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Yesterday I visited Farmington Bay WMA with Bill Fenimore. We saw
close to 1000 Tundra Swans on the closed Units, but could not refind the
Bewick's. The swans are further out now as a lot of the ice has
melted. There were still close to 100 Bald Eagles present - also far
out.
After sending Bill back to work :(, I went on to Antelope Island to search
for the Long-eared Owls previously reported at Garr Ranch. I reached the
ranch about 4 p.m. and thoroughly searched the woods and bushes near the
buildings and around the Nature Trail for the owls - particularly looking
close to tree trunks. No sightings, but of course that doesn't necessarily
mean they weren't there. I did find 2 gray objects on the Nature Trail
that I thought might be owl pellets. I also walked through the large barn,
but spotted nothing.
It was still bright and sunny at 5 p.m., so I doubt that the owls would
have been out hunting yet, if indeed they were there.
There was also a coyote in its beautiful winter coat walking on the ice
offshore from the ranch.
Incidentally, the Ranch is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. only! I talked to the
man who works there. He followed me out in his truck and closed the gate
on the road just after 5 p.m.
Returning across the Causeway, I saw several hundred Tundra Swans on the
Lake about 1/2-mile southwest of the entrance booth. Two seemed
larger than the others .... ??? There were also more swans about 1/2-mile
north. Presumably these birds were resting, because I can't conceive of
any food source for them out there.
On the way back to SLC, I stopped at TNC's new GSL Shorelands Preserve
west of Layton. There seemed to be a lot of waterfowl activity out near
the lakeshore. I saw a Bald Eagle fly over the marsh in the
distance. Then, just before sunset, I watched 3 long lines of Tundra Swans
flying north over the lake - totaling about 200 birds. Truly a wonderful
sight.
A great day!
Jim McIntyre |