Field Trip - Burbank Heights HMU and More

Mike and MerryLynn Denny took us over to a little known birding spot in Burbank Heights along the Snake River.  There is a large riparian area on the river that was loaded with Bullock's orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, lazuli buntings and red-winged blackbirds.  In the dense trees we found a long-eared owl, and flushed a barn owl.  Away from the river is a beautiful stand of big sage, native rye grass and a variety of desert native plants.  After lunch at Hood Park we drove to Tyson Ponds and watched the Wilson's phalaropes, black-necked stilts and avocets.  We also saw blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, redhead and a variety of other waterfowl.  On Northshore Road at the millet pond we saw a willet, three Bonaparte's gulls and several black-crowned night herons.  Our last stop was on Hatch Grade where we saw a grasshopper sparrow.  Mike pointed out many of the native plants, butterflies and other insects along the way making it a very interesting and educational field trip.     Ginger