It had been years since I have been to Mud Lake WMA and turned at sign in Terreton and made it to south boat ramp and then continued on NE until I ran into sign stating no motorized vehicles. Went back to highway 33 and continued west to Mud Lake and took only other sign mentioning Mud Lake WMA but after about one hour driving along various canals gave up, but did see a cool Short-eared Owl family hanging out. The PDF file on IFG web site is not of much value as doesn’t even show the highway, so no real reference. Total lack of signage out there. I can’t believe I’m the only dunce who has had trouble finding the north side but any help would be appreciated. Camas was great – loved seeing Curlew’s, etc. Scott MacButch
Just had a phone call from an acquaintance. She and a friend were at Lucky Peak State Park-Discovery Unit yesterday looking for migrant birds to get some photos The ladies found a pair of loose parakeets, one yellow. one blue. I told her that, way out there, a pair, sounded to me like the birds were dumped. She said the birds were staying high and being harassed by other birds. I know nothing can be done for them but it is a sad commentary on things. The birds could have been taken to Ruth Melicar Center and a home could have been found.
That is correct, it’s okay to use those codes, so long as the full name is also given somewhere in your message. Keep in mind that some replies will strip previous messages in the thread so it’s helpful if the bird name is in the subject line for
those that may jump into the conversation later on.
I noticed a flurry of codes recently, between IBLE and OBOL, and I was intending to send the reminder so thanks for the prod.
Jane
co-owner
On May 12, 2024, at 5:15 PM, Bill Moore <hootowlbill@…> wrote:
What’s a WIPH?
I thought ancestral IBLE protocol was to never use bird abbreviations without saying what it is to ease things for old folks like me.
I put my hummingbird feeders up yesterday, and my reward today was a Black-chinned Hummer in my maple, surveying the yard. I haven’t seen one go to a feeder yet, but I’m sure he didn’t go to the feeder because we were making too much noise.
Today I also saw my first Spotted Sandpipers of the season, on a sand bar near the old race track. Yellow Warblers are all along my route on the greenbelt, and yesterday I heard, but did not see, a Western Wood Pewee.
On the subject of WIPH: we drove up to Centennial Marsh near Hill City yesterday. Found at least a couple dozen of the phalaropes in and around the marsh. A handful of willets were there, as well. Quite
a few cinnamon teal and northern shovelers. Many blackbirds of all three species. A few sandhill cranes flew over, as well as at least four red tail hawks. On Old Bennet Mountain Rd the bluebirds are returning to the nesting boxes. Saw close to three dozen.
No sign of any of the larger shore birds, but suspect they will be arriving soon.
Saw 3 Whimbrels in a mixed flock of LBCU in Valley County. It was so strange to see 5 LBCU (22.8″) together, so I started to study them closer. The WHIM’s were smaller (16.9″), had shorter straighter bills (though also down turned), eye stripe. I sent to a Master Birder who ID’d them.
Hey, Haven’t posted in a very long time, but thought the Great Gray Owl I saw last night here in Teton County was noteworthy. Kinda cool it coincided with the unusual solar storm that pushed the Northern Lights down to this latitude. Wonder what the owl thought of those coronal mass ejections? Owl launched couple of times at voles but missed. Time was around 20:00. Scott MacButch – Tetonia
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