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Well, July is over and with that fall migrants are on a steady move south. Shorebird migration has thus far been quite impressive, with a number of good birds seen in July, including Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel and several Solitary Sandpiper. August is typically the height of shorebird migration on the Great Salt Lake, and the hundreds of thousands of Wilson's Phalarope and lower concentrations of Red-necked Phalarope will remain a staple along the causeway for much of the month. Peep numbers should peak as well, with large numbers of Western Sandpipers coming through. Baird's Sandpipers, as well as small numbers of Least and Semipalmated Sandpiper are also usually present. Pectoral Sandpipers also start coming through around now, but are much more common later in the fall. Along with the peeps, it is a great time to see plovers along the lakefront. Large numbers of Black-bellied Plover are not uncommon, with the occasional American Golden-Plover as a plus. Numerous Snowy Plover and fewer Semipalmated Plover are also usually present along the causeway as well.

August also marks the start of movements of large flocks of Long-billed Dowitchers usually in brackish areas and freshwater along the lake. These flocks occasionally contain Short-billed Dowitcher as well as Stilt Sandpiper.

As with July, August is a good time for shorebird vagrants, and the best time of year to see Ruddy Turnstone in Utah. Whimbrel are typically seen along the causeway this time of year as well. In 2006 a Pacific Golden-Plover showed up along the causeway. Interestingly there was a report of one from Fish Springs NWR in July of this year. There are 3 records for migrating Mountain Plover around Utah in August, so there is potential for this hard to get species. There are also several records for Upland Sandpiper from August, but along with migrant Mountain Plover there is no real pattern to where they show up. There is a lone August record for Hudsonian Godwit along the lake, but there is potential for this species near the end of the month. There is a single sight record for White-rumped Sandpiper from Salt Lake County in August. This species has only been recorded in Utah twice in the fall, but late August has potential. Late August into early September also provides the best window for Curlew Sandpiper in Utah. It is a little on the early side for Dunlin, so anything Dunlin-esque should be looked at more closely. And finally, there is a lone report of Red Phalarope from the causeway in 2004. I observed a juvenile bird, but the early date was odd. However, there is no reason that this species couldn't be found with a large flock of Red-necked Phalarope. In 2007 we scanned thousands in August without luck.

But August isn't just for the shorebirds, it marks the start of passerine, and raptor migration, and migrant traps deserve some special attention. After about August 15th, is when things start to pick up, and places such as Garr Ranch, Willard Bay, The International Center, Lucin, Lytle Ranch, and Fish Springs NWR typically have a good mix of songbirds from day to day. Red-eyed, Cassin's and Blue-headed Vireo should be on the move, as well as lots of warblers. Warbler migration won't peak until August, but there are numerous records for various species of eastern Wood Warbler in August in Utah. The entire month provides the best time of year to find a Hermit Warbler in the pine-oak forests in southwest Utah. The area around Lava Point at Zion National Park has historically been a great location, as well as Oak Grove Campground, just north of St. George.

And of course August is a great time for hummingbirds! On a good day during the last half of the month it is possible to see Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbird all at the same feeder. Garr Ranch is one very reliable location to see this kind of gathering.

I could go on for pages about August birding in Utah and the endless possibilities for vagrants. But the best way to learn more and see any of these birds is to get into the field and find some! Last August I saw over 230 species of bird in Utah, so it is a great time of year to be out in the field, with lots to see! With all the birding to do, and only 30 days it will fly by, and be September in no time!

Good Birding!
Tim

Holy Crap! What happened to spring migration and the breeding season? It's July 1st today and shorebirds are already on their way back south for the winter! Wilson's Phalarope numbers are building out on the Great Salt Lake, with around 250,000 birds along the causeway this week. The first reports of southbound Marbled Godwit, as well as Yellowlegs came in during the past 7 days, and peeps should be showing up any day now.

July is the start of fall migration, and with it comes a number of vagrants. Whimbrel are often found around the end of the month, at the Great Salt Lake, and teh causeway usually hosts 1 or 2 each year. Last July I had a mega-early, hugely rare White-rumped Sandpiper with a flock of Baird's. Other possibilities around the end of the month will be forming flocks of plovers, as well as our rarest annual shorebird, the Ruddy Turnstone

Along with the regular flocks of shorebirds, its a great time to be on the lookout for mega-rarities, such as Red-necked or Little Stint, for which Utah currently have no records. In terms of other vagrants, last July Utah had a state first Painted Bunting, as well as a female Scarlet Tanger and a Reddish Egret at Fish Springs NWR all within the period of a couple days.

Also with July come the first southbound Rufous Hummingbirds of the season, usually around the 2nd week.

Being that breeding is tailing off you will be likely to see a number of young birds, that often cause ID problems, so check out your field guides to make sure that juvenile warbler your seeing is just a MacGillivray's and not some eastern vagrant. Sparrows, vireos, flycatchers and other common breeders often cause confusion this time of year with goofy looking young birds out foraging.

With that I say hit the field! Find some rare birds, and enjoy the remaining time we have with those montane breeding species! Pretty soon shorebirds and fall passerines will be heavily on the move, and before we know it fall will be dwindling into winter, and the whole process will start again!

Good Birding and have a great July!
Tim