[Birdtalk] where the loons are

[Dave Hanscom]

After skiing at Daniels Summit this morning, I decided to stop by Deer 
Creek Reservoir to see if they're letting the water level rise after 
drawing it down last summer.  I wasn't optimistic that there would be many 
birds to see, since Jordanelle, Echo, Rockport, East Canyon, Little Dell, 
and Mountain Dell are all pretty much covered with ice at this point, 
except at their inlets.  I was in for a surprise.

The Deer Creek water level is up considerably from last year, and hence
a large area of the upper (northern) end of the reservoir is open water.  
And it was full of loons!  I didn't try to count them, but there were 
certainly 50, and probably closer to 75.  All I could find were common, 
but with more time, I wonder if there's a Pacific in the bunch...

The shores were covered with green-winged teal and wigeon (couldn't find 
any Eurasian), and lots of grebes (western, Clark's, and eared) were in 
the water with the loons.  Also present were Franklin's gulls, a bunch of 
red-breasted mergansers, and a small flock of avocets.

I drove north on SR-113 toward Midway and stopped at the Provo River 
bridge.  The ospreys are back on the nesting platforms, and a flock of 
ibis flew over.  The most interesting (and unexpected) sighting was a 
horned grebe swimming in the river north of the bridge.  I also saw a lone 
vesper sparrow foraging in the grass beside a little side stream.

30 species isn't a bad total for a day of cross country skiing!

Dave Hanscom