[Birdtalk] four goose day (but no GWF)

[Dave Hanscom]

After reading about the goose hunting in Delta, I decided to see if I 
could find any Snow Geese in the fields west of Corrine.  I'm happy to say 
that I did find a flock of several hundred, that also included a few Ross' 
Geese and a few dark-morph Snow Geese.

Unfortunately, I also found a goose hunter.  Actually, he found me.  He 
drove up as I was scoping the birds and said he was going to shoot a 
goose, but saw me and decided he wouldn't scare them away while I was 
watching them.  I thanked him, and he drove away.

After about 10 minutes of poring through the flock, a shot rang out from 
the other side of the field, and most of the geese took to the air with 
their typical loud honking.  Apparently the hunter decided I'd had enough 
time to look at them, and it was his turn to have "fun".

Interestingly, the geese came right back to the field where they were 
feeding, but not quite as close to the road.  If you were planning to 
drive to Delta this weekend to see geese, you might want to check out 
Corrine instead and save a few hours of driving.

According to http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/09-02/light_goose.php, the last 
day of the goose hunt is March 10.

Today the flock was at the corner of 5600 West and 2000 North.  To get 
there, take I-15 north to Exit 365 (900 North), then west into the town of 
Corrine.  Just past the Golden Spike Cafe (which is on your right), take a 
left (south) on 4000 West.  Unfortunately, there's no street sign there, 
but there is a sign on the previous street, which is 3900 West.

Follow 4000 West for just a couple of blocks and turn right (west) on 2300 
North.  That road bends a bit and turns into 2400 North.  Keep your eyes 
and ears out along here for geese.  I saw the flock from 2400 North and 
turned south on 5600 West to get a better view.

Apparently they move around in that area and farther north toward the Salt 
Creek Wildlife Management Area, so you may have to drive around a bit to 
find them.

Having seen three geese species (also Canada Geese, of course), I decided 
to try for the Greater White-fronted Goose that Martha Veranth reported in 
Lake Park yesterday.  Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found, but I did 
manage to see a Cackling Goose.  That little guy was just north of the 
second Lake Park entrance (I don't remember the street name, but I think
it was something like Parkview).  To get there, stay on Bangerter for 
another half mile or so beyond (south) the one Martha described.

Nice to see the birds returning!

Dave Hanscom

PS: Also saw a group of Sandhill Cranes flying over when I was watching 
the Snow Geese.