Hummer fans,
I thought this was another hoax, similar to one that came out about ten years ago on April Fools Day about a “Cave Hummer.”
But this is looking real, maybe? Anyone else heard about it on other list serves?

Anyway, pix of the male Blue-throated Hillstar are stunning!
Larry

—–Original Message—–
From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) [mailto:BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.KSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Devorah the Ornithologist
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2018 9:03 AM
To: BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.KSU.EDU
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Newly Discovered Hummingbird Species Is Already Endangered

Hello everyone,

Just thought I’d hare a pice I published a few days ago about a

newly-discovered hummingbird species was found high up in Ecuador’s Andes

Mountains. Despite the elevation of its home, this species is threatened by

human activities, so it is already recognized as Critically Endangered

Newly Discovered Hummingbird Species Is Already Endangered

http://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2018/09/30/newly-discovered-hummingbird-species-is-already-endangered/

tinyURL: https://tinyurl.com/ybnfjpq4

i hope you find this piece interesting and educational.

—

GrrlScientist | @GrrlScientist

grrlscientist@gmail.com

Howdy,
I went looking for Steve’s jaegers this afternoon between the AFR dam and the Willow Bay marina, again with no luck. But there were plenty of shorebirds which included 7 species and 145 individuals: 1 Killdeer, 1Black-bellied Plover, 1Marbled Godwit, 136 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Least Sandpiper, 3 Baird’s Sandpipers, and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers. There were also about 20 Common Terns, with a few Forester’s mixed in resting on rocks and. Islands.
Good Birding!
Chuck Trost

Always forward, never straight…

Late this morning I had my first Dark-eyed Junco of the season feeding on
the ground in my yard. It was as a nice dark male Oregon. Handsome! I’ll be
looking and listening for more.

Diann Stone Boise Depot Bench

I spent the morning near the west end of American Falls Reservoir hoping
for the wide array of shorebirds, gulls, terns and waterfowl that many
birders have been enjoying recently. Unfortunately, I struck out on birds
like semipalmated plover and sandpiper, western sandpiper and black tern.
But that was more then made up for by sightings of 2 jaegers!

The first bird was seen while I was in the silo area, but it was further
east. I am hoping others get to see the bird, because I believe it was a
Pomarine. I have never had a good look at a pom before but I have been
able to get studying looks at parasitics. From the bat, this bird appeared
bigger and bulkier than a parasitic jaeger and the ring-billed gulls it was
chasing. I was surprised because it seemed to effortlessly close the gap
in the distance between it and the birds it was chasing, and each time the
gull would “put on the brakes” and swoop upward, but the jaeger was not
fooled and stayed w/ the bird. But, it would soon thereafter give up and
move on to other gulls to chase. It was a light phase adult.
Unfortunately, I could not see it well enough to confirm the twisted
central tail feathers, or other more fine-tuned field marks. I also see
that there are only 3 records in eBird for pomarine jaeger. Unless,
someone gets a better shot at it, it will remain in the category of “I bet
that was a pomarine.”

The second bird was a definite dark parasitic and I found it from the
Willow Bay pier. The differences in flight style and shape were immediately
noticeable. Also in contrast, it engaged gulls in long, twisting, turning,
tail chases. There may actually have been 2 dark parasitics because I
found birds in different telescope scans in far different locations, but I
know these birds can cover a lot of ground fast.

I hope the birds stay around long enough so others can see them.

Steven F. Kahl
Deputy Project Leader
Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex
4425 Burley Dr., Ste. A
Chubbuck, ID 83202
C (208) 252-0805
P (208) 237-6615 ext 112
F (208) 237-8213

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