[Birdtalk] Five Mockingbirds

[kristinpurdy at comcast.net]

The last time I had a five-Northern Mockingbird day I lived in Texas. I didn't know you could rack up five in one day in Northern Utah until this morning. The mockingbirds were in a hedgerow near Willard Bay WMA in Weber County, just a few hundred yards south of the county line with Box Elder County. 

Other hedgerow specialists included large flocks of the two "anchor" species that form the bulk of mixed flocks--Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows. With the warblers I also saw a couple Orange-crowned and a PDL Wilson's (a pretty darn late Wilson's Warbler). With the sparrows I saw adult and juvenile Chipping and Brewer's, a Song, a couple Spotted Towhees, and a House Wren.

Perhaps the most amazing sight of the day was watching a Northern Harrier (yes, a Northern Harrier) plow into an airborne flock of starlings and pluck one out of the air. I've had Peregrines on my mind of late and at first glance I thought sure the raptor circling the flock would turn out to be a Peregrine. But the long-winged and long-tailed bird was not nearly as swift and sure as a Peregrine. Instead of trying to panic one starling, the harrier just plowed in and made a successful grab. The funny thing was that prey and predator seemed to be locked together with their feet. There was a distance between them as the harrier sailed to the ground with its prey. The hawk was obviously not grasping the starling's body. 

I also checked on the COMMON TERNS and Bonaparte's Gulls at the playa areas south of Willard Bay--still there loafing with Forster's Terns and Ring-billed Gulls. 

To reach this area, take I-15 to exit 351 and turn west. Turn west again at the sign for Willard Bay's south marina (4000N in Farr West). Two and a half miles later, the road ends at a T intersection at Willard Bay WMA. Instead of turning right to reach the playa area, turn left (south) onto the farm road. Pass the safflower field on the right and stop where the big pipe channels water under the dirt road. The mockingbirds were in the hedgerow that extends south from this spot.

Kris
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