[Birdtalk] Gray Partridge and a New Big Year Record

[Kristin Purdy]

Congratulations to Tim Avery for logging his 333rd bird in the state of Utah 
for the year. That makes Tim the new Big Year record holder.

Tim and I visited Whites Valley this morning in Box Elder County in the 
attempt to find Gray Partridge. The first covey we saw was on the four-mile 
drive from I-15 at Ranch Exit 32 to the valley proper. A covey of about 20 
birds scooted up the embankment on the right side of the road about 2 1/2 
miles from the interstate. This location is only about a tenth of a mile 
north of where members of Great Salt Lake Audubon logged the species two 
years ago, so there's two data points for this location.

We also flushed more partridge at the north end of the valley on private 
property to which I have access; first a covey of about 15 birds, then 
another handful, and a final covey of ten. We thought the total of 50 Gray 
Partridge for the trip was a pretty good tally.

Oddly enough, we didn't see one Sharp-tailed Grouse this morning. Qualifying 
as the most beautiful birds of the day were two rooster Ring-necked 
Pheasants with two hens alongside the road in Whites Valley. These 
BEE-YOO-TEOUS birds posed in early morning light for us, showing their 
impossibly rich and colorful plumage as the low angle of the sun brought out 
their iridescence. Gorgeous!

The action-packed sighting of the day was watching a Red-tailed Hawk clasp 
its wings and stoop on a Golden Eagle standing on the ground. The hawk lost 
interest fairly quickly and the eagle stood there for awhile, not looking 
bothered at all. Then the big bird lumbered on foot a few steps--these 
inspiring and regal-looking raptors look sort of goofy when they're walking 
on the ground.

The list of birds in the valley and further north in the foothills east of 
exit 24 included:

Ring-necked Pheasant
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Common Nighthawk
Say's Phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Barn Swallow
Sage Thrasher
Vesper Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Western Meadowlark

Congratulations again to Tim for achieving a significant milestone!

Kris