ARIZONA 
no fewer than 11 were reported statewide. 
Late Varied Buntings were at Amado 16 Oct 
(D. Smyth) and at Tubac 26 Oct QB). Painted 
Buntings are also becoming almost common- 
place in Aug and Sep, with nearly 20 seen this 
fall season statewide. Ten Dickcissels were 
found, the most interesting record being 4 to- 
gether at B.T.A. 17 Sep (DS). 
Hooded Orioles were seen feeding fledg- 
lings on the late date of 13 Sep in Tucson 
(MMS) and lingered into late fall, with one at 
Green Valley 1-10 Nov (M. Marsden) and one 
at Sweetwater 17 Nov (PK). Bullock’s Orioles 
also were found late, with one in Tucson 23 
Nov (V MacKinnon), one at Patagonia 28 
Nov (C. Rustay, B. Neville), and one along the 
Santa Cruz R. near Carmen 29 Nov (ph. JY, 
JM). A small wandering flock of Red Cross- 
bills were at Kino Springs 28 Nov (MA), but 
there was no sign of a widespread movement 
of this species into the lowlands. 
Contributors: Moez Ali, Charles Babbitt, Chris 
D. Benesh, Jerry Bock, Matt Brown, Barbara 
Carlson, Andrew Core, Troy Corman, Nigel 
Crook, Henry Detwiler, Pierre Deviche, Brian 
Gatlin, Laurens Halsey, Lauren Harter (LHa), 
Stuart Healy, Melanie Herring, Eric Hough, 
Rich Hoyer, Doug Jenness, Keith Kamper, 
Philip Kline, Chuck LaRue, Paul E. Lehman, 
Jake Mohlman, Michael Moore (MMo), 
Michael Nicosia, David vander Pluym, Molly 
Pollock, Kurt Radamaker, Gary H. Rosenberg, 
Will Russell, Dave Stejskal, Mark M. Steven- 
son, Carl S. Tomoff (Prescott), Richard E. 
Webster, Janet Witzeman (Maricopa), John 
Yerger (Tucson). 
Mark M. Stevenson, 4201 East Monte Vista Drive, #1207 
Tucson, Arizona 85712-5554, (drbrdr@att.net) 
Gary H. Rosenberg, P.O. Box 91856 
Tucson, Arizona 85752-1856, (ghrosenberg@comcast.net) 
Great Basin 
Rick Fridell 
T he Great Basin Region is renowned for 
its avian diversity, and though there 
are fewer birders in Nevada and Utah 
than in most other parts of the United States, 
the Region continually turns up a remarkable 
array of rarities and vagrants. This fall, how- 
ever, there were fewer rare sea ducks, grebes, 
loons, shorebirds, flycatchers, and warblers in 
the Region than usual. The paucity of these 
groups was more than compensated for by 
some incredible records, including potential 
firsts of Crested Caracara and Baird’s Sparrow 
for Nevada and Iceland Gull in Utah. Other 
season highlights included Glossy Ibis, Lesser 
Black-backed Gull, Wood Thrush, Scarlet 
Tanager, Dickcissel, Painted Bunting, and Or- 
chard Oriole. 
Abbreviations: Antelope 1. (Antelope Island 
S.P. and Causeway, Davis, UT); Ash Meadows 
(Ash Meadows N.W.R., Nye, NV); Bear River 
(Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder, 
UT); Circle L Ranch (at Dyer, Esmeralda, 
NV); Corn Cr. (Corn Creek Unit, Desert 
N.W.R., Clark, NV); Farmington Bay (Farm- 
ington Bay W.M.A., Davis, UT); H.B.V.P (Hen- 
derson Bird Viewing Preserve, Clark, NV); 
Lake Mead (Lake Mead N.R.A., Clark, NV); 
Lytle (Lytle Ranch Preserve, Washington, UT); 
Miller’s R.A. (Miller’s Rest Area, Esmeralda, 
NV); Quail Creek (Quail Creek S.P., Washing- 
ton, UT); Red Hills (Red Hills G.C., St. 
George, Washington, UT); Zion (Zion N.P., 
Washington, UT). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH VULTURES 
Two Greater White-fronted Geese observed 2- 
6 Sep at Tropic Res. (KD et al.) may mark a 
first for seldom-birded Gaifield, UT. A Brant 
was an exceptional find 31 Aug at Farming- 
ton Bay O'&rKB) and, if documented and ac- 
cepted, will supply only one 
of a handful of Utah records. 
A Eurasian Wigeon made a 
surprise s. Nevada appear- 
ance 9 Nov at H.B.V.P QBr). 
Surprisingly, there were no 
scoters reported this fall in 
Nevada and fewer than nor- 
mal in Utah. Surf Scoters led 
the way, with five observa- 
tions, including a female at 
Antelope 1. (15 Oct; J&KB), 
a juv. at Sand Hollow S.P, 
Washington 11-26 Nov (ph. 
RF), 3 at Panguitch L., 
Garfield 12 Nov (RF), 2 at 
Otter Creek S.P, Piute 13 
Nov (RF), and a juv. at An- 
telope 1. 12-15 Nov O&KB 
et al., ph. PH). White- 
winged Scoter sightings included 2 juvs. at 
Panguitch L., Garfield 13 Nov (RF), 3 (an ad. 
male, ad. female, and juv.) at Kolob Res., 
Washington 14-18 Nov (ph. RF), and a juv. at 
Antelope I. 15 Nov (EH, LG et al.). Black 
Scoters were found at Antelope 1. 8- 30 Nov 
(ph. PH et al.). Otter Creek S.P, Piute 13 Nov 
(ph. RF), and Lincoln Point, Utah L., Utah 
16-19 Nov (DH, ph. MM et al.). Long-tailed 
Ducks were present again this year at Ante- 
lope L, where a male lingered 9 Nov+ (ph. PH 
et al). More surprising was a male observed 
22 Nov at the Logan Sewage Ponds, Cache, 
UT (CF et al.). An ad. male Barrow’s Golden- 
eye made a rare s. Utah appearance 26 
Nov-28 Dec at Quail Creek (ph. RF et al.). 
Surprisingly, 2 imm. Red-throated Loons 
visited Quail Creek in sw. Utah this fall. The 
first, photographed 1 1 Nov, lingered through 
15 Nov (tRF et al.), and the other turned up 
at the same small reservoir 25-29 Nov (ph. 
RF). Pacific Loons were found 19-21 Oct (JB, 
BH) and 30 Nov (J&KB) at East Canyon S.P, 
Morgan, UT. A Pacific Loon also visited Vir- 
Pacific Loons are rare but regular transients through the Great Basin region; howev- 
er, they are usually found on large lakes and reservoirs and seldom provide close ob- 
servation and photographic opportunities. This loon lingered from 2 (here) through 
8 November 2008 at Virginia Lake and Idlewild Park near Reno, Washoe County, Ne- 
vada. Photograph by Steve Ting. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 1 
135 
