[Birdtalk] 1550 miles and a few birds too...

[Tim Avery]

I finally arrived in Indiana this afternoon after what seemed like weeks on the
road (it was only 3 days).  I didn't get to dtop to do a lot of birdng as I had
a schedule to keep.  I did however see a number of interesting birds, no
lifers, but a few year birds.  It is amazing how much birding can be done
between Salt Lake and the Mississippi, just from the interstate (I-80).  For
instance, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa all have a number of rest stops going
each direction.  Although they are small areas they support a wealth of birds.
Last year in Nebraska I stopped at a small stop with about 7 trees.  I saw 7
species of Warbler and Orchard Oriole in 5 minutes!  This years trip was
daunted by bad weather, but I managed a few interesting sightings.  In Wyoming
just east of Cheyenne were the first Kingbirds (both Eastern and Western) and
Lark Bunting of the year.  In Nebraska at one rest stop, there were Baltimore
Oriole, 8 Western Kingbird, Chipping, Lark, and a beautiful adult Clay-colored
Sparrow.  At another stop I saw a few Warblers and Vireo.  In Iowa a Red-headed
Woodpecker dove in front of my car across the highway, and raptors were
plentiful.  In fact ftom Utah to Indiana I saw: Turkey Vulture, American
Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferriginous Hawk,
Red-shouldered Hawk, and Broad-winged Hawk.  At a stop in Iowa as I was looking
through Swallow's over a sewage lagoon, a Black Tern skimmed through my binos.

This morning I crossed the Mississippi into Illinois, and made a stop at the
welcome ceneter jsut off I-80.  The trees and woods were chalk full of birds.
Scarlet Tanagers were singing from tree tops, a Tennessee Warbler was singing
up a storm jsut 10 feet away from me.  Eastern Phoebe, Baltimore Oriole, Tufted
Titmouse, Wild Turkey and more seemed to be everywhere.  Back on the road came
the treat fo the trip as a Pileated Woodpecker swooped across the road in front
of me.  What a beautiful black, white and red streak of a bird!

I am just itching to get out into the woods and to start taking pictures of the
spring migrants as they make their way north.  Hopefully some good weahter
willbe along the way too ;)

In all I noted 81 Species, not bad for only spending about an hour actually
birding.

So next time you hop in the car for a drive across country see what you can see
along the road, it's a lot more than you would expect.

Good Birding

Tim
Salt Lake City, UT and Southwest, WY
http://www.timaverybirding.com