[Birdtalk] Vaux's Swift(s) Update and Pictures

[Kristin Purdy]

Thanks to Tim for posting. If anyone is going up to Willard Bay early 
tomorrow morning, know that I-15 northbound from Ogden's 21st St Exit to 
exit 351 (at about the Weber/Box Elder County line) will be closed until 
8:00 am. The detour is on SR-126 west of the interstate.

Kris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Avery" <tanager at timaverybirding.com>
To: <birdnet at utahbirds.org>; <birdtalk at utahbirds.org>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 8:01 PM
Subject: [Birdtalk] Vaux's Swift(s) Update and Pictures


> After getting off the phone with Kris Purdy I jumped in my car for the 
> nightmare drive to Willard Bay.  The 55 minute drive took an hour and a 
> half, even staying away form I-15.  When I got to the spot where the birds 
> were seen, Kris Purdy and Glenn Barlow were watching form Kris' vehicle. 
> They had seen the birds again which was a good sign.  WE walked down to 
> the fence so we were as close to the field where the birds were seen as 
> possible, and within a minute one of the bird made an appearance and 
> zig-zagged and zoomed on past.... Here is a teaser shot:
>
> http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/may07/vasw_03.jpg
>
> We watched the bird(s) for some time only seeing one at a time as it 
> cruised by, several times 5 or 6 feet above our heads and a couple times 
> just 10 feet away from us.  At one point Kris and I shouted out where the 
> swift was, only we were looking in different places, confirming the belief 
> there were two birds.  A short while later Steve and Cindy Sommerfield 
> arrived and got looks at the birds as well.  It was a lifer party as the 
> bird was a lifer for Kris, Glenn, Steve and Cindy.
>
> With the possibility of north winds tonight, there is a chance these birds 
> may stick around till tomorrow, so it may be worth a shot in the morning. 
> Kris asked me to post this follow up as she is having some technical 
> difficulties, so here are her directions to the location:
>
> -----
>
> Directions: Take I-15 to exit 357, Willard Bay. At the end of the exit 
> ramp, turn west (left) and then north (right). Follow the road as it 
> curves west and then look for the pink tape tied on a willow on the 
> embankment 90 yards after the next right turn (that's the road that runs 
> east of the Willard Bay sewage treatment pond; pass it by). The swifts 
> field is due south of the pond.
>
> -----
>
> In any event, photographing swifts is a lot like photographing a missile. 
> It involves a lot of luck, a lot of blurry shots, and you likely throw 
> away half your shots when you get home.  And hopefully a few turn out so 
> you can prove to your friends you saw a missile... Or in this case a cigar 
> with wings, dipping and diving at a high rate of speed!
>
> 7 Images: http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/species/vauxs_swift.html
>
> Good Birding and THANK YOU KRIS for another great find!
>
> Tim
> tanager at timaverybirding.com
>
>
>
>
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