[Birdtalk] Salt Lake County Birding

[Tim Avery]

Started the day at Lee Kay Ponds in hopes of better looks as the presumed
Iceland Gull.  The gulls were in a large pack too far out for good looks. 
However, on the main pond in the small patch of open water were about 60
CANVASBACK.  This is the single largest flock I have seen in Salt Lake County. 
Ring-necked Ducks, and Common Goldeneye were present as well:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/canv_03.jpg

Next, I headed out to do a survey in northwestern Salt Lake County on private
property, and was treated to the raptor gamut!

1  MERLIN
1  Bald Eagle
13 Northern Harrier
1  Red-tailed Hawk
4  Rough-legged Hawk
http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/rlha_05.jpg
1  Golden Eagle
2  American Kestrel

A flyover Cackling Goose with a flock of Canada Geese was the highlight of the
morning:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/cacg_01.jpg

Next I headed back to Lee Kay around 11:30 and spent about an hour as per my
post earlier today, before heading home.

I decided to make one more run at Lee Kay once the cloud cover made it worth
while for good viewing.  I swear this must be a luck thing.  Literally as I
pulled up the bird in question (Kumlien's Gull)was spotted about 150 feet above
the west pond coming down fast.  I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple of
shots as it glided in and made a splash.

(added the image to the top of the page I created)
http://timaverybirding.com/icgu/icgu.html

Just as fast as it hit the water it was up and heading north over the dump.  I
hoped it would return but in the hour I spent waiting it did not.

Suprisingly something must have scared a large number of the gulls off in the
time between my 2nd and 3rd visit as there were only around 300 gulls present
between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.  As I was waiting I noticed a 2nd winter THAYER's
GULL which posed nicely:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/thgu_09.jpg

I created the following image showing all the different specis of gulls seen in
the past week at Lee Kay.  I added the Western Gull and the Kumlien's-type to
the original image which shows from L-R: Ring-billed Gull, Herring GUll,
Kumlien's Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull and a California Gull on the ice
behind.

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/gulls_03.jpg

And finally, Wood Ducks remain at Old Farm, as one male was seen earlier this
week:

http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/dece06/wodu_01.jpg

Good Birding

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