[Birdtalk] New Years Owls & Yellowlegs

[Tim Avery]

Started the year off in good fashion, making it to eight species before finally
seeing a Starling (it made the drive across the valley interesting, trying not
to look away from the pavement).  First bird was a Canada Goose, #2 was a
Common Goldeneye and #3 was a Canvasbac6k.  Not a bad start.

I met up with Larene Wysse in hopes of seeing the Iceland-type Gull at 8:00am.
Jack Binch, The Beyers, Bob Huntigton, and Bob MacDougall all spent time
lookign around, but there was no sign of either the WEGU or ICGU when I left
around 10:00 am.  Interestingly there were 161 Canvasback's present, destroying
my high count for the county from just yesterday.  At least 3 1st winter
Thayer's were present this morning as well.

Next it was off to Antelope Island to try for Jack's Snow Buntings.  On the wasy
as I was approaching exit 322 on I-15, a Ring-necked Pheasant flew across the
freeway.

Along the causeway there were two flocks of Pipits, including one right where
JAck reported them  yesterday.  In all there were around 110 Pipit's, but
unfortunately I was not able to relocate the Buntings.  Much of the water is
now frozen on both the norht and south sides of the causeway.  At the last
bridge, the SURF SCOTER remained, as well as several hundred Common Goldeneye
and around 27 BUFFLEHEAD.  3 BALD EAGLE were on the ice just northwest of the
marina.

At Garr Ranch the highlights were a TOWNSEND's SOLITAIRE, a HERMIT THRUSH and a
COOPER's HAWK.  The 2 Great Horned Owls were in the tree just west of their
perch over the fence at the spring.

Along the road from the Ranch to the Causeway there were Raptor's galore.  1
Rough-legged Hawk, 2 Cooper's Hawk, 4 Northern Harrier, 3 American Kestrel, and
one accipiter that I wasn't able to put an ID on in the sunlight.

Thanks to Kris Purdy for the quick directions to Paul Higgins Burrowing Owl
spot.  The Owl was indeed perched out on the fornt of the mound when I passed
around 1:00pm.

Stopped by the Barn at the corral where 1 Barn Owl was hiding in between the
I-beams on the northside of the barn.  It wings was hanging out and I thought
it may be injured.  As I approached it flew out and appeared to be okay.

The AI CBC was going on and I sighted several birders to add to the year list:
Paul Higgins, Kris Purdy, The Summerfeld's, Bill Fenimore, Jack Rensel, Keith
Evans, John Bellmon and a host of others who saw some neat birds that they will
hopefully report.

I headed to Farmington Bay to try to hit 40 species for the day, and managed to
hit 45 before I left.  The highlight was 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS near the main
parking area.  A new early record for me!  Also added 205 Tundra Swan, a Marsh
Wren, 1 Loggerhead Shrike and all the other usual suspects!

A great start to a new year!

Good Birding in 07'

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