[Birdtalk] Cache County Whimbrel, Townsend's Warbler

[Ryan O'Donnell]

Today I was trying to catch up on being out of town for the last two
weeks.  My two biggest finds for the day were the two
previously-reported STILT SANDPIPERS and three presently-reported
WHIMBREL.  The Whimbrel were on Pacificorp land near the Benson Marina -
apparently this area is known for its White-faced Ibis rookery.  (I can
email specific directions if you are interested.)  As usual for me, I
was able to get some blurry digiscoped record shots but nothing really
good.  The first one shows the lateral view of one of the three birds
but of course the head stripes are almost perfectly obscured by the
fence:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/WHIM1.jpg
This second shot is an awkward tail-on angle, but you can make out the
convergence of the head stripes on the back of the head:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/WHIM2.jpg
 
At Sue's Ponds, just west of the Logan Landfill, I found a drake
Blue-winged Teal and two Red-necked Phalarope this evening, among other
birds.  The Stilt Sandpipers were both still present; perhaps this more
reasonable shot can make up for the blurry mess I posted this morning:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/STSA2.jpg
 
Another highlight was a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER at Rendezvous Park in
Logan.  I got great looks at this bird, but unfortunately no photos.  My
understanding is that these are generally a fall migrant in Cache
County. 
 
Good birding,
Ryan
 
Ryan P. O'Donnell
Department of Biology and the Ecology Center
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5305
 
http://200birds.blogspot.com