Posted
Thursday, November 06, 2003
11/06 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR) reported the following conditions and birds during her Waterbird/Raptor Survey: Almost all 26 wetland management units are now full of water to fall target levels. We've begun to pass through Bear River water out onto the Willard Spur area of the Great Salt Lake. Tundra Swans have arrived in large numbers, an estimated 15,000–20,000 in the vicinity. Swans are tough to see from the tour route. They can be found on a unit north of the tour loop but bring your spotting scope as they are at a great distance. Almost all shorebirds are gone, dabbler numbers are going down while divers such as Common/Barrow's Goldeneye's and Bufflehead number are rising. The Goldeneye's and Bufflehead's can be found packed tightly (numbers in the 500 range) in the Refuge canals that pass water, as there are concentrations of small shad to feed on. A common loon was spotted on the tour loop along the south side. 30 percent of the 63,000 birds counted yesterday were seen from the tour loop.
| Canada Goose |
1,876 |
|
Mallard |
6,126 |
|
Northern Pintail |
13,764 |
| GW Teal |
1,090 |
Cinnamon Teal |
2 |
Northern Shoveler |
1149 |
| Gadwall |
5,961 |
A. Wigeon |
3,454 |
Unk. Dabblers |
200 |
| Canvasback |
9,050 |
Redhead |
539 |
Lesser Scaup |
414 |
| Common Goldeneye |
4,992 |
Barrow's Goldeneye |
6 |
Bufflehead |
2,180 |
| Hooded Merganser |
6 |
Common Merganser |
122 |
Red-breast Merganser |
125 |
| Ruddy Duck |
1,403 |
PB Grebe |
23 |
Eared Grebe |
226 |
| Western Grebe |
8 |
AW Pelican |
4 |
DC Cormorant |
17 |
| GB Heron |
73 |
Great Egret |
1 |
Killdeer |
2 |
| Greater Yellowlegs |
3 |
RB Gull |
1,561 |
California Gull |
31 |
| Herring Gull |
5 |
Coot |
1711 |
Bald Eagle |
5 |
| Northern Harrier |
22 |
Red-tailed Hawk |
1 |
Tundra Swan |
6,382 |
