GREAT BASIN 
Always rare in the Great Basin, this Yellow-throated Vireo was photographed at Dyer 
Pond, Esmeralda County, Nevada 7 June 2009. Photograph by Greg Scyphers. 
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.YP. 
(Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, Clark, 
NV); L. Mead (Lake Mead N.R.A., 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 NWR, Lincoln, NV); 
Red Hills (Red Hills G.C., St. George, Wash- 
ington, UT); Zion (Zion N.P, Washington, UT). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH TERNS 
An injured Brant mysteriously appeared 9 Jun 
on the small ponds at Corn Cr. QH et ak) and 
remained through 14 Jun, when it was found 
dead. A female White-winged Scoter, first dis- 
covered 25 May, remained at Walker L., Min- 
eral, NV through 16 Jun (GS, MM). Two 
Neotropic Cormorants, the 3rd documented 
occurrence in Utah, remained at Ivins Res., 
Washington, through the summer (ph. RF et 
ah). Surprisingly, 2 additional Neotropic Cor- 
morants were found 18 Jul at Lee Kay Ponds, 
Salt Lake, UT (PF, ph. TA et ah). Nevada’s first 
Glossy Ibis, first discovered 24 May, lingered 
at Pahranagat through at least 7 Jun (ph. CL). 
A Glossy Ibis was also reported 6 Jul at Bear 
River O&KB). An apparent White-faced Ibis x 
Glossy Ibis hybrid was photographed 16 Jun 
at Ash Meadows (CL). A Common Moorhen 
was n. of expected range at Benjamin Slough, 
Utah, UT 1-9 Jun (DSh, ph. JBi, ph. JM). 
White-tailed Kites remained at Pahranagat 
through the summer (EH, CL, et al). A Mis- 
sissippi Kite was a great find 12 Jul along 
Meadow Valley Wash, Lincoln, NV (ph. JS). A 
Bald Eagle made a rare summer appearance at 
Quichapa L., Iron, UT 12 Jun (SH), An out-of- 
season Broad-winged Hawk was observed 13- 
16 Jun at Dyer, Esmeralda, NV (ph. GS, ph. 
MM). Two pairs of Zone-tailed Hawks were 
observed this summer; 
the first pair was pho- 
tographed 21 Jun along 
Meadow Valley Wash, 
Lincoln, NV (ph. CL), and 
a pair was also reported 
26 Jun near Navajo L., 
Kane, UT (LT). There 
were very few sightings of 
rare shorebirds in the Re- 
gion this summer. The 
only noteworthy reports 
included a Whimbrel at 
H.B.VP. 16-19 Jun OB et 
al.), a Semipalmated 
Sandpiper 19 Jul in the 
Amargosa Valley, Nye, NV 
(CL), and a Short-billed 
Dowitcher 23 Jul at 
H.B.VP. (RM). A second-cycle Mew Gull 
made an extremely unusual summer appear- 
ance at Antelope 1. 28 Jun (CC, KB). Least 
Terns were observed 16 Jun at Ash Meadows 
(ph. CL), and 21 Jun and 19 Jul at H.B.VP. 
(fide JB). Certainly one of the biggest surpris- 
es of the season was an Arctic Tern observed 
along Hwy. 772 near the Reese R. crossing in 
seldom-birded Lander, NV 11 Jul QL). 
CUCKOOS THROUGH FINCHES 
Yellow-billed Cuckoos were reported from 
two NV locations: 6 Jun at Corn Cr. (GS) and 
30 Jun at Ash Meadows (CL). Wayward 
White-winged Doves were found 7 Jun at 
Cedar City, Iron, UT (SH), 18 Jun at Ash 
Meadows (CL), and 12 Jul at Morgan, Mor- 
gan, UT (AS). A cooperative Whip-poor-will, 
of the Mexican subspecies, was found singing 
11-17 Jun at Kyle Canyon, Clark, NV (SS, et 
mult al.). A male Anna's Hummingbird was 
photographed 20 Jul visiting a feeder in Ly- 
dia’s Canyon, Kane, UT. A small colony of 
Acorn Woodpeckers continued through the 
summer in the Kolob Meadows, Washington, 
UT (RE J&KB). A Downy Woodpecker made 
a rare Esmeralda, NV appearance 13 Jun at the 
Circle L Ranch (GS). 
Eastern Kingbirds were observed at Corn 
Cr. 8 Jun (RS, DG) and at Eish Creek Valley, 
Eureka, NV 12 Jul (MM). A singing Yellow- 
throated Vireo was found 7 Jun at Dyer Pond, 
Esmeralda, NV (ph. GS, RS, DG). Two Winter 
Wrens were heard singing along Strawberry 
Cr., Great Basin N.P, White Pine, NV 11 Jul 
(MM, GS), suggesting possible breeding at 
this isolated location. Gray Catbirds were ob- 
served at the Circle L Ranch, Esmeralda, NV 5 
Jun (MM) and at the Dyer Pond, Esmeralda, 
NV 13 Jun (GS). A female Phainopepla was n. 
of expected breeding range at Arlemont 
Ranch, Esmeralda, NV 7-22 Jun (GS, RS, DG). 
A well-documented Magnolia Warbler was 
observed at McCarren Ranch, Storey, NV 14 
Jun (tDS). Black-and-white Warblers were 
found 1 Jun at Ethel M. Gardens, Clark, NV 
(TS) and 14 Jun at Pahranagat (GS). A female 
American Redstart visited Miller’s R.A 3-7 Jun 
(DW et al). Nevada Ovenbirds were reported 
in a narrow window: at Crystal Spring, Lin- 
coln 6 Jun (CL), at Dyer, Esmeralda 7 Jun (RS, 
DG, GS), and at Fletcher Canyon, Clark 9 Jun 
(RS, DG). A singing male Hooded Warbler 
graced Deadman Canyon, Desert N.W.R., 
Clark, NV 5 Jun (GS). A Red-faced Warbler 
was observed for the 2nd consecutive sum- 
mer at Fletcher Canyon, Clark, NV; the war- 
bler was found 22 Jun (ph. BG, PJ) and re- 
mained through at least 10 Aug (ph. CR). An 
ad. Painted Redstart was reported feeding 
young 14 Jun at Red Rock Canyon National 
Conservation Area, Clark, NV (DH). An ad. 
was found again 17 Jun (CL); however, evi- 
dence of successful nesting was not docu- 
mented. At least one pair of Painted Redstarts 
successfully fledged young again this summer 
along the Virgin R. in Zion Canyon, Zion 
(RF). An out-of-range male Summer Tanager 
was observed at Josie’s Ranch, Dinosaur N.M., 
Uintah, UT 22 Jun (MJ). 
It was an amazing season for Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak sightings in the Great Basin; 12 
were observed between 2 Jun and 10 Jul in 
Carson City, Clark, Lincoln, and Nye, NV and 
Kane, Millard, Summit, and Weber, UT. Ob- 
servers reported higher-than-normal numbers 
of Indigo Buntings breeding in the Region 
this summer, particularly through s. Nevada 
and sw. Utah. At least one of the White- 
winged Crossbills first discovered in Feb re- 
mained through 28 Jun at the Elko Cemetery, 
Elko, NV (JB). A Lawrence’s Goldfinch was 
observed along the Amargosa R. at the Beatty 
Narrows, Nye, NV 10 Jun (LC). 
Contributors and cited observers: Tim Avery, 
Ken Behrens, Joel & Kathy Beyer, Jack Binch 
OBi), JeAnne Branca, Cameron Cox, Laura 
Cunningham, Rick Eridell, Pomera Eronce, 
Dennis Ghiglieri, Bob Gotschall, Steve 
Hedges, Jon Heywood, Linda Hiller, Eric 
Hough, David Houghton, Paul Jared, Matt 
Johnstone, Carl Lundblad, John Luther, Ted & 
Carolyn McGrath, James McIntyre, Martin 
Meyers, Randall Michal, Ingrid Paine, Kristin 
Purdy, Ghris Ruiz-Gardner, Greg Scyphers, 
Dennis Serdehely Dennis Shirley (DSh), Sam 
Skalak, Arnold Smith, Justin Streit, Rose 
Strickland, Toby Sulenski, Jeanne Tinsman, 
Carolyn Titus, Larry Tripp, David Worley. 
Rick Fridell, 3505 West 290 North 
Hurricane, Utah 84737, (rfridell@redrock.net) 
VOlUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 4 
637 
