It’s interesting that your Bullock’s Orioles are just showing up. My first one this year was May 6th. I live just south of Ammon in Idaho Falls area. About a week later I had eight males in my flowering crab apple tree at the same time. It was gorgeous. They’re eating me out of house and home with all the grape jelly they eat. I’ll have to try strawberry jam too! I haven’t seen any of them drinking from my hummingbird feeders yet but one was checking it out this morning.
Monthly Archives: May 2023
Re: Always Use the Binocs!
A satisfying sighting. Not much bird activity in my yard with resident Cooper’s Hawks nesting nearby.
Diann Stone Boise Depot Bench
Always Use the Binocs!
My last harbinger of Spring, this AM! A bird working & moving just a bit differently through a Russian Olive a bit ago. Binocs revealed a beautiful, male Western Tanager chasing down bugs among the leaves.
I don’t feel “complete” until I’ve seen BH Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock’s Oriole & Western Tanager for my Spring arrivals. And, that’s usually the order of their arrival at my location.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Bullock’s Oriole
My Bullocks showed up over a week ago. They scold me if I don’t put some jam in the cup for them, and I’ve caught them raiding the hummingbird feeder in the mornings if I don’t make it out there soon enough, lol. I buy strawberry jam from the dollar store and squeeze some out in a cat food can on a nail for them. They love it.
Re: Bullock’s Oriole
Yep, you’re correct, Bill. I meant to write the Black-headed Grosbeaks hit the seeds all day long. That’s what I get for being so excited over the Orioles & not proof-reading, lol!
Re: Bullock’s Oriole
Interesting, I’ve had a few Bullocks also, but mine all hit the hummer feeders, four up now, and leave the seeds to the BH Grosbeak mobs and others. Female Bullocks today.
Chipping Sparrow showed up today it’s another late arrival.
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom
Bullock’s Oriole
Today, a couple of definite Bullock’s Orioles have arrived, identified by sight & sound. Lazuli Buntings, male & female, hit the sunflower seeds every morning & evening. The Bullock’s Orioles, males & females, take over the seeds for most of the day. Along with American Goldfinches & House Finches. Spotted Towhees go after scattered seeds beneath the feeder. And, BC Chickadees sneak in as they can. Yellow Warblers work through the cottonwoods.
At least 6 BC Hummingbirds are coming into the nectar. Have counted 4 males & 2 females. One male makes regular display flights for one of the females 3-4 times/day. Long, looping “U”-shaped patterns with “winnowing” wing sounds.
Overhead: White Pelicans, DC Cormorants, Bald Eagles (from first-yr birds to adults), RT & Swainson’s Hawks & at least one Osprey are regulars. An occasional Sandhill Crane passes over, as well.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Up Cottonwood Creek
First Rufous of the year, that is 🙂
Up Cottonwood Creek
I spotted my first Rufous Hummingbird this morning up Military Reserve on Cottonwood Creek. Gorgeous view of a male resting on a bare branch of an old willow. 3 species there so far this spring: Rufous, Black-chinned, and Calliope, as well as the usual Yellow-breasted Chats, Lazuli Buntings, Willow, Western and Dusky Flycatchers and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Life is good.
Kerry Fitzharris
Boise North End
Re: Tennessee Warbler singing (& BT Gray) in Boise yard
Thanks Jay, yes, I was just there and ran into Ken. We walked around the block, looking and listening, but no sign of the bird this morning!