Monthly Archives: October 2020

Listserv Posts

North Central Idaho Rarities

On Saturday October 24 and following Friday’s early winter storm, I birded in Latah and Nez Perce Counties.  My first stop was at the UI Dairy Ponds in Moscow, where the most notable bird was a late PECTORAL SANDPIPER.  More exciting was a LONG-TAILED DUCK at the Genesee Sewage Lagoon (https://ebird.org/checklist/S75295461), a first for this well-birded location, with a Marsh Wren (uncommon here, mostly in fall).  Next, I easily refound a group of 6-8 BLUE JAYS, a long-time Nez Perce County nemesis for me, adjacent to Jewett Park in Lewiston (https://ebird.org/checklist/S75298697).  Mann Lake had about 100 TUNDRA SWANS, some Snow and Cackling Geese, Bonaparte’s Gulls, at least 2 DUNLIN, and at least 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.

In the late afternoon, I came across 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS on Dry Creek Road, east of Troy in Latah County (https://ebird.org/checklist/S75361173).  Longspurs are very tough to locate in North Idaho, and this will be only the second eBird record for Latah County.  Kas Dumroese was later able to relocate them with 3 Snow Buntings!
Also yesterday afternoon, Ben Meredyk of Moscow discovered an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at the West Levee Pond in Lewiston (https://ebird.org/checklist/S75359854).  Ben and Mason Maron relocated the Black Duck late this morning and had it in view when I arrived.  It even flapped its wings a few times, providing nice views of the uniquely violet-blue speculum without any white lining.  Thanks, Ben, for finding a great state bird (pending acceptance by the IBRC) and to both of those guys for making it easy on me.
Two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were back at the UI Dairy Ponds in Moscow, this morning, and I relocated 5 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES that Neil Paprocki found yesterday on Darby Road, northeast of town.
On Friday, I had a single SURF SCOTER, at the St Maries Sewage Ponds in Benewah County, and Kas and Neil both observed 3 White-wigned Scoters (the first record for Latah County) yesterday at a now-frozen pond near Potlatch.
Some really great storm-facilitated October birding in North Central Idaho!
Carl Lundblad
Moscow, Idaho
Listserv Posts

Incredible ride today!

After falling on an icy patch on the boardwalk through the marsh at Esther Simplot Park (ESP), my ride improved incredibly. After getting all the usual suspects along the way to Silver Lake, I was surprised by a RED-NECKED GREBE out in the lake. Further out was a WESTERN GREBE, but the RNGR was a first of year bird. (Maybe first in several years).

Then when I got back to Lander St., I took a little tour around the pond that is between Lander St. and the Greenbelt. This has been great for my first A. Wigeons of the season, along with Wood Ducks and an occasional Gadwall. But today, as I cruised the length of the pond on the concrete path, I discovered a EURASIAN WIGEON, a bird I haven’t seen in years. He was in with a flock of AMWI’s, but he was red where they were green. Way cool.

Final fun bird was an immature SNOW GOOSE, at ESP, on the main pond nearest Quinn’s Pond. There’s a shallow area there with a yellow rope to keep the little kiddies safe, and the bird was in that vicinity.

Gee, I wonder what I’ll find tomorrow!

Tom McCabe, Boise

Listserv Posts

[eBird Alert] Ada County Rare Bird Alert

Not knowing whether many local birders receive these RBA’s, thought I’d share this interesting bunch of reports… colder weather inbound and tides are shifting, eyiyi……..

Larry

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: “ebird-alert” <ebird-alert@…>
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 9:50:03 PM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Ada County Rare Bird Alert <daily>

*** Species Summary:

– Ferruginous Hawk (1 report)
– Black-backed Woodpecker (1 report)
– Pinyon Jay (1 report)
– Snow Bunting (1 report)

———————————————
Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> Ada County Rare Bird Alert.The report below shows observations of rare birds in Ada County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN36228
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.

eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) (1)
– Reported Oct 16, 2020 10:00 by Evan Buck
– Intermountain Bird Observatory at Lucky Peak, Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.6056275,-116.0600716&ll=43.6056275,-116.0600716
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S75237903
– Media: 1 Photo
– Comments: “light morph, photo”

Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) (1)
– Reported Oct 18, 2020 10:00 by Evan Buck
– Intermountain Bird Observatory at Lucky Peak, Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.6056275,-116.0600716&ll=43.6056275,-116.0600716
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S75238188
– Comments: “clearly heard call note; has been at the site sporadically throughout the fall”

Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) (1)
– Reported Oct 16, 2020 10:00 by Evan Buck
– Intermountain Bird Observatory at Lucky Peak, Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.6056275,-116.0600716&ll=43.6056275,-116.0600716
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S75237903
– Media: 3 Photos
– Comments: “Nutcracker-sized and shaped bird with a light blue body/head and darker remiges. Head and face relatively uniform light blue, belly also clean blue; tail short. Relatively long, straight bill similar to CLNU. Strong direct flight, moving south with the wind. Seen well by both observers and I am familiar with the species. Managed photos but unfortunately out of focus; they still show light blue color and overall shape. Only other blue medium-large birds are steller’s jay, blue jay, and scrub-jays. Each species has longer tail and does not have an overall blue color – Steller’s has a dark head, blue/scrub jays have light bellies and different facial markings.”

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (1)
– Reported Oct 22, 2020 08:50 by Kyle Lima
– Intermountain Bird Observatory at Lucky Peak, Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.6056275,-116.0600716&ll=43.6056275,-116.0600716
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S75217770
– Comments: “Flyover ID by vocalizations only. Gave three series of a twitter call followed by a soft “tew.””

***********

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Listserv Posts

Re: Anna’s Hummingbird

I’ve had Anna’s in the past through the winter but they always came to the feeder so were Accustomed to that when flowers froze. My problem with these 2 this fall is they are not coming to feeder at all. I’ve used a heat lamp to keep feeder thawed in past and have it ready If/when those hummers figure out there is a feeder. Thanks for all the feedback. 

Cheryl Huizinga

Caldwell, Idaho