[Birdtalk] GSL birds

[Colby Neuman]

Hi all,

Today my dad (filling in for Tim Avery) and I led a group of birders to
a few various birding locales along the Great Salt Lake.  While driving
north to begin the day at Willard Bay State Park, an AMERICAN CROW flew
across I-15 somewhere in the vicinity of Ogden.  The trees at Willard Bay
State Park were full of song and birds, albeit they were almost purely
comprised of the expected breeders.  Several EASTERN KINGBIRDS, GRAY
CATBIRDS, and GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were notably present in the campground.
The only definite migrants were a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE giving an unusual
abbreviated song and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW that popped out of some willows
for a moment.  Illustrating the lack of migrants were the noticeable lack of
warbler species (only YELLOW WARBLERS were heard and observed), and the fact
that no empids, wood-pewees, buntings and tanagers were present.

We then went to the canal north of Willard Bay State Park and were unable to
locate the loon.  However, there were a dozen or so CATTLE EGRETS in a field
adjacent to the dirt road previously described by Keith Evans and Kristin
Purdy.  Our next stop was at Bear River Refuge where a couple of SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were the only apparent migrant
shorebirds.  Interestingly, many of the dowitchers in the flocks observed
were still transitioning from basic to alternate plumage with one bird
appearing to still be in near complete basic plumage.

Next, our group headed to Antelope Island where we observed at least 75
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS several hundred yards to the north of mile marker 6.
At the first bridge along the causeway, a flock of ~10 SANDERLINGS was
observed roosting on the small island to the south.  Despite Garr
Ranch being extremely quiet migrant wise, we managed to come up with a few
lone individuals of several species.  One male WILSON'S WARBLER, a male
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT rounded out the warblers
as did one singing WARBLING VIREO for the vireos.  The GREAT-HORNED OWL
chick sort of fledged today...it eventually ended up on the ground in the
barn before park personnel tried to find a way to place it back in the
rafters of the shed.  Also, a COMMON BARN OWL was spooked and flew around
the cottonwoods several times as well.  The best bird at the ranch was a
female EVENING GROSBEAK that made its presence known by calling a couple of
times for us.

We finished the day watching at least three BURROWING OWLS and one
SHORT-EARED OWL across from the pullout that's on the east side of the
road (looking west) between the causeway and the road that turns to Garr
Ranch.  Not a bad way to end the day...

Colby
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