[Birdnet] Bear River Refuge waterbird count

[Bridget_Olson at fws.gov]

Waterbird/Raptor Count
5/10/06

Total ducks around 7,000 which is below the long-term average of around
12,000 for this week in May.  Total number of shorebirds around 9,000 which
is also below long-term average of about 13,000.  This may just reflect the
number of shorebirds that have moved out to suitable habitat on the Spur
and in units 7 and 8 where I can't see them.  Probably several 1000
Franklin's gull nesting below the last Refuge dike along with several
hundred white-faced ibis in the re-emerging alkali bulrush stands.  Notable
birds include first spotted sandpiper, golden eagle. Record high counts for
May of pied-billed grebe, western grebe, Clark's grebe, great-blue heron,
great egret, and black-crowned night heron.  While out doing a Canada Goose
brood survey on 5/11 notable birds included American goldfinch,
great-tailed grackle and 8 stilt sandpipers.  Stilt sandpipers were in with
large flock of dowitchers immediately west of the observation platform off
the auto-tour-route.

Canada Goose            555
Mallard                 576
Northern Pintail        207
GW Teal           12
Cinnamon Teal           616
Northern Shoveler 683
Gadwall           1941
Wigeon                  152
Unk. dabbler            86
Canvasback        141
Redhead           431
Scaup             221
Bufflehead        9
Ruddy Duck        2028
Pied-billed Grebe 12
Eared Grebe       738
Western Grebe           547
Clark's Grebe           432
AW Pelican        279
DC Cormorant            446
Great Blue Heron  147
Great Egret       18
Snowy Egret       188
Cattle Egret            3
Black-crowned NH  78
White-faced Ibis  6565
Killdeer                39
Black-necked Stilt      1835
American Avocet   5474
Willet                  5
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Long-billed curlew      4
Marbled Godwit          16
Dowitcher         1681
Red-necked Phalarope 1
Wilson's Phalarope      33
Franklin's gull         4142
Ring-billed Gull        8
California gull         4781
Caspian Tern            169
Forster's Tern          243
Black Tern        52
Virginia rail           3
Sora              6
coot              4335
Sandhill Crane          2
Golden eagle            1
Northern Harrier        5

Bridget Olson
Wildlife Biologist
2155 West Forest St.
Brigham City, UT  84302
Phone: 435/734-6433
Fax: 435/723-8873