This weekend, Sam and I went on a loop drive from Kelly Canyon to Cottonwood Reservoir, and then, on to Mission Creek. It was a day of firsts with Common Yellowthroat, Lazuli Bunting and Western Tanager at Kelly Canyon with the bird of the day being a Townsend’s Warbler picked up by Sam. At Cottonwood Reservoir, it was the usual cast of characters with large numbers of Eared Grebes, and Red-necked Phalaropes and Solitary Sandpipers.
Cranescape Pair of cranes Cottonwood Reservoir and the Bridger Mountains
Sam and the Bird Eared Grebes Sage and Absorkas
Dribble, dribble Stretching the wings Flock of Avocets
 Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes

When we arrived at the Mission Creek bench, there were upwards of 25 Chestnut-colored and McCown’s Longspurs – all doing display flights. Awesome, f’ing awesome. At the aspen grove we had a pair of Duskies – Dusky Flycatcher and Dusky Grouse. A Northern Goshawk was flying through and just above the timber. At the Mission Creek pond, we managed 2 Northern Waterthrushes among the Spotted Towhees. A single Loggerhead Shrike was seen just before the Interstate.

Mission Creek Dusky Grouse Dusky Grouse
Dusky Grouse Dusky Grouse Dusky Grouse
Dusky Grouse   Dusky Grouse

It was a great trip with incredible birds.

Full report at WilderTrack

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