[Birdtalk] FW: Personal Big Day

[Flora Duncan]

Eric,  I hope this is worth sharing in the newsletter.

Good Birding.  The count for the day was 122.



Flora M. Duncan

>Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 19:38:55 -0700
>
>
>On Saturday, 20 May LeIla Ogden, Esther Duncan and I were led by Mark 
>Stackhouse in pursuit of Personal Big Day numbers at Deseret Ranch. We 
>started the quest in areas that were not visited previously because of bad 
>roads and bad light. Only birds that were first sightings for the year or 
>other
>Uncommon or exciting sightings will be noted. New to my list this year 
>include: Greater Scaup, Barrow’s Goldeneye. Of special joy was the 
>sighting of three grouse in three different sites: Greater Sage Grouse, 
>Ruffed Grouse, and Blue Grouse.
>For me it was special to see Golden eaglets on the nest; Praire Falcon 
>incubating; and Bullock’s Oriole female gathering long strands of 
>material for nest building. Great flocks of Rednecked Phalaropes were 
>beautiful in flight showing light and dark variations in plumage.
>The Black Tern was fun to see along with the first Forster’s Tern of the 
>year.
>Three Great Horned Owls were observed in the barn. A single Burrowing Owl 
>was seen in the most unexpected place. My memory doesn’t let me recall 
>the scene. Late in the evening, Common Poorwills were sitting along the 
>dirt roads. One place, Mark said that shrikes had been seen--sure enough, 
>there was the Loggerhead Shrike. The same thing happened with the Sage 
>Sparrow and at the same time a Sage Thrasher was in the same
>Spot--about six feet apart
>Sparrows observed were: Brewer’s, Vesper, Lark, Savannah, Fox, 
>Whitecrowned with a Song Sparrow heard me but seen by others.
>Now for the most unusual bird of the day--Rosebreasted Grosbeak in the
>Trees near the housing units. The Lazuli Bunting was a first seen for this 
>year. Bullock’s Oriole and the Mountain Bluebird were vibrant.
>From previous trips, I know there are more birds to be seen but had to save 
>them for the next trip.
> 
>Netscape.  Just the Net You Need.