I was at Camas Refuge today, as well. A beautiful vee of Sandhill Cranes flew above us at the Refuge office when we first arrived, as well, sounding their hauntingly beautiful calls.

Kerry Fitzharris

> On Mar 26, 2019, at 12:45 PM, ‘Kahl, Steve’ Steve_Kahl@fws.gov [ible] wrote:
>
>
> The first Waterbird Survey of the season at Camas Refuge was conducted today and birds are starting to move in! Most of the refuge is still frozen, but the west half of Big Pond has open, shallow water.
>
> Results included Tundra Swan – 975, Trumpeter Swan – 186, Canada Goose – 60, Mallard – 3,571, Northern Pintail – 695, American Wigeon – 142, Northern Shoveler – 15, Green-winged Teal – 78, Canvasback – 24, Redhead – 8, Lesser Scaup – 11, Ring-necked Duck – 31, Common Goldeneye – 3, Ruddy Duck – 2, Common Merganser – 1, Hooded Merganser – 1, American Coot – 23, American White Pelican – 94, Great Blue Heron – 1.
>
> 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
>
> Like and follow us on Facebook !
>
>

The first Waterbird Survey of the season at Camas Refuge was conducted
today and birds are starting to move in! Most of the refuge is still
frozen, but the west half of Big Pond has open, shallow water.

Results included Tundra Swan – 975, Trumpeter Swan – 186, Canada Goose –
60, Mallard – 3,571, Northern Pintail – 695, American Wigeon – 142,
Northern Shoveler – 15, Green-winged Teal – 78, Canvasback – 24, Redhead –
8, Lesser Scaup – 11, Ring-necked Duck – 31, Common Goldeneye – 3, Ruddy
Duck – 2, Common Merganser – 1, Hooded Merganser – 1, American Coot – 23,
American White Pelican – 94, Great Blue Heron – 1.

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

*Like and follow us on Facebook
!*

When I found out the Plantation Island Bridge was being reopened today, I
decided to take advantage of the easier access it provides for downstream
bike rides. When I got to the bridge they were still having an opening
ceremony, so I had to hang out for a while. I already had 25 birds by that
time, and I was only shooting for a “Highly Recommended Daily Allowance” of
40 birds. Once I got past the politicians, I found my FOY Osprey on a light
tower at Hawk Stadium. Then I ran into Larry and Missy Arnold and we were
entertained by a very active Pacific Wren and some others.

Next I headed for Hyatt and found a number of birds that added to my tally,
including a FOY Ruddy Duck. By the time I left Hyatt, I had 41 birds and now
I was looking for 50 (you know how I like round numbers). The Bald Eagles
got me half way to 50, and Barrows Goldeneye and DC Cormorants put me even
closer. But as soon as I turned around, I got hit in the face with the winds
that had previously been helping me. So I put it in a lower gear and started
slogging.

I picked up a few stragglers on the way back, and my final tally was 52
birds in 25 miles. While only 2 are FOY birds, I did get a glimpse of some
swallows at Hyatt. Even though they were gone before I could get a firm ID,
swallows always boost my numbers. Migration is happening!

Tom McCabe, Boise

While we were exploring the Springfield area Saturday we bumped into a
birder who lives in that area. He says there were several thousand snow
geese around American Falls reservoir a couple weeks ago but they headed
north while the Mud Lake country was frozen. His guess was that they may
have overflown the snow country and headed straight up to the Freezeout
Lake area. He also had just seen a male European Wigeon in a flock of
wigeon on Yuma Road.

Saw no Trumpeters but saw Tundras on Springfield Lake, 1 with a blue
neckband. It posed in front of us and I sent the collar number in. Rather
amazing given how few Tundras are neckbanded.

Ruth Shea and Rod Drewien

wow, an alternate universe you describe, Cliff
we had about 5″ of precip last month in W Boise (per our little weather station), basically all of it as rain…
reminding us of summer monsoon in Albuquerque NM, 1996, and of hummingbirds!!
yes hummingbirds!

we inhaled plenty of insects on our recent shorebird quest around SW Idaho, cough cough

here, now, there are boocoo calling Say’s Phoebes

need migrants!!

LA

From: “Cliff and Lisa Weisse cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2019 6:29:23 PM
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Re: Bannock County Sightings

FWIW, I heard the firs Canada Geese heading north over the house in Island Park last night. No swans yet. We still have a lot of snow, although it has settled considerably during the warm weather we’ve had the past week or so – down to about three and a half feet in the yard.

Cliff
On 3/25/19 5:17 PM, Robert H Davis [ mailto:rhdavis@srv.net | rhdavis@srv.net ] [ible] wrote:

I saw about 550 Snow Geese last Saturday, flying just south of Mud Lake. But did not find any on the nearby fields.

Bob Davis

> On Mar 25, 2019, at 2:50 PM, [ mailto:lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com | lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com ] [ible] [ mailto:ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com | ] wrote:
>
> Like Steve, I’m seeing fewer Trumpeter Swans &, as of yet, have not seen nor heard any Tundras. Also, no Snow Geese. So, wondering, has anyone noted any Snow Geese on east side of the state? Perhaps, both Tundra Swans & Snow Geese migrated through farther to the west this spring, as there were reports of Snows on the west side of Idaho sev wks ago.
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
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—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho [ mailto:cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com | cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com ]

Thanks all. I’ll start listening at night as can usually hear Tundras “talking” while flying over after dark. And Snows are usually coming through about the same time, so will keep an eye out.

So far this afternoon, the only flock of white birds I’ve seen was a group of White Pelicans. And along the Snake back of the house, the Canada Geese down here have all paired up. Glad to hear the snow is settling Cliff. Was going to head up to the cabin this past weekend, but once it starts turning spring down here, I’m done with winter. Plus, fly-fishing the midge hatches has been great!

As I write this, the Blue Jay is loudly screeching at the feeder!

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

FWIW, I heard the firs Canada Geese heading north over the house in
Island Park last night. No swans yet. We still have a lot of snow,
although it has settled considerably during the warm weather we’ve had
the past week or so – down to about three and a half feet in the yard.

Cliff

On 3/25/19 5:17 PM, Robert H Davis rhdavis@srv.net [ible] wrote:
>
> I saw about 550 Snow Geese last Saturday, flying just south of Mud
> Lake. But did not find any on the nearby fields.
>
> Bob Davis
>
> > On Mar 25, 2019, at 2:50 PM, lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
> wrote:
> >
> > Like Steve, I’m seeing fewer Trumpeter Swans &, as of yet, have not
> seen nor heard any Tundras. Also, no Snow Geese. So, wondering, has
> anyone noted any Snow Geese on east side of the state? Perhaps, both
> Tundra Swans & Snow Geese migrated through farther to the west this
> spring, as there were reports of Snows on the west side of Idaho sev
> wks ago.
> >
> > Brian Carrigan
> > Blackfoot
> >
> > ————————————
> > Posted by: lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com
> > ————————————
> >
> > To Post a message, send it to: ible@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
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> > http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ible/lst
> > ————————————
> >
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> >
> >
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>

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

I saw about 550 Snow Geese last Saturday, flying just south of Mud Lake. But did not find any on the nearby fields.

Bob Davis

> On Mar 25, 2019, at 2:50 PM, lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:
>
> Like Steve, I’m seeing fewer Trumpeter Swans &, as of yet, have not seen nor heard any Tundras. Also, no Snow Geese. So, wondering, has anyone noted any Snow Geese on east side of the state? Perhaps, both Tundra Swans & Snow Geese migrated through farther to the west this spring, as there were reports of Snows on the west side of Idaho sev wks ago.
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
> ————————————
> Posted by: lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com
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>
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Hi Brian, et al,
Yes, on Saturday on a PVAS field trip we found between 5-7000 SNGO,with several ROGO mixed in a field off of Strang Rd., SW of Sterling. Also, Darren Clark reported several thousand near. Mud Lake WMA. Much of Am. Falls Res. Is still frozen, as is Mud Lake, so the geese and swans seem to be hanging around for ice out. I saw flocks of Tree Swallows yesterday at. Willow Bay Marina, and hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers are on the Snake below the dam.
Cheers,
Chuck Trost

Always forward, never straight…

> On Mar 25, 2019, at 2:50 PM, lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:
>
> Like Steve, I’m seeing fewer Trumpeter Swans &, as of yet, have not seen nor heard any Tundras. Also, no Snow Geese. So, wondering, has anyone noted any Snow Geese on east side of the state? Perhaps, both Tundra Swans & Snow Geese migrated through farther to the west this spring, as there were reports of Snows on the west side of Idaho sev wks ago.
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
>

Like Steve, I’m seeing fewer Trumpeter Swans &, as of yet, have not seen nor heard any Tundras. Also, no Snow Geese. So, wondering, has anyone noted any Snow Geese on east side of the state? Perhaps, both Tundra Swans & Snow Geese migrated through farther to the west this spring, as there were reports of Snows on the west side of Idaho sev wks ago.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot