Great Basin 
shouldered Hawk, found 16 Dec, lingered at 
St. George, Washington, UT through 15 Mar 
(TA, RF), and the season’s only Broad-winged 
Hawk was reported from Moapa, Clark, NV 
26 May (DW). A Zone-tailed Hawk was pho- 
tographed at Overton W.M.A., Clark, N’V 27 
Mar (ph. CL). The raptor of the season was a 
Harris’s Hawk photographed near Rachel, 
Lincoln, NV 24 May (ph. GS, MM). Yuma 
Clapper Rails were found at Overton W.M.A., 
Clark, NV 12-18 Apr (GS, CL), and up to 7 
Clappers were documented at various Ash 
Meadow locations between 22 Apr and 21 
May (tCL). A pair of Sandhill Cranes made a 
rare hvn, UT appearance in Cedar Valley 25 
Apr (S&VH). 
Glossy Ibis sightings have continued to increase in Utah, following the first con- 
firmed record in summer 2006. In spring 2009, there were five reports between 
20 and 27 April, including this individual photographed 22 April in the Washing- 
ton Fields, Washington County. Photograph by Rick Fridell. 
A first for southern Nevada, and third overall in the state, this third-cycle Lesser 
Black-backed Gull was at Boulder Beach, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 
Clark County from 28 February (here) through 5 March 2009. Photograph by 
Carolyn Titus. 
Rick Fridell 
I t was an exceptional spring in the Great 
Basin, with mild temperatures and well- 
timed rainfall throughout most of the Re- 
gion. The White-winged Crossbill irruption 
observed during the winter season continued 
through the spring, with large crossbill flocks 
remaining in northern Utah. Large flocks of 
other mountain finch species, including 
Cassin’s Finch, Pine Siskin, and Red Cross- 
bill, were observed at low-elevation areas. 
Late spring brought Nevada’s first document- 
ed Glossy Ibis. Additional Nevada highlights 
included Harris’s Hawk, Canada Warbler, 
Scarlet Tanager, and Orchard Oriole. Utah 
highlights were led by a striking Yellow-billed 
Loon and the state’s third documented record 
of Neotropic Cormorant. 
Abbreviations: Antelope Island (Antelope Is- 
land S.P. and Causeway, Davis, UT); Ash 
Meadows (Ash Meadows N.W.R., Nye, NV); 
Bear R. (Bear R. Migratory Bird Refuge, Box 
Elder, UT); Corn Cr. (Corn Creek Unit, 
Desert N.W.R., Clark, NV); Farmington Bay 
(Farmington Bay W.M.A., Davis, UT); H.B.V.E 
(Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, Clark, 
NV); L. Mead (Lake Mead National Recre- 
ation Area, Clark, NV); Lytle (Lytle Ranch 
Preserve, Washington, UT); Miller’s R.A. 
(Miller’s Rest Area, Esmeralda, NV); Ouray 
(Ouray N.W.R., Uintah, UT); Pahranagat 
(Pahranagat N.W.R., Lincoln, NV); Red Hills 
(Red Hills G.C., St. George, Washington, UT); 
Zion (Zion N.P., Washington, UT). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH VULTURES 
A Greater White-fronted Goose was reported 
from seldom-birded Torrey, Piute, UT 21 Mar 
(BO). Several Eurasian Wigeons were found 
in the Region, including drakes remaining 
from the winter at Hurricane, Washington, UT 
through 15 Mar (ph. RF et al.) and at Lem- 
mon Valley, Washoe, NV through 1 1 Mar (AQ 
et al). Additional drakes were found at Farm- 
ington Bay 14-25 Mar (PF et al.) and 25 Apr 
O&KB), H.B.V.P 24-30 May (ph. GV, JBr, ph. 
MM), and Deseret Ranch, Rich, UT 30 May 
(MS et al.). A male duck, apparently a Mexi- 
can Duck X Mallard intergrade, was pho- 
tographed paired with a typical female Mal- 
lard in the Washington Fields, Washington, 
UT 21 Apr (tRF). A late male Greater Scaup 
and a late Common Goldeneye were at 
H.B.V.P. 25 May (MM, RM). Two White- 
winged Scoters were an unexpected find 25 
May-14 Jun at Walker L., Mineral, NV (GS, 
RS, DG). Long-tailed Ducks were reported 
from H.B.VE 29 Mar-23 Apr (GV, JBr, ph. JH) 
and Walker L., Mineral, NV 25 May (ph. GS). 
A juv. Yeilow-billed Loon, first discovered 
27 Dec, remained at Sparks Marina, Washoe, 
NV through 6 Mar (FP), and a breeding- 
plumaged Yellow-billed was 
photographed at Rockport 
S.P., Summit, UT 17-18 May 
(ph. TA; ph., tMMo; ph. KV). 
A Horned Grebe made a rare 
Esmeralda, NV appearance 3-4 
May (GS). Red-necked Grebes 
were observed at Bear R. 7-12 
May (TBOl, ph. BB, JC) and at 
South Fork Res., Elko, NV 10 
May (tMM). Two Neotropic 
Cormorants photographed at 
Ivins Res., Washington, UT 29 
May+ (ph., tRF) furnished 
Utah’s 3rd documented record 
of this species. Green Herons 
were found n. of expected 
range at Pineview Res., Weber, 
UT 18 May (KP et al.) and Lo- 
gan Riv., Cache, UT 25 May 
(ph. CF). Glossy Ibis reports 
continue to increase in Utah, 
with 5 reported this spring. 
The first for Washington was 
photographed in the Washing- 
ton Fields 20-21 Apr (ph., tRF 
et al). Two were also observed 
at Bear R. 24 Apr (ph., tJBi et 
al), and singles were found at 
Farmington Bay 24-25 Apr 
(ph. JBi, ph. TF) and Lincoln 
Beach, Utah L., Utah TI Apr 
(BS). Nevada’s first document- 
ed Glossy Ibis was also found 
this spring at Pahranagat 24 
May-7 Jun (ph. GS, ph. CL, 
SSk, DG, RS, m.ob.). White- 
faced Ibis X Glossy Ibis hy- 
brids were photographed in the Washington 
Fields, Washington, UT 21 Apr (RF) and at 
Bear R. 27 Apr (PH). 
HAWKS THROUGH WOODPECKERS 
Up to 3 White-tailed Kites continued at 
Pahranagat 29 Mar-i- (SC, CL et al.). A Red- 
It was a below-average spring for rare 
shorebird sightings in the Great Basin, but 
there were a few noteworthy reports. Whim- 
brels were reported from Fallon, Churchill, 
NV 19 Apr (GS), the Great Salt L., Salt Lake, 
UT 14-15 May (AN, PF), Pelican L., Uintah, 
UT 18 May (BM), Arlemont Ranch, Esmcral- 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
481 
