Headed out early today to see what birds I could find in less than ideal conditions: partly cloudy with pretty stiff winds blowing. Still, it wasn't all that bad with a total of 26 species in and around Bryce and the town of Tropic, my usual haunts. Included in the total were a couple of "year birds", Northern Harrier and Ruddy Duck. In addition to the birds, I finally saw another Utah Prairie Dog up and about, the cold weather at the end of last week apparently driving them back to their burrows and, out in sagebrush flats north of the park, 6 Pronghorn that have now migrated back into the area (they winter between 30 and 40 miles north).
The Ventriloquist - While making my rounds in the park I was attracted to a song and, in looking around, found a Townsend's Solitaire perched on the roof of the general store. As I watched I kept hearing song, but this bird's lips weren't moving (I know, birds don't have lips, but you know what I mean . . . ). I moved around in an attempt to try and triangulate the sound, thinking maybe there was another bird. Didn't matter though, the sound always came from the same spot. I didn't expect this, but maybe this is normal for some species. Will just have to do some further research.
The wind and clouds were associated with a front moving in that, as I write, are now dumping snow. The forecast is for 4-8 inches and a couple of inches are already on the ground - yuck! (Okay, will really need the precip, so I shouldn't complain to loudly.)
Today's list: Pygmy Nuthatch, Townsend's Solitaire, Hairy Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon and Gray-headed), Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Horned Lark, Golden Eagle, Black-billed Magpie, Red-tailed Hawk, Eurasian Collared-dove, American Robin, European Starling, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Ruddy Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Redhead, Mallard, Canada Goose, American Coot, House Sparrow, Rough-legged Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Western Scrub-jay.
The Ventriloquist - While making my rounds in the park I was attracted to a song and, in looking around, found a Townsend's Solitaire perched on the roof of the general store. As I watched I kept hearing song, but this bird's lips weren't moving (I know, birds don't have lips, but you know what I mean . . . ). I moved around in an attempt to try and triangulate the sound, thinking maybe there was another bird. Didn't matter though, the sound always came from the same spot. I didn't expect this, but maybe this is normal for some species. Will just have to do some further research.
The wind and clouds were associated with a front moving in that, as I write, are now dumping snow. The forecast is for 4-8 inches and a couple of inches are already on the ground - yuck! (Okay, will really need the precip, so I shouldn't complain to loudly.)
Today's list: Pygmy Nuthatch, Townsend's Solitaire, Hairy Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon and Gray-headed), Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Horned Lark, Golden Eagle, Black-billed Magpie, Red-tailed Hawk, Eurasian Collared-dove, American Robin, European Starling, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Ruddy Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Redhead, Mallard, Canada Goose, American Coot, House Sparrow, Rough-legged Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Western Scrub-jay.
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