[Birdtalk] UCB Field Trip to Antelope Island: 8/26/2006

[Glenn B. Barlow]

Early this morning 15 UCBers met first at the Orem Park & Ride, then at the
Kaysville Park & Ride, where I joined them, for a trip to Antelope Island.
After some problems with my directions (the number of the exit had changed
from 331 to 328), we set off at about 7:30 am.  The first bird was a juv.
Swainson’s Hawk just south of the Kaysville Park & Ride.

 

We were anxious to see the many shorebirds being reported along the
causeway, as well as any possible new fall-outs at Garr Ranch.  We were not
able to see the previously reported (last week) Northern Waterthrush or
White-winged Dove.  However, we were rewarded with many shorebirds along the
causeway and warblers and flycatchers at Garr Ranch.  Along the causeway we
joined with Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld and benefited from their expertise.
This brought out party to 17!  The group saw a total of 71 species of birds.
(This would have completed Davis County for anyone needing the county.)

 

The plovers and sandpipers were found on the north side of the causeway
prior to and after mile marker #6.  Start looking as soon as you see the
water on the right side (north) of the causeway.  There seemed to be a major
gathering of Red-necked Phalaropes along the south side of the causeway,
closer to the island.  In one group near the last bridge there appeared to
be at least a thousand or more, although it was had to obtain an estimate,
because whenever we looked there seemed to be more.

 

At the Visitors’ Center we saw many Chukars and Burrowing Owls in the area
west of the Center.  Burrowing Owls were also seen on the road to Garr
Ranch.  There was also a Prong-horn Antelope bedded down west of the
Visitors’ Center.

 

On the road to Garr Ranch the surprise sighting was a Prairie Falcon on a
rabbit in the road, and further on a flight of 3 Northern Mockingbird
chasing each other.  The Prairie Falcon flew to a tree for a few minutes, so
all got great looks at it.  Upon arriving at Garr Ranch we were greeted by
the wonderful sight of a Peregrine Falcon flying to the west and south of
the picnic area.  Everyone’s target warbler was a Townsend’s, which was
spotted right away in the trees on the west side of the picnic area, along
with many flycatchers.  The Wilson’s Warblers were in abundance, wherever we
went around the ranch house and in the spring area.  They were in the trees,
bushes, and on the ground. Townsend’s were also flying to the ground to eat.


 

On the return trip from the ranch we were greeted with the sighting of many
Bison.  Some of the Bison we accompanied by cowbirds.  Other sightings are
listed below.

 

The birds seen (in taxonomic order) were:

 

Before the Island

 

Canada Goose

Swainson’s Hawk

White-faced Ibis

 

Causeway

 

Eared Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Snowy Egret (flyover)

Black-bellied Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Killdeer

Black-necked Stilt

American Avocet

Lesser Yellowlegs

Willet

Spotted Sandpiper

Long-billed Curlew

Marbled Godwit (flyover)

Sanderling (1)

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Wilson’s Phalarope

Willet

Red-necked Phalarope

Franklin’s Gull (many)

Ring-billed Gull (many)

California Gull (closer to the island)

Loggerhead Shrike

Common Raven

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Savannah Sparrow

 

Visitors’ Center

Great Blue Heron (north, along the shore)

Chukar

Burrowing Owl

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Bank Swallow

Barn Swallow

 

Road to Garr Ranch

American Kestrel (later chasing the)

Prairie Falcon

Rock Wren

Northern Mockingbird

Sage Thrasher

European Starling

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Brown-headed Cowbird

 

Garr Ranch

Ring-necked Pheasant

Peregrine Falcon

Virginia Rail (west of spring area)

Mourning Dove

Black-chinned Hummingbird (at feeder on ranch house porch)

Rufous Hummingbird (same)

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Wood-Peewee

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Gray Flycatcher

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Cassin’s Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Chipping Sparrow

Brewer’s Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

House Finch

 

Bison Corral

Barn Owl

 

Happy Birding to All!

 

Glenn Barlow, trip leader.

 

 


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