According to Emmett Ranger Dist this a.m., Sagehen Res is closed until 8/31 for logging ops. We keep hiking the hills around it and other than a (lucky) brief windy day in early May, looks like we won’t have access to the trail until fall.
And speaking of birds, some of the local home haircuts around here, including the frightening one in my mirror, are starting to resemble horned larks… minus the cute factor.
Joyous July birding to all,
Liz Medes
Emmett, the east side
Maybe it is a fosters that dipped its bill in some dark swampy mud. I guess im getting bored
On Tuesday evening, I made a last-minute trip to see the HUDSONIAN GODWIT that Jethro Runco found at Boundary Creek WMA (Boundary County) on Monday morning. I arrived at six PM during a merciful break in the rain and quickly found the Godwit foraging near the SW portion of the main/largest pond. As I was watching, a surprise TUNDRA SWAN (unexpected in July) flew in and landed nearby. I returned to the WMA early this morning and could not relocate the Godwit, so it has probably moved on, despite poor and rainy conditions continuing overnight.
On my way home to Moscow, I stopped at Sandpoint City Beach, thinking I was crazy to do so in heavy rain and a 50 degree temperature. Immediately I found a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER that appears to be the earliest southbound (“fall) record for all of Idaho in eBird. 3 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were also present.
Good Birding,
Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID
essential reading every year, thank you Denise !!!
=)
Not sure how many people follow the annual bird checklist change each year but here is a link to the changes for 2020.
Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho
well geeeze, I see a couple of nearby reports in eBird, like…….
San Francisco CA, a mere 700 mi LOS, but can a GBTE fly a straight line? 😉
and
Liberal KS, a mere 800 miles LOS, if it flew straight
intriguing…. but does the person reporting have much experience with GBTE, like with their flight pattern and foraging strategy…?
A torturous one here… I’m helping the Intermountain Bird Observatory YB Cuckoo survey crew and last night ~815pm we were on McTucker Island when I saw a medium-sized tern with a thick black bill flew by heading downriver towards the reservoir. More description in this eBird list – I have it under “tern sp.” as I’m struggling to believe it myself but I can’t make it into any other tern species 🤔🤔. Back on McTucker now & just had 3 Forster’s – a very different look & build.
I’ll plan to look above and below the dam tomorrow after surveys and before heading back to Boise & figured I’d post this looooong shot for anyone birding the area to keep their eyes peeled.
Based on plumage, it was most similar to a non-breeding adult in Sibley – only some small dark “ear” patches, not a full black cap.
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
