Bryant Olsen, along with Norm and Gail Jenson, while on a Great Salt Lake Audubon Society trip today discovered a Harlequin Duck along the Antelope Island Causeway. This will be the 13th record as noted on the Utah Bird Records Committee's website and likely only the 7th officially accepted and documented. The Antelope Island Causeway has also been the site of three previous records, though only one has been accepted. Another great bird sighting in Utah! Great job Bryant, Norm, and Gail.
By the way, Paul Higgins, a great Utah bird photographer that I've featured on this site was there at the bridge when I arrived. He had discovered the Harlequin Duck on his own without knowing it had been reported. He has some incredible close-up photos here.
Yes, I am a bit of a parasite twitching other people's great birds. Maybe one day I will find a Utah rarity myself.
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| eBird Sightings Map for Harlequin Duck |
Thanks for sharing this rare sighting! Dang...maybe one day I will get to see one.:)
ReplyDelete@Jean - this was a life bird for me, so it was pretty exciting. I feel fortunate to have several birding hotspots that regularly have vagrants within an hours drive of my home. I just need more of your eastern warblers.
ReplyDeleteI saw one on the causeway back in '93 or '94, back when you could sneak onto the causeway early before anyone was at the booth to make you pay :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of this rare bird. A sighting such as this is always exciting.
ReplyDeleteIsn't twitching fun? I haven't had too many chances to twitch such a rarity, and I think each time I've tried, I've dipped! You got an awesome bird, would be a lifer for me. Great!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the Harlequin Duck Robert. It would be a lifer for me too! That last shot is fabulous!
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