[Birdtalk] Fish Springs May 27-30

[Matt Mills]

I spent most of the past week out at Fish Springs and, while much of the time was spent working, I did manage to get some birding in everyday. I was birding with Matt Westover.

Apologies as this is a bit of a lengthy e-mail.



On Tuesday, 5/27,  I had a first summer male AMERICAN REDSTART in the housing area. This is presumably the same bird photographed on Monday by Kris Van Fleet



On Wednesday , 5/28, there were 2 COMMON GRACKLES, 1 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, 1 GRAY CATBIRD, 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, an Orange-variant HOUSE FINCH, and a GREAT-HORNED OWL around the housing area. 

Also around the housing area and out at the Thomas Ranch Picnic Area were many (maybe 12) WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, several WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and 2 GRAY FLYCATCHERS. Also present at Thomas Ranch were 2 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and about 10 each of YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

There were still about 10 PINE SISKINS and several CASSIN'S FINCHES around as well. 



On Thursday, 5/29, I saw 3 different AMERICAN BITTERNS on the refuge, which 
seems like a good one day count. Jay Banta, the refuge manager, estimates 15 breeding pairs of bitterns at the refuge. Also on the refuge was a SANDHILL CRANE, along with all the regular species.

Waterfowl included MALLARD, GADWALL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, CINNAMON TEAL, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK and RUDDY DUCK. Late last week I also had a single male NORTHERN SHOVELER and a single male AMERICAN WIGEON on the refuge.

We were working on the Thomas Range not far from Fish Springs. Here we found 1 BURROWING OWL standing at a burrow. However, it was far from the road. 



On Friday 5/30, we stopped in at the Callao Civilian Corps Campground again. The adult male INDIGO BUNTING was still present and singing. It was singing a very yellow warblerish song. Also present here was a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, a female SCOTT'S ORIOLE, a male WILSON'S WARBLER, and many of the regulars including 4 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS.



On our trip we had 10 species of raptors without managing to see an accipiter or Osprey. Raptor highlights include an adult PEREGRINE FALCON chasing swallows in Wendover, an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK seen several times along the Pony Express road about 10 miles east of Fish Springs, and a PRAIRIE FALCON in Callao.


Cheers,

Matt Mills
mattymills2005 at yahoo.com