Fun to see these species being reported in N ID during our drive across S Canada through their expected breeding ranges, hearing/seeing them daily =)
Today we saw that the Central Flyway is alive and well, tallying 118 species this morning in SW Saskatchewan =)
Whilst shopping for old licence plates (we collect them), we saw this plaque: “We don’t skinny dip, we chunky dunk”
Still sampling eBird hot spots along the Trans Canada Highway ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Larry and Missy
Quick post to share that late afternoon yesterday Heidi & I easily found Alec’s bird right at the location of his eBird checklist – in fact, it was the first bird we heard singing when we opened the car doors! As an added bonus, after ~15 minutes we both started hearing a second Alder Flycatcher counter-singing ~200 yards upslope – we tried for a recording but that 2nd bird never came close to the road and we didn’t feel up for bushwhacking :-). Might add evidence to the idea that Alec’s bird is on a summer territory – & could this end up as a breeding location? Any others up & down the road???
Here’s our eBird list (ebird.org/view/checklist/S46709335) that includes a digiscope pic Heidi got of the (relatively) close Alder singing and a digiscope video I got in which you can hear the song (if you turn up the volume) as well as make out the greenish hue on the back.
Great find Alec and thanks to folks who’ve kept the reports coming!
Jay
I found two Blue Grosbeaks at Camas NWR (Jefferson County) this evening. The birds were at the southern end of Toomey Pond, which is the big pond at the south end of the auto loop. The birds were in dead willows along a road that heads south from Toomey Pond (this road is closed to vehicles). The mosquitoes are very thick and aggressive. The birds were very skittish. I was able to get a coule of distant photograph of the male (a bird born last year as it is mostly brown). Please don’t play tapes, I’m guessing these birds will try to nest. This location is about .5 miles from a pair of birds that were found last fall at Camas (I wonder if one or both of these birds was born at Camas last year).
Photos can be seen on bird checklist here:https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46711426
Darren Clark
Rexburg, ID
Scott Weidensaul has a column in the July/August issue of Bird Watchers Digest about his hearing loss, relevant to us geezer birders who often take our hearing for granted, eh?
just an FYI note from latitude 49, somewhere in Manitoba, where we are enjoying an array of Purple Martin vocals…… =)
Larry
Today, while trying to come up with my Highly Recommended Daily Allowance of
40 birds, I was scanning the back pond at Esther Simplot, the pond parallel
to Veterans Pond. There were, as usual, a few gulls flying around, but I
suddenly realized that one had black on its head, and then I realized it
wasn’t a gull at all. The CATE flew down the length of the pond, turned
around and then headed back. I think he wanted to make sure I got the ID
right because he flew within 20 yards of me as I followed him with my 10
powers. I think he especially wanted me to see his red beak, which was
stunning.
Since I knew I had seen a Caspian Tern in the same location in the last
year, I did a quick search of the IBLE discussions on the Yahoo site and
found that I reported one from this location at the end of June last year
and again in early July. (Ironically, had I not been in that exact location
for the few minutes it took him to make a down and back pass, I never would
have seen him. Luck and timing!)
Tom McCabe, Boise
Sounds great to me. I agree then.
Michael D. Hunter
+1-435-830-2285
From: Cliff and Lisa Weisse [mailto:CliffandLisa@octobersetters.com]
Sent: 17 June, 2018 4:33 PM
To: Michael Hunter; ‘Charles Swift’; ‘inland birders’; ‘IBLE’
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Boundary County (ID) Alder Flycatcher update
For the record there is not an accepted/documented record for Alder Flycatcher in Idaho. Yet. This one is very well documented and I expect will be accepted. A great find…
Cliff
On 06/17/2018 09:18 AM, Mike Hunter mhunter@domtec.com [ible] wrote:
This is a certainly a great find, and indeed rare.
I don’t think it’s a first for the State of Idaho however. In May of 2014 several persons, including myself, saw and heard an Alder Flycatcher at the Camas National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County (about 30 miles North of Idaho Falls). It was there for several days. I saw and heard it on the 24th of that month. I didn’t file a rare bird sighting, assuming others who had found it before me had done so.
Michael D. Hunter
Rigby, Idaho
+1-435-830-2285
From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Charles Swift chaetura@gmail.com [ible]
Sent: 16 June, 2018 9:34 AM
To: inland birders; IBLE
Subject: [IBLE] Boundary County (ID) Alder Flycatcher update
Still present as of Friday (6/15), for more information and precise location see eBird checklists:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46514564
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46573727
—
Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
chaetura@gmail.com
—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
For the record there is not an accepted/documented record for Alder
Flycatcher in Idaho. Yet. This one is very well documented and I expect
will be accepted. A great find…
Cliff
On 06/17/2018 09:18 AM, Mike Hunter mhunter@domtec.com [ible] wrote:
>
> This is a certainly a great find, and indeed rare.
>
> I don’t think it’s a first for the State of Idaho however. In May of
> 2014 several persons, including myself, saw and heard an Alder
> Flycatcher at the Camas National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County
> (about 30 miles North of Idaho Falls). It was there for several days.
> I saw and heard it on the 24^th of that month. I didn’t file a rare
> bird sighting, assuming others who had found it before me had done so.
>
> Michael D. Hunter
>
> Rigby, Idaho
>
> +1-435-830-2285
>
> *From:*ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] *On Behalf
> Of *Charles Swift chaetura@gmail.com [ible]
> *Sent:* 16 June, 2018 9:34 AM
> *To:* inland birders; IBLE
> *Subject:* [IBLE] Boundary County (ID) Alder Flycatcher update
>
> Still present as of Friday (6/15), for more information and precise
> location see eBird checklists:
>
> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46514564
>
> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46573727
>
> —
>
> Charles Swift
>
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> chaetura@gmail.com
>
>
—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
This is a certainly a great find, and indeed rare.
I don’t think it’s a first for the State of Idaho however. In May of 2014 several persons, including myself, saw and heard an Alder Flycatcher at the Camas National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County (about 30 miles North of Idaho Falls). It was there for several days. I saw and heard it on the 24th of that month. I didn’t file a rare bird sighting, assuming others who had found it before me had done so.
Michael D. Hunter
Rigby, Idaho
+1-435-830-2285
From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Charles Swift chaetura@gmail.com [ible]
Sent: 16 June, 2018 9:34 AM
To: inland birders; IBLE
Subject: [IBLE] Boundary County (ID) Alder Flycatcher update
Still present as of Friday (6/15), for more information and precise location see eBird checklists:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46514564
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46573727
—
Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
chaetura@gmail.com
I’ve been thinking of asking some questions too.
I track hummer feeder rates, retired but still a number crazed engineer, and ytd this year is emptying rate is running down 2/3 vs 2017, and last year was down a ways from the previous year. Frantic evening feeder use continues, but rates remain down. Using sugar water consumption to do abundance, my hummer flock is way down. Any thoughts or links to studies? I saw some comments on bird West Nile, but ??
My swallow flock is down too. I’ll check species tomorrow. Bluebirds and house wrens welcome the lower competition.
When I was up in the park mid May, birds seemed a week or two behind, anecdotally of course. Any other delayed appearance observations?
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom
> On Jun 16, 2018, at 4:29 PM, lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
>
> Just an interesting observation. I usually have Tree Swallows being very common by this time of year. This season, however, Violet-Green Swallows are quite common with only a handful of Trees around. Haven’t figured out the reason. Thoughts?
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
>
Just an interesting observation. I usually have Tree Swallows being very common by this time of year. This season, however, Violet-Green Swallows are quite common with only a handful of Trees around. Haven’t figured out the reason. Thoughts?
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot