|
Today Merrill Webb and I took
the opportunity to travel through much of Northern Utah. We started at the
Bountiful Landfill, where we were greeted by the sight of many gulls.
Unfortunately we were not able to find the Lesser Black-backed Gull previously
seen. However, were certainly saw our share of Ring-billed and Herring
Gulls and were able to add Thayer's and Glaucous Gulls to our lists. What
a great sight we had of a juvenile Glaucous, as it landed right in front of
us. The whiteness of the Glaucous in amazing to see, after seeing so many
gulls with black wing tips! I was also rewarding to compare the Herring
Gulls and Thayer's Gulls as they mixed with each other.
Our next stop was the Kaysville
North Pond, where we saw many ducks, and were able to add Northern Pintail and
many Hooded Mergansers to the birds seen. I blinked as Merrill reported a
Belted Kingfisher passing in front of our vehicle, so he was the only one to see
it.
On the way to Brigham City and
Mayor's Pond, we saw a couple of Rough-legged Hawks on I-15. At
Mayor's Pond we saw many of he ducks previously reported by Kris
Purdy. After being there on Monday it was amazing to see how much more of
the pond was covered by ice. The pair of Barrow's Goldeneye were still off
by themselves and we counted at least 4 pairs of Greater Scaup. Four Mule
Deer were also grazing on some tender branches across the pond, near the inlet
of the river. We also saw Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard,
Gadwall, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, and a Pied-billed Grebe.
While watching the ducks two Wilson's Snipe flew in front of
us.
We next ventured west of
Brigham City and Corinne, on Highway 83, toward Thiokol, looking for Horned
Larks, with the hope of also seeing Lapland Longspur. Hope failed
us! We turned into Salt Creek WMA where we saw more Rough-legged Hawks,
American Kestrel, a Bald Eagle, and a pair of Common Raven. From a small
hill in the refuge we saw 7 swans (a swimming) quite a distance to the
north, so we could not identify them, except the gray necks and heads of some
indicated they were juveniles.
Back on Highway 93 going west
we immediately saw a male Prairie Falcon sitting high on a power pole, and
shortly thereafter saw what looked like a female Prairie Falcon sitting a short
distance away on a similar pole on top of some rocks. Her white breast in
the afternoon sun was beautiful. We also saw a pair of Killdeer, an American Pipit and
Northern Harrier in the same vicinity.
We decided to turn off 83 and
go toward the Golden Spike National Monument. After hoping for a view of
some kind of owl, or even a Horned Lark, we were finally rewarded with a great
view of a Northern Shrike. It was very interesting to see it take off from
its place of the telephone wire and fly to the middle of a field and hover in
place for sometime. We then saw it flying low over the brush
covered field and then rising to land again on the wire. Our good looks in
the scope told us it was a gray first winter bird. The white was very
evident over the thin, black mask. The hook at the tip of the beak was
very noticeable. Lovely bird, which allowed us some time to study
it.
As we turning down the road to
Golden Spike Merrill immediately spotted a Merlin (Columbarius) sitting
on a low fence post, next to the road. It appeared to be systematically
eating what appeared to be a Horned Lark, as it started plucking feathers and
eating at the head, then plucking the long wing feathers. [We
wondered if birds of prey have a systematic manner of devouring their prey each
time they eat. Or, if a particular bird will approach its prey in the same
manner each time.]
The distant fields behind the
Merlin were covered with about 100 Common Raven.
Next, we went to Collinston,
north of Honeyville and Deweyville, to try to find a reported Trumpeter Swan on
the Collinston Ponds. No success! On our way to Tremonton, via
Riverside and Fielding, we crossed the Bear River, where we saw 3 Common
Merganser near the bridge.
At the end it was a long, cold,
enjoyable day birding in Northern Utah. Too many places to go and not
enough time! Thanks Merrill for a great birding
experience!
Glenn
Glenn |