[Birdtalk] Gray Partridge and a New Big Year Record

[Kristin Purdy]

...and here's one of the images Tim captured of species #333:

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/sept07/grpa_01.jpg

Kris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kristin Purdy" <kristinpurdy at comcast.net>
To: "Bird Talk" <birdtalk at utahbirds.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:23 PM
Subject: [Birdtalk] Gray Partridge and a New Big Year Record


> 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
>
>
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