[Birdtalk] Snow

[tanager at timaverybirding.com]

Option 1: 

Brave the icy roads and hoardes of skiers and head up Little Cottonwood Canyon, probably an hour or so drive in this weather, to Alta to look for Rosy-Finches.  Although typically the day after a snow storm is the best time to look.  I call this option the "adventurer option", not for the faint of heart, but with decent rewards if you're lucky.  

Option 2:

Hit the freeway and follow the slow snaking traffic on I-15 up to Farmington Bay.  Snowy days are always fun at the bay, and a lot of birds tend to stay down on the water making for easy viewing.  Albeit a snowy view! This is a good default option, and can make for fun Bald Eagle watching, but the road out there can get pretty nasty so... 

Option 3:

Take a walk in the snow up City Creek Canyon.  Bundle up, keep the eye cup covers on your binos, and practice your pygmy owl whistle.  Winter Wren is fairly easy up there this time of year, and dippers are often found along the river down in the memory grove area.  This is a good choice if you don't want to venture far and want to get out of the car. 

Option 4:

Filling those feeders, making a pot of coffee and watching birds out the window from the couch... With this option you can relax in slippers, watch A Christmas Story, and still get a little birding in.  And who knows, maybe a Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, or Harris's Sparrow might show up with the weather how it is. 

Option 5: 

This is the "Extreme Option".  Pack your car and get ready for a long and snowy ride to southern Utah.  The plus side is that in 5-6 hours you'll be out of the snow and probably can shed that jacket, to enjoy a mild December day at Lytle Ranch.  Phainopepla, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Cactus Wren, Verdin, and Ladder-backed Woodpecker are all but guaranteed.  Plus this time of year the potential for Red-breasted or Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, rare winteing warblers, and to be honest who knows? Wagington County is great this time of year!  You would get there in time to get a little birding around St. George in before dark, and be able to get a whole day in tomorrow before having to head back north!

I would choose option 5, but the fire and the coffee is really nice this morning... Only House Finches, Scrub-Jays and Quail this far at the feeders though!

Good Snowy Birding 

Tim 
 
------Original Message------
From: Doug Roberts
Sender: birdtalk-bounces at utahbirds.org
To: Utah Birds
Subject: [Birdtalk] Snow
Sent: Dec 13, 2008 10:47 AM

What do real birders do on a snowy day?
Doug


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