[Birdtalk] RE: [Birdnet] Black Phoebe, Snow Bunting - Tooele Co.

[Eric Huish]

I Spent a couple hours in the afternoon yesterday looking for the Snow 
Bunting, Black Phoebe and Northern Shrike but couldn't find any of them.  
Morning my be a better time if you plan on making a search.  There was also 
a Prairie Falcon in the area which my have sent all the birds into hiding.

KC stopped in the area around sunset and found a small flock of Horned Larks 
(I couldn't even find horned larks) and a Short-eared Owl.

See Tim's directions to the area below.


Eric Huish
Pleasant Grove UT
poorwill_ at hotmail.com
801-360-8777



----Original Message Follows----
From: Tim Avery <tanager at timaverybirding.com>
To: birdnet at utahbirds.org
Subject: [Birdnet] Black Phoebe, Snow Bunting - Tooele Co.
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 13:36:26 -0700

This morning while helping out on the Tooele CBC I had some interesting
sightings.  And to be honest this first one is kind of embarassing.  I was
photographing a NORTHERN SHRIKE when it dove into some high grass.  I used 
the
opportunity to switch lenses.  When I looked up I saw what I thought was the
shrike perched on a low snag.  I snapped a shot and when I looked again, I 
saw
teh shrike flying.  IT wasn't till I uploaded my pictures and saw the shot 
that
I was in shock.  The bird on the low branch wasn't the shrike, but a BLACK
PHOEBE!

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/blph_01.jpg

I am so embarassed that I didn't take the time to actually look at the bird
through my scope and now wish I had been more careful.  I called Eric Huish 
who
was planning on visiting the area to look for the shrike, and the other 
prize
of the morning, a SNOW BUNTING, to tell him to keep his eyes peeled for the
Phoebe as well.  The bunting was with a flock of about 80
Horned Larks and was intitially seen flying.  The striking pattern stood out 
as
the bird flew past.  This is a terrible shot, but you can see the pattern:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/snbu_01.jpg

And finally a Northern Shrike, the Norther Shrike that skewed my birding as 
I
was photo happy with this treat:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/nors_01.jpg

Alright so now down to the details.  I have decided to make a map since I 
wasn;t
even sure where I was,since my CBC packet had its map stolen by last years
participants!  In any event here is the map:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/map.jpg

 >From Tooele head south on SR 36.  After passing Rush Lake (on your right) 
there
will be a split for SR 73 on the left.  Don't turn but continue on 36 for 
2.1
miles until you come to the railroad tracks.  Just over the tracks is a road 
on
the right.  This is MEADOW LANE.  Turn RIGHT here and follow Meadow Lane 
(about
2 miles) til it T's into MORMON TRAIL ROAD.  Turn RIGHT and it is exaclty 
one
mile to where the Snow Bunting was seen.  The flock it was with spent most 
of
the time on the east side of the road here.

If you continue north another 4.5 miles you will be at the location of the
Northern Shrike and the Black Phoebe.  These birds were on the east side of 
the
raod as well.

 >From Tooele you can also take the turn in Stockton on your right that goes 
to
Rush Lake.  Follow this till it T's at MORMON TRAIL/S. MAIN STREET.  Turn 
LEFT
here and its about 1 mile to where the Phoebe and Shrike were on the left, 
and
4.5 mile from here to the Bunting Location.

Good Birding

Tim
Indianapolis, IN and Salt Lake City, UT
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.birdtography.com
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