Box Elder County

[Roostertael at aol dot com]

Hi, 

Bob Huntington and I set off for northwestern Box Elder County Friday 
morning. There was a report a couple of years ago, and I could not remember who 
reported it or what was found. We had never been there and decided to give it a 
try. 

We started at exit 32 and up into White's Valley. Family after family of 
Loggerhead Shrikes and Sage Thrashers were all along the road. I don't think 
either of us had seen that many before. We found a Short-eared Owl just past the 
private hunting area and continued over the mountain to pick up the freeway at 
exit 24. There is one last wheat field that you drive through to get over the 
top and we finally found four Gray Partridges. This must be the fifth or sixth 
trip up there this year for me, with no success until now. I made about ten 
trips last year and did not see one at all. 

On route 30 westbound, there were a lot of hawks on the power poles. We saw 
Red Tails, Ferruginous, and Swainsons. We also saw a Prairie Falcon on the way 
back, but I cannot remember exactly where.

We got to the Raft River Mountains, but had to drive on a couple of dirt 
roads to get to Clear Creek Campground. This is a very nice area, but we did not 
see much. Lots of quick looks at birds, but did not get good enough looks to 
identify them. We drove up the road, but it dead ends at private property a 
couple of miles up. 

On to 1 Mile Canyon. This road goes over the top and all over the mountains. 
There is what looks like a permanent pond next to the road before you get to 
the canyon. There is probably an irrigation ditch in the area. We got a 
Solitary Sandpiper here. It was the only bird there. (naturally). A couple of miles 
farther and I got my first Dusky Flycatcher. It is late afternoon, and we drove 
around the mountains and then headed for home. A nice area, but a bad time of 
day and time of year to be there. We mostly drove because of not being 
familiar with the area. We did not get out and walk much.

 There was a large fire on route 30 a few miles before it joins with route 
42. We watched it for a while and it looked like it took out a few mobile homes. 


Jack Binch

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