[Birdnet] Cache Valley loons, Rough-legged Hawk, Cliff Swallows

[Craig Fosdick]

Yesterday evening I took a quick spin around Cache Valley after work to see
if the lovely weather (snow, rain, cold) had persuaded any northbound
migrants to put down for a day or two.  At Cutler Res, at the Pacific Corp
Boat Launch just north of Cache Jct., I located 9 Common Loons, which have
probably been there for a while; I have seen as many as 12 at Benson Marina
in the last two weeks.  One of the Common Loons briefly started calling.
With the Common Loons was a single loon spp., perhaps a Pacific Loon.  It
was about the same size (or slightly smaller) than the Common Loon that was
a few meters away.  Unlike all the Common Loons, this loon was not in
breeding (alternate) plumage, but rather was in basic (non-breeding
plumage).  It had a flat head (not right for Pacific Loon) and lacked the
"jagged" outline created by the dark nape and whitish throat feathers found
on Common Loons.  The interface between the unknown loons nape and throat
feathers appeared more reminiscent of a Pacific Loon.  Mo Correll and I
attempted to relocate the loon spp. again this morning, and I looked for it
again this evening, but without success.

Also present yesterday evening at Cutler Res, at the Pacific Corp Boat
Launch just north of Cache Jct. were 20 Cliff Swallows; they were not
present today.

Yesterday evening a single Horned Grebe (alternate plumage) was still
present at Benson Marina; presumably this is the same bird present that has
been present since 2 April.  A Pied-billed Grebe was also hanging out near
the Horned Grebe last night, along with, of course, many Western and Clark's
Grebes.

I saw my first Swainson's Hawk of the year last Sat; these past two days I
have noticed more Swainson's Hawks starting to show up.  Yesterday evening I
saw 3 different birds on 3000 N as I drove out to Benson Marina, and today
Mo and I saw at least 3 birds on Sam Fellow Rd., including two birds sitting
side-by-side on a telephone pole, presumably already paired up.

Finally, while driving back from Cutler Res. this evening, I saw ~15
White-faced Ibis flying south over Benson Marina.  Just prior to that, a
somewhat tardy light-morph Rough-legged Hawk was fighting the strong winds
out of the west as it made its way north as I drove along 3000 N.

>From Logan, Cutler Reservoir's Pacific Corp Boat Launch just north of Cache
Jct. can be reached by taking Utah Hwy 30, then turning right (north) onto
Utah Hwy 23.  Once on Utah Hwy 23, go north for ~8 miles, passing through
Cache Jct (blink and you'll miss it; a few houses and that's about it).
Utah Hwy 23 then crosses Cutler Reservoir; take your first right (6200 N)
immediately after this bridge, and go ~1/2 mile east to the boat launch,
which is on your right.

Good birding,
Craig Fosdick
Logan, Utah.
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