GREAT BASIN 
Scarlet Tanagers are extremely rare in the Great Basin; this male was photographed 
7 November 2008 at the Corn Creek Unit of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, a 
popular migrant trap in the desert north of Las ¥egas. Photograph by Greg Scyphers. 
River Wetlands 4-7 Nov (p.a.; ph., tJP; ph., 
tRO; CF et al.) would be a Utah first. A well- 
documented Lesser Black-backed Gull was 
also observed at the Logan River Wetlands 5- 
30 Nov (ph., TJP; ph. RO et al). 
DOVES THROUGH WARBLERS 
Two Inca Doves were found 1 Sep n. of typical 
range in the Amargosa Valley, Nye, NV (CL). 
The only Yellow-billed Cuckoo of the season 
was an individual remaining at Ash Meadows 
through 25 Aug (CL). A Vaux’s Swift was ob- 
served 12 Oct flying over Red Hills (RF). A 
very late female Black-chinned Hummingbird 
was photographed 29 Nov at H.B.V.P. 
(R&BM). A small colony of Acorn Woodpeck- 
ers continued in the Kolob Meadows, Wash- 
ington, UT through the fall (RF). Juv. Yellow- 
bellied Sapsuckers were photographed 26 
Oct at Miller’s R.A. (GS, RSt, DG) and 7-8 Nov 
at Corn Cr. (GS, J&MC et al). A Red-breasted 
Sapsucker was photographed 26 Sep at Lytle 
(RF). An American Three-toed Woodpecker 
observed along Elk Ridge 3 Oct (LG) may be 
a first for San Juan, UT. 
An apparent Least Flycatcher pho- 
tographed 5 Sep in Snake Valley, Millard, UT 
(RF) and an Eastern Kingbird at Fish Springs 
N.W.R., Juab, UT the day before (ph. RF) 
were the only notable flycatcher sightings of 
the season. A possible Blue-headed Vireo pho- 
tographed 14 Sep near Pahranagat N.W.R., 
Lincoln (p.a.; ph., TGS; ph., TMM) could pro- 
j vide a 2nd accepted record for Nevada. Red- 
eyed Vireos were reported from Crystal 
Spring, Lincoln, NV 14 Sep (ph. GS, MM) and 
1 Gunlock, Washington, UT 14 Sep (LT). A 
flock of 10 Gray Jays observed 2 Oct (LG) in 
the La Sal Mts. might also provide a first 
1 county record for seldom-birded San Juan, 
UT. A pair of Purple Martins was observed 18- 
20 Aug in the Reese River Valley, Lander, NV 
i (C&RT). A first-year Wood Thrash was an 
exceptional find on 1 Sep at Torrance Ranch, 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 
Nye, NV (ph. CL et al.). The 
cooperative thrush re- 
mained through 13 Sep, 
supplying one of only a 
handful of records (and the 
earliest fall record) for the 
Region. A window-killed 
Gray Catbird was found 1 
Oct and a skulking Brown 
Thrasher was observed 25 
Sep at Parker Ranch, Nye, 
NV (LC). Additional va- 
grant Brown Thrashers were 
observed 14 Oct at Crystal 
Res., Ash Meadows (ph. 
CL) and 1 Nov at Red 
Springs, Red Rock National 
Conservation Area, Clark, NV QC et al). 
Although there were several noteworthy 
warbler observations in the Great Basin, the 
diversity was lower than in recent fall periods, 
and there were no exceptionally rare or va- 
grant warblers reported. Tennessee Warblers 
were observed 18 Sep at Parker Ranch, Nye, 
NV (LC) and 19 Sep at Ash Meadows (ph. 
CL). A late Nashville Warbler was at Beatty, 
Nye, NV 1 Nov (CL). Northern Parulas were 
found 1 Sep at Lytle (LT), 23-24 Sep at Red 
Hills (ph. RF), and 28 Sep at 
Peavine Canyon, Nye, NV 
(CL). First-fall Chestnut- 
sided Warblers were pho- 
tographed at Floyd Lamb 
S.E, Clark, NV 12 Sep (CL) 
and at Dyer Pond, Esmeral- 
da, NV 13 Sep (GS, MM, RSt 
et al). Black-throated Blue 
Warbler sightings included 
males at Circle L Ranch 27- 
28 Sep (RS, JBr, MD et al), 
at Ash Meadows 3 Oct (ph. 
CL et al), and at Lytle 26 
Oct (TA). A female Black- 
throated Blue was pho- 
tographed at Red Hills 12- 
20 Oct (RF et al). It was a 
good fall for Magnolia War- 
blers in the Great Basin, 
with five reports: 12 Sep at 
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT 
(ph. TA), 27 Sep at Lida, Esmeralda, NV (ph. 
GS et al), 28 Sep at the Salt Lake Internation- 
al Center, Salt Lake, UT (MS, DW), and at 
Ash Meadows 4 (CL, CT, RS) & 14 Oct (ph. 
CL). A Grace’s Warbler at Ash Meadows 31 
Aug (CL) was noteworthy, as this species is 
rarely found in lowland areas during migra- 
tion. Blackpoll Warblers were reported from 
Pahranagat N.W.R., Lincoln, NV 15 Sep (ph. 
GS, MM), Central, Washington, UT 21 Sep 
(LT), and Ash Meadows 9 Oct (ph. CL). 
1 
Black-and-white Warblers were found only in 
Nevada: at Key Pittman, Lincoln 14 Sep (GS, 
MM), at Dyer Pond, Esmeralda 4 Oct (GS), at 
Ash Springs, Lincoln 5 Oct (GS), and at Corn 
Cr. 11 Oct (GS). Nevada also cornered the 
Prothonotary Warbler sightings, with singles 
20 Sep at Arlemonte Ranch, Esmeralda (GS, 
MM et al), 20-27 Sep at Circle L Ranch (GS, 
MM et al), and 5 Oct at Ash Springs, Lincoln 
(GS). Twenty Northern Waterthrushes were 
reported between 17 Aug and 28 Sep from 
four Nevada counties (Clark, Esmeralda, Lin- 
coln, and Nye) and from three Utah counties 
(Davis, Salt Lake, and Washington). A male 
Summer Tanager brightened the Tracy Aviary, 
Salt Lake, UT 26-28 Sep (ph. BO et al.), and a 
male Scarlet Tanager was photographed at 
Corn Cr. 7 Nov (GS). 
SPARROWS THROUGH FINCHES 
Clay-colored Sparrows were found 16 Sep at 
Central, Washington, UT (LT) and 28 Sep-5 
Oct at the Salt Lake International Center, Salt 
Lake, UT (MS, DW, CN). Another highlight of 
the season was a well-photographed Baird’s 
Sparrow discovered 6 Sep at Highland Park, 
Tonopah, Nye, NV (ph., TMM; ph., TGS). This 
is the first well-documented record of this no- 
toriously secretive species in the Region. Red 
Fox Sparrows are seldom reported in the Re- 
gion, so birds photographed 17-19 Oct at 
Miller’s R.A. (CL, MM et al.) and 8 Nov at 
Pyramid L., Washoe, NV (ph. MM) are note- 
worthy. A Swamp Sparrow turned up 28 Sep at 
the Salt Lake International Center, Salt Lake, 
UT (MS, DW). White-throated Sparrows were 
reported 18 Oct at Sparks, Washoe, NV (GS) 
and at Circle L Ranch (MM), 19 Oct at Ash 
Meadows (CL), and 31 Oct along the Jordan 
137 
Of the Fox Sparrow subspecies. Slate-colored Fox Sparrows are most frequently en- 
countered in the Great Basin region, so observations of other subspecies are note- 
worthy. This sparrow photographed on 17 October 2008 at Miller's Rest Area west of 
Tonopah, Esmeralda County was one of two Red Fox Sparrows, likely of the zaboria 
subspecies, found in Nevada this fall. Photograph by Martin Meyers. 
