saw two Common Loons, four Red-breasted Mergansers, a couple of Double-crested Cormorants and lots of gulls.

April 3: Shanae Ames observed a Golden Eagle flying above Hyde Park, as it was being mobbed by a Red-tailed Hawk that nests near her in-laws house.

April 2: James Lofthouse reports Common Loons at Hyrum Dam; eight Mountain Bluebirds on Meridian Road in Mt. Sterling.

March 26: Bryan Dixon saw a pair of Mountain Bluebirds on sprinkler lines just north of Hyde Park at 250 E 4400 N.

March 25: Buck Russell saw a pair of Greater Yellowlegs at the Amalga Barrens Sanctuary. On the north side of the road of the area were seven Northern Pintails and four Mallards. Along the road were seven Western Meadowlarks.
He found a pair of Wood Ducks on the south side of the Logan landfill and four Lesser Scaup on the pond west of the Logan landfill.
At the Benson Marina was a Prairie Falcon in a tree near the bridge.
At Cutler Marsh he found four American Avocets, six Northern Shovelers, and about 30 American White Pelicans. He saw several groups of 6-10 Sandhill Cranes in the fields between Benson and Cutler Marsh.
In the field south of Darryl's Appliance, on airport road, he found a flock of about 20 American Wigeons.

March 24: Amelia Mann observed and photographed (see left inset pic) a Merlin on 4500 North between Hyde Park and Smithfield.

March 24: Jim Lofthouse reports two pair of Wood Ducks at the pond on the east side of the road in Nibley, where the Blacksmith Fork River crosses Highway 165.

March 24: Stephen Peterson reports 4 Sandhill Cranes, 2 Willets and 14 plus American Pipits along Hyde Park Lane.

March 15: Jen Minnick reported the following sighting: Me and a handful of witnesses saw a Whooping Crane March 15th out at my house in Lewiston. It was flying over my house about 50 feet in the air. I feel like I got a positive ID on it-we all got an excellent, long look at the bird.

March 14: Colby Neuman backpacked into the Cherry Peak area, east of Richmond, and found Great Horned Owls calling at dusk, a couple of Ruffed Grouse along High Creek, a total of 15 Blue Grouse, Golden-crowned Kinglet (heard), Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, a flock of 12 Common Ravens on top of a ridge, north of Cherry Peak, an American Dipper and lots of Wild Turkey tracks low in the canyon.

March 5: Buck Russell and his wife saw a female Hooded Merganser in the pond in the Wellsville City Park. It was swimming in a mixed flock of Ring-necked Ducks, Northern Shoveler, Gadwalls, American Coot, and one American Wigeon. The park is located at approx. 500 South and 100 East in Wellsville.

March 4: Betsy Beneke, with friends visiting from Minnesota, were able to find American Dippers in the Blacksmith Fork river and 6 pairs of Barrow's Goldeneye at first dam in Logan.

March 4: Jim Lofthouse saw a large flock of Bohemian Waxwings (150 plus), enjoying the fruit of a crab apple tree in Hyrum at 300 South 100 West. There were a few Cedar Waxwings mixed in with them.

February 27: Stephen Peterson reports 300 plus Bohemian Waxwings on the campus of USU.

February 26: Jack Greene reports a Gray Catbird approximately 1 mile up Smithfield Canyon where the upper canyon road drops into the main canyon. This is 3 months earlier than he has recorded before.

February 25: Kris Purdy heard a report of a Northern Pygmy Owl seen east of Hyrum in Blacksmith Fork Canyon just east of mile marker 11. The bird was seen and photographed perching on the top spire of a spruce.

February 19: Roger Mann reports 2 Eurasian Collared-Doves, with the dark undertail coverts and the pinkish chest, in Hyde Park.

January 31: Reinhard Jockel observed for the first time this year, a large flock of 200-300 Bohemian waxwings, in a tall cottonwood near the corner of Center street and 200 East.

January 29: Jim and Judy Bailey saw at least 12 sharp-tailed grouse at the Paradise cemetery.

January 28: Keith and Judy Archibald reported the following birds seen in Cache Valley for the month of January: 2 cackling geese at the Logan River Golf Course; Thayer's, herring, and one first winter glaucous-winged gull at the Logan landfill; 7 separate sightings of prairie falcons all over the valley; a Harlan's hawk (subspecies of red-tailed hawk) hanging out in Smithfield for the last 10 days; 2 Northern pygmy owls and 2 barn owls that were found by John Barns on the CBC, in a hole at the top of a very steep gravel pit embankment in the mouth of Birch Canyon; found the Lapland longspur along highway 23 after looking through 3,000 to 4,000 horned larks; white-throated sparrows in 3 different locations throughout the valley; a merlin dining on a horned lark; and 2 separate Northern shrike sightings. There are lots of fun birds this winter here in Cache Valley.

January 27: Ron Ryel reports gulls this past week at the Logan landfill included, one 1st winter glaucous-winged, one 1st winter Thayer's, and several herring gulls of various ages.

January 21: Kirk Earl found a Boreal owl in Card Canyon near the archery range off Logan Canyon. See the photo he took of it off to the left.

January 21: Stephen Peterson reports seeing 3 Tundra swans, 1 rough-legged hawk and 1 prairie falcon at Benson Marina.

January 20: Kristin Purdy reports seeing a single Lapland longspur, mixed in with a flock of 150 horned larks, in West Cache County, located on SR-23 at mile 12.2, west of the road in a field between the intersection with SR-30 to the south and Newton far to the North. GPS readings: N 41*46.872 / W 111*59.084

January 16: Reinhard Jockel reports seeing one adult brant on the Logan River Golf course pond along with the Canada geese and mallards.

January 12: Ryan Pitts reports an albino pine siskin visiting his feeders in the neighborhood of 1400 N and 400 E. Stephen Peterson reports seeing the same albino pine siskin, off and on, at his home feeders, at 400 E and 300 N, for the past 3 weeks.

January 8 : Ron Ryel found a white-throated sparrow in two places. The first was seen at the start of the canal trail north of the golf course and the second was seen along the Logan canal trail paralleling canyon road near the east end (near feeders). He also reports a possible first year Thayer's gull at the Logan landfill and two female hooded mergansers, seen flying over the 20-20 ponds.

January 7 : Buck Russell reports seeing a Harris's sparrow at Martha Balph's home in Millville, during the BAS birdfeeder field trip.

January 3 : Duane Cox called this evening to say there's a sandhill crane hanging out in the fields south of his home - south of the 20/20 ponds (about 20th South and 20th West).

January 3 : Elmer Kingsford reported an all black magpie in his yard at 669 E 1800 N in North Logan.