Feb 1
We read that people were seeing a flock of evening grosbeaks in Francis, Utah. Looked it up and found that it was an hour away. So, as part of my goal to visit at least 5 places in Utah this year where I've never been before, we headed for Francis. Down by the river bottoms we started searching for the birds. A stop by a gate to Victory ranch gave a look at two bald eagles flying along the river. Next we stopped at a bridge and immediately spotted an American Dipper wading and diving in the cold river. Up the road we came into a very active flock of beautiful little Evenng Grosbeaks. I managed to get teh car stuck in the mud and snow on the side of the road. I have to say, the people in Francis are some of the nicest people I've ever met. An old farmer stopped, hooked up a chain and pulled us out as if we were his neighbors - not just crazy bird people from the city.
The bird count for the day:
2 Bald Eagles
1 American Dipper
20 or more American Robin
1 - Northern Flicker
4 - House Sparrows
4 - Juncos
15-20 Evening Grosbeaks
1 - Black-capped Chickadee
2 Red-wing Blackbirds
1 Brewer's Blackbird
2 Mallard ducks
and 2 foxes running and fighting in a snowy field
Jan 27
Winter sucks the color out of the world. Just black, white and shades of grey.
Sent from iPhone
Jan 19
32 degrees with choking brown air in the valley... 15 minutes later we were up Big Cottonwood canyon in clean, blue skies with temps around 50... almost too warm for snowshoeing.
Jan 12
Started as the Director at my new office today. I have a fancy half- circle table in a corner for my borrowed laptop. The surplus CRT monitor makes me look important. Office moving day can't come soon enough.
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Jan 2
We took advantage of a break in the cold to go out and see what winter is like on Antelope Island (Great Salt Lake). I had my new camera (thanks, sis!) I think the most remarkable thing today was how I noticed the sounds of nature. For the first time I heard the wind from the wings of hundreds of ducks landing, a lone coyote calling, a robin splashing in a snow rimmed pool. We even heard ( and smelled) big gurgling burps from the Great Salt Lake itself.
Wildlife seen included:
8 bald eagles standing out on the ice
hundreds of golden eyes and shoveler ducks
5 Northern Harriers doing amazing hovering in the wind
57 Bison
Robins
American goldfinches
Dark eyed Juncos
Spotted towhees
Red wing black birds
song sparrows
Northern Flickers
Dec 5
Every once in a while we discover a truly fantastic spot in Utah. This time it was Johnson Mill B&B in Midway. We stayed a couple of nights in this 100+ year old mill. I can highly recommend the view from the River Bottoms room. Thursday morning we woke to a light snow falling outside. As we sat by the fireplace looking out over the Provo River, a group of 6 deer wandered into view followed by a spectacular fly-over by 2 bald eagles. We spent the morning wandering the 14 acre property (including a great pond) where we saw Canadian geese, ducks, and a beaver. The birding was great - cedar wax wings, northern flickers, a kingfisher and a great blue heron - all without leaving the property.
The place was very relaxing, very comfortable, very well run and convenient to Heber. Thursday night we tried dinner at The Spicy Lady. It's a little place on Main street done up like an old western saloon (no flat panel TVs showing ESPN !) It's our new secret fantastic dinner place. The food was fresh, the beer HUGE, the service great and the live music decent (I hear that on weekends they have a grammy nominated pianist). We chatted with the owner who told us how he moved from England a couple of years ago because he liked Park City and found a great piece of land for sale on eBay near Heber, then spotted the restaurant for sale and now he travels and brings back recipes from all over the world (his own take on great foods he's had on his travels). It was a surprisingly sophisticated night for a saloon in Heber City, Utah.
I think this was the get-away I've been needing for a long time.
Nov 11
Happy Birthday Jessica! Every year your birthday is a grey, cold day - so I thought today I would post pics from some of the the fun days we've had in the last year: Antelope Island, wetland birding with the Audubon old folks, the crazy squirrels in Toronto Queen's Park, lazing with the cats on the patio and the last weekend up city creek canyon. You packed a lot into this last year. I love being your best friend and the person you drag along on your adventures. Let's do Europe this year!
