[Birdtalk] Barrow's Goldeneye, No More

[Kristin Purdy]

Count your blessings if you logged your annual Barrow's Goldeneye already by seeing the lone female that's been hanging out at the big bridge at Antelope Island Causeway in Davis County this winter. A Prairie Falcon "logged" her today. When I arrived at around 4 pm the killing had already been done and the falcon was beginning to pluck her. A long trail of feathers and big blood spots on the ice led from the southeast corner of the open water south of the bridge to where the falcon stood on the carcass about 20 feet from the water. 

The carcass was clearly female goldeneye. As the falcon manipulated it during the meal it became apparent that the bill was completely yellow-orange with a small black nail on the end. I watched this drama for about 45 minutes and got good looks at both birds in bright sunlight. 

The falcon was full as evidenced by the buxom look to the crop area in the upper breast and was struggling to eat more. Then a young Northern Harrier flew into the scope view, knocked the Prairie Falcon off the carcass and immediately began to mantle the duck. The falcon looked somewhat miffed from a distance of about 2 feet, but gave up easily and left, likely plenty full anyway. So much for my worrying that ravens or coyotes would take away the prize. 

I guess if you feel remorse for the Barrow's Goldneye, you can take comfort in the fact that she fed at least two marvelous raptors. 

Prior to heading to the causeway I birded Ogden Bay WMA in Weber County and areas in between in Davis County this morning and afternoon. Ogden Bay is closed to vehicle traffic, but walkers are still welcome. The best birding was right along the main road just past the locked gate where a main channel passes under the road. West of the channel, at least 10 Black-crowned Night-herons stood on driftwood and in reeds along the edge of the water. Also in this area, in open water east of the road and well down the channel to the west were:

Tundra Swans
American Wigeons
Mallards
Northern Shovelers
Green-winged Teal
Canvasbacks
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneyes
Common Mergansers
Ruddy Ducks
Pied-billed Grebes
Great Blue Herons
Northern Harriers
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrels
American Coots
Ring-billed Gulls
Loggerhead Shrike
Horned Larks
Marsh Wren (audible)
Song Sparrows
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS

The seven tree sparrows were with about twenty Song Sparrows in Parking Area #2, about 3/4 mile behind the gate and along the road to Unit #1. I wouldn't recommend walking in there for the birding. Ogden Bay has become consumed with phragmites and views of open water are few and far between. It is, however, a nice place for a walk. And in fact it was very nice to have small groups of Tundra Swans occasionally course overhead. 

Hooper is Eurasian Collared-dove territory and I saw many on the way in and out to the bay. As I recall, our Ogden CBC team that surveys that sector logged something like 162 collared-doves in Hooper. I also saw a couple in Clinton as I headed south to Antelope Island. 

Clinton also produced two MERLINS along 2425S, the road to Howard Slough WMA. One was a female prairie Merlin, the palest bird I have ever seen. She was so pale she looked cream and tan. 

For more information on Ogden Bay WMA, launch the link below and then launch the link for Ogden Bay.

Kris

http://www.utahbirds.org/counties/weber/index.html


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