Bear River National Migratory Bird Refuge
May 31, 2007.
We moved the motorhome 32-miles north, on I-15, to Brigham City,
UT (the gateway to Bear River National Migratory Bird Refuge). We
dropped the motorhome at a Super Wal Mart located at exit 364 and
headed to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge 20-miles west of Brigham
City.
To find Bear River NWR take I-15 exit 366 then follow Bird Refuge
Road west to the NWR.
Brigham City, Utah
This was one of the few streets we have seen in our travels lined
with sycamore trees. These sycamore trees made a beautiful canopy
along one of the main streets in Brigham City.
Brigham City, Utah
This large sign in downtown Brigham City proclaims that they are
the "Gateway to the Worlds Greatest Game Bird Refuge". We
were on our way to check out Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge 20-miles
west of town and would soon have an opinion on that claim.
Eastern Kingbird
Before arriving at the refuge we were surprised to spot this eastern
kingbird.
Long-billed curlew
We spotted these long-billed curlews along with about 20 others.
They were all about the same distance from this barbed wire fence.
Each were facing the road where we were. None of them flew while we
watched them and took their pictures. We decided that these were probably
male long-billed curlews standing guard near their mate that was probably
on a nest where we could not see them. Each of the curlews we saw
were about 50-feet apart almost in a row. Except for the 20 or so
we saw along this road, that was outside the bird refuge, we did not
see any others.
Long-billed curlew
We were looking for long-billed curlews yesterday when we visited
Antelope
Island yesterday but did not see any.
High quality grasslands like this provide ideal nesting habitat for
curlews.
Nesting cliff swallows
Every structure that we see has hundreds of cliff swallows nesting
under the eves. There were thousands of these cliff swallows throughout
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Cliff swallow nest
Cliff swallow nests under those shelters.
Western greebe
Western greebe like this one were prevalent throughout the refuge.
We saw hundreds if not thousands of western greebe throughout the
refuge.
Bear River National Migratory Bird Refuge
A 12-mile gravel road through the refuge took us through marsh habitat
of every description.
Yellow-headed black bird
Yellow headed black birds like this one were numerous.
Black crowned night heron
We only saw two black crowned night heron but this one posed for
a nice picture.
Snowy egret
We saw possibly 8 to 10 snowy egrets scattered throughout the refuge.
Cliff Swallow
This is one of the thousands of cliff swallows nesting in every available
spot throughout the refuge.
Western greebe
Notice the clif swallow that just happened to be in this photo of
western greebe.
Hundreds if not thousands of marsh wrens were nesting in reeds such
as these throughout the refuge.
Carp
Throughout the refuge we would spot large carp, such as these, feeding
in the shallow water with their backs out of the water.
Carp
These were fairly large carp in the 20-pound class. This one has
his dorsal fin and tail exposed.
Carp
And this is the last picture of those carp. As you can see they are
good size fish.
Western greebe
Another western greebe.
Marsh wren nest
Marsh wren nest.
White Pelicans
Joyce snapped this nice picture of the refuge and white pelicans
out on a fishing expedition with mountains in the background.
View of Wasatch Mountains from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Joyce snapped this picture facing east toward the mountains east
of Brigham City.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
This picture is included so you can get an idea of what this large
refuge looks like.
Until next time remember how good life is.
Mike & Joyce Hendrix
