Red Crossbill, et al

[Bruce & Lynn Robinson <dbruce at prodigy dot net>]

Yesterday (1/24) I took my wife to her sister?s to
spend a week.  Now, if you have read any of my posts
in the past, you know that when Lynn is out of town, I
go birding!!!
I spent the day birding the road between Richfield and
Capitol Reef, with a slight detour to Boulder (to see
if the Acorn Woodpecker is still here?without
success).  Some of the many highlights included a Red
Crossbill near the summit on the Boulder highway, and
many noisy Clark?s Nutcrackers that announced their
presence to everyone and anyone.
Capitol Reef had a temperature of 40 degrees, clear
skies, and very little snow.  It also had many Pinyon
Jays, and one bird with a warbler like call that I
never could locate.
There was a flock of Wild Turkey?s near Bicknell and a
flock of 200+ Horned Larks that performed disappearing
acts in the clumps of snow.
Hepler?s Pond Road was muddy and snow covered, but I
still managed to make it to the ponds where I found a
couple of Pintails swimming with the Mallards.  A 3rd
year Bald Eagle and a small Sharp Shinned Hawk
alternately watched each other and a flock of Horned
Larks that were in the fields adjacent to the ponds.  
I found Ferruginous Hawks in 3 different counties, a
Merlin at the Redmond Cemetery, many sky blue Mountain
Bluebirds all over the valley, and a Tundra Swan at
the Redmond Reservoir.
I was going to bird Piute County, but as Highway 89
was becoming more snow packed, and with more snow
coming down, common sense prevailed and I turned
around at Big Rock Candy Mountain.  Piute will have to
wait until next time Lynn goes to Bonnie's!!!

Ain't Birding Great!!
Bruce

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