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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. |
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.
It was a great trip with incredible birds.
Full report at WilderTrack
On my morning swing, I managed to see my first of the year Brewer’s Blackbird and White-crowned Sparrow as well. The sight of the day, however, was a Sandhill Crane on the nest. I plan to visit this spot about every 2 days to get a chronicle of the nesting progress.
