[TopOfUtah] Cache Co. migrants, etc.

[Ryan O'Donnell]

Craig Fosdick, Steve Carr, and I birded around Cache Valley today.  The
theme of the day was early spring migrants.  At Sue's Ponds, we had our
first YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD of the year.  At the 20-20 Ponds we had
our first TREE SWALLOWS of the year.  At Bud Phelps Wildlife Management
Area we had our first DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, VESPER SPARROW, and
TURKEY VULTURE of the year.  This is two days later than my first Turkey
Vulture in 2008 and two days earlier than my first Turkey Vulture in
2007.  Sandhill Cranes were abundant pretty much everywhere.  We even
watched one gulp down a vole!  At the Bear River Oxbow we had our first
AMERICAN AVOCETS of the year.  RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen at
several locations.  
 
Some winter birds continue to linger, of course.  We had several BALD
EAGLES around the valley today, and one ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.  We found
both RED CROSSBILLS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at the Logan Cemetery.
At least one (possibly two) RICHARDSON'S CACKLING GOOSE was at the
fields along Sam Fellows Road.  BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON is typically a
bird of summer around here, but one juvenile I first spotted in January
was still hanging around the Logan Fish Hatchery.
 
Spring was also in the air in terms of breeding behaviors.  We heard
singing from at least Red-winged Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens, House Finches,
Northern Flickers, and Song Sparrows.  We also saw a Great Horned Owl
and several Great Blue Herons sitting on nests, thanks to the tip from
Stephen Peterson.
 
If you're interested in herpetological happenings, the cold-blooded
critters were also getting active.  Boreal Chorus Frogs were singing in
many locations.  We saw one Northern Leopard Frog.  We found a mating
ball of Common Garter Snakes, and watched a Western Terrestrial Garter
Snake emerging from hibernation.
 
Here are several photos from today.  Steve and Craig birding Bud Phelps
WMA:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/Birding.jpg
A Canada Goose flying over Bud Phelps WMA:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CANG.jpg
A Red-winged Blackbird at Bud Phelps WMA:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/RWBL.jpg
A Sandhill Crange at Bud Phelps:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/SACR.jpg
A distant Sandhill Crane eating a vole:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/SACRvole.jpg
Our first Vesper Sparrow of the year, at Bud Phelps:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/VESP.jpg
A Cackling Goose (far right) with Canada Geese along Sam Fellow Road:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CACG1-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CACG2.jpg
Red Crossbills in the Logan Cemetery:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/RECR.jpg
 
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.com