When I saw the Red-tailed Hawk in the tree down the street, I figured it
might be a good day for birding on a bike. The Red-tail was #8 thanks to the
crowd in my back yard. The birds at ESP were pretty typical, except the
Hooded Mergansers were everywhere. By the time I reached Remington St., it
was a pretty typical day, with 31 species. But because of a small crowd at
my turnaround at the “missing bridge,” I went a little further than usual
and saw a Barrow’s Goldeneye in the river. That started me thinking that I
hadn’t raided Larry Arnold’s end of the greenbelt in some time, so I headed
west.

The 2 Merlins that flew out of a tree just before Glenwood confirmed that I
was on the right track. Then I added a Downy, but I got all the way to the
first dredge pond without anything new. Then the White-crowned Sparrows
called to me from the brush and I had 35. Next was a RC Kinglet (with a big
flock of BC Chickadees) and then a Bufflehead. I was still short of Eagle
Road, but it was cold and I was questioning the wisdom of my original
decision. As I turned around a huge flock of A. Crows flew over, and I was
at 38. When I got back to the W. Boise STP, I saw a large shape in a tree
over by the river. Just as I got my binos focused, an immature Bald Eagle
took flight. I was still savoring #39 when an adult Bald Eagle landed in a
tree only a hundred yards or so from the tree where the immature took off. I
was a happy-but cold-camper.

By this time my phone had died from the cold and I was working hard to get
home. At every turn I was looking for birds that I had seen in various
locations, but miles went by with no new birds. Finally, at ESP again, I
stopped to look for the Killdeer that sometimes hang out there. While I was
scanning one of the ponds, I heard a noise behind me, and there was a
Killdeer running across the parking lot, calling out for me to look at him.

So I headed home with 40 birds, happy at the nice round number, but still
wishing for more. When I got home, Susan came out and asked if I’d gotten
her messages. I explained that my phone had died, and she said she’d seen
Wild Turkeys at Eastman and 18th just 15 minutes before. Of course I headed
back out, with renewed energy, but afraid that I’d missed an opportunity.
Not to worry, I found 6 Wild Turkeys grazing on 18th near Brumback.

So final tally was 41 species in 22 miles under cold gray skies.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Since Jay posted information about the Boise CBC I thought that I’d also
share the information for the Nampa CBC.

This year the Nampa CBC will be held on *Saturday, December 23rd*. We will
be meeting at the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 7:30
AM for area assignments. Cheryl will be in touch with previous attendees so
we will start the process before count day.

The Nampa count is the oldest count in the state; the first count was in
1954. Last year we had a decent count considering the very cold weather.
But as always we hope to best the numbers from the year before.

Once area assignments are made everyone will be heading out by 8:00 AM.
After a day of counting everyone is invited to return to the refuge Visitor
Center for a feast of chili and soup. The evening meal will be ready about
5:00 PM. If you would like to help provide breads, desserts, or salads
please let me know. My phone number is 208-850-5885.

As always, dress for cold weather. And if you would like to do some hiking
around the east end of the refuge please let Cheryl know. People who live
in the count circle but can’t participate in the field count and want to
help with the count are encouraged to participate in a Feeder Watch. Field
participants will be given a map of the count circle and their area at the
morning meeting. Feeder watchers who want to participate can contact Cheryl
at 208-880-5687.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is located at 13751 Upper Embankment
Road, Nampa.

Denise Hughes – 208-850-5885
Cheryl Huizinga – 208-880-5687

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

Hi Folks
The Boise Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be Sat, Dec 16 and, though we don’t want to steal anyone from counts in other parts of the state that day :-), we would love your help.  Even if you can only bird for part of the day, if you’re interested in contributing, please coordinate with us ahead of time so that we don’t end up duplicating effort (and can instead ensure coverage of more areas).

Details are below and listed on the Golden Eagle Audubon calendar – please e-mail RL or myself if you have questions.
Also, if you’d be interested in hiking in the foothills, *weather/snow allowing* we may look to explore some areas we haven’t often covered and we’d like to pair people up for safety.  Please let us know if this might interest you, for part or more of a day, and we’ll see what we can pull together

Thanks and enjoy your Christmas bird counting!
Jay

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When: Sat, December 16, 7am – duskWhere: Trophy Room, Idaho Fish and Game HQ, 600 S Walnut St, Boise, ID 83712, USA (map) northeast entrance (in rear)
Co-compiler/primary contact: RL Rowland, rlrowland@centurylink.net (208) 336-9808 (H) best; no answer, try (208) 297-9953 (C)
This year of 2017 is the National Audubon Society’s 118th Christmas Bird Count (CBC), arguably the oldest continuous Citizen Science project in the country. This 118th Count Year also marks our 51st Boise CBC.
RL will furnish the morning’s sugar jump-start of Uncle Joe’s finest mixed pastries, participants please to bring their own breakfast beverage of choice to go with.No fees to participate, just your time, maybe a bit of gas, some shoe leather. Dress appropriately for the weather. We’ve tried to mix the areas so that each includes some walking as well as some driving. Plenty of choices.
Know one of the fourteen areas well? Contact RL if you would like to take charge of that particular area, assemble your team from the gathered volunteers on Count Day, etc.
Still a beginning Birder? We can put you with others to help you learn. No need to sign-up in advance, just show up at the appointed place and time on Count Day.We are all volunteers, so whether you can only do a part day or, better yet, all day, please to join in and Let’s Count Some Birds!
For general knowledge, the several components to a CBC:
– Count Period: the chosen eleven day period either side of Christmas in which each individual count is to be completed, runs from 14 December to 05 January, all CBC’s must be done during this time frame.
– Count Week: three days either side of Count Day, only species can be noted no numbers of individuals. Species found during count week but not on the count day are added into the compilation as “Count Week” species.
– Count Day: actual day of the count, a census of all bird species and their numbers.
– Count Circle: the area covered. The Boise circle, as with all circles, has a 7.5mi. radius. Boise’s is centered on the State Capitol dome, making for an area of nearly 178 sq.mi. and broken into 14 individual sections. Folks at the morning meeting can decide what section they would like to count in, collect their data packets and a briefing from RL on reported birds to look for in some areas.
– Feeder Watch: those not able/desiring to participate in the field can count birds coming to feeders, whether their own or a friend’s. Contact RL for info on how to do a Feeder Watch. Very simple and doesn’t take much time.However, all birds noted or counted during Count Week, Count Day and Feeder Watch must be within the confines of the Count Circle (see 4 above).
After the count, we will compile the results at a pot luck at Libby Burtner’s house. Libby will provide soup or chili and bread; guests may bring salads, drinks or desserts if they like. Directions to the house will be provided the morning of the count.

Hey folks, i am currently watching a first-year Northern Parula on Idaho
State University campus. Location: 42.8639, -112.4318. In between the
library and technical institute. Public parking is not very close
unfortunately and the bird is moving a lot trying to find food. It just
flew northeast about 50 meters to another tree.
I’m super glad i keep an extra pair of binocs in the car to get digiscope
photos for these instances!

Austin Young
Pocatello

—
Austin Young
Twin Falls, ID
austinyoung224@gmail.com

8 hooded mergansers at the Shakespeare ponds. First pond on the right as you walk in. 2 male 6 mix female/juvenile

Bob,

I found a couple white-winged crossbill mixed in with approximately 25 Red Crossbill in the northeast corner of Rose Hill Cemetery on my lunch break today. Both male and female. I followed the sound and finally found a couple with white wing bars after sifting through many Red Crossbill. There may have been as much as four feeding in the tops of the conifers.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Saturday afternoon, approximately 1000 gulls were congregated at the
north end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, from downtown to Wolf Lodge Bay. Few were
visible from Independence Point/City Beach in downtown CDA, so I continued
on to Blue Creek Bay, where 400-500 individuals included a first year
GLAUCOUS GULL and the or an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. A scope is
generally required to view gulls at this location. The Glaucous soon
disappeared while I was looking elsewhere, but I later relocated it
immediately off of the main parking area on the south side of Wolf Lodge
Bay. There were MANY Eagle Peepers present, and they looked at me like I
was crazy, watching and photographing the gulls while ignoring the
congregating eagles.

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

Howdy,
I drove around AFR this afternoon counting groups of TRSW in the fields. They are widely scattered along route 39 from north of Aberdeen to beyond Springfield. Group sizes varied between 10 and 100. There was one mortality under a power lines by the Springfield-Taber Road. One of the swans east of Springfield had yellow feet, a mutation I saw last year. There are also groups along Philbin and Rio Vista Roads on the Fort Hall Reservation.
Good Birding,
Chuck Trost

Always forward, never straight…

I birded today from Sandpoint to the Canadian Border. It felt awfully
brisk all day after 60 degrees in Lewiston yesterday. I started at the
Sandpoint Fish Hatchery with a MARSH WREN and about 40 COMMON REDPOLLS.
Sandpoint City Beach had lots of birds, including ~600 Common Mergansers
and a few Greater Scaup. At Hawkins Point I had 40-50 Red-necked Grebes, a
handful of Red-breasted Mergansers, and about 6 Bonaparte’s Gulls. The
Driftwood Yard at the Clark Fork Delta had a few more Greater Scaup and a
small flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, which have been sparse so far this fall.

Onward to Boundary County, waterfowl were laying low and running scared in
the Kootenai River Valley. A Common Loon was my Boundary County first at
Kerr Lake (scope-able from the intersection of West Side and Copeland
Roads, west of the community of Copeland). At Boundary Creek WMA, the
second to last bird was the best one of the day. I watched as a PACIFIC
LOON swam down the Kootenai River from Idaho, past the confluence with
Boundary Creek, and into Canada for TWO more quick county ticks. I
finished the day with a Great Horned Owl along Kerr Lake Road at dusk

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

Was able to squeeze in almost an hour of birding at Mann Lake today. Got
the PALM WARBLER! Lifer! Thanks again Carl! Also, got nice views and photos
of a Marsh Wren. Heard some chip notes that may have been Swamp Sparrow but
then the kids were ready for the next adventure and we had to go. Maybe I
can head back for more fun on Sunday?

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40710828

Good Birding,

John Hanna
Lewiston, Idaho