8 July 2014 Utah: Garfield Co., Bryce National Park

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8 July 2014 Utah: Garfield Co., Bryce National Park

We hiked in Bryce NP today from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point along the Navajo Loop Trail and then on to Bryce Point on the Rim Trail.

 Bryce NP: Hoodoos near the Queen's Garden

Bryce Canyon NP: Sunset Point Hoodoos,  Aquarius in the background

Bryce Canyon NP: Hoodoos near Inspiration Point

Bryce Canyon NP: Grotto near Bryce Point

7 July 2014 Utah: Washington Co., Zion to Garfield Co., Bryce National Park

7 July 2014 Utah: Washington Co., Zion to Garfield Co., Bryce National Park

We finished up in Zion NP with 2 hikes and I took some great video of the Black-throated Sparrow.  The first hike was on the Pa’ Rus trail and the second was to the Outlook near the eastern end of the Park (after the tunnel), overlooking Pines Creek Canyon.

Zion National Park - Pines Creek Canyon

Black-throated Sparrow juv video (best viewed with Safari)




Black-throated Sparrow ad video (best viewed with Safari)

 

We continued to drive to Bryce NP.  We stopped at several points of view from the main road.

Agua Canyon

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Bryce Canyon National Park: Birch Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park: Natural Bridge

Bryce Canyon National Park: Ponderosa Point

6 July 2014 Utah: Washington Co., Zion National Park, Springdale

6 July 2014 Utah: Washington Co., Zion National Park, Springdale

We did a few hikes in the Park today.  We went to the Emerald Pools and then on to the Scout Lookout near Angel’s Landing.

Virgin River cuts through the canyon

Big Bend

Court of the Patriarchs - Sign

 Court of the Patriarchs - Abraham

Court of the Patriarchs - Isaac

Court of the Patriarchs - Moroni and Jacob

5 July 2014 Utah: Washington Co., Zion National Park, Springdale

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5 July 2014 Utah: Washington Co., Zion National Park, Springdale

We arrived late in the afternoon and took the shuttle to the Weeping Wall trail. 

2, 3, 4 July 2014, Nevada: Clark Co., Las Vegas

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2, 3, 4 July 2014, Nevada: Clark Co., Las Vegas

I spent the last several days in Las Vegas waiting for Kris to arrive.  We went to Blue Man Group at the Monte Carlo and were no disappointed.  No birding here.  However, we went to Blue Man Group at the Monte Carlo where Kris took some great photos.

Blue Man Group drumming

Blue Man Group - Eyeball drone?

1 July 2014 Nevada: Lander Co., Big Creek Rd., near Austin

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1 July 2014 Nevada: Lander Co., Big Creek Rd., near Austin

Today was the last day for research and it was a record breaking day with over 50 males recorded.  It was a great field season.

Representative song from Austin (AU3)

Breeding habitat

State	Locality	Number of Males
Colorado	Pagosa Springs	36
Colorado	Nucla	44
New Mexico	Oja Sarco - Taos	28
Arizona	Canyon Creek, Tonto Creek	7
Utah	Kolob Plateau	24
California	Riverton	23
California	Yosemite	24
California	Bishop	5
Nevada	Austin	53
Total		244

1.     American Kestrel

2.     Broad-tailed Hummingbird

3.     Northern Flicker

4.     Western Kingbird

5.     Steller’s Jay

6.     Black-billed Magpie

7.     American Crow

8.     House Wren

9.     Hermit Thrush

10. American Robin

11. Warbling Vireo

12. Yellow Warbler

13. MacGillivray’s Warbler

14. Lazuli Bunting

15. Green-tailed Towhee

16. Spotted Towhee

17. Song Sparrow

30 June 2014 Nevada: Churchill Co., Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

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I visited the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge for some casual birding.  The refuge contains a small lake and marsh system in the middle of the Nevada desert.  I took several videos of birds at the refuge (best viewed using Safari).

Foxtail Lake

 White-faced Ibis

Swainson's Hawk

American Avocet feeding

Wilson's Phalaropes feeding

 Western Kingbird

Say's Phoebe on a nest

Bank Swallow

 Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow in nest

1.     Western Grebe

2.     American White Pelican

3.     Great Blue Heron

4.     Great Egret

5.     Snowy Egret

6.     White-faced Ibis

7.     Canada Goose

8.     Mallard

9.     Gadwall

10. Turkey Vulture

11. Northern Harrier

12. Swainson’s Hawk

13. Red-tailed hawk

14. American Coot

15. Killdeer

16. American Avocet

17. Wilson’s Phalarope

18. California Gull

19. Mourning Dove

20. Northern Flicker

21. Western Kingbird

22. Say’s Phoebe

23. Horned Lark

24. Bank Swallow

25. Cliff Swallow

26. Barn Swallow

27. Northern Raven

28. American Robin

29. Northern Mockingbird

30. Loggerhead Shrike

31. Common Yellowthroat

32. Yellow-breasted Chat

33. Song Sparrow

34. Red-winged Blackbird

35. Western Meadowlark

36. Yellow-headed Blackbird

37. Brewer’s Blackbird

38. Bullock’s Oriole

39. House Finch