Packsaddle, Estates NW Teton Valley-foothills of the Big Hole Mountains, Teton County
The snow storm brought in a flock of about 60 Gray-crowned Rosy-finch to our yard again this weekend. We had been seeing up to 200 this winter but they disappeared when the weather improved last week.
This morning April 2, I finally saw 2 Black Rosy-finch in the flock eating seeds on our deck. Got a few photos also. I had been looking for this species all winter so was thrilled to finally observe them.
The Black RF nest in the Teton Range in WY. The first graduate study on nesting BLRF will be completed later this year through the Univ of WY.
Snow is still falling here! The ground squirrels started to emerge last week also.
They floated over my house in the North End and caused the neighborhood Red-tailed Hawk some concern. I last saw them heading west.
Tom McCabe
From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of satuthill@cableone.net [ible]
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2018 9:15 AM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Turkey Vultures – Up close and personal
I am sure others have seen Turkey Vultures returning to Idaho for the year, but I haven’t. And, living in town if I see them at all from my house they are way up high and in the distance. So, I was quite surprised Friday night when I walked out onto my deck to light up the barbecue. As I walked out to the barbecue I heard some loud rustlings up above me. I stopped and looked in the top of the tall Cottonwood tree in my backyard and was quite surprised to see 20 Turkey Vultures roosting in the bare branches. I imagine they had planned on spending the night there. Well they were not that happy in seeing me, so within a minute or two they all flew off down the hill looking for a calmer place to spend the night. I hope they found one.
I am sure others have seen Turkey Vultures returning to Idaho for the year, but I haven’t. And, living in town if I see them at all from my house they are way up high and in the distance. So, I was quite surprised Friday night when I walked out onto my deck to light up the barbecue. As I walked out to the barbecue I heard some loud rustlings up above me. I stopped and looked in the top of the tall Cottonwood tree in my backyard and was quite surprised to see 20 Turkey Vultures roosting in the bare branches. I imagine they had planned on spending the night there. Well they were not that happy in seeing me, so within a minute or two they all flew off down the hill looking for a calmer place to spend the night. I hope they found one.
Scott Tuthill
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
