There's a pond behind the Best Western just outside the park that sometimes yields some decent birds. Last week when I checked it was still iced over,but it has since thawed and is now open water. Yesterday, in addition to the usual collection of Mallards and a few Canada Geese I can count on being there, I found some Cinnamon Teal, an American Avocet (year bird), and some Long-billed Dowitchers (a new state species for me). I went back today hoping to find the avocet in a good place for a photo or two. Still there, but too far away and I didn't walk through the muck I would have to walk through to get to it. Maybe with different footwear, no problem. So I had to settle for the Wilson's Snipe you see here - another year bird and a first time photo of this normally secretive species. (click the thumbnail to see it big)
That is a very clear photo!
Thank you - I was really very surprised to see this bird out in the open like that. Some days you just get lucky . . .
Boy did I every miss out! I was in Bryce a week a good and observed exactly one species during a cold and windy two-hour visit. Great photo of this guy, by the way.
It can be fickle around here in March, never know what the weather will be like. I also have the advantage of knowing where to look after almost two years here under my belt. Though if it is windy and cold they'll lay low and finding any species is tough.
And thank you!