[Birdnet] Antelope Island Birdings 3 May 2007

[STEPHEN T CARLILE]

Spent a cold wet day at Antelope Island-rainy, windy, and 45 degrees at best.  I felt sorry for all the swallows hunkering down on the road.  Not much migrating passerine activity at Garr Ranch, except for Green-tailed Towhees and White-crowned Sparrows.  I am sure they were there, but just staying out of the weather.  On the causeway the Black-bellied Plovers and Sanderlings are still there with Western Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, and the usual fare, with lots of peeps to far away to identify.  All between mile markers 5 and 6.  I couldn't find the Red Knots.

Some excitement for me.  Saw a Lifer!  A singing, male Grasshopper Sparrow 2.1 miles north of Garr Ranch, 40 feet on the east side of the road.  Had great looks with the binoculars and scope.  The bird would throw his head back, open its bill wide and let out (in my opinion) a most wimpy bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  Can't complain though, as the wimpy bzzz.. is how I was able to focus on where the bird was.  Thanks to the Sommerfelds for showing me the general area last fall and others who have posted this year's sightings.

Today's list (49 species) - Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Greater Scaup (3), Lesser Scaup, Chukar, Ring-necked Pheasant, Eared Grebe (looked without success for a Horned Grebe in the thousands of Eared Grebes), Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, White-faced Ibis, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Black-bellied Plover (24+), Semipalmated Plover (2), Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Willet, Long-billed Curlew (5), Sanderling (6), Western Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, California Gull, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl (1 adult and 2 large chicks in the nest in the barn), Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, European Starling, Green-tailed Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, and House Sparrow.  Also, the buffalo were roaming with their calves and there were lots of coyotes, three packs by all the yipping and howling from different directions that was going on.

Thanks,

Stephen
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