Eric writes:
Greetings from Post Falls, ID
After finishing up my work in Arizona, I started driving north to Boise. I had enough time to spend one morning birding, so I chose the Great Salt Lake. My first stop was Antelope Island State Park. I had heard great things about this spot and I wasn't disappointed. The causeway to the island is spectacular for birding and I was there at a slow time of year. It produces many great rarities in the fall and winter. My target bird for the area was Chukar since I had never seen one. It was fairly easy, within 15 minutes I had great looks at one sitting out in the open on a rock.
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Chukar-an species introduced to the United States |
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Loggerhead Shrike-the backdrop is the lake |
After birding for a few hours I headed a little ways north to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. It was spectacular! There were more Clark's Grebes within a 5 mile stretch than I had seen in my entire life. Western Grebes were courting, Forster's Terns were fishing, White-faced Ibis lined the roadside, and many Franklin's Gulls were swirling about above the marsh. I can only imagine what this place would be like during peak waterfowl migration.
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A Clark's Grebes-you are able to get very close to these grebes! |
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A Western Grebe-very similar to Clark's but notice the bill color, black
over the eye, and dark sides. |
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Western Grebes during their courtship rituals. |
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