Field Trip Report 

Wasatch County Field Trip, January 30, 1999

by Dennis Shirley
Saturday, January 30, 1999 dawned cold and clear as our group of birders headed for Wasatch County and Heber Valley. As we approached Deer Creer Dam, heavy fog set in and not sunshine greeted us as we entered the valley. But just as we approached the Interlaken development along the foothills north of Midway, the fog broke open and a bright sunny hillside awaited us. As we drove up to Jill and Alan Fuch’s home, our target apecies – Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch were circling in a flock over the homes. In short order, our group had great looks at the Cassins Finch and other winter birds at their feeder.

Wild Turkey, a large flock of Bohemian Waxsings, and a small herd of elk were seen at the Wasatch Mountain State Park. The pond at the visitor center had eight species of ducks on it, but nothing unusual.
By mid morning the fog around the reservoir was beginning to lift, but it was still misty enough to keep us from seeing very far across the surface. We did see Common Mergansers, but no Common Loons. A Northern Shrike was spotted from the highway near the entrance to Deer Creek State Park. Tricky maneuvering on this very narrow highway brought our vehicle precariously parked where no pull off existed. But it was worth it! To many this was a life bird!

We continued down Provo Canyon and detoured up the North Fork to Sundance and Georgene Butler’s mountain home. She has a great location for feeding birds and has been doing so for several years. We weren’t disappointed. Our list here included Steller’s Jay, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountaoin Chickadee, and Evening Grosbeak, our target bird.

Our list of 35 species seen for the day included four Code 4 uncommon winter birds – the target birds of the day. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good!

Participants: Robin Tuck, Julia Tuck, Kay Stone, Reed Stone, 3 BYU Coeds, Bonnie Williams, Alona Huffaker, Darlene Amott, Tuula Rose, Robert Brown, Bob Parsons, Leena Rogers, Maurice Stocks, Carol Jean Nelson, LeIla Ogden, Eric Huish, Lana Stocks and Dennis Shirley.

Species seen: Pied-billed Grebe American Wigeon Bufflehead Wild Turkey Downy Woodpecker Western Scrub-Jay

Mountain Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Cassin’s Finch House Sparrow Great Blue Heron Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser

American Coot Northern Flicker Black-billed Magpie Red-breasted Nuthatch Brower’s Blackbird Pine Siskin Mallard

Lesser Scaup Bald Eagle Rock Dove Northern Shrike Black-capped Chickadee European Staring Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

American Goldfinch Gadwall Common Goldeneye Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Steller’s Jay Bohemian Waxwing Evening Grosbeak