Bewicks Wrens are present here, above us in the foothills east of Emmett,
for the first time. They like the willow and alder thickets in the
crevasses of the hills, but I have also seen them in the sage brush, and
more than just one is sticking around. I wondered if it wasn’t because of
denser, more abundant habitat due to heavy spring rains.

Speaking of numbers, we have a couple of extra YB Chats, more Says Phoebes,
a surprising flock of lesser Goldfinches sticking around, but fewer
Black-chinned hummers, the Red-tailed hawks that were sitting on their
usual nest have disappeared, and I’m rarely spying a Swainson, typically
have a couple of nesting pairs. Yellow warblers, Bullocks Orioles, and
Western Kingbird numbers seem stable.

Curious year.

Liz
Emmett

I wanted to post this note and see what others have noticed about Bewick’s Wrens. In my experience this year they seem to be everywhere. And either they weren’t here in prior years, at least in these numbers, or I was just oblivious to their presence – which is entirely possible.

My Bewick’s Wren story starts with the post Cheryl Huizinga made on May 29 about having at least 3 singing along Kingfisher Trail in Deer Flat NWR. I was not that familiar with their vocalizations, so I studied up before heading out to Kingfisher Trail in search of the Indigo Bunting. Sure enough I also heard 3 Bewick’s Wren’s and got good photos of one. A new bird on my Idaho Life List. Then June 2 Jim Lyons and I birded Currant Creek Trail in north Boise. One of the first birds I heard caught my attention – another Bewick’s Wren. We got good views of it. (I also went back there today and captured great recordings of its song. See my eBird list from today.) And, in researching past lists at that hotspot, Bewick’s Wrens were reported by Jason Talbot on April 19 this year and Julie Morgan and Cheryl had one last year in May 2018. Now that I am comfortable with their song I have been on the lookout for them. I have heard likely at least 3 different individuals along Crane Creek as it passes through the Crane Creek Golf Course, and to top it all off, I have one frequently passing through my yard in the Highlands area of Boise.

I see from the e-Bird range maps that Bewick’s Wrens have many reports from SW Idaho. But to me they seem to be undergoing a population explosion this year.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

Scott

Well my own indication of the beginning of fall migration arrived today with a few spectacular Rufous hummers guarding the feeders. Bright plumage and feisty, may need to put up a fifth feeder. They are a full week earlier than last couple years. I only see Rufous on their way south. Overall Hummer numbers, based on feeder depletion, are ahead of previous years by a couple weeks, 44 so far.

House Wrens nested in garage, better then under plow truck. It seems Sandhills successfully nested and fledged, dodging coyotes, foxes, bobcats, cougars and misc. dogs, Hooray.

However for first time in twenty years no Bluebirds nesting. Anyone else seeing lack of bluebirds? I have 10+ houses up but just swallows.

Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom

Sunday, June 16 I walked Bethine Church Trail along the Boise River from
Spring Hill Suites to Barber Park and return. I wore binoculars, but chose
to walk first for exercise and not stop to search for birds. But then I saw
a fellow with a rather large camera lens crouched low at the edge of the
path concentrating on a dead snag. Of course, I stopped to ask. He was
focused on a small hole where a baby woodpecker head was poked out part
way, constantly calling. In a few minutes an adult male flew in, stuck its
head in the hole and flew off. The youngster continued its watching and
calling. The woodpecker was very likely a Downy based on the brief look.

During my return walk I stopped to look at birds along the nearly three
mile return route. I did submit that list to ebird. I am very much a novice
to that process and not yet comfortable with it.

Another Downy Woodpecker feeding scenario was quite exciting. First I heard
incessant high-pitched calling from rather high on a dead snag next to the
path, a different snag than the earlier observation. There happened to be a
large log bench in a clearing across the path where I stationed myself to
watch. Very shortly a male Downy Woodpecker flew in, put its head inside
the hole then flew to a close branch and sat momentarily before flying to
the side of the snag where it pecked at dead wood for several minutes. I
used my phone to video that activity. I was still recording when the female
flew in, stuck her head in the hole, then flew out to the same branch where
the male had been. He took off at some point when the female arrived or
shortly thereafter. The female feked her beak, shook herself, then flew
off. I continued my walk.

Very near the end of my walk was another delightful surprise. I spotted a
male Yellow Warbler fly across the path in front of me to land in a shrubby
area next to the river. It was actually a stand of young cottonwoods. I
focused on him, saw the red streaking and then noticed the NEST! He
disappeared, a female appreared, flew to a near branch for a few seconds,
then flew away. She actually went back to sit on the nest. I used my phone
to take a photo and a video, but have difficulty seeing the nest. It was a
challenge to see it when I was there even with a nearby stationary visual
clue.

Here’s my list:
Downy Woodpecker feeding young M, F
Yellow Warbler on nest M, F
American Kestrel
American Robin eating cherries
European Starling
House/European Sparrow
Swallow sp.
Gull sp.
Flycatcher sp.
Gray Catbird
Northern Flicker red-shafted
Black-capped Chickadee
Great Blue Heron in flight
Hummingbird sp.
Common Nighthawk in flight
Mourning Dove
Mallard
Mute Swan

Birds are getting noisy again after a quiet period, so my guess is there
are lots of young now being fed or looking for food.
Enjoy the little surprises.

Diann Stone Boise Depot Bench