[Birdtalk] Bear River Trip this afternoon

[Betsy_Beneke at fws.gov]

Today, refuge volunteers Les Talbot, Louise & Steve Brown & I braved the
snow squalls, rain and thunder – to make a second training trip to the
refuge.  We conducted a semi-thorough survey of the refuge's avifaunal
resources, and tallied 65 species.  Here are some of the highlights...

At Reeder canal/Reeder Bend (2 miles west of the wildlife education center)
there were 2 PALM WARBLERS in the small trees on the northwest corner of
the curve.  A new bird for the refuge checklist!

Our first of the season WESTERN KINGBIRDS and CATTLE EGRETS were just past
Reeder Bend, in the area where LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were feeding in the
pastures.  We also found over 20 AMERICAN PIPITS in this area.
Surprisingly, we found no snow egrets today and no great egrets yet.

We flushed 27 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS out of one patch of
phragmites..who ever said phrag was good for nothing!

A PRAIRIE FALCON was ignored by all birds it flew over.  A single
SWAINSON’S HAWK was seen.

We found 15 species of waterfowl, including displaying bufflehead and ruddy
duck.  Those boys were really showing off!  Saw the first Canada goose
brood - there were 6 brand new fuzzy goslings - up there on the cute scale!

We really wanted to study peeps, but only found 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS.  No
other shorebirds, other than the more common killdeer, yellowlegs, curlew,
godwit, willet, etc.  We were hoping for more of a variety of the little
guys.  A single WILSON'S SNIPE was noted as well.  American avocet numbers
continue to build - and more black-necked stilts were seen today than on
previous occasions.  Marbled godwits are numerous, and at least two have
new satellite transmitters on them!

We looked hard for a horned grebe, but only found pied-billed, eared,
western and Clark's.  There are LOTS of eared grebes on the refuge!

A SAGE THRASHER was fun to see along one of the dikes, along with a single
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in one of the canals.

Do the peacocks in an enclosure in Perry count???


Betsy Beneke
Outdoor Recreation Planner
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2155 West Forest Street
Brigham City UT  84302
435.734.6436  office
http://bearriver.fws.gov