FW: [Birdtalk] Davis County Birds

[Glenn B. Barlow]

Alton's e-mails are usually short and sweet, and this from a university
professor with a well-rounded resume of books to his credit.

On Monday, while birding Davis County with Reed and Kay Stone, very few
raptors were seen, other than a Burrowing Owl and American Kestrel.  A pair
of kestrel were noted near the nesting box just south of the spring area at
the ranch. We did not see any buteos and no harriers.  Today we saw two
harriers on the island, near Garr Ranch. 

However, our "bird of the day," which was spotted by Alton, was undoubtedly
the very lovely adult Peregrine Falcon sitting on the ground on top of a
partially consumed Black-necked Stilt!  What a lovely sight this adult
falcon presented!  We saw this bird at Farmington Bay, from the top of "Egg
Island" to the west.

On Antelope Island at least two Barn Owls were present in the box at the hay
barn near the Bison Corrals.  [It was also interesting to see a nest
containing two nearly half-grown Double-crested Cormorant on the southwest
corner of the same structure.]  We also saw Burrowing Owls; one near the
entrance (south of the fiber glass bison), and another in the rocks
southwest of the visitors' center.

It is amazing how different birding can be from one day to the next.  On
Monday we saw many Lark Sparrow and Rock Wren on the road to Garr Ranch.
However, today we couldn't find a Lark Sparrow, and the Rock Wren were
present, but not in abundance.  This could have been caused by the steady
wind from the south.  But, what we did see in abundance were many Horned
Lark.  We also saw a pair of Long-billed Curlew between the Garr Ranch Road
and the eastern shore of the island, about half-way to the ranch.  Today we
did not see as many hen Chukar with young, although they were undoubtedly
there somewhere--perhaps again the result of the wind.

At the visitors' center there is a nest of five half-grown Say's Phoebe in
the alcove with the entrance to the women's restroom.  What an interesting
sight!

The weather was quite warm and windy, but not unpleasant, thanks to the low
humidity.  

Kay, Reed and I started in Fruit Heights, hoping for a nesting Cooper's Hawk
(without success), then we went to Farmington Canyon, Farmington Bay,
followed by Antelope Island.

Today, Alton started at Mueller Park, where his initial sightings were about
75 junior high school students, Black-headed Grosbeak, Broad-tailed
Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, McGillivray's' Warbler, a Hermit Thrush, and a
possible Dipper.  Then, on to Farmington Bay, Kaysville Ponds (no Caspian
Tern), Kaysville Subway (a must stop on every trip), then to Antelope
Island.

At Antelope Island there had been a significant rise in the water-level on
the south side of the causeway, from Monday to today.

Good birding!

Glenn

-----Original Message-----
From: birdtalk-bounces at utahbirds.org [mailto:birdtalk-bounces at utahbirds.org]
On Behalf Of Alton Thygerson
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 9:48 PM
To: birdtalk at utahbirds.org
Subject: [Birdtalk] Davis County

I spent the day birding Davis County to meet one of the Utah County Birders
2006 Challenge options of identifying 60 birds in 6 Utah Counties.  Glenn
Barlow was my guide.  Glenn lives in Davis County and knows the driving
routes around the county quite well. Plus, he is an enjoyable person to be
around.  A total of 68 species were seen or heard.  The only audible birds
counted included a Chipping Sparrow and a Black-capped Chickadee.

Alton Thygerson



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