Sweet! But a bird in the yard is worth 3 in the bush, right? lol… I don’t mind being outdone! Great sightings… yes, the AMKE here definitely did not like having the Merlin around…

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________________________________
From: ible@yahoogroups.com on behalf of ‘Tom McCabe’ tmccabe9@cableone.net [ible]
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 9:03:00 PM
To: ‘IBLE’
Subject: [IBLE] A Merlin trio

I’m not trying to outdo Jonathan’s new yard bird, but at Esther Simplot today I found 3 Merlins within a stretch of 50 to 75 yards of river. I had not seen a Merlin there in a while, but they have over-wintered in that general vicinity for several years. So I was quite pleased when I found the first, surprised when I saw the second and amazed when I saw the third. They were each perched on a branch overhanging the river, and they seemed unperturbed by the serious destruction/construction that was going on nearby.
Another hundred yards or so up the river, I found an American Kestrel, which was surprising since the two types of falcon don’t seem to get along that well. I then found another AMKE in the park itself. From my vantage point I could see both at the same time. I also encountered a female AMKE across Whitewater Blvd., but it might have been one of the ones I’d already seen.
My impression is that the weather brought in a bunch of birds, since I saw multiple Hooded Mergansers in multiple places, plus my first male Common Merganser, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets seemed to be everywhere.
Tom McCabe, Boise

A very dark MERLIN flew over the river near the Payette brewery during
the marathon/runs on Sunday. Perhaps it will winter around Boise and the
Greenbelt. Good birding, Judy, jmeredit@bendnet.com

Well of course, now it showed up – 3 hours later, lol. I don’t think I did the link correctly though, so here are a couple pics attached instead…
Sorry about the confusion…I don’t know why there’s such a big delay in the email server. My first email never showed up, and my second email shows up 3 hours late…
Fyi…JB

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________________________________
From: ible@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Jonathan Barnett jrb4jc@hotmail.com [ible]
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 3:26:40 PM
To: IBLE
Subject: [IBLE] RE: New Yard Bird – Merlin

Here’s the link: https://ebird.org/edit/checklist?subID=S49605808
Fyi…

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________________________________
From: Jonathan Barnett
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 2:47:29 PM
To: IBLE
Subject: New Yard Bird – Merlin

Awhile ago today, I saw a small dark falcon fly across my view outside and then perch on a telephone pole.
I could tell it looked ‘different’, so I got my binocs on it and was elated to see my first ‘yard’ Merlin.
Interestingly, a male American Kestrel came up a minute later and chased it off, which was unique to watch.
After looking at it in my binocs, I was able to determine it was a Merlin.

OH MY WORD – I just looked out the window again, and it is perched back up on the pole with a Magpie hanging around it.
I will get pics and put in eBird.

Jonathan Barnett, Horseshoe Bend

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I sent a couple emails to IBLE earlier today about a Merlin that showed up here, but neither email has ever appeared in my Inbox – which it usually does. Did anyone receive them?
I’m seeing IBLE emails from other members today.
Thx, Jonathan, Horseshoe Bend

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Harris’ Sparrow still at the same place. Thanks Janet.

Bob,

> On Nov 1, 2018, at 10:32 AM, Janet Phillips janet.misty11@gmail.com [ible] wrote:
>
> Harris’s Sparrow Black’s Creek Reserve
> No Rusty BB yet
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>

I’m not trying to outdo Jonathan’s new yard bird, but at Esther Simplot
today I found 3 Merlins within a stretch of 50 to 75 yards of river. I had
not seen a Merlin there in a while, but they have over-wintered in that
general vicinity for several years. So I was quite pleased when I found the
first, surprised when I saw the second and amazed when I saw the third. They
were each perched on a branch overhanging the river, and they seemed
unperturbed by the serious destruction/construction that was going on
nearby.

Another hundred yards or so up the river, I found an American Kestrel, which
was surprising since the two types of falcon don’t seem to get along that
well. I then found another AMKE in the park itself. From my vantage point I
could see both at the same time. I also encountered a female AMKE across
Whitewater Blvd., but it might have been one of the ones I’d already seen.

My impression is that the weather brought in a bunch of birds, since I saw
multiple Hooded Mergansers in multiple places, plus my first male Common
Merganser, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets seemed to be everywhere.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Awhile ago today, I saw a small dark falcon fly across my view outside and then perch on a telephone pole.
I could tell it looked ‘different’, so I got my binocs on it and was elated to see my first ‘yard’ Merlin.
Interestingly, a male American Kestrel came up a minute later and chased it off, which was unique to watch.
After looking at it in my binocs, I was able to determine it was a Merlin.

OH MY WORD – I just looked out the window again, and it is perched back up on the pole with a Magpie hanging around it.
I will get pics and put in eBird.

Jonathan Barnett, Horseshoe Bend

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Yesterday deerflat n.w.r.w.of nampa red breasted mergansers. today no
luck on the rusty b.b. kuna sewage couple of common golden eyes one golden
eagle perched on nearby irrigation apparatus

Here’s the link: https://ebird.org/edit/checklist?subID=S49605808
Fyi…

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

________________________________
From: Jonathan Barnett
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 2:47:29 PM
To: IBLE
Subject: New Yard Bird – Merlin

Awhile ago today, I saw a small dark falcon fly across my view outside and then perch on a telephone pole.
I could tell it looked ‘different’, so I got my binocs on it and was elated to see my first ‘yard’ Merlin.
Interestingly, a male American Kestrel came up a minute later and chased it off, which was unique to watch.
After looking at it in my binocs, I was able to determine it was a Merlin.

OH MY WORD – I just looked out the window again, and it is perched back up on the pole with a Magpie hanging around it.
I will get pics and put in eBird.

Jonathan Barnett, Horseshoe Bend

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Jon gets the privilege! He’s planning on doing it.
Cheryl

Cheryl Huizinga
Caldwell, Idaho

> On Nov 1, 2018, at 1:07 PM, Shirley Sturts wrote:
>
> The Rusty Blackbird is a IBRC review bird – I hope one of you will do a rare bird report.
>
> Shirley Sturts
>
>> On Wed, Oct 31, 2018 at 10:59 AM Cheryl Huizinga bchuizinga@cableone.net [ible] wrote:
>> Jon Curd found a female Rusty Blackbird earlier this morning and I have since seen it again. Along east side of reservoir foraging around in mud and rusty red smartweed. Matches it habitat in coloration perfectly. Great sighting Jon! Thanks!
>> Cheryl
>>
>> Cheryl Huizinga
>> Caldwell, Idaho
>>
>>