With the ever-approaching mark of spring less than 2 weeks away, things are quickly changing on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge with regards to new bird species arrivals on an almost daily basis.
Recently, I have been spending much of my time out on the refuge auto tour route, and I have seen some new bird species each and every day out on the refuge, as well as numbers of previous bird sightings increase, especially for the tundra swan.
The most recent new bird species I have seen out on the auto loop is Clark’s grebe, showing up Saturday on unit 2. Sandhill cranes are becoming more and more common and abundant in the agricultural fields near the refuge visitors center, and bald eagles seem to be grouping up along the Bear River, possibly getting ready to migrate back north.
One bird I have not seen in the past few days has been the rough-legged hawk, and it seems like this year I have seen far fewer than in years past
A variety of new duck species are arriving on the refuge, including cinnamon teal, American widgeon, and canvasback. Snow geese numbers continue to build just north of the refuge, and soon the best viewing times for these arctic breeding geese will be at hand.
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All in all, spring migration is in motion, and this is one of the best times to visit the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, or anywhere else birds can be found.
Recent bird species sighted on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and nearby areas include bald eagle, tundra swan, trumpeter swan, great blue heron, Clark’s grebe, song sparrow, northern harrier, cinnamon teal, American widgeon, northern pintail, Northern Shoveler, burrowing owl (antelope island), great horned owl (antelope island), magpie, snow goose (Corinne), double-crested cormorant, Canada goose, American pelican, sandhill crane, red-winged blackbird, marsh wren, gulls, American coot, and redhead.
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