[Birdtalk] Non-birdy Birding

[Kristin Purdy]

I've been doing my darndest to find birds to look at this week in Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties with poor results. There have, however, been a few highlights. Two trips to Farmington Bay WMA in Davis County to study swans were not rewarded because the swans were nearly out of scope range for intensive study. There were some ducks, however, including drake and hen Cinnamon Teal and lots of Bald Eagles sitting on the ice. 

A trip to Antelope Island in Davis County began with a good omen--two Merlins on power poles about a quarter mile apart on South Harrison Blvd in Ogden. But so much for the omen, because the island was a bust. I got great looks at a hunting Sharp-shinned Hawk along the Russian olives east of the road to Garr; I can barely remember any other birds. 

A swing through Ogden Valley in Weber County today turned up a dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk--beautiful--fighting the wind and rain over Cemetery Point in Huntsville. Mayor's Pond in Brigham City, Box Elder County, held a total of about eight ducks. In Mantua, I saw...hmmm...no birds. At Bear River MBR I saw...hmmm...virtually no birds. There were plenty of Canada Geese on the refuge, a scattering of ducks and a handful of swans behind the fence at the Bear River Club. The highlight of the drive was a flock of 35 Snow Geese that flew over the road a couple miles before I was back to the interstate. 

I sure don't want to calculate my birds-per-mile rate this week. The number would be very, very ugly.  

Kris
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