[Birdnet] Bear River Tour

[Carol Gwynn]

The tour at Bear River Bird Refuge was a success yesterday. About 50 
species were seen in 3 hours, including Eastern Kingbird, Peregrine 
Falcon, numerous Sandhill Cranes, close to a dozen Curlews (including 
young), and the highlight - dancing grebes. Both Clark's and Western 
grebes had chicks, most of them "teenagers."  Also seen were many Great 
Egrets, and at least 5 Blue-winged Teal, more than I have ever seen in 
one place in Utah. Two Snowy Plovers were on the mudflat near the red 
gun club. Avocets are nesting right next to the road in this same area. 
A couple of the nests have been marked with spray paint, and I don't 
know if the birds are still incubating the visible eggs. I suspect not.

A word of caution: After the tour, I went out a ways on the road 
towards the refuge, but didn't stay long. Birding this road can be very 
dangerous right now. Huge trucks involved in the roadwork farther out 
barrel down the road and kick up so much dust that a car becomes 
invisible. Getting smashed by a truck was not on my list,  so I 
abandoned the pursuit. The new film, Wings of Thunder, being shown at 
the visitor's center, is worth the time. The photography is 
spectacular.

Carol Gwynn