  Bear River MBR, Thursday,
March 22, 2012
What a gorgeous day it was at Bear River! There was a slight breeze, just enough for the millions of ballooning spiders to make their way across the fields. Most were trying to find a home near the water where the feeding would be best. The first bird I saw was a Rough-legged Hawk that was perched in a tree along the route to the refuge. The small lake that forms every spring by the road before you get to the refuge was filled with ducks of all kinds including American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, American Avocets, Mallards, Northern Harrier, Pheasant, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Canada Geese, and Killdeer (guarding the roadside). While talking to some people at the refuge, a big flock of Pelicans flew over. They are amazing. Other sightings were snakes, a Least Sandpiper, a Marmot (shown above), Tree Swallows, Savannah Sparrows, House Sparrows,Yellow-headed Blackbirds, one Bald Eagle, Gulls, Ravens, Horned Larks, Great Blue Herons, Marsh Wrens, Starlings, and American Pipits. I went mainly to see the spiders and I wasn't disappointed. Love to see them out there catching the midges already. The midges are gathering! ~~~
 Antelope
Island, January 12, 2012
What a gorgeous day! I'm so glad I went to the island when I could actually see the mountains! The birds, especially WHITE-CROWNS, were out in hordes and it was quite a fun day. The first bird I spotted after I left the freeway was, of course, the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE at the McDonald's near 10th west on Antelope Drive. Island birds: The first bird I saw after the grackle was one of the many ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS that are populating Antelope Island. A PEREGRINE FALCON was sitting on a stump not too far from the hawk. At the first bridge there were PINTAILS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, and AMERICAN WIGEONS and there were no hunters. Along the rest of the causeway there were tons of LBJ's, most of which were again WC's. Other birds seen today were MAGPIES, lot of MEADOWLARKS, CANADA GEESE, CROWS (or possibly ravens), AMERICAN KESTRELS, STARLINGS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, flocks of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, more NORTHERN HARRIERS than I have seen in a long time, and more ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. The last time I took a picture of a Rough-leg (Jan. 2), the sky was pretty scummy so it was nice today to have a mountain background for my shot (above). If there are any prettier hawks in this world than the majestic Rough-legs, I don't know what they could be (Ferruginous come pretty close). Working my way back down the causeway to leave, I could see something standing in or near the water at the last bridge. I thought it must be a Great Blue Heron since it was so close to the causeway, but it turned out to be a BALD EAGLE (photo below). That was a treat. I don't think I've seen one that close to the bridge before. No insects found today and, even though it was sunny, the temperature never got over 27 (according to my car thermometer). No self-respecting bug goes out in those kind of temperatures. Spiders would, of course, but they wouldn't have anything to eat. All in all, it was a fantastic day for both the birds and me.  ~~~  Antelope
Island, January 2, 2012
I decided that it was such a beautiful day I should toss the cameras into the back seat of my car and drive out the the Island. What a gorgeous day. Even the wind was light, although not warm. You could have fooled the insect world, though, since I saw a few flies out and about and a few spiders. The first bird I saw was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, followed by a KESTREL. Kestrels were plentiful. I visited the two GREAT HORNED OWLS in the barn and they were huddled like they had been stitched together. CROWS (or Ravens) were plentiful and I saw a few NORTHERN HARRIERS, as well. I didn't seen any Pipits but I saw a CHIPPING SPARROW as well as other small birds (probably White-crowns) that I couldn't make out. There was a Shrike which I will just assume was a Loggerhead. Waterbirds seen were American Wigeon, rafts of Ruddy Ducks, White-winged Scoters, Killdeer, Gadwall, Northern Shovelers, and, of course, gulls, gulls, gulls. All in all a few pleasant hours spent on my favorite Island. ~~~
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