[IBLE] shorebird quest yesterday

We were hoping for an avocet or curlew or yellowlegs yesterday somewhere in SW Idaho, none of which happened, but here’s our report:

Hagerman Valley – most of the wintering waterfowl had departed, but Lesser Scaup were numerous, and we found a treasure trove of night-herons.

Bruneau Duck Pond – much water, no mud, no shorebirds detected, but a new pedestrian access gate installed by Fish and Game means no more hassling with barbed wire fences to get in there with a scope !! =)

CJ Strike Jack’s Creek – very few birds on the open water, no grebes in sight (weird), but many gulls and Snow Geese, one LB Dowitcher was very early per the eBird bar chart, and a RB Merganser looked out of place because we typically see them below CJ Strike Dam, not out here

Ted Trueblood – no room for shorebirds on the little island where they tend to show up, island and pond were covered with Snow geese! We estimated 4600 of them among the Canada and GWF geese.

Indian Cr Res – much water, some exposed shoreline, 10+ killdeer, c’est tout for shorebirds, but a good mix of waterfowl

Black’s Cr Res – much water, no exposed mud, not even a killdeer present, and very few waterfowl

Nary a swallow anywhere all day, but 67 other species, including a Northern Shrike near Bliss, and a uniquely Sunny-Not-Windy day made for an awesome road trip.

Larry and Missy