[Birdtalk] Merlin at Salt Lake International Center

[Tim Avery]

Colby Neuman and I birded several Salt Lake County locations this afternoon,
including Lee Kay Ponds, Saltair Marina, and the Salt Lake International
Center.  We saw quite a few birds for a windy but warm October afternoon,
including a Merlin on the north edge of the business center.  The bird was
being chased and harassed by one of its smaller more common cousins, an
American Kestrel.  The Kestrel repeatedly dove at the larger falcon as it
soared just above the ground over an open field.

I won't post a complete list as Colby will likely post to ebird and here as
well, but some other highlights included:

3 or 4 - American White Pelican (Lee Kay)
25~ Western Grebe (south shore in the pond south of I-80)
2 - Cinnamon teal (pair flying around Lee Kay)
1 - Common Merganser (south shore)
2 - American Avocet (Saltair)
2 - Forster's Tern (1 at south shore/1 at 2100 S and I-15)
1 - possible Herring Gull (@ Lee Kay, neither of us got good looks at the bird
as I was noting how odd it looked to be a California.  This week is when I have
typically seen these birds arriving in SL county.)

Good birding

Tim
Indianapolis, IN and Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.birdtography.com