Salt Lake City to Ashton

We flew into Salt Lake City on Thursday and headed up towards Pocatello, ID. We stopped at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (UT) to stretch our legs. The facility was very nice, but it wasn't a good time for birds. Some ibis and cormorants flew over, and some young coots were in the marsh. Seeing a flock of Bank Swallows perched on a power line was a highlight for me. (I find it very challenging to see detail on a swallow in flight.)

Close-up of a Thistle flower

After spending the night in Pocatello and running around the Idaho State University campus, we headed towards the black canyon of the Bear River, near Grace, ID.

The river is popular for its rapids, with a class 5 rapids and a class 4 run overall.

After heading northeast to Alpine, WY, we followed the Snake River back towards Rexburg, ID. This view of the Snake River was from an overlook along US26

Great Basin Birds part 2

On this latest trip to Nevada, nesting birds were in full swing. Even without actively looking for them, we found quite a few nests, like this one belonging to a Brewers Sparrow. The nests were very expertly hidden, but we knew there was a nest nearby if we saw a bird scuttling off along the ground furtively.


This Golden Eagle was sitting on the entrance drive up to the Great Basin National Park. After he flew off, I got to watch a raven chase him around.


I enjoy getting to see swallows up close and sitting still. Especially Cliff Swallows. Commins Lake usually had quite a mix of swallows scooping up insects.

Tachycineta

Tachycineta is a genus of birds in the swallow family, including these two birds, both native to Colorado. Tree Swallow (T. bicolor) is a familiar swallow in eastern North America.

Violet-green Swallow (T. thalassina) is a similar swallow with a western distribution. The colors are different, but that is often very hard to distinguish. Note the white coming up around the eye on the Violet-green Swallow.

A Barn Swallow Family Breakfast

Three baby Barn Swallows were sitting on the line above the garden at JFNew. I stopped to watch them for a minute, and while I was watching, the parent would come and feed them, one at a time.

Barn Swallows

Three very cute baby barn swallows at the Paynetown gas station on Lake Monroe.

Tree Swallow

Today, Kelly Jones and I birded Muscatatuck, NWR. We didn't have all day to spend there, but it was time well spent. We saw a Bald Eagle, a Barred Owl, some Wild Turkeys, lots of warblers, several Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Swainson's, Grey-cheeked, and Wood Thrushes, Acadian, Willow, and Great-crested Flycatchers, Pewees, Phoebes, Kingbirds, plus many other birds. Plus, we got to see an otter up pretty close as he crossed the road.