Monthly Archives: November 2020

Listserv Posts

Re: Common Crane photo’d on private land in Camas Prairie area (SW of Fairfield) yesterday

Hi all! I have refound the Common Crane today in Fairfield!

For those interested in chasing I will post a pin. Please be very mindful of private land and only view the bird from public roads. Also please note that it has been raining all night and the roads are muddy, please be very careful as not make ruts in the road.
Dropped pin
Near Baldwin Rd, Fairfield, ID 83327
-Carter
Listserv Posts

Common Crane photo’d on private land in Camas Prairie area (SW of Fairfield) yesterday

Still awaiting more details, including if it was seen again today and if the area is visible from public roads (& awaiting permission to share the pic).

But, since cranes can fly and people might consider changing plans for tomorrow, figured I’d mention to stay tuned … AND IF YOU GO LOOKING TOMORROW WITHOUT ADDITIONAL LOCATION/ACCESS INFO, DO NOT TRESPASS!

Thanks,

Jay
Listserv Posts

Nez Perce County and Blue Jay Accounting

I birded in Nez Perce County on Saturday 11/14.  The most notable sighting was a very late COMMON YELLOWTHROAT where Volmer Road crosses Tammany Creek just south of Lewiston (https://ebird.org/checklist/S76254063).  Also at this location was a (locally uncommon, mostly in fall) Marsh Wren, which I also saw at this location on 11 November 2017.  I first started checking this spot hoping it would attract a Swamp Sparrow, but I’ll settle for November Yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens.  The Yellowthroat appears to be the latest in eBird for North Idaho and third latest for the entire state, however we’ve had several November records in recent years.

Elsewhere, a Golden Eagle on nearby Rosenkrantz Road is always a nice bird, locally.  I found at least 4 of the continuing BLUE JAYS along south Seventh Street north of Jewett Park in Lewiston with a flock of Audubon’s and one Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Hell’s Gate State Park was characteristically enjoyable, but the most unusual bird was another MARSH WREN (only my second at this location).  I skipped most of the campground area due to noisy leaf blowers.  Late in the afternoon, Mann Lake had ~1200 Mallards minus one after a PEREGRINE FALCON came though, and a rather small flock of SNOW GEESE was flying in from a nearby field as I left.
I also spent some time exploring the lower forests and mostly open country around the north, west, and northwest sides of Craig Mountain and portions of the Palouse south of Genesee, without seeing anything very notable.
One late report to add to this year’s impressive BLUE JAY count, at least two were in residential Genesee (Latah County) on November 8.  Other groups of 2-5+ Blue Jays apparently continue in Moscow, Pullman (apparently multiple groups), Lewiston, Asotin, Lenore Idaho (Nez Perce County), and no doubt there are other groups and singletons throughout the region.
Good Birding,
Carl Lundblad
Moscow, Idaho
Listserv Posts

Re: [eBird Alert] Ada County Rare Bird Alert

Interesting you mentioned that Vesper Sparrow.  I called one April 19, 2019.  Of all the birds I’ve seen on that route, that is the one call I doubt the most.  I was hoping Jay would spot one this year and at least validate the possibility of a VESP. 

 

Two observations:

  1. I have 98 species on the list during 5 years of walking that route.  It would be over 100 if I was better at identifying gulls (always “gull sps.) and female hummingbirds!  I am surprised at the variety of birds present in the neighborhood.  I never thought I would break 25 species.  A daily walk is good for your soul and eBird.  I encourage anyone to select a patch that is easy to access and start recording.  You will be amazed at what you see.
  2. Having Jay in the neighborhood walking the same route heightens your awareness when you stop and chat and he says, “Hey, did you just hear those Red Crossbills?” or “Clark’s Nutcrackers just flew by!”  He makes you “play-up” and strive to do better.  I think he and Heidi  helped me add 25 species since the spring by just adding their observations to eBird.   I’m thankful to so many people who listened to my beginner questions and helped me be a better birder including all those Audubon and SIBA Field Trips. 

 

Let’s hope for more Vespers in 2021.  Ann

 

Listserv Posts

Re: [eBird Alert] Ada County Rare Bird Alert

Thanks Larry
By necessity, I’ve been focused more on “patch” birding in 2020 and I’m impressed with the variety this stretch of the Farmers Lateral canal, nestled in suburbia, has yielded.  For example, including Spotted Towhee & DE Junco, that’s 12 species of sparrows I know of just this fall (Chipping, Brewer’s, Lark, Fox, Junco, White-crowned, White-throated, Harris’s, Savannah, Song, Lincoln’s, and Towhee; does not include Vesper but maybe Ann or others saw one this fall?) and then there was the Clay-colored that Ann found in the spring so at least 13 sparrows in 2020!  Holding out for one more … and hoping 1 or 2 goodies will linger for our CBC 🙂
Jay

Listserv Posts

[eBird Alert] Ada County Rare Bird Alert

awesome sparrows, Jay and Ann =)

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: “ebird-alert” <ebird-alert@…>
Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2020 2:32:43 AM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Ada County Rare Bird Alert <daily>

*** Species Summary:

– Blue Jay (1 report)
– Fox Sparrow (2 reports)
– Harris’s Sparrow (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

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) (1) CONFIRMED
– Reported Nov 13, 2020 12:30 by Ceredig Roberts
– 1066 E Hearthstone Drive, Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.656347,-116.17723&ll=43.656347,-116.17723
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76204532
– Comments: “contiuing to visit the peanuts in the backyard.”

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) (1) CONFIRMED
– Reported Nov 13, 2020 08:09 by Jay Carlisle
– Bitteroot neighborhood , Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.599982,-116.278439&ll=43.599982,-116.278439
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76192317
– Comments: “Continuing along fence line near SW edge of Borah park. Still carrying left wing a bit droopy &#x1f914;”

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) (1) CONFIRMED
– Reported Nov 13, 2020 14:59 by Ann Swanson
– Farmers Canal Bank between Cole Rd. and Aurora St., Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.5977459,-116.269083&ll=43.5977459,-116.269083
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76210713
– Comments: “continuing.”

Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) (1)
– Reported Nov 13, 2020 08:09 by Jay Carlisle
– Bitteroot neighborhood , Ada, Idaho
– Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=43.599982,-116.278439&ll=43.599982,-116.278439
– Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76192317
– Comments: “Immature with juncos, White-crowned, & Song along canal ~100 yards E of blue dumpster behind BK sports fields. Will add crummy digi-bino pic”

***********

You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird’s Ada County Rare Bird Alert

Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
https://ebird.org/alerts

eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/

Listserv Posts

Re: Some interesting birds

Hey all, RL here… again.
Jason Talbot and I birded Elmore and Owyhee Co.’s Wednesday on our Veteran’s Day push. All along the river we noticed goldeneye most everywhere. A few clumps and smaller scatterings of them on the river from Grandview on up to about a mile below the dam but almost none from the island, where the recent Black Scoter was found, to the dam. Two good-sized rafts on the big water behind CJ dam but essentially none above that to Jack’s Ck..
Possibly the really big numbers have yet to arrive.
My real curiosity is the numbers of Snow Geese that I have been seeing on the several trips I have made to the area recently. The over-swampingly number of them have been flyovers moving SE at altitude with only a relative few on land or the water. My curiosity is what is bringing them here to SW Idaho this time of year. We normally wouldn’t see
these numbers until starting in January. Could one possibility be that the OR and CA fires are pushing them out of their normal flyway? I don’t think it is the weather so much as might be expected with smaller birds?
CGB. RL