[Birdtalk] Logan Sewage Lagoons (FRGU etc.)

[Ryan O'Donnell]

This morning I joined Dr. Kim Sullivan's ornithology class on a birding
trip to the Logan Sewage Lagoons, and then Stephanie Cobbold (who is a
teaching assistant for the class) and I took a quick trip to Sue's
Ponds, also in Logan.  We were surprised by the shortage of ducks on the
sewage lagoons, and the lack of diversity.  The highlight for me was a
flyover of about 50 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, my first big group of
this species this year, while we were waiting for people to arrive.  (I
saw my first of the year, a lone bird, last Saturday.)  Also here were
my first FRANKLIN'S GULLS of the year.
 
At Sue's Ponds, the duck diversity was relatively high for its small
area.  We added a couple species here that we didn't see at the Sewage
Lagoons, including BUFFLEHEAD and RUDDY DUCK.  The gull numbers were
also impressive here, including three more FRANKLIN'S GULLS.  Overall,
nothing too surprising, but a nice morning to be outside instead of
working.  Complete Ebird checklists are below.
 
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.org
 
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Location: Logan Sewage Lagoons
Observation date: 3/24/09
Number of species: 25

Canada Goose 80
Gadwall 10
Cinnamon Teal 1
Northern Shoveler 2
Redhead 12
Ring-necked Duck 2
Lesser Scaup 40
Common Goldeneye 4
American White Pelican 11
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 3
American Coot 1
Sandhill Crane 8
Killdeer 3
Franklin's Gull 7
Ring-billed Gull 100
California Gull 200
Herring Gull 1
Black-billed Magpie 2
American Robin 1
European Starling 35
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Western Meadowlark 2
Yellow-headed Blackbird 3
 
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Location: Logan Mitigation Ponds
Observation date: 3/24/09
Number of species: 16

Canada Goose 10
Mallard 2
Redhead 14
Bufflehead 6
Ruddy Duck 1
American Coot 8
Sandhill Crane 1
Killdeer 1
American Avocet 4
Franklin's Gull 3
Ring-billed Gull 8
California Gull 700
Herring Gull 4
Black-billed Magpie 1
Yellow-headed Blackbird 8
Red-winged Blackbird 1