[Birdtalk] Lake Powell Birding

[Tim Avery]

With 3 prospective birding trips for this past weekend I took the one that would cost me the least amount, the free one... I spent the weekend on the southern half of Lake Powell spending a night at the Stateline campground, and several days in Padre Bay.  I hadn't birded the lake in about 6 years and my expectations were high... I guess that was  a mistake on my part.  Although I did find a pair of Roadrunner and White-winged Dove along the Stateline near the marina, from there out it was a crap shoot.  I did compile a 30 bird list, most of which was at Wahweap on the Arizona side of the border.  I did manage warblers: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow, Wilson's, and Yellow-rumped Warbler's. Bullock's Oriole, Lazuli Bunting, Chipping Sparrow and Black-headed Grosbeak were all present at the campground as well.

On the lake there wasn't a whole lot, telling me that bait fish (shad) numbers must be fairly low, as the divers and ducks that are normally everywhere, were nowhere.  I saw a total of 2 Western Grebe, 9 Eared Grebe, 2 California Gull, 4 Mallard, and a flock of Green-winged Teal.  Absent form the waters were more grebes, any cormorants, mergansers, and any shorebirds.  Also absent all weekend were Turkey Vulture, and Kingbirds...

I did however see plenty of Black-throated Sparrow and Canyon Wren, a Prairie Falcon,  and a plenty of Raven's...

Although it wasn't what I would have hoped for it was and exploratory type of trip.  One thing that is certain, the Wahweap area could be a fantastic migrant trap.

Good Birding

Tim
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.birdingwyoming.org
Salt Lake City, Utah

"I cannot help but think a curious event is this life of mine."
- John James Audubon
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://secureserver.securesites.net/pipermail/birdtalk/attachments/20060510/72184ab7/attachment.htm