[Birdtalk] Long-tailed Duck, Thayer's Gull, Great Egrets in SL County

[Tim Avery]

This afternoon Colby Neuman and I decided to make a quick loop through the northwest part of Salt Lake County and see what was on the move.  Besides a nice array of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, we had some real surprises.

At Lee Kay Ponds we were shocked to find a female LONG-TAILED DUCK still in mostly winter plumage near the west shore of the furthest west pond hanging out with 2 Common Goldeneye.  I managed to snap a shot as the bird flew away from us and left the pond shortly after we found it!  This is the first time I can think of a Long-tailed Duck being at Lee Kay, and at this date that makes it a late one at that.

Also at Lee Kay Ponds was what Colby and I believe was a THAYER'S GULL moulting from 1st winter to 1st summer plumage.  It was a strange gull that stuck out even amongst the see of California Gulls.  I shot a number of pics and am going to ask a few people to take a look at them and get their thoughts.  If not a Thayer's it was a strange Herring Gull (which I am pretty certain it wasn't).  Also of note, were 4 HERRING GULLS along 7200 West in the ponds formed in the playas.

Just to the east of Lee Kay Ponds Colby spotted a SWAINSON'S HAWK circling over a field.  About time these birds showed up for the spring!

There were also 16 MARBLED GODWIT at Lee Kay today, 11 on a island on the west pond, and 5 more on the west shore.  There was a WILLET along with these birds, as well as a WILLET and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the puddle just west of the west pond. Along 7200 West were numerous GREATER YELLOWLEGS, several WILLET, and a MARBLED GODWIT.  No Lessers on our trek however.

At Lee's Creek along the frontage road between 7200 West and Saltair were 2 GREAT EGRET feeding a hundred or so yards out from the road. At 7200 West and I-80 a swarm of CLIFF SWALLOW appeared to be setting up shop under the overpass over the railroad tracks.

Not a bad afternoon.  I will post some photos later tonight or tomorrow.

Good Birding

Tim
Salt Lake City, Utah
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com
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