Gray-crowned Rosy Finch – Blacks Creek Rd.

Hi all,

Spotted 6 GCRF mixed in with a flock of Redpolls on Blacks Creek Rd. NORTH of the freeway, approx a 1/2 mile from the freeway exit there is a gravel pit (I think it is called Premier Aggregates). Along the berm on the edge of the the road there are lots of sunflower seed tops. We found a large flock of Redpolls over the weekend. Returned today because my sister-in-law thought she spotted a Rosy Finch. I got a couple low quality pics before a Merlin swooped through and the flock went over the berm into private property.
Prior to this stop along Blacks Creek I was at Bonneville Point and had hiked out about 1.5 miles west from the structure (the road that 4-wheelers have packed down the snow) and stirred up a large flock that dropped out of sight almost immediately. My gut said they were Rosy Finch but just didn’t get a good enough look (probably 30-40 birds).
Danette Henderson
Boise

Short-eared owl – Eagle Island State Park

Following up on the great gray owl post, I had a short-eared owl shortly before sunrise at Eagle Island State Park today.  I’ve seen many northern harriers at the park, and thought it would be a great place for a short-eared.  I kicked one up out of a field this morning, and the buoyant flight made for identification.  There are a few great horned owls that hang around the park, but their heavy body makes for a different flight pattern.