Birding with Belle

Belle

Last Evening I took a walk with Belle at the Fernwood Park on the bench east of Layton. The birding was spectacular, the spring flowers just blooming and the weather was perfect.

Birds seen, Lazuli buntings in numbers like I have never seen before, Spotted Towhees singing all over the place, Chipping Sparrows very busy courting, Black-chinned Humming birds, Turkey Vultures circling above us, Black-headed Grosbeaks singing as well, House Finches, Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, and American Robins. We also saw squirrels and one very angry Gopher Snake hissing like crazy at Belle.

Here are some Pictures

Spotted Towhee

Squirrel

Lazuli Bunting

Bumble Bee

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Black-chinned Humingbird

Lazuli Bunting

Chipping Sparrow

Memorial Day Birding

I spent several hours on the new Nature Trail at Farmington Bay on Memorial Day and logged 34
 bird species, Mule Deer and Muskrat.

American Robin                                                                                         

American Coot

Barn Swallow

Canada Geese

Song Sparrow

Western Tanager

Common Yellow-throat

Warbling Vireo

Willow Flycatcher

Yellow Warbler

Western Kingbird

Killdeer

Marsh Wren

Cinnamon Teal

Redhead

Mallard

Western Grebe

Red-winged Blackbird

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Great Blue Heron

California Gull

Black-billed Magpie

Mourning Dove

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Eurasian Collared Dove

Snowy Egret

Caspian Tern

Eastern Kingbird

Spotted Sandpiper

Brown-headed Cowbird

Gadwall

European Starling

Birds Heard but not seen 

Sora

Bullock's Oriole 

Other sightings

Mule Deer

Muskrat

June 2010 Bird of the Month Cinnamon Teal

A Cinnamon Teal about to take off

In my opinion one of the most striking ducks the Cinnamon Teal is my selection for Bird of the Month for June. Though one of the most abundant summer ducks at Farmington Bay, I was in my 40's before I ever saw one and it was one of the first birds I identified and added to my life list when I started keeping it.

Males courtship display for the females

As I guide tours of scouts at Farmington Bay and point out the Cinnamon Teal, they are often amazed that we have such an exotic looking duck here in Northern Utah. Though they usually migrate out of the area by mid to late September I have seen a few winter over the last few years.

Cinnamon Teal at Farmington Bay in February

Some more pictures of Cinnamon Teal

Cinnamon Teal

Appearance

Ducks

Adult Description

• Small duck.
• Large light blue patches on front of wing, visible in flight.
• Male has bright cinnamon red head and body.

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Bright cinnamon head and body plumage. Dark rump, tail, and undertail. Upper wing with light-blue patch with white rear border. Back of wing iridescent green. Eyes red.
Eclipse (Basic) Plumage: Gray-brown overall, with rusty wash. Small white area at base of bill. Eyes red.

Female Description

Gray-brown overall, with small white area at base of bill. Bill dark. Light-blue upper wing patch with narrow white border. Back of wing mostly brown, with little green.

Immature Description

Similar to adult female.