Antelope Island | I-15 | Bear River MBR 7/28--Virginia Rail, Sora, Snowy Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Red-necked Phalarope, Cattle Egret, Say's Phoebe

Long-billed Curlew, Bear River MBR

Our last day of birding was back in Utah. In the morning we went over the causeway through the Great Salt Lake to Antelope Island to look for Chukar, which is countable in Utah, unlike those in NJ which I see in Colliers Mills that have been released for hunters. The Chukars in Utah, although introduced, are a self-sustaining population and thus considered "wild." This was my 2nd trip to Antelope Island. The score stands Chukars 2, Zirlin 0. 

Red-necked Phalarope and Wilson's Phalaropes

There were other birds to see there like Say's Phoebe and a beautiful Lark Sparrow, but after about an hour we gave up and drove back to the causeway to do see what was in the water. What was in the water was thousands upon thousands of American Avocets (I listed 10,000 and didn't get a flag on eBird; someone else that day listed 15,000 and didn't get flagged), thousands of Eared Grebes, thousands of Franklin's Gulls, thousands of Wilson Phalaropes, and hundreds of Red-necked Phalaropes. Actually, there may have been thousands of Red-necked Phalaropes mixed in with the distant Wilson's Phalaropes but really, what difference does it make unless you're doing a survey? After a while you have to stop counting and just enjoy the scene

28 species

Canada Goose  100

Green-winged Teal  1

Common Goldeneye  3    Hens, continuing 

Eared Grebe  5000

Black-necked Stilt  15

American Avocet  10000

Long-billed Curlew  2

Wilson's Phalarope  5000

Red-necked Phalarope  200

Willet  4

Franklin's Gull  5000

California Gull  500

Great Blue Heron  1

White-faced Ibis  1

Turkey Vulture  4

Great Horned Owl  1

Say's Phoebe  2

Common Raven  1

Horned Lark  1

Bank Swallow  100

Barn Swallow  200

Cliff Swallow  1

Rock Wren  3

Lark Sparrow  21

Vesper Sparrow  1

Yellow-headed Blackbird  4

Western Meadowlark  5

Brown-headed Cowbird  1

Virginia Rail

After lunch we headed north (I'm sure) to Bear River MBR (Migratory Bird Refuge). On the way, on 1-15, we came upon a flock of Cattle Egret congregating around, what else, cattle. Since I missed them so far this year in Jersey, I was glad to see them, even at 80 MPH.

It was Scott's intention to do this earlier in the trip, but advice from Tim Avery about the water levels (pretty much dry) forced a change in plans. The only birds of significance up there, according to Tim, were Soras and Virginia's Rails. But we notice that a lot of those rails were being reported and so it seemed worth the drive. Bear River is their version of Brig--an auto loop around impoundments. When we there 4 years ago and the pools were filled, there were great flocks of grebes, herons, avocets, and so forth. This time, with the main pool looking more like a meadow, we found birds only in the smaller, outer pools. But it was an experience I never had before. I'm happy if I see a Sora during the year, I'm happy if I see a Virginia Rail during the year. When we came upon a pool with 8 Soras and 10 Virginia Rails it was a thrilling sight. When we drove a little further and came upon a flock of Virginia Rails (I counted 35), I was flabbergasted. It was by far more Virginia Rails than I've seen in toto all my years of birding. 

Snowy Plover

The last new bird of the year was found by Jodi of our group who thought she saw some sort of plover running on the mud flats. Scott stopped the van, looked for a moment, and was surprised to say that it was a Snowy Plover, another bird that was a joke to us, since you usually have to scan a long time the salt encrusted mud of the lake, where they blend in, to find one, and here was one just bopping along on the side of the road. 

On the way out we found more Long-billed Curlews and a hen Ring-necked Pheasant. For a place that didn't sound promising we did very well indeed. 

23 species 

Canada Goose  20

Mallard  1

Redhead  1

Ruddy Duck  1

Ring-necked Pheasant  1

Western Grebe  1

Clark's Grebe  1

Virginia Rail  45    Careful count

Sora  8

American Coot  55

Black-necked Stilt  65

American Avocet  85

Snowy Plover  1

Killdeer  1

Long-billed Curlew  7

Wilson's Phalarope  1

Solitary Sandpiper  1

Forster's Tern  1

American White Pelican  18

White-faced Ibis  150

Barn Swallow  5

Yellow-headed Blackbird  6

Red-winged Blackbird  1

And thus the birding was over. While Shari & I only added 3 lifers to our list, they were great ones to get. Every day it was fun to bird with the group, which got along famously. I doubt there was a cross wood in the week we were all together. Maybe in 4 years I'll go back to get those Chukars. 

Bison, Antelope Island