[Birdtalk] Antelope Island and Causeway

[Ben Palmer]

Lynn Garner and I went to Antelope Island on the 1st. The most
surprising sighting of the day was two Olive-sided Flycatchers, which
were seen on the road to Garr Ranch. We also found a couple of
Ruby-crowned Kinglets at the ranch and two Black-bellied Plovers in
transition plumage along the causeway. It was also interesting to see
that the Eared Grebes seemed to have arrived in numbers overnight.
When I was out there on Saturday, I only saw an occasional Grebe.
Tuesday we saw at least 1000 of them.  We also noticed that the
American Avocets had returned in force and that the mud flats north of
the causeway are filling in nicely. They were covered with California
Gulls, American Avocets, Franklin's Gulls, and other shorebirds that
were just too far away to ID.

I photographed some shorebirds along the causeway that I'm not sure of
the ID.  Here is a link to one.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bhhpalmer/AntelopeIslandCauseway4_1_08

Anyone is welcome to leave comments on a possible ID on that page. I
will post pictures of the Black-bellied plovers and some possible Red
Knots this evening.

Species list

Observed on the Causeway

Black-bellied Plover
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Eared Grebe
American White Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
American Avocet
Franklin's Gull
California Gull
Tree Swallow
Yellow-headed Blackbird

Observed at the irrigation pond near the Causeway entrance station

Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
American Coot
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Rock Pigeon
Tree Swallow
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird

Observed at Garr Ranch and on the Island

Great Horned Owl
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Song Sparrow

Chukar
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
California Gull
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Loggerhead Shrike (probable)
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Rock Wren
Sage Thrasher
European Starling
Savannah Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
European Starling