[Birdtalk] Birds on the Move in SLC

[Tim Avery]

I did a little birding around Salt Lake County this morning, mostly trying to pick up a few birds for the month that I haven't yet seen... and for the most part after this morning still haven't.  But on the bright side there is definitely some waterfowl movement, and LOTS of open water.  I birded several local golf courses, and the Jordan River with the usual fair.  Decker Lake is 95% open now, but with those wicked winds there wasn't a whole lot going on.  Around 10 COMMON MERGANSERS are still hanging out.

At Lake Park were several hundred Canada Geese, with at least 3 subspecies present (Great Basin, Parvipes, and Lesser).  A number of Redhead and Ring-necked Duck were also on the ponds here.

At Lee Kay Ponds was a noticeable change in birdlife.  Gulls were slim, but waterfowl were present in large numbers and a large variety:
  
  100 Canada Goose
   30  Mallard
   10  Gadwall
    8  Northern Pintail
    2  American Wigeon
   10 Green-winged Teal
  200 CANVASBACK
   50  Redhead
   50  Ring-necked Duck
   20  Lesser Scaup
    2  GREATER SCAUP
   40 Common Goldeneye
    6  Bufflehead

As the storm was rolling across the southern tip of the Great Salt Lake I made my way to the International Center to check out the fields north of the center as well as the canals in the area.  Added a new bird to the International Center List in TUNDRA SWAN.  Nearly 50 were seen flying east to west just to the north over the playas.  Around 500  RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD were swrling in the wind in the same area as well as 2 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawk, and 5 Northern Harrier.

The coming weeks should bring in plenty of shorebirds, Sandhill Cranes, and the Snow and Ross's Geese all headed back north.

Good Birding

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