scottdwright's Journal

January 4-5 – Wasatch Hollow Nature Preserve and Open Space

Sunrise at 7:51 am and Sunset at 5:14 pm
In effect, the area had gained 1 minute (net) of daylight since the Solstice.
By next weekend, the nature preserve will begin to a net gain of daylight with a more rapid increase in daylight minutes…The sun is at a meridian altitude (noon) of 27 degrees, slowly climbing from the low arc of the Solstice.

Saturday, January 4 was a cold day but the sun was out, and did observe a Cooper’s Hawk (see images) and again, I was told and have read that the Cooper’s Hawk migrates “south”, but here was Hawk in the nature preserve – and I was able to see it again on Sunday January 5…a much colder day – gray and gloomy. I also observed a Fox Squirrel and a Northern Flicker.

Sunday was the first time (on the walk) that I did not see any birds moving about in the open space, and I think it was the cold day (plus exceptionally damp) and the sun was behind clouds the whole day {in comparison when the sun came out on Monday January 6 – it felt like an early Spring day, and I observed over 20 American Robins flying about in the trees.

Wasatch Hollow Nature Preserve and Open Space
January 18, 19, 20 – Journal

Since the winter solstice (Dec. 2019), the nature area has experienced a gain of about 30 minutes in additional sunlight (day length = approx.9 hours 41 minutes) with sunrise at 7:47 am and sunset at 5:28 pm and at noon the sun is at an approximate 29 degree angle in the southern sky – rising higher each day.

Today (Sunday) the temperature reached about 40 degrees and it felt like a cool early March day given the bright sun (no clouds) – and with these conditions, I could sense that the birds would be out in the early afternoon.

As soon as I entered the nature preserve, I observed a Red-tailed Hawk flying slowly over the open space area (to the north) and it was just about 20 feet above the tree-line. The Red-tailed Hawk landed on the top of a telephone pole and as I walked up to get better images, if flew off further into the open space area. I have some images of the Hawk launching from the top of the pole, but I would not use these for posting for Research Grade, but rather as images for observations purposes. It was good to see the Red-tailed Hawk again after the winter conditions in the past few days.

After going through the gate and into the Nature Preserve and toward the Open Space area, I observed an Accipiter (genus) Hawk on a branch in large tree near the creek - but it was also overhanging the trail underneath. I think it was a Cooper’s Hawk (COHA) – given the characteristics versus a Sharp-shinned Hawk (SSHA) and given my capacity to observe the front and back of the COHA as I walked along the trail. I was fortunate to gather several images of the Hawk perching and in flight and yet – I was still not happy with the results, but this is the downside of the 2x “telephoto” on an iPhone camera. I think the Hawk is a male (smaller size) Cooper’s (COHA) and it hangs around this area frequently (depending on the weather). It flew away – but (not) surprisingly, on the way back (the round trip on the trail in the open space – about 40 minutes later) – the COHA was back! On the same limb – the same branch on the tree!

Going further into the Open Space – (the first loop), I was able to observe the usual suspects of birds: Northern Flicker (4 different birds); Woodhouse Scrub Jay; Juncos; Chickadees; Magpies. I saw a few Fox Squirrels, but they were further away on distant trees outside of the open space boundaries.

On the way back from the second loop (farthest from the entrance and at the north end), I stopped to observe Magpies go into their “gang” mode; that is many were flocking into on tree on the other side of the creek (east). I knew something was up…because when they do this…it can also mean (based on past observations) they are challenging (as a group) a bird of prey in the area.

I heard the bird of prey before I saw it. On my left, I hear a series of high pitched screeches, and then a hawk (or falcon ?) zoomed overhead, about 10 feet above my head, just above the tree line – going from my left to right without one wingbeat – it was gliding in FAST and over to another tree on the westside of the open space (or southeast facing slope). And then the gang of Magpies (about 10 or so) follow and land in a tree right next to the Hawk/Falcon.

This hawk had to be a small Sharp-shinned Hawk (SSHA) or a Falcon given the smaller size and compact look…I have a few images of the Hawk flying overhead, but I was lucky even to get those at all…this bird moved very fast. The Hawk then flew over into the center of the Magpies and circled up and out (to me it seemed an act of aggression or defiance against the Magpies) and then the Hawk flew off – heading north. And a few Magpies followed….

In summary, a very active weekend for birds and observations. Two kinds of Hawks – possibly three (RTHA, COHA, and a SSHA) although I am not sure about the third one – falcon or SSHA?

Wasatch Hollow Nature Preserve and Open Space – Journal
January 25, 2020

The sunrise is at 7:43 am and the sun at noon will be at 31 degrees altitude (climbing higher in the sky – in the south 180 degree) and the sun will set at 5:37 pm. The nature area is looking at about 09:53:13 in total daylight – I can sense the shift already in terms of an earlier sunrise and later sunset.

The temperature in the Open Space was an incredibly “warm” 48 degrees and the sun came out in the afternoon – after a long morning of dense fog.

With the sun out, I could sense that the birds would be out as well. I was able to observe American Robins and Cedar Waxwings in the Hawthorne trees eating the “leftover” berries – on the walk to the nature preserve.

In the Nature Preserve and Open Space the Chickadees and Juncos were out in full force. I observed one Fox Squirrel. And the highlight of the day was to observe three Red-Tailed Hawks circling high above the open space taking advantage of the warmer winds from the south – and I imagined they were riding thermals up and up – and then eventually heading over to the Red Butte garden area along the bench area there 0f the Wasatch Mountains.

The trail was muddy and the snow melt created a messy walk in the open space.

Again, many dog tracks in the protected area indicating that people are still walking their dogs in the protected space.

I look forward to longer days and the spring weather to help increase plant and animal observations for the iNaturalist and the Open Space inventory of species.