Daily Archives: October 18, 2022

Listserv Posts

New Ada County Landill Birding Rules

Hey all, quick PSA for those of us who bird at the Ada County Landfil!
 
There are some new rules for birding at the landfill. The biggest change is they are now asking that you call 24 hours in advance of any birding related visits. They also provide a high-vis vest that must be worn at all times if you exit your vehicle and returned at the end of your visit, a safety handout, and a map of designated birding areas. I will attach photos of their safety/rules handout and the provided map of designated birding areas. 
 
I think it is important that we all serve as good representatives for our community and abide by these new rules whenever we visit. It will help not only ensure safety, but to allow for all us to continue using the landfill as the phenomenal birding destination that it is and maintain a good relationship with the landfill.
 
On another note the gullwads are beginning to grow and the usual California swarm is already quite sizeable with a healthy handful of Ring-billed as well. Herring and Thayer’s gulls also made an appearance today and it shouldn’t be long before the other winter gull species start trickling in and out. Here is my eBird checklist from this afternoon for anyone who is curious: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120909784
 
Happy Birding Everyone!!
Listserv Posts

Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett

Nice photos (and video!), I’m glad more people were able to find it and get better documentation than Katie and I were, and that it stuck around this long. Good view of the red crown, white supercilium, and buffy wash on the front compared to the distinct streaks forming a bib on the many Pectorals that have been around.

From the last couple afternoons I’ve gone there, going a bit earlier before the heat waves get bad and the shorebirds settle down in the grass is best. Sometimes you need to go further down the road and look back towards the cement pipe, as they like the rest behind it (not viewable directly out from the pipe).
Peter

Listserv Posts

Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett

I posted a video of the bird in my eBird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120892459.  It’s located on the left side of the frame.  I didn’t want to try to get it better framed as it had been moving around quite a bit and looked like it might be headed right.  Here’s a photo showing the size difference between the sandpiper and a long-billed dowitcher.
IMG-2456 STSA.jpg

Listserv Posts

Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett

Thanks for the update, Scott, and congratulations on securing what I think is the best photo yet taken of this rarity.  Please continue to post updates to this forum.  Also, as this is a state “Review Species” (https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/review-species), the Idaho Bird Records Committee would highly-appreciate submissions from anyone and everyone who has observed this bird, and especially those who have obtained photographs (but the more documentation, the merrier).  You can submit a rare bird report at the following link: https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/node/add/rare_bird_reports (if you have not, yet).

Finally, a minor (and possibly slightly pedantic) note about terminology.  The term “peep” refers to the smallest group of Calidris sandpipers including (only) Least, Western, Semipalmated, Baird’s, White-rumped, and the Old World stints.  Larger sandpipers, like Sharp-tailed, and other shorebirds are not peeps, but the definition of that term has become somewhat muddled over the years.

Good Birding,
Carl Lundblad
Corvallis, OR