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Greetings!
I arrived at Antelope Island today at 7:00 a.m. to get in a
"couple" hours of birding. Eight hours later, I finally made it
home.
There were hundreds of birds between mile markers 5 and 6 on
the south side of the causeway when I arrived. For over two hours, I
carefully sifted through the birds and in among the huge numbers of
Black-bellied Plovers and Sanderlings, I found Wilson's Phalaropes, a small
cluster of Long-billed Dowitchers and two Red Knots. I was lucky because
at first the Red Knots were just mixed in with the Sanderlings and they stuck
out like a sore thumb. Later when they joined the dowitchers, they were
not quite as noticeable. Between mile markers 2 and 3 on the north side
were three Semipalmated Sandpipers.
I joined forces with John Keith who is in town for a USGS
conference and we birded Garr Ranch together. Of the warblers, we found
Orange-crowned, Virginia's, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, MacGillivray's and
Wilson's. There were Chipping and Lark Sparrows, Lazuli Buntings,
Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock's Orioles and Hermit Thrush. For all of
you flycatcher lovers, there were plenty at the ranch. We were only able
to positively identify the Dusky.
A wonderful birding day!
Pomera
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