[Birdtalk] Antelope Island

[Dave Hanscom]

Thanks to all of you who've been posting about the neat birds arriving at 
the island over the past week.  I've been reading about them with some 
envy from Colorado, where I've been visiting my son (and finding some 
pretty neat birds, I might add).

Yesterday I got out to AI to see if I could find what I've been reading
about, and I'm pleased to say that I managed to find most of them.  (Not 
all, but hey, that gives me an excuse to go back soon!)

I also got a couple of special bonus birds.  At the ranch, along the west 
fence between the grass and marsh areas, a Northern Waterthrush was 
feeding in the wet area near the south end of the fence.  It was a brief 
look, before he headed into the reeds, but my first sighting at the ranch.

On the way back to the causeway, I decided to hike up the Frary Peak 
trail, and was pleased to see a number of Lark Sparrows.  One was very 
close to the parking lot, so you wouldn't have to walk very far to see it.  
Be forewarned if you decide to hike up as far as the upper ridge, however,
that the gnats were REALLY thick.  And REALLY hungry.  They particularly 
seemed to enjoy being in my hair, so my head feels like a golf ball today
with lumps all over it.  If you see me on the causeway scratching my head 
in the next few days, I may be contemplating whether I'm seeing a Western
or a Baird's Sandpiper, but it's probably just that it itches like crazy!

Happy Spring!!

Dave Hanscom