late afternoon on Antelope Island

["Deedee/Dick O'Brien" <ddobrien at worldnet dot att dot net>]

Crossing the lonely causeway at 3:40 pm yesterday I finally saw a flotilla 
of apparent Goldeneyes quite close to the island on the north side of the 
causeway. The scope revealed they were indeed Goldeneyes (only 1 of 26 was 
an adult male!?). But, to my surprise and delight, passing by the group were 
a pair of Long-tailed Ducks, male and female in winter plumage. I actually 
practiced looking at the birds and describing them outloud into a tape 
recorder before checking the book. Thank you, Kristin. It was very rewarding 
to notice the differences between them. I watched them until they 
disappeared into the bright reflection of sunlight.

The island's north end in late afternoon light was peaceful and beautiful. 
The meadowlarks were in full song, the chukars were basking in the sunlight, 
rock wrens alternately fed and sang on opposite sides of the parking lot 
(actually there were 3 wrens). Scoping Egg Island revealed hundreds of 
California Gulls plus cormorants flaunting their double-crests (could make 
out 9 of them) and GBH's (10) settling in for the evening. I headed home 
happy as dusk descended. Certainly reccommend birding the island at the end 
of the day! (and isn't it wonderful that the days are getting longer!)
Deedee 


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