[Birdtalk] Willard Bay and Antelope Island Causeway

[STEPHEN T CARLILE]

On the way home from another quick trip to Idaho I decided to check out the west side of Willard Bay as Paul Higgins reported on a few days ago.  Even though it was 4:30 in the afternoon, 100 degrees, with the sun at not the best angle I decided to go for it.  I was not disappointed.  There were thousands of birds, the biggest single specie number was 2,500 to 3,000 Long-billed Dowitchers, most seen very close from the road.  Though there may have been some Short-bills in the mix, I couldn't tell.

I also did Antelope Island Causeway.  Again, thousands of birds, mostly Wilson's Phalaropes, Red-necked Phalaropes, and Eared Grebes.

30 total species seen.

Here is the list:

West Side of Willard Bay - 20 species seen (when you get to the west side of Willard Bay stay on the west/left side of the road, it is less bumpy.  The best time to visit would be during the morning).

Canada Goose (150+)
Mallard (24+)
Cinnamon Teal (12+)
California Gull (200+)
Franklin's Gull (200+)
Forster's Tern (150+)
Black Tern (200+)
American Coot (24+)
Long-billed Dowitchers (2,500 - 3,000; Tim, there has to be some short-bills in there.)
Spotted Sandpiper (1)
Lot's of small "peeps" in the distance I couldn't make out.
Killdeer (5)
American Avocet (500+)
Black-necked Stilts (500+)
White-faced Ibis (1,000+)
American White Pelican (200+)
Mourning Dove (5)
Barn Swallow (3)
Western Kingbird (3)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (50+)
Common Raven (3)

Antelope Island Causeway - 17 species seen.

Eared Grebe (1,000's, plus a pure white one)
Canada Goose (12+, east end)
California Gull (12+)
Franklin's Gull (150+)
Double-crested Cormorant (1)
White-faced Ibis (30+, east end)
Long-billed Curlew (4)
Willet (5)
Black-bellied Plover (1)
Killdeer (2)
American Avocet (200+)
Black-necked Stilt (24+, east end)
Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes (1,000's, most the the birds I looked closely at were Red-necked)
Barn Swallow (12+)
Tree Swallow (1)
Bank Swallow (2)
Northern rough-winged Swallow (3)
Also, there were huge "rafts" of shorebirds off in the distance on either side of the causeway that I couldn't make out.

Thanks,

Stephen
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://secureserver.securesites.net/pipermail/birdtalk/attachments/20080801/c1f83bd6/attachment.htm