The medicinal effect of birding Antelope Island

I need another vacation. I know, I know. Panama was just a little over a month ago, but it seems like an eternity ago.

So, after a couple of tough weeks at the office where I ended up with a massive knot in my shoulder that seems to be radiating pain down to my finger tips, no amount of massage seems to have helped. The only solution left? Why, spend a day at Antelope Island!

The weather: Spectacular! Really no wind to speak of and none of those pesky midges that you accidentally end up swallowing. The temperature didn’t get over 76 degrees F. But the best part was the fantastic view of the new Great Horned owlets at Garr Ranch. They were hanging out in one of the trees over the picnic area, if you can believe that. They drew quite a crowd and I thank them for being in a bit of decent light. The mom was elsewhere snoozing–it is Mother’s Day weekend, natch. Mom deserves a rest.

Oh, and that shoulder of mine? Seems to be much better now.

We were able to see 76 species today. (But there’s only a 50 bird badge. Need a 75 bird badge.) List is below the photos. (Be sure to click on photo to enlarge.)

Brewer’s Blackbird singing his heart out.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Peace at Antelope Island

Canada Geese

View of Wasatch Mountains from Antelope Island

Raven

Western Kingbird

California Gull–Utah’s state bird

A pair of Eared Grebes

Eared Grebes

More Eared Grebes

Eared Grebes as far as the eye can see

Bonaparte’s Gull

Chuckar

Barn Own sharing space in the same barn of a Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl in the same barn with the Barn Owl

One of the many buffalo on Antelope Island

Male Great Horned Owl and two owlets

Aren’t they just cute?

One of the many antelope.

We totally need a 75 Bird Day badge. We got 76 today, but this badge will do.

Here’s our bird list for today. Two of them were lifers for me. The Barn Owl, believe it or not, and the Red Knot. (lifers in bold)

1. Eared Grebe
2. American White Pelican
3. Double-crested Cormorant
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Gadwall
7. Northern Shoveler
8. Redhead Shoveler
9. Lesser Scaup
10. Northern Harrier
11. Red-tailed Hawk
12. Swainson’s Hawk
13. Golden Eagle
14. American Kestrel
15. California Quail
16. Chuckar
17. Ringed-necked Pheasant
18. Great Blue Heron
19. White-faced Ibis
20. Sandhill Crane
21. American Coot
22. American Avocet
23. Black-necked Stilt
24. Black-bellied Plover
25. Killdeer
26. Greater Yellowlegs
27. Lesser Yellowlegs
28. Willet
29. Spotted Sandpiper
30. Long-billed Dowitcher
31. Wilson’s Phalarope
32. Common Snipe
33. Red Knot
34. Pectoral Sandpiper
35. Baird’s Sandpiper
36. Least Sandpiper
37. Semipalmated Sandpiper
38. Western Sandpiper
39. California Gull
40. Ring-billed Gull
41. Bonapart’s Gull
42. Franklin’s Gull
43. Mourning Dove
44. Rock Dove
45. Eurasian Collared Dove
46. Great Horned Owl
47. Barn Owl
48. Common Flicker
49. Western Kingbird
50. Horned Lark
51. Barn Swallow
52. Cliff Swallow
53. Common Raven
54. Black-billed Magpie
55. Rock Wren
56. Sage Thrasher
57. American Robin
58. Loggerhead Shrike
59. European Starling
60. Yellow Warbler
61. Orange-crowned Warbler
62. House Sparrow
63. Western Meadowlark
64. Yellow-headed Blackbird
65. Red-winged Blackbird
66. Brewer’s Blackbird
67. Brown-headed Cowbird
68. Bullock’s Oriole
69. House Finch
70. Lesser Goldfinch
71. Savannah Sparrow
72. Grasshopper Sparrow
73. Lark Sparrow
74. Sage Sparrow
75. Brewer’s Sparrow
76. Song Sparrow