289. Loggerhead Shrike

Date         October 19, 2018

Location    Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, UT

My streak of at least one bird per year was in serious jeopardy in 2018, so it was fitting that a bird that I used to have on my list, but was later removed because of too much doubt, would save the day.

I was headed toward the one-way dirt road that goes through the refuge, and I decided to park first at the trail head and try out the little watch tower there. I roamed about the area and saw some pipits and what I thought was a shrike. There was a chain link fence that he was fond of perching on after sallying forth.


Cornell: Loggerhead Shrike

288. Cinammon Teal

Date         June 14, 2017

Location    Wapati Lane wildlife viewing area, WY

Continuing my free-styling trip, I found a little refuge park thing on the side of the road in Alpine, WY, which by the way is in a beautiful location near the Tetons.

A small parking area and boardwalk overlooked an extensive wetland area where I saw several males and females.

Cornell: Cinnamon Teal

287. Yellow-headed Blackbird

Date         June 14, 2017

Location    Swan Valley, ID

I knew that these guys were all over because Logan had seen one on the way in. I was kind of concentrating on driving the truck that was towing his car, so I couldn't bird by car very much.

But on the way back, as I drove through town, I did spot one in some random field. I was able to study these a lot better in Utah the next day at Bear River. I sampled a lot of their crazy singing, which is actually quite varied. I grew to like these guys and actually enjoy their "singing."

Cornell: Yellow-headed Blackbird

286. Mountain Bluebird

Date         June 14, 2017

Location    Clark Hill rest area, Ririe, ID

After spending quite a while at the rest area, I moved on. I was totally free-styling it, and I was loving it.

As I drove down the other side of a mountain pass, I spied a dirt road that just spiraled up the mountain a ways. I pulled off the side of the highway, turned my virtually empty U-Haul around, drove back up the hill and up the dirt road to a landing of the switchback. I was really hoping to find a Mountain Bluebird. I was in the mountains, right?

Such tactics are rarely rewarded so quickly, but almost right away I saw one. He was fairly close to the ground, perching in low branches.

Cornell: Mountain Bluebird

285. Cassin's Finch

Date         June 14, 2017

Location    Clark Hill rest area, Ririe, ID

After dropping off Logan at college, I had a drive from Idaho to Utah with no one with me.

Time to do some birding.

I found this really nice rest stop that overlooked a river, had lots of trees, cliffs, etc. It featured a Bald Eagle nest and Peregrine Falcons (probably also nesting somewhere in the cliff face).

I was on the sidewalk just down from the parking lot when he flew up into the trees I was looking at, singing. I was so used to seeing plain old House Finches out west that it took a second for me to realize that this guy was different. Song definitely helped.

Cornell: Cassin's Finch

284. Dunlin

Date         May 12, 2017

Location    Magee Marsh (road to boardwalk), Carroll, OH

Several cars were parked along the side of the road, so Logan and I decided to check out what was going on. There was a large flock of them in some mudflats near the road. Many were in their breeding plumage, making it quite easy to identify them. As far as we could tell, it was not a mixed flock. They were all Dunlins.

Cornell: Dunlin

283. Black Vulture

Date         January 4, 2017

Location    Renaissance at Sea World (hotel), Orlando, FL

I was doing a little birding in the parking lot, which had lots of trees and landscaping. I saw them overhead and noted the white tips on the wings. Slam dunk, not a Turkey Vulture.

Cornell: Black Vulture