The only hummingbird visits today were by a juv female Calliope, came in briefly, 3 times. Best birds were a Red-naped Sapsucker &, assuming by range map—as gave no call, a Cordilleran Flycatcher working through stream bank willows. A couple of juvenile Black-headed Grosbeaks hit the sunflower seeds on platform feeder. Otherwise, Fall migration is rapidly quieting down, my direction. A definite change in weather forecast, starting tonight, with cooler temps & rain.
Most likely Great Egrets .. they have been quite plentiful in the Treasure Valley for several years. There have been 11 to 12 at Blacks Creek Bird Reserve for several weeks.
From our house this morning on Warm Springs Mesa, looking down hill toward the Boise River, we say a flock of about eight relatively large, bright white birds flying along the river corridor. All white, no dark markings. Seemed about the size of geese – not as large as, say, Great Blue Heron. Fluid, full wingbeats, about 3/second. So, faster beats than GBHE or GREG.
I see that Snowys are found along the corridor, but infrequently, and almost always singles or twos, not more. Could there be more of them if they are migrating? Or some other species?
Thanks for any education you can provide.
Gary T. Smith
Boise, Idaho
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
From our house this morning on Warm Springs Mesa, looking down hill toward the Boise River, we say a flock of about eight relatively large, bright white birds flying along the river corridor. All white, no dark markings. Seemed about the size of geese – not as large as, say, Great Blue Heron. Fluid, full wingbeats, about 3/second. So, faster beats than GBHE or GREG.
I see that Snowys are found along the corridor, but infrequently, and almost always singles or twos, not more. Could there be more of them if they are migrating? Or some other species?
Very cool sighting! In 35 yrs along the Snake River of E ID, I’ve seen just one, doing its “bittern pose” in front of some cattails along backyard stream.
I flushed an American bittern at Eagle Island State Park on the trail behind the abattoir this morning. After years of walks at the park this is the first bittern I’ve seen. Unfortunately it flew off to the west and looked like it crossed out of the park boundary. Keep an eye out as there could be more moving through.
I spent the weekend at a cabin in the Paddy Flat area northeast of Donnelly. A bird feeder with black sunflower seeds hanging from a piece of L-shaped rebar steadily drew a couple of mountain chickadees and a red-breasted nuthatch. A merry band of chipmunks were all too happy to scavenge the dropped seeds.
We’ve had some cooler, windy fronts start coming through since Tue evening, along E ID Snake River. Dropped to 46° the other evening. And, with the weather change, a noticeable decrease in fall migrants coming through. Just 3 juv BC & Calliope Hummingbirds hitting nectar since Wed evening. Appears the Yellow Warblers, Bullock’s Orioles, Lazuli Buntings, BH Grosbeaks & House Wrens are gone. The only warblers I observed from spring until now were Yellows & Wilson’s, not even a Yellow-rumped this summer! Sad!
But, did just see an old friend. A MacGillivray’s Warbler working through underbrush a few minutes ago. Brings back memories of Univ TX Ornithology Prof & me observing & recording a rare one for Tarrant County, TX many yrs ago. Unfortunately, the MacGillivray’s at my current location has, pretty much, heralded the end of fall songbird migrants pushing through. Plan to fill hummingbird feeder once more, then probably call it quits for the season.
Brian Carrigan Blackfoot
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
