[Birdnet] Northern Waterthrush, Cassin's Vireo in Ogden

[Kristin Purdy]

I birded Fort Buenaventura Park in Ogden, Weber County this morning and was amply rewarded. One of the best birds was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH which, thanks to Pete Dunne, I pished up along the west bank of the Weber River. I didn't even know the bird was there before I started pishing. It popped up to give me a good once-over from willow saplings along the river about 15 feet away from my pishing spot. 

Pete Dunne was the guest speaker at last week's Western Birding Symposium/UOS Fall Conference and one of his presentations was 'The Art of Pishing'.

Several other species that came in for my pishing a Wilson's Warbler (most common warbler species of the day) were a CASSIN'S VIREO, a Nashville Warbler, and an I'm-pretty-darn-sure Hammond's Flycatcher. I didn't see any of them before I started to pish, either. 

Other species there today included:

Mallard
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Cooper's Hawk
American Kestrel
Mourning Dove
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-pewee (lots) 
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Black-billed Magpie
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Western Tanager
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Bullock's Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch

The Cordilleran Flycatcher was amazing. After it flitted in the sun on the edge of a wooded area, the bird landed on a little branch, spread its wings and tail, and sat there with the side of its face tilted up to the sun. Not only have I never seen a small hyperactive flycatcher sit still and sun for so long, but the head tilt gave me a good look at the color of the wide lower mandible (pink!) in addition to the shape of the eyering. More power to sunning Empids!

The Black-chinned Hummingbirds harassed everything today. I saw one harassing a Downy Woodpecker. I saw one harassing the Nashville Warbler. I two harassing each other, which looked like a sword fight between Lilliputians. How can a bird so small have such a big, bad disposition?

Fort Buenaventura Park is located off A Street one mile east of I-15 at Exit 342, 24th Street. The best birding is not even in the park--it's along the asphalt path that begins at the park entrance behind the yurt and runs along the west bank of the river. Birding in the southeast end of the park where various brush dumping areas are was also good. The park requires a $1.00 entrance fee, payable at the visitor's center.

Kris
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