[Birdnet] Bear River Refuge waterbird survey

[Bridget_Olson at fws.gov]

Waterbird/Raptor Survey
7/19/07

Total ducks about 19,000 which is above the long-term average of 14,000 for
this week in June.  Lots of molting waterfowl including oddballs such as
goldeneye, bufflehead and a ring-necked duck.  Molt migrant pintails don't
seem to be here yet.  Total shorebirds around 42,000 which is near the
long-term average for this week in July.  Many units dry or near dry.
Refuge wetland conditions similar to 2003 and 2004.

Shorebirds by the 10s of thousands in the tour loop.  Very good viewing
opportunities for all waterbirds.

 Notable birds include juvenile (downy) Virginia rail, juvenile western
grebes riding on the adults backs, and new Refuge bird, a Eurasian Collared
Dove.  July high counts of willet, spotted sandpiper, greater yellowlegs,
Caspian tern, and Virginia rail.  All-time high count of red-necked
phalarope.


Canada Goose                  1570
Mallard                       5887
Pintail                       595
Green-winged Teal       926
Cinnamon Teal                 1917
Shoveler                146
Gadwall                 6980
A. Wigeon               879
Canvasback              115
Redhead                 237
Common goldeneye        1
Bufflehead              2
Ring-necked Duck        1
Ruddy Duck              218
Pied-billed Grebe       36
Eared Grebe             80
Western Grebe                 348
Clark's Grebe                 177
A.W. Pelican                  8966
D.C. cormorant                1072
Great Blue Heron        222
Great Egret             8
Snowy Egret             741
BC Night Heron                27
White faced Ibis              23488
Snowy Plover                  3
Killdeer                      16
BN Stilt                      11126
Am. Avocet              23985
Willet                        101
Spotted Sandpiper       58
Solitary Sandpiper            2
Greater Yellowlegs            106
Lesser Yellowlegs       42
Marbled Godwit                3612
Western Sandpiper       1131
Least Sandpiper         4
Peep                    601
Baird's Sandpiper       81
Dowitcher               394
Red necked Phalarope          369
Wilson's Phalarope            108
Franklin's Gull               8445
Ring-billed gull              5
California gull               9997
Caspian Tern                  163
Forster's Tern                531
Virginia Rail                 5
Sora                    2
Coot                    2691
Sandhill Crane          `     8
Northern Harrier              3
Peregrine Falcon        2
Short eared Owl               1

Bridget Olson
Wildlife Biologist
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2155 West Forest St.
Brigham City, UT  84302
Phone: 435/734-6433