[Birdtalk] A day of it

[Jeffrey Holt]

I've enjoyed the list. This is my first time writing. We live in Huntsville
and being right on the lake got me interested in birds about 18 months ago.Must
be the 1-2 bald eagles sitting in the cottonwoods behind the house almost
every day for the winter months. And the sand hill cranes. And the Grebes
dancing/running in pairs on the lake. etc., etc., etc. So, in the last 12
months, trips to Jordan, Israel, Costa Rica and Alaska somehow became more
birding trips than was their original intent.

A week ago I ventured to Francis and saw the Evening Grosbeaks and the
Cedars. Great few hours there!
Yesterday, I had to be in Provo and thought I'd go up to Alta and see if I
could see the Rosy Finches, but ran out of time after an extended visit to
Cabela's.

Instead I stopped in Layton at the Wild Bird Store and bought a long tube
feeder for the oiled sunflower seeds. I saw those really cool seed catchers
and thought about the inch and a half of seed on the ground under my other
feeder and so I bought two. Billy Fenimore said that a local lady makes
them.  Bravo. I drove the causeway to Antelope Island (while I was there),
and saw the Gorgeous male Bufflehead and the shovelers. I also saw that
female long-tail (I thought it was a Ruddy, but no blue in the beak). And
many Common Goldeneyes and Widgeons. I saw the Northern Harrier flying
parallel to the causeway on the way back and then on the ground eating
something about 40 yards off the left side of the causeway just before the
ranger station. (Do you all pay $9 every time you go out?)

And then home to install the new feeder. I'm not sure I was ready for this.
The thistle mix has worked pretty well and I had about 8-10 regulars
(siskins, juncos and Goldfinches) with it. The oiled sunflower seed in the
tube with the net catchers underneath work very well. Love those. So now I
have fifty birds sitting out there, including some very pretty house
finches.

BUT I CAN WATCH THE LEVEL OF THE SEEDS DROP IN THE GLASS TUBE - REAL-TIME!
Yikes. this is going to cost me. I may have to mix that seed (read; water
down/dilute). Or we're going to have to ask Questar to run a "bird seed
line" directly to the feeders.

Thanks to all of you who alert the list to good sightings around the State.
I will try to add my two cents as the opportunity arises.
Jeff Holt
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