I’m encouraged, Bill and Larry. As one just starting out in birding by way of recording birdsong soundscapes I’m impressed with the seemingly vast number of feathered friends one might become acquainted with. I’ve had the delight of meeting several in the group that appear to me to be unconscious competents at recognizing birds. It’s second nature to them. It’s reflexive. They still seem to love it, too. I’m open to being convinced, but I’m not convinced yet that I want to devote the endless effort required to becoming able to identify every last bird that crosses my path. I resonate to the proposition that there is joy in it at every level.
Kevin Merrell
hey Bill, easier birding works for us too………
what about gulls ? we’ve got to lump a bunch of gulls and their F1 crosses and F2 back-crosses before insanity strikes !!
and
the toppermost birders we’ve known over the last umpteen x 2 years have been repeatedly quoted…….” lump, lump, lump !!! “
while at St. Marks NWR in FL panhandle just S of Tallahassee a few months ago we got you a shirt featuring ” little brown jobs “
I hope we got your size right…….. haha
easier birding, more fun, less filling, tastes great !! hahahaha =) what’s football ?
LA
Ok, here comes a retiree easier birding email.
I’ve been birding and listing for about 50 years, both back east and out west for the last 35 years and was sent all over the country for work. I decided years ago that several types of birds should just be lumped, which spares me the effort to find difficult (at times esoteric) field marks to get a specific ID.
I now call all small streaky brown birds – “sparrows” all empids – flycatchers and especially all small shorebirds – shorebirds. All of them are on my life lists anyway and now I just enjoy watching them and leave the bird book on the windowsill or in my pocket when these pesky highly lumpable fellows get near me.
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl Rd
Inkom
Thanks. Never ocurred to me but I did note the white tail feathers in the photo. I saw an immature Junco at the house the other day. Did not put the bird at the house and the one up on the moutain together. The one at the house was darker brown on the chest but an adult Junco was feeding it so I assumed it was an immature which I had never seen before.
Yep. Pinkish bill for sure Jay.
My vote is “neither” 😁. An immature that looks superficially unlike its parents but the pinkish bill helps (& the white outer tail feather seen from beneath) … a Dark-eyed Junco.
I hit send too soon. The female chipping sparrow would show more striping about her eyes.
Dean
I believe this USA female Cassin’s finch.
Yesterday we were birding the top of Schweitzer Mountain and came across this bird. I thought at first it was a Cassin’s Finch but upon closer inspection of the photo today I am not so sure. It may be an immature Chipping Sparrow. Can anyone assist? Did not hear it call so no help there. Also sorry if this is duplicated, had trouble sending. Thanks, Linda
Speaking of rarified air, Larry, we were up at the border of Gem and Valley counties, at 8k ft, Wilson’s Peak, across from Snowbank Mtn. Here’s the checklist.
There was something else in Wilson’s Meadow warbling that I couldn’t quite nail down. It was a strenuous hike out so I was concentrating on keeping up with the pulmonary demands, especially when the two turkey vultures showed up above us… didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
I’ve noticed here at 2,700 ft some changes; rock wren are moving closer in to edges of town, as are horned larks. I’ve seen more eastern kingbirds than before, but sadly, hardly any hummers came through. Only have one set of black chinned. And the yellow breasted chats have quieted down to just a few whistles.
Liz Medes
Emmett
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