Errand Birding: More Productive Than Simply Birding?

By "Errand Birding" I mean watching for birds while running errands. Sometimes, and I say this with a smile, it becomes unclear which one has priority.

So I knew this morning it was going to be a day for personal errands and helping others. I passed on doing a local Audubon Christmas Bird Count because I had other responsibilities. I was prepared to not have my usual Saturday morning bird experiences, but I did load my camera into my truck before beginning my errands. On my way to the local Costco in Lehi, Utah I drove a few blocks out of the way to see if one of the Harlan's Hawks I had previously located was still present. It was present and flew over head.

Dark-morph Harlan's Hawk Lehi, UT

Dark-morph Harlan's Hawk Lehi, UT

Just as I arrived at Costco I heard the call of an American Crow. Seconds later I saw the bird flying and then landing. American Crows are not very common in Utah County. Most of the time a "large black bird" in Utah County turns out to be a Raven. Crows are more common in Salt Lake and other Counties north of Utah County. Some of us bird nuts in Utah County are curious about why we don't see more crows and where they may actually nest in the county. I spoke to a lady who lives where I saw the crows today and she said, "they are always here." I'll have to keep an eye out to see if they nest in the spring.

American Crow in Lehi, UT

American Crow in Lehi, UT

I had to take my truck in for some routine maintenance and it took longer than I expected. When I called to update my wife she informed me she wouldn't be home for a while either. Once my truck was finished I decided to make a quick look for a Harris's Sparrow that had been reported recently by a good birding friend of mine. I didn't expect much since no one had reported seeing it recently, but I tried. It turned out to be almost the first bird I saw when I arrived at the reported location.

Harris's Sparrow Provo, UT

So far each of the four or so Harris's Sparrows I've located or observed was hanging out with White-crowned Sparrows that show up en masse in our valleys during the winter months. The juvenile White-crowned Sparrow below was among the group that included the Harris's Sparrow this afternoon. This one was on the ground next to my truck.

White-crowned Sparrow in Provo, UT

A curious Spotted Towhee made a short appearance in the same tree as the Harris's Sparrow. Those blood red eyes and black hood seem menacing. The rufous sides with white belly are striking. What a combination of colors for this secretive bird.

Spotted Towhee in Provo, UT

I also noticed something I had never seen before, but it made sense when I saw it. Ring-necked pheasants were climbing into trees and eating the fruit of Russian Olive and other trees in the area. I couldn't get a good view of the colorful male pheasant, but I did manage a distant shot of a plain looking hen pheasant. I'm used to seeing these birds moving low to the ground, not climbing into trees.

Ring-necked Pheasant Eating Berries in a Tree in Provo, UT

I decided to head home to get dinner ready and was making a call to a friend when a slender looking hawk atop a power pole caught my attention. I asked my friend to hold for a moment and then let him know I'd call him back. I'm sure he understood because he too is an "errand birder". The hawk turned out to be a Cooper's Hawk as I got closer. I managed a couple of shots before it flew down toward a gardening center. The hawk landed on the top of a net-covered chicken coop. It was back lit at that point. I'm surprised at how different the same bird can look depending on it's posture, lighting, etc. The angle of the first image gives it a stocky look and the final images present a very slender look.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk in Vineyard, UT

The hawk was back lit for the final images. I was able to increase the exposure compensation on the spot to keep most of the detail from being shadowed by the back lighting.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk Above a Chicken Coop in Vineyard, UT

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk Above a Chicken Coop in Vineyard, UT

The hawk suddenly noticed something below and dropped down and out of sight. I wonder if it found it's afternoon meal?

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk  Preparing to Give Chase to its Prey From Above a Chicken Coop in Vineyard, UT

First Species Photographed in 2013 Plus a Few More

Rather than put on my mental blinders, drive to a great bird habitat, and hope for a really cool first-of-the-year bird (which I've done on previous New Year Days), I chose to look out the kitchen window to see what ordinary bird might be visiting my feeders. I observed a lone Lesser Goldfinch.

I saw other birds during the morning and along a short drive, but the very first species to present itself for a photo-op was American Crow. My good birding friend, Eric Peterson, and I came across a small flock that was frolicking in some freshly-fallen snow in a junior high school parking lot.  American Crow is a bird I see in Utah about three or four times a year and they are generally in flight while I'm driving on a freeway or other busy road when I do see them so it was not a bird I expected to have in my first images of 2013.

Crows are very intelligent birds. Check out some cool facts and information on American Crows shared by Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology by clicking HERE.

American Crow in Snow at Canyon View Jr High in Orem, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

American Crow Foraging in Snow at Canyon View Jr High in Orem, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

American Crow Foraging in Snow at Canyon View Jr High in Orem, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Eric and I eventually spent some time at the Provo City Cemetery in Provo, Utah chasing after a mis-guided Northern Parula that has been seen multiple times in the past week and then again hours after we missed it and left.  Some you get and some you don't. However, we did see a small flock of Red Crossbills, which I see maybe once a year in Utah so finding some on day one was a good omen for a new year of birding. We managed to photograph a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Red-breasted Nuthatches to finish our first bird outing of the year.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Provo City Cemetery Provo, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Red-breasted Nuthatch in Provo City Cemetery Provo, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Provo City Cemetery Provo, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Red-breasted Nuthatch in Provo City Cemetery Provo, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Provo City Cemetery Provo, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)