Golden Spike birding

[cldavis at xmission dot com]

Nicky and I intended on birding Bear River Bird Refuge Sunday but ended up 
driving the road to Golden Spike State Park (thanks to some good directions 
from Kris Purdy).  
We were somewhat surprised at the diversity of birds in the area.  We saw 
an Eastern Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Virginia Rail, Sora (only heard this 
one), Ibis, Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Clark's Grebe, Common 
Yellowthroat, Yellow Warblers, Swainson's and Red-tailed Hawks, Harriers, 
Lark Sparrows, Loggerhead Shrikes, Sage Thrashers, Terns, and a group of 
Sandhill Cranes dancing about in a field also occupied by Long-billed 
Curlews.  We didn't see the Northern Mockingbird.
The best bird of the day was the Short-eared Owl standing in a field not 
far from Thiokol.  Later we saw two other owls sitting on posts next to the 
road.  What beautiful birds!
I'm sure the cool weather helped in seeing so many species--sixty-one total 
including a few at Willard Bay. The owl and the phoebe were life birds for 
Nicky. 
Carol Davis

_______________________________________________

"Utah Birds" web site: http://www.utahbirds.org
     BirdTalk:
To subscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To unsubscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-unsubscribe@utahbirds.org
To send a message, e-mail:  birdtalk@utahbirds.org
_________________________________________________