Monthly Archives: September 2021

Listserv Posts

Re: Indian crk.

Indian Creek dried up at least a month ago. Blacks Creek has water, but not tons of mud and shorebirds have been few and far between. I had a Western Sandpiper earlier this week, and I think Jordan Ragsdale had a few Pectoral and a couple other shorebirds. I’ve had as many as 5-6 duck species, but sometimes only Ruddy Ducks. See eBird for full checklists: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L249812?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec

The willows at Blacks Creek have been pretty quiet lately, but sometimes you can find a good bird or two. Lots of White-crowned Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows. Huge flocks of Horned Larks with a few American Pipit. I’ve lucked out on a Peregrine a couple times in the last month, but very few raptors. Not many warblers outside of a few Yellow-rumps and maybe an Orange-crowned if you are lucky.
Peter

Listserv Posts

YR Warblers

Nothing rare to report. But, given a lackluster Fall migration of warblers through our place, so far, was nice to hear the cottonwoods filled with single note “chirps” today. Groups of a dozen, or so, Yellow-rumped Warblers, many juvenile, have been coming through all day. Also, White-crowned Sparrows & staging American Robins. Sev wks ago, the first to leave were the Yellows, then Wilson’s & a handful of MacGillivray’s & Gray Catbirds. No Townsend’s, sadly. And, until today, numbers have been pitiful, on the order of 3-4 birds at a time. Certainly, not the mixed groups of 50+ warblers that we used to get, during Fall migration. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Listserv Posts

Re: Grebe sp.

I think it might be a juvenile horned grebe.  The juveniles of both horned and eared look similar, at least according to Sibley.  However the juv horned grebe has a light spot between the eye and bill with a dark line running from the eye to the bill, which I think I see in your photo.  The juvenile horned also has an oval head while the juvenile eared has a squared head.  The head of the bird in your photo looks more oval to me.
Listserv Posts

Grebe sp.

This photo of a what I think is a horned grebe (next to a RUDU) was taken at Emmett Wastewater Treatment Plant 9/12/21.  I have not been able to ID it.  The eye color told me it was a horned grebe but just didn’t feel confident.  There were others that definitely looked like horned grebes and eared grebes in a mix with RUDUs.  Would love someone to tell me what it is and why.

Thanks,

Liz Medes
Gem County