The first part of today was spent at Bear River NWR, north of Salt Lake City, near Brigham City. We were very happy that they reccomended this to us, because this was a highlight of our trip! It was a very hot day (low 100's) but most of this visit is driving, so that wasn't so bad. July is one of the months with the least amount of birds during the year, but we still saw some great birds!!
BIRDING: Many of the birds seen during the first half of today are documented in the many photos below! Near the HQ, we saw a bunch of AMERICAN COOTS, SORA, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, and many CLIFF SWALLOWS nesting on the building. The exhibits inside are very nice, in this brand new HQ (the old one was swallowed up by the Great Salt Lake in a flood). On the drive to the refuge we saw a few AMERICAN AVOCET, FRANKLIN'S GULLS and WHITE FACED IBIS. Sadly a few birds of the latter two species were impaled on the barbed wire fence bordering the park.
Near the entrance to the area with the ponds, there were many swallows, mostly BARN SWALLOWS, but some CLIFF and BANK SWALLOWS. Also here were DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, WHITE PELICANS (sitting and flying).
Driving through the first side (North Side, I believe) we saw lots of cool stuff at close range: WHITE PELICANS, WHITE-FACED IBIS, BLACK NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, CLARK'S GREBE, WESTERN GREBE, SAVANNAH SPARROW, WILLET, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, CALIFORNIA GULL, FRANKLIN'S GULL, GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRET, BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON, DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT, and BARN SWALLOWS.
As we drove through the western area, more of the same, also some AMERICAN COOT and SORA. Some looks at IBIS, AVOCET, STILTS and PELICANS were awesome.
On the south side of the ponds near the outlet we were harassed by a AVOCET, presumably because she had a nearby nest. GREAT looks at IBIS and WESTERN GREBE! Also a FORSTER'S TERN and more BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. On the way out: One eclipse plumage duck that appeared to be a CINNAMON TEAL
Some areas of the refuge were very dry
Carp were desperately trying to get from one pond to another! (Melissa's photo)
Young American Coot near the HQ 
Yellow-Headed Blackbird hiding in the cattails near the HQ.
White-Faced Ibis
Franklin's Gull (Melissa's photo)
White Pelicans flying overhead
A great closeup shot of a Barn Swallow (Melissa's photo)
A young White Pelican
Double Crested Cormorant
Bank Swallow
Unidentified baby bird
A resting American Avocet
A snacking California Gull (Melissa's photo)
Black-Necked Stilts (Melissa's photo)
Spotted Sandpiper (Melissa's photo)
Clark's Grebe with two young ones! (Melissa's photo)
Short-Eared Owl (Melissa's photo)
American Coot
This Savannah Sparrow was about ready to take off! (Melissa's photo)
Willet (Melissa's photo)
Snowy Egret taking off
White Pelican
Flying Black Necked Stilt (Melissa's photo)
Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron
Pied-Billed Grebe on nest.
Sora with young
Snowy Egret (and seconds later, he had too much and took off!)
Forester's Tern (Melissa's photo)
pair of Western Grebes
A beautiful White Faced Ibis
White-Faced Ibis in flight!
Goldeneye (don't know if Common or Barrow's)
Close up view of a Western Grebe
a flying American Avocet (Melissa's photo)
Flying White Pelican
Sora
Double-Crested Cormorant taking off
Barn Swallows
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