Utah County Birders  Field Trip Report

18 Jan 2019    Payson, Salem, Diamond Fork Canyon   Report and Photos by Suzi Holt     We started at the Payson Cemetery at 9:28 successfully finding 2 Barn Owls and 2 Great-horned Owls!! From there we hit Salem Pond for the Greater Scaup pair. Check off number 3!   Barn Owl          Greater Scaup & Lesser Scaup -- females             Male Greater Scaup    Three Scaups            Greater Scaup & Lesser Scaup -- females      Stopped at the Woodland Hills Lewis's Woodpecker Hangoutt.              There were 3 Lewis's Woodpeckers flying     around giving us a great show!    We then all piled into a few cars at the base of SF canyon and headed up to Diamond Fork, On the way we saw a Golden Eagle. At Diamond Fork we found Mountain Bluebirds, a Bald Eagle, Ravens, Robins, Scrub jays, Townsend's Solitaires, Spotted Towhees, a Canyon Wren, Black-capped Chickadees and 3 Hermit Thrushes.              I was getting a little discouraged the conditions were perfect for a Pygmy Owl. We had just begun to head down the canyon when I spotted the little bugger! We all got great looks and it was a lifer for Kaylene!.   Pygmy Owl from the front   Pygmy Owl with "eyes" in the back of it's head        We saw a couple deer and a bunch of Wild Turkeys and called it a day.. We hit all of our targets for the day!!! A few found one more Pygmy Owl a little farther down. A great day for sure!! Thanks to everyone who came!           E-mail: ucbirders@utahbirds.org