[Birdnet] Bohemians and Juncos in Cache Valley

[Connie McManus]

It's been a while since I last posted anything, so here goes.  I'm making up
for lost time!

In September, a group of 10 - 15 yellow rumped warblers visited my yard for
about 2 weeks before they disappeared.  A downy wood pecker has been a
frequent visitor along with  2  or 3 Northern flickers.
I was thrilled to have had a flock of about 7 Bohemian Waxwings for about a
week.  They invaded my crab apple tree, which is about 10 feet from my
kitchen door.  It was lovely to enjoy the warm fall air and their high
trilling songs. One day as i was watching them, a small falcon dove into the
tree and nabbed one of the BW's.  I think that was the last time I saw them
in my yard.  From time to time, the falcon still perches in my crab apple,
gut I can never get a front view of him, just the back.  I think it's a
peregrin, but I can't tell without seeing his breast.   What are the chances
a Merlin would come up here?  For the past week, there have been a flock of
dark eyed juncos (Oregon) coming around.  The American Goldfinches are also
still around.  I have never noticed them this time of year, but according to
the maps, they're year-rounders here.

Yesterday, while doing yard work, I saw in the horse pasture 2 ring-necked
hens.  They darted off into the thistle patch, when another one flew down
and joined them.  Then, from the thistle patch comes this gorgeous male
ring-neck, all puffed out and in brilliant colors.  He puffed himself out a
bit for the hen that just arrived, but moved on.  Then ANOTHER hen appeared
(hen #5), walking toward the male.  He ran toward her and just before he
comes up to her, he did a low bow, on the fly!  He passed her, then stopped
and fluffled out his wings and seemed to do a little dance, then he flew off
and the hen went into the thistle patch.  This entire encounter took about 5
- 10 minutes.  He was a beautiful bird.  For the first time, I'm really glad
to have new houses around me as there can be no more hunting in those
fields.   I hate the thought of such lovely birds being killed. Welll, I've
probably stuck my foot in my mouth reallly deep now. so, let's move on.

In October, I saw some of the sandhill crane migrations.  I look forward  to
this every year.  They are absolutely astonishing to watch.  I saw two
flocks - one  with 75 birds and another one with 28 birds.   In past years,
I've seen flocks with probably as many as 100 or more.  I really wish I had
been able to see more of their migrations.  It really sucks that I have to
work and can't watch birds all day.

cheers!
-- 
Connie McManus
Nibley, Cache County, Utah
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