[Birdtalk] Salt Lake County Thursday

[Tim Avery]

This afternoon (04/24) Colby Neuman and I conducted a survey on private property in northwestern Salt Lake County, and birded the International Center afterwards.  A few surprises and new arrivals for the year made it an interesting day along iwth the weather.

During our survey we recorded 14 species of shorebird, including a WHIMRBEL which landed breifly near us before flying past and out of site.  Other shorebirds were as follows:

Snowy Plover     20
Killdeer     8
Black-necked Stilt     7
American Avocet     750
Willet     23
Whimbrel     1
Long-billed Curlew     12
Marbled Godwit     78
Semipalmated Sandpiper     1
Western Sandpiper     11
Least Sandpiper     6
Baird's Sandpiper     5
Wilson's Phalarope     500
Red-necked Phalarope     3

I also photographed a Golden Eagle that had a number of white patches of feather as if very partially luecistic. 5 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a GREAT EGRET and all 6 species of Swallow rounded out some of our more notable survey sightings.  

At the International Center we again encountered all 6 species of swallow (found in Utah and not including the Purple Martin) over the north pond.  Also along this pond was a surprise SPOTTED SNADPIPER tail bobbing as it hopped through the rocks.  But perhaps the most odd sighting and seemingly early for northern Utah, was a PLUMEBOUS VIREO at the corner of Mitchell and Earhart.  Colby was pishing and the angry vireo came out to the edge of the trees scolding up a storm.  Also in this general area were 5 or 6 CHIPPING SPARROW and a "Myrtle's" Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Along the canal to the east of Wright Borther Drive and jsut south of the T intersection with Harold Gatty Drive, was a SNOWY EGRET. A lone WESTERN GREBE was hanging out on the canal norht of the center at the end of the dirt road. And lastly a WESTERN KINGBIRD was near 5600 West and Amelia Earhart.

Good Birding

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