tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954081165153280225.post4143938434549512570..comments2024-03-20T04:12:43.360-06:00Comments on Utah Birders | Birding Blog, Utah Birds, Utah Birding, Utah Bird ID: A Big Utah WeekendUtah Birdershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469804211127586442noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954081165153280225.post-70033551980169495252013-06-25T16:37:56.189-06:002013-06-25T16:37:56.189-06:00I am not really a birder...but I enjoy feeding the...I am not really a birder...but I enjoy feeding them in my yard and listening to them sing. I live in the lower Millcreek area in SL county and have a lot of old trees in my back yard. About 3 weeks ago, there was an owl perched on a lower branch near my back patio. It was so cool. I had never seen an owl in the more than 20 years I have been in my home. Later that night we heard a "new" backyard sound and figured it was our owl friend. I did a little research and discovered it was a screech owl and common to this area. None the less...I felt lucky to have one visit so close. <br /><br />The next couple of nights it was fun to hear them calling to each other. The next day I decided to see if I could see it again...to my delight as I wandered near past the tree of the sighting...head tilted like a kid losing a balloon...was another tree which seemed to be full of owls. I thought I counted 5 to 7. As common a bird as it is...I was thrilled. I became enchanted...got some binoculars...set up a viewing station where I could lie under them and watch them...I must have spent between 2 and 3 hrs. off and on throughout the days observing them. I collected pellets. Identified the parents from the young...saw them yawn, expel pellets, groom themselves. It was fascinating to me. Sadly, as the days went on it became harder for me to find them...I knew the fledglings were going to have to leave...and 2 weeks to the day from our first sighting, also the last day of spring...the parliament of 5 perched all in a row looking down as I gazed up...and that was the last day I saw them all. I have had a few random sightings and I do hear 2 maybe 3 hunting at night, but they are not coming to my yard as much, no pellets, no feathers...I am sad to see them go. Hoping for a similar experience next spring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954081165153280225.post-80073542640518554802013-05-16T13:31:18.941-06:002013-05-16T13:31:18.941-06:00Tim, thankyou very much for this trip report! What...Tim, thankyou very much for this trip report! What a great weekend it sounds like you guys had. Love hearing about your birding trips there in Utah. Wishing You the Best! Kayla in WyomingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954081165153280225.post-77839040147116555162013-05-15T20:20:20.952-06:002013-05-15T20:20:20.952-06:00Sounds like a fantastic weekend. I would really lo...Sounds like a fantastic weekend. I would really love to see a Spotted Owl. I'm going to have to make that hike next time I'm near Zion NP. Excellent report and photos.Jeff Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10187254626464369811noreply@blogger.com