[Birdtalk] Merlin @ Jupiter Peak

[Tim Avery]

This afternoon (09/13), Jeff Bilsky and I headed to Jupiter Peak above Gaurdsman Pass to do a little hawk watching.  The Sommerfeld's Joined us around 1:00pm.  The highlight was a MERLIN that flew over then landed on the top of the peak on a wire from one of the ski lifts.  Other raptors included:

10~ Red-tailed Hawk
6 Cooper's Hawk
4 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 or 2 Peregrine Falcon.  

Also of note, a BLUE_GRAY GNATCATCHER made its way over the top of the mountain while we were there.  Other birds seen or heard included:

3 Clark's Nutcracker
Pine Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch  (odd to see one over 9,000ft and below 4,500ft  in the same day)
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Pictures to come later.

Good Birding

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