[Birdtalk] Utah County Birding

[Tim Avery]

This morning I birded around Utah County, hoping to pick up a few more 
winter specialties.  I started at Woodland Hills where there were 2 
LEWIS's WOODPECKER hanging around in the trees.


http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/febr07/lewo_01.jpg

 Next I stopped at Swede Lane where despite the rain pouring down there 
was a lot of bird activity.  Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, 
Rough-legged Hawk and American Kestrel rounded out the raptors.  The 
highlight by far was a BEWICK's WREN in the trees at the parking area. 
 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 1 Spotted Towhee, and 2 Marsh Wrens added to 
the White-crowned and Song Sparrows.  Flocks of Mallards, Pintails and 
Wigeons all flew over while I was driving the road.

 I made a quick stop at East Bay where there were no Wigeon.  A few 
Mallards, Shovelers, Gadwall and Canada Geese as well as around 25 
American Coots made up the mix here.

 Finally I walked the Skipper Bay Trail hoping to scare up the Swamp 
Sparrow, but it was nowhere to be found.  There were 3 CINNAMON TEAL in 
the canal  at the end of the trail. 

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/febr07/cite_01.jpg

 A Bald Eagle could be seen perched on a large chunk of ice out on Utah 
Lake, and one Harrier flew over.  About a 1/2 mile from the parking 
area, there was a large flock of waterfowl in the fields to the east of 
the trail.  The majority of the birds were Mallards (around 400) and 
Canada Geese (around 250).  However there were around 100 Northern 
Pintail, 25 Northern Shoveler, 25 American Wigeon, 30 Green-winged Teal, 
5 Gadwall, and one bird that looked like a hybrid Mallard x American Wigeon.

 Good Utah County Birding!

 Tim
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.birdtography.com
Salt Lake City, Utah