[Birdtalk] 1st bird of year and BRBR report

[Brian Mickelson]

My first bird of the year was an American Goldfinch. Had I kept my  
head down and my mouth shut I could've had a Bald Eagle be the first  
bird (very patriotic). But, no, it was a Goldfinch.

I spent a little time at the Bear River Bird Refuge. I was there from  
about 10 to 12 noon. Very cold and very windy. I'll list the birds,  
but then I have two questions...

Bald Eagle (4)
Northern Flicker
Mallard
Common Goldeneye
Kestrel (3)
RW Blackbirds (about 5 flocks)
RN Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe (plenty)
N. Harrier (about 10ish)
Great Blue Heron (2)
Tundra Swans
COmmon Merganser

Ok...here are the questions:

1) I thought I spotted a female BARROWS GOLDENEYE. But, of course I  
couldn't really tell. The beak was shorter that the Commons I had  
seen during the trip and the beak was also lighter colored than the  
other female Commons. But, the suspect was hanging around with one  
other Common Male. Is the short and lighter colored beak enough to ID  
a Barrow's in most cases?

2) I also thought I had ID's a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. My problem was that  
I had nothing to compare it to. It seemed small-ish (but smaller than  
what?). What would you be more likely to find at the Refuge this time  
of year? Also, "probability" surely isn't enough information to ID a  
bird with, right?

Thanks,
Brian M.


Brian Mickelson
MickelsonBJ at gmail.com
www.mickelsonfamily.org
www.familyhistoryminute.com



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