St George Winter Bird Festival 2014

I participated in my first St George Winter Bird Festival this past weekend. I had thought about going for several years, but schedule conflicts prevented me from participating. This year, however, my wife and I combined the Winter Bird Festival with a weekend getaway.  I signed up for a couple of the festival's half-day field trips and spent the rest of the time shopping, going to a movie, and simply eating and hanging out with my wife. I wish I could have attended some of the festival presentations. Organizers had some great presenters lined up for participants. I appreciate all the time, talent, information, and energy volunteers shared to make the festival a benefit to all who participated.

As a photographer and blogger who wants to have close encounters with birds and wildlife I have generally chosen to bird solo or with another photographer over the past few years. Big groups and bird photography don't mix very well. Guided trips, however, have played an important role in helping me learn how to bird in new territory. Consequently, I signed up for my first festival field trip because I wanted to meet the guide in person and learn how he birds parts of southern Utah that I have not birded. I've admired the reports and photos Rick Fridell has shared from southern Utah over the past few years and he was the guide who led us to Quail Creek Reservoir, Stratton Pond, Sand Hollow State Park, and Hurricane Fields. "Hurricane" is pronounced "her-uh-kin" by locals. It sort of reminds me of the difference between how Americans would say "Briz-bain" when Australian's say "Briz-bin" for Brisbane.

I wasn't expecting to have good photo ops while birding with a large group so I left the camera in the car until Rick gave me a heads up that the Greater Scaups on Stratton Pond were very cooperative with photographers. He was right. Two males and a female came in to feed just like your average park Mallard. Greater Scaup show a sloping head from crown back where Lesser Scaup show a peak at the back of the head.

Female Greater Scaup on Stratton Pond Hurricane, UT

Female Greater Scaup on Stratton Pond Hurricane, UT

Male Greater Scaup on Stratton Pond Hurricane, UT

The image below appears to be a stare down. Greater Scaup actually show the broader cheeks compared to Lesser Scaup.

Male Greater Scaup on Stratton Pond Hurricane, UT

The next two images captured one of the males scratching its head. It's not often that you get to see the bottom side of a duck's bill.

Male Greater Scaup on Stratton Pond Hurricane, UT

Male Greater Scaup on Stratton Pond Hurricane, UT

Sand Hollow State Park allowed us to see a Utah rarity, a Red-necked Grebe. We observed it through a scope along with several Common Loons. Seeing all three Mergansers (Hooded, Common, and Red-breasted) in one location was another highlight from Sand Hollow. While pulling into one of several parking areas from which we observed water fowl on the Sand Hollow reservoir my raptor radar detected a bird of interest. I caught a glimpse of a small raptor in a distant tree. While the rest of the group moved toward the reservoir and planted their scopes for viewing water fowl I walked in a different direction to identify the raptor. It turned out to be a Prairie Merlin. I captured a few distant images and cropped them. I think they turned out pretty well despite having to crop the images quite a bit.

Prairie Merlin at Sand Hollow State Park Near Hurricane, UT

Prairie Merlin at Sand Hollow State Park Near Hurricane, UT

After photographing the Merlin I headed back to join the group. That's when I saw a Bald Eagle fly toward a group of small rock cliffs and chase a Prairie Falcon from its perch. I shared what I observed with Rick and others and most were able to see both the Merlin and the Prairie Falcon. All were able to see the Bald Eagle since it remained on its perch.

I learned some neat things about the birds and habitat during the field trip with Rick. One thing I hadn't realized before was that Cactus Wrens often choose the Cholla (cho-ya) Cactus to hold their nests. The needles from these guys provide great protection from natural predators to the Cactus Wren. These are not friendly to people either. Steer clear of contact because once they embed in you they will end up leaving an irritating remnant under the skin that will fester for some time.

Cactus Wren Nest in Cholla Cactus Sand Hollow State Park Utah

The nest above is typical. It opens on the side of the cactus and goes back into the interior of the cactus, forming a tubular looking nest. The one below was actually on the surface of the cactus so I took a picture to show the length. The actual entrance is to the right of the cactus and not visible. The angle shows the side and rear of the nest.

Cactus Wren Nest in Cholla Cactus Sand Hollow State Park Utah

My first field trip of the St George Winter Bird Festival was very productive, informative, and memorable. It allowed me to bird new areas and was a great opportunity to meet some new people and reconnect with some old acquaintances. Rick was a great guide.

I returned to the hotel after my first field trip and cleaned up for a date with my wife. Before heading out for the afternoon and evening I captured images of our hotel's resident Northern Mockingbird. I wonder if this is the same mockingbird I see every time we stay at the hotel. I can't think of a time when I stayed at the hotel in St George and didn't see this or another mockingbird in the front parking area.

Northern Mockingbird St George, UT

Northern Mockingbird St George, UT

Saturday morning I walked Lytle Ranch with about 25 other birders. Lytle Ranch is about 30 miles west of St George and is a small oasis in the middle of the desert. It is a bird magnet, especially during spring and fall migrations. We were led by Larry Tripp, another southern Utah birder. I signed up for the Lytle Ranch trip to meet Larry in person and to see how a local birds the Ranch. Larry was very knowledgeable and helped our group pick up some desert specialties such as Phainopepla, Verdin, and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. I and a few others were able to hear a Greater Roadrunner cooing on several occasions, but we could not get a visual. I was surprised to see two Rock Wrens in the middle of the dessert as we were making the 10 1/2 mile dirt road drive from the ranch back to the main road. I observed 36 species during our trip to Lytle Ranch.

My wife indulged me Sunday morning as we were leaving St George to return home. She said she'd join me for about an hour to see what would present itself in Washington Fields. I picked up another seven species for my year list. One of which was a Say's Phoebe that was fly catching from a low perch above an agricultural field.

Say's Phoebe in Washington City, UT

Say's Phoebe in Washington City, UT

Spring Estates Pond was on the way back to the Interstate. I took a quick five-minute look and found a resident Snow Goose along with at least two Cackling Geese, a subspecies of Canada Goose identified by it's smaller size and noticeably shorter bill. Cacking Geese often show a more rounded head, but that can be skewed depending on whether the goose is relaxed or stretching its neck while foraging, flying, etc. The images below allow the more rounded head and shorter bill to be seen well. The Cackling Goose's bill seems to have a length of bill that is usually less than about 1.5 times as long as it is high at the base.

Cackling Goose Amid Canada Geese Washington City, UT

Cackling Goose Amid Canada Geese Washington City, UT

By the end of the trip to St George I picked up 44 new species for my 2014 list of species observed. That took me to a total of 128 species for the year. I didn't capture as many photos as I would have had I been on my own, but I enjoyed the company of other birders and learned a bit from some experienced and talented people. It was nice to get out of the cold of northern Utah with a 3 1/2 hour drive to southern Utah. The red rock country and desert were welcomed changes of scenery.

1700 Miles, a Wedding, and Some Really Cool Birds

I drove from northern Utah to Long Beach, Los Angeles, and back this weekend so I could witness the marriage of my nephew to his beautiful bride. I took one of my son's and his wife along to keep me company. I warned them that there would be some birding, which didn't surprise them, so they couldn't really complain since I was doing the driving, paying for hotels, gas, and most of the food.

I decided to leave northern Utah Thursday night after work and drove about four hours to St George to check into a hotel. I got up early Friday morning and made a quick birding trip to Lytle Ranch while my son and his wife were sleeping. I picked up some fun desert birds. There was a leucistic Wild Turkey, Greater Roadrunner, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, and a number of other birds including Red-breasted, Red-naped, and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. The only bird with which I spent some time engaged in photography was a male Phainopepla. I captured a few images and a short video.

I captured the image below intending to have a red-rock cliff for the background. I moved my position to get some blue sky.

Male Phainopepla at Lytle Ranch Washington County, UT

Male Phainopepla at Lytle Ranch Washington County, UT

I wanted to show the upper side of the bird as well so I captured the image below.

Male Phainopepla at Lytle Ranch Washington County, UT

On the way out of Lytle Ranch I had a Greater Roadrunner dash across the gravel road just before I got back onto Highway 91. Just before getting into Santa Clara on my way back to the hotel in St George I stopped to photograph one of my favorite morphs of Red-tailed Hawk, the intermediate or rufous morph.

Intermediate/Rufous Morph Western Red-tailed Hawk Washington County, UT

Intermediate/Rufous Morph Western Red-tailed Hawk Washington County, UT

I made a one hour detour during our drive to Long Beach so my daughter in law could visit her great grandfather in Upland, California. As luck would have it, I spotted my lifer Red-shouldered Hawk perched on a pole along I-210 in Rancho Cucamonga. It was just two exits before where we'd stop to see my daughter-in-law's great grandfather. I dropped off my son and his wife for their visit and then drove back to look for the hawk before the sun set. Unfortunately, the hawk was gone.

My nephew's wedding was at the Latter-day Saint Temple in Los Angeles. The grounds of the temple are beautiful and draw some really nice birds, especially hummingbirds. While everyone was standing around after the wedding and waiting for photos to be done, I went to the trunk of my car and retrieved my camera to capture images of what I believe to be an Allen's Hummingbird based on field marks and location and time of year. These guys are very similar to Rufous Hummingbirds, but Rufous don't typically have green backs like the Allen's do. Allen's seem to show a little more of a curved bill and slightly shorter wings relative to the tip of the tail. This guy was very cooperative. I'm sharing a few different angles with focus on overall bird, head, eye, gorget, and back.

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

The green and red/orange of the Christmas light coordinated well with the green and orange of the little bird. Wouldn't it be nice to have hummingbirds adorn your Christmas lights? This individual is separate from the one pictured above.

Male Allen's Hummingbird on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Just before leaving the temple grounds I noticed a Say's Phoebe fly catching from some netted Bird of Paradise plants and captured a few images as the sun was lowering in the sky.

Say's Phoebe on Latter-day Saint Temple Grounds in Los Angeles, CA

Say's Phoebe Los Angeles, CA

We drove all the way from Long Beach back to Utah on Sunday. I tried to get a look at a Red-shouldered Hawk that had been reported near Highway 91 and Gunlock Road, outside of Santa Clara, Utah (near St George). I was unsuccessful on that attempt, but was graced by one of my favorite hawks, an adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk. I love the colors in the wings (rufous, grey/blue, and white) and the large, bright yellow gape and bill these birds display. A Ferruginous in flight is a hawk lover's delight.

Adult Light-Morph Ferruginous Hawk Near Santa Clara, UT

Adult Light-Morph Ferruginous Hawk Near Santa Clara, UT

Gas Station and Fast Food Birding in Utah and Arizona

My wife and I logged about 1500 miles in our car over the weekend by driving from Utah County to Gilbert, Arizona for a special family event. We had my mother in law with us. She is living with Alzheimer's Disease and "enjoying the moment" in a very literal sense. It is sad that she doesn't remember all the fun family times we have, but the current state of her disease doesn't keep her from living in the moment. For example, she loves the Bee Gees and asks to listen to them every day. We listened to them during our long drive and we listened and danced to "Staying Alive" Sunday evening at our daughters house in Gilbert. Four generations, from our nearly three year old grandson to his great grandmother (my mother in law), were clearly proving that the dancing gene did not exist in our gene pool. The cut-loose gene, on the other hand, was unrestrained. Good family times were had by all.

Anyway, we were making great timing during the first three hours of our drive last Friday until my mother in law announced, "I need to go to the bathroom soon. That's all I'm saying." Nature was calling. I was able to pull off the freeway at Washington City, just minutes north of St George. I decided to top off the gas tank while waiting for my wife and her mother. After about 15 minutes of waiting I wondered if we had a problem. My wife finally emerged from the restroom and said, "It's not working. This might take a while." After she went back into the restroom to help her mother I did what most birders do with a few minutes of free time. I scanned the area with "nature eyes" and noticed some standing water across the street. That was my nature call to see what life was being sustained by the small puddle of water.

First Sign of a Watering Hole Near Washington City, UT

Once I got closer I read the directional sign near the water. I think we should call this the "Which Way Water Hole" of Washington City.

"Which Way" Water Hole Near Washington City, UT

Just as I stepped onto the sidewalk near the water I saw a Say's Phoebe fly from a tree to snatch an insect from the air above the standing water. "Camera time!"  I went back across the road, retrieved my camera from the trunk of the car and began a short photo shoot with an expert flycatcher. The bird would alternate its perch between a tree and a bush as it continued to fly catch over the water.

Say's Phoebe Near Washington City, UT

Say's Phoebe Near Washington City, UT

Say's Phoebe Near Washington City, UT

I glanced back toward the gas station and, forty-five minutes after stopping for our first bathroom break of an all-day trip, my wife and her mother were finally exiting the gas station and heading toward the car. At that moment I accepted that it was going to be a long day with some long breaks so I would put a positive spin on the stops and try to see what birds could be observed and photographed with each stop thereafter.

We stopped in Wickenburg, Arizona to get sandwiches at Subway. Minutes away was a mecca for birders, the Hassayampa River Preserve. I couldn't visit that spot, and never have despite passing by it about four times already. It has either been closed for the season or I've had not birding passengers.  My consolation prize this time around was discovering the largest Turkey Vulture Roost I've ever seen, right across the street from the Subway and above an RV park--stuff's gotta be fallin' over there.

I first noticed several large kettles of vultures high in the sky before I saw birds descending toward us. I went to get my camera and my wife put me back on task to secure food first and then play with the birds. After providing needed sustenance for my travel partners I retrieved the camera and captured a few images of the roost from across the street and birds coming in for the night. I stopped counting after seeing more than 100 vultures, all were Turkey Vultures despite hopes of spotting a vagrant Black Vulture.

Small Section of a Large Turkey Vulture Roost in Wickenburg, AZ

It was late afternoon/early evening so the sun was very low in the western sky. With the sun lighting them horizontally the undersides were often in the shadows until they would tilt to turn and circle the roost before landing. I like the images below because they emphasize the shape of the bird while showing enough to be easily recognized as a Turkey Vulture. You can also see how the underside can look light or dark depending on the lighting. In reality the flight feathers in the wings and tail are light in color despite the tail looking dark when in a shadow.

Turkey Vulture Over Wickenburg, AZ

This one was flying southward toward the roost so the horizontal sunlight lit up the western side of this bird.

Turkey Vulture Over Wickenburg, AZ

Turkey Vulture Over Wickenburg, AZ

My fifth time passing through Wickenburg was on the way home on Monday afternoon. Again I missed the opportunity to bird the Hassayampa River Preserve. The consolation prize this time was watching a Great-tailed Grackle drink from a dirty water puddle next to a no-parking curb. Like most birds, the grackle had to get low to the ground to get water into its bill and then raise its bill to the sky so the water would go down its throat. This is because they can't suck the way people and other mammals can. The first image shows the bird getting water into its bill and onto its tongue. The second image shows it looking skyward to allow the water to run into its throat.

Great-tailed Grackle Drinking From Puddle in Wickenburg, AZ

Great-tailed Grackle Drinking From Puddle in Wickenburg, AZ

Not unexpected was a Rock Pigeon that landed next to the car as we were leaving the parking lot in Wickenburg.

Rock Pigeon in Wickenburg, AZ Parking Lot

Our last food stop in St George, Utah Monday before the sun went down provided the most expected bird of the trip, A House Sparrow. These guys, like the grackles and pigeons seem to congregate near high-human traffic areas. Apparently, we are messy creatures and leave our leftovers and scraps abundantly enough to sustain these opportunistic bird species. I guess its a good thing someone is cleaning up after us.

So the Say's Phoebe and the Turkey Vulture Roost were completely unexpected for my "bird at gas and food stops" plan. I actually could have spent more time observing and photographing those guys had I been alone because fly catching and vulture soaring were somewhat fascinating. I love nature and enjoy discovering and observing any creeping, crawling, slithering, running, swimming, or hiding thing, but birds are so pervasive they provide opportunities no matter where I go or what I'm doing. I could be pumping gas or walking into a restaurant and see a bird. Who hasn't seen a House Sparrow flying around inside a local department or grocery store.

While the birds provided some diversions during the quick trip to Arizona, it was the time spent with family that I will remember the most.

Say's Phoebes Pay a Visit

I was out on the front porch visiting with my wife and her mother and watching hummingbirds a couple of days ago. Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds were trying to get a turn at the feeder. A young Calliope Hummingbird was still visiting the feeder about every twenty minutes as well.

As the humans were visiting on the porch and the birds were engaged in their sugar-water scuffles, I heard the call of a Say's Phoebe (sayz fee-bee). What a treat to get a Say's Phoebe as a yard bird. These birds are generally solitary and found near open fields rather than neighborhoods. They sometimes migrate in small groups and also associate while breeding and raising young. I wondered if the two I observed were stopping to refuel themselves as they were migrating southward or just part of a family that was formed nearby. The Say's Phoebe I was able to watch was perched alternately between a fence and a small tree.  It would perch and then jump into the air to snatch a flying bug in its bill and return to a perch to wait for another source of food to pass. I captured a few images of one of the birds before it flew toward another home and out of sight. The light yellow gape suggests a young bird, probably one that hatched this summer.

Say's Phoebe Pleasant Grove, UT

Say's Phoebe Pleasant Grove, UT