A Little Post-Holiday Birding
Hi, everyone.
I hope everyone had a great holiday season!
Today, I went into downtown Moab (ha ha ha) to do a little after-Christmas shopping (ha ha ha). I managed to buy 6 strings of lights for half price, and that’s about it. However, on my way by a big open field, I saw birds that looked different from the usual, so I stopped to check it out. I saw a Say’s Phoebe (which is only supposed to be here in the summer, but this was DEFINITELY a Say’s Phoebe), and a yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s variety). I added the phoebe to my birdlist, because I am positive that’s what it was. I saw other birds, but knew right away I needed my camera. I went home, dropped off my light strings, got my camera, and went back. Unfortunately, the Say’s Phoebe had taken off, as had the warbler.
I walked up the highway next to the field, and found a small opening in the snow where there was water. There were 2 northern pintail ducks (which are new to my birdlist), 1 green-winged teal duck (also new to my list), 1 mallard duck, a bunch of American robins, 5 western bluebirds, a bunch of European starlings, a bunch of white-crowned sparrows, and a killdeer (new to my list). This was a very good birding day for me, but I was starting to freeze (it was about 24° F outside), so I walked back to the car.
I left that parking lot, and as I passed another parking lot on the opposite side of the highway, I saw a bunch of big birds. I thought “Oh, boy! More ducks!”, so I pulled off the highway. When I got out with the camera, I realized they were something FAR more exciting than ducks. They were Chukars! There were 8 of them! Another new addition to my birdlist. I am so excited that I saw chukars!
Tomorrow afternoon, my mom and I will be heading to the Matheson Wetlands preserve here in Moab, to do some more bird-watching. I am inspired, and I want a photo of a Say’s phoebe!
Thanks for visiting!
I didn’t know that there were wetlands in Moab. Good luck with your birding there. I haven’t seen many birds at all this winter mainly because my bird feeders have all broken.
Wow! The pintails are beautiful ducks. When driving by on the highway, a duck is a duck. Obviously I was missing a lot. Can’t wait ’til tomorrow’s expedition.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen those chocolate headed pintail ducks. Good looking, aren’t they? What is a Chukar, and why are they exciting?
How do you figure out so quickly what the birds are? Someone gave Annecy a small bird guide for Colorado when we were there, and we always had a heck of a time finding the ones we saw in the book. Yesterday in a parking lot we saw these very pretty chocolate brown small birds with white specks on the wings, and Annecy and Lola wanted to know what they were, and I had to confess I would probably never know birds for them.
Happy Holidays Katie! Thanks for sharing your Bird sightings. I see Chukars in the Maze District of Canyonalands about every third time I’m out there. They are cute!
Peace, Love & Happiness,
Magpie
Hi, everyone!
Aunt Marcy – If you click on the words ‘Matheson Wetlands’ above, it will take you to a website that will tell you a little more about it. It’s a great place!
Sonja (AKA ‘mom’) – I am sorry you didn’t see the chukars. I am glad we went to the wetlands today…a song sparrow and a downy woodpecker were worth the trip!
Uncle Doug – Chukars are exciting because they are cool to look at, and they were a new addition to my ‘lifetime birdlist’. They are partridges, medium sized – picture a small chicken.
Catherine – I have been groomed by my mom to be a birder (as well as a plant person) since I was VERY little – for some reason, I do just frequently know what birds are. I would love to know what your brown speckley birds are! Maybe they are wrens of some sort?
Maggie – That’s awesome that you see chukars a lot. I had never seen one before!