[Birdtalk] Cache Co. Eurasian Wigeon, G-T Grackle, Horned Grebe, etc.

[Ryan O'Donnell]

Today the Bridgerland Audubon Society hosted a field trip led by Keith
Archibald to the Logan Sewage Lagoons and a few other nearby hotspots.
We saw a total of 58 species, including several firsts of the year or
recent returning migrants such as Vesper Sparrow, Willet, Caspian Tern,
Black-crowned Night-Heron, and Tree Swallow.  Marsh Wrens were singing
all over the Logan Polishing Ponds:
<http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/MAWRsmall2.jpg>  
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/MAWRsmall.jpg
 
Ron Ryel alerted us to a Great-tailed Grackle nearby, a very rare bird
this far north.  He managed to stay one step ahead of us, and not long
after we had left the Grackle he was already calling again to alert us
to a male EURASIAN WIGEON in Benson:
 
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/EUWIsmall.jpg
 
After the field trip broke up around noon, Craig Fosdick, Keith
Archibald, and I continued on to the Benson Marina, where we added
Osprey and Common Loons to the list for the day.  We also found a
breeding-plumage Horned Grebe here:
 
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/HOGR2small.jpg
<http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/HOGR1small.jpg>  
 
On the way back from Benson, we saw our first Swainson's Hawk of the
year fly over, and later a second Osprey.
 
Good birding,
Ryan
 
Ryan P. O'Donnell
Department of Biology and the Ecology Center
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5305
 
http://200birds.blogspot.com
 
P.S., A note of clarification: I recently reported some quail that I
suggested may have included some hybrid birds.  After going through my
photos in more detail and comparing sources other than a field guide,
I've determined that the quail were probably pure California Quail, not
hybrids.  At the same time, I requested information about introductions
into the area.  I have been told that a few birds were released at a
distant location last year, but that California Quail have probably been
succesfully breeding in Cache County for "decades."  I'd still love to
hear any additional information, but I thought I'd pass along what I
have heard so far.