Happy holidays everyone!  And thanks to CBC participants in Boise & elsewhere – one of my favorite birding times of year 🙂

We (& by we I mean mostly RL who has done the heavy-lifting on this count for years 🙂 are still collecting data from all the groups and prepping for a #s count on all species but we can report that we encountered 100 species on the dot on count day and an additional 4 count-week species for 104 species in the count period – one of the best years ever.  Though we’re still awaiting the #s tally, the impression of many at the post-count dinner (thanks again Libby!) is that #s were down for at least a few species/groups, possibly especially sparrows.  TBD.
We had more hikers in the foothills – especially the higher elevation areas – than ever (at least recent memory) and that helped us turn up a several species not found elsewhere, like Clark’s Nutcrackers, as well as more Golden Eagles than usual.  Thus, I think we’ll have to keep recruiting adventurous hikers!

Highlights (I’m likely leaving out a few :-):
– Golden-crowned Sparrow – 2nd appearance, found by RL (I think Marianne Williams Park)
– Say’s Phoebe (2nd time)
– Clark’s Nutcracker (4th time)
– Brown-headed Cowbird (4th time)
– Bewick’s Wren (5th time)
– Yellow-headed Blackbird (5th time)
– D.C. Cormorant (6th time)
– Osprey (6th time)

– Canvasback (9th time)

– W.B. Nuthatch (10th time)
– Red Crossbill (10th time)

– likely a record # of Golden Eagles (10 were counted in 1998 & I *think* we beat that)
– Red-naped Sapsucker (6th time) – 2 elusive individuals on the day but good for count week
– American Tree Sparrow – count week

Key “Misses”:
– Ring-necked Pheasant
– American Dipper (lots of human activity at usual spot below diversion dam)
– Western Meadowlark
Good luck on the rest of the CBCs!
Jay

I needed a break from my desk and took an impromptu walk over to the UI
Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Moscow early this afternoon. There were
(finally) many birds in the crabapple area at the upper end, and I quickly
encountered a calling female PURPLE FINCH in the far NE side, feeding in
crab apples east of the trail and kiosk area. Unfortunately, I didn’t have
a real camera with me, but my notes (and a basically-useless cell phone
photo) can be seen in my eBird checklist (
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41218621). Maybe I’ll get back in
there, with a better camera, in coming days. There were up to 200
waxwings, the most I’ve seen around Moscow this winter, dominated by Cedars
but including a couple dozen Bohemians.

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

At “my” end of the greenbelt, DC Cormorants have apparently departed. But
the Osprey continues near 50th St., today joined by a Cooper’s Hawk.

And Pine Siskins are trying to take over my yard (and I approve!). Plus the
6 W. Turkeys have become local “ho-hums.” Twice today I pointed out the
Turkeys-in 2 different locations-and each time the response was “Oh yeah,
they’re here all the time.”

Tom McCabe, Boise

P.S. I also would love to see an update on the CBC.

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ‘Larry
Arnold’ larnold47@cableone.net [ible]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 6:47 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] random synapses

Idaho CBCs – Feels like none have happened yet, since I see no reports on
IBLE of numbers tallied, whether above or below recent averages, missing
species, new species for given counts, high counts, rarities to chase, yada
yada. I must be spoilt by counts elsewhere across the country, where count
summaries are often posted immediately, followed by updates as count weeks
come to a close. I suppose it is what it is, eh?

Interesting year in Idaho – 329 sp reported so far, with 172 sp in January
alone, beginning with a lingering “mega” Red-flanked Bluetail (found by John
Hanna in late Dec 2016), a first state record Great-crested Flycatcher
(found by Hilary Turner in late August), lumpage of gulls (Thayer’s into
Iceland), split of crossbills (Cassia from Red), rearrangement of stretches
of phylo (e.g., waterfowl, chicken birds, a lonely chat with no obvious
cousins, icterids, finches, poof! all jumbled up), 35+ great rarities were
reported and this isn’t counting record early or late sightings.

Birds hereabouts this morning – About our norm for this time of year, 39 sp,
in our usual stretch of Greenbelt in west Boise (three miles each way by
bike), with nothing unexpected. Maybe best was a Bewick’s Wren (no longer
rare here), and increasing numbers of thistle monsters – goldfinches and
siskins – storming our feeders between appearances of accipiters.

Good Boid’n!

Larry

Idaho CBCs – Feels like none have happened yet, since I see no reports on
IBLE of numbers tallied, whether above or below recent averages, missing
species, new species for given counts, high counts, rarities to chase, yada
yada. I must be spoilt by counts elsewhere across the country, where count
summaries are often posted immediately, followed by updates as count weeks
come to a close. I suppose it is what it is, eh?

Interesting year in Idaho – 329 sp reported so far, with 172 sp in January
alone, beginning with a lingering “mega” Red-flanked Bluetail (found by John
Hanna in late Dec 2016), a first state record Great-crested Flycatcher
(found by Hilary Turner in late August), lumpage of gulls (Thayer’s into
Iceland), split of crossbills (Cassia from Red), rearrangement of stretches
of phylo (e.g., waterfowl, chicken birds, a lonely chat with no obvious
cousins, icterids, finches, poof! all jumbled up), 35+ great rarities were
reported and this isn’t counting record early or late sightings.

Birds hereabouts this morning – About our norm for this time of year, 39 sp,
in our usual stretch of Greenbelt in west Boise (three miles each way by
bike), with nothing unexpected. Maybe best was a Bewick’s Wren (no longer
rare here), and increasing numbers of thistle monsters – goldfinches and
siskins – storming our feeders between appearances of accipiters.

Good Boid’n!

Larry

The Nampa CBC count week starts on Wednesday, not today as mentioned in my previous email. I must be hoping that the work week ends quickly.

Sorry for any confusion.

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

Good morning fellow birders.

Today starts the count week for the Nampa CBC. If you are birding in the city of Nampa, Caldwell and points north, south, and west please let Cheryl Huizinga or I know of any unusual birds. You can find the Nampa map on the IBO page.

https://ibo.boisestate.edu/cbcs/#Boise

See you on Saturday!

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

From what I understand it is ok to occasionally post for sell information on the listserve. I have 3 pair of binoculars for sale of varying type and price and all purchased new by me recently (last 2 to 4 years). All three are suitable as gifts since they include the original boxing/brochures etc. and are, as far as I can tell, in perfect condition (please make your own determination my visiting me at my Boise residence or I can send photos and ship (for a nominal fee)). For each binocular pair I’m asking approximately 60% of the current manufacturers’ list price. Depending on the manufacturer the warranty may still apply, but you’d have to make that determination. Call me if you are interested and we can discuss the particulars: Tad Blank, 208-286-1923.
They are listed below in order of descending pricing:

Vortex, Razor HD, 10 X 42

Vortex, Viper HD, 8 X 32

Zeiss, Terra ED, 8 X 42.

With most streets in the North End dry, and most of the greenbelt dry, I was
able to bike today after a 2 day hiatus. Lots of the usual suspects, plus 2
Merlins, 3 RT Hawks, 1 Bald Eagle, and the continuing Osprey. It was again
just east of where 50th St. intersects the river, and again eating a fish
while BB Magpies waited for leftovers. Then, late in the day, while walking
the dog, I encountered the “North End Turkeys” at 19th and Lemp. Five
females and a Tom, and they walked right towards me and drove the dog crazy.
😉

And last Thursday I was able to achieve my annual goal of 4,000 miles on my
bike. I was afraid I would miss out this year, because of the snowpocalypse
in January and February, as well as greenbelt closures from high water, but
by not taking a day off since late August, I made it. This is my 6th year of
4,000 miles. I hope it will be easier in 2018.

Tom McCabe, Boise

unreal to think about the “recent” sapsucker winter parade in Boise, seemingly a phenom over the last few years!?
Larry

—– Original Message —–

From: “Cliff and Lisa Weisse cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com [ible]”
To: “Carl Lundblad” , “Jason Talbot”
Cc: “IBLE To Post”
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 3:56:36 PM
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise

The white supercilium is also very narrow, consistent with Red-naped and not as wide as I’d expect on Yellow-bellied. Based on the photos I’m not sure there’s a reason to suspect this isn’t a pure Red-naped???

Cliff

On 12/15/2017 02:41 PM, Carl Lundblad carl.lundblad@gmail.com [ible] wrote:

I’m a little rusty on sapsuckers, but the additional photos help rule out a pure yellow-bellied because, in addition to the extensive red on the nape, the white/creamy barring on the back is arranged into 2 neat rows divided by a distinct black stripe, whereas a yellow-bellied would show broader white (or golden) barring all the way down the back, not strongly arranged in 2 narrow and separate rows.

The better-lit photos from RL (is it definitely the same individual?) make me wonder if we can even rule out a pure red-naped. Jason’s original photo looked like the bird has a thick and complete black border all the way around the red throat patch, but on RL’s photos you can see that there is extensive bleeding of red into the black border, such that it no longer looks particularly complete.

Interesting bird and a great find for CBC week (and hopefully refound tomorrow), regardless.

Carl Lundblad,
Moscow, ID

On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 1:19 PM, Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com > wrote:

[ Attachment(s) from Jason Talbot included below]
Attached are a couple more photos from RL

On Friday, December 15, 2017, 1:42:41 PM MST, Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com > wrote:

[ Attachment(s) from Jason Talbot included below]
I found a possible YBSA at Morris Hill Cemetery today. Attached is a poor photo. I called RL and he took some better photos. We can’t rule out hybrid right now. I’ll send better photos later. I wanted to send this out in case you wanted to see it today in case it is a YBSA.

Section M in big pine behind section M and P signs directly west of yellow building at entrance.

The biggest thing for me was the thicker black line all the way around the red throat. It had more red on the nape than I’d like but it’s a lighter red (pinkish). It also had yellow surrounding black bib. The rear crown feathers were raised to form a crest when I first saw it. I realize there is variability between RNSA & YBSA in everything I mentioned but I’ll send out better photos for better input. I’m not sure what to look for in hybrids.

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

The white supercilium is also very narrow, consistent with Red-naped and
not as wide as I’d expect on Yellow-bellied. Based on the photos I’m not
sure there’s a reason to suspect this isn’t a pure Red-naped???

Cliff

On 12/15/2017 02:41 PM, Carl Lundblad carl.lundblad@gmail.com [ible] wrote:
> I’m a little rusty on sapsuckers, but the additional photos help rule
> out a pure yellow-bellied because, in addition to the extensive red on
> the nape, the white/creamy barring on the back is arranged into 2 neat
> rows divided by a distinct black stripe, whereas a yellow-bellied
> would show broader white (or golden) barring all the way down the
> back, not strongly arranged in 2 narrow and separate rows.
>
> The better-lit photos from RL (is it definitely the same individual?)
> make me wonder if we can even rule out a pure red-naped.  Jason’s
> original photo looked like the bird has a thick and complete black
> border all the way around the red throat patch, but on RL’s photos you
> can see that there is extensive bleeding of red into the black border,
> such that it no longer looks particularly complete.
>
> Interesting bird and a great find for CBC week (and hopefully refound
> tomorrow), regardless.
>
> Carl Lundblad,
> Moscow, ID
>
> On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 1:19 PM, Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com
> [ible] > wrote:
>
> [Attachment(s) <#m_-4404947117027617330_TopText> from Jason Talbot
> included below]
> Attached are a couple more photos from RL
>
> On Friday, December 15, 2017, 1:42:41 PM MST, Jason Talbot
> jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible]
> > wrote:
>
>
> [Attachment(s) <#m_-4404947117027617330_TopText> from Jason Talbot
> included below]
> I found a possible YBSA at Morris Hill Cemetery today. Attached is
> a poor photo. I called RL and he took some better photos. We can’t
> rule out hybrid right now. I’ll send better photos later. I wanted
> to send this out in case you wanted to see it today in case it is
> a YBSA.
>
> Section M in big pine behind section M and P signs directly west
> of yellow building at entrance.
>
> The biggest thing for me was the thicker black line all the way
> around the red throat. It had more red on the nape than I’d like
> but it’s a lighter red (pinkish). It also had yellow surrounding
> black bib. The rear crown feathers were raised to form a crest
> when I first saw it. I realize there is variability between RNSA &
> YBSA in everything I mentioned but I’ll send out better photos for
> better input. I’m not sure what to look for in hybrids.
>
>
>

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com