[Birdtalk] Cache Valley-Sat 10/18

[Craig Fosdick]

Today Ryan O' Donnell and I drove from one end of Cache Valley to the other
(literally) trying to scare up some good birds.  We checked several
reservoirs (Cutler, Newton, Hyrum, Porcupine) for Pacific Loon and scoters.
No such luck....Common Loon at both Hyrum Res (Hyrum State Park) and Cutler
Reservoir (at Cache Jct.), but no other loons and no scoters.  Hyrum,
Porcupine, Cutler, and Newton Reservoirs were almost completely or
completely devoid of birds.  We also spent a fair amount of time trying to
find a Ferruginous Hawk, but no luck with that species either.

Highlights included a flock of eight EVENING GROSBEAKS flying high overhead
at Hyrum State Park, three RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at the Hyrum
Cemetery, and a single TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at Mack Park in Smithfield.  At
least 25 Red-tailed Hawks (almost all were immatures) including two dark
morphs and one rufous/intermediate morph between were between 7800 N and
9000 N and just west of US 89 north of Smithfield.  Also in the vicinity
were a PRAIRIE FALCON, a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a couple of
Northern Harriers.

I think the theme of the day was perhaps the return of winter residents?

Good birding, Craig.

Craig Fosdick
Logan, Utah.
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