That’s good news! I won’t get any Rufous here along SE ID Snake River until they start their Fall migration. Last yr, that started by mid-July. Now, Black-chinneds at the feeders, but not as many as last year. Know I have 4 for certain, but the nectar isn’t draining nearly as fast this year.
If Bill Moore is checking in, curious what your hummer action is like.
Finally, saw a single House Wren today. It was “parading” along the rail of the back deck, this AM. Only one I’ve seen this Spring. Usually, one of my first Spring arrivals.
Lisa looked it up and it’s definitely private property but I don’t think it’s posted – it’s definitely not posted along the river. That said there’s a place in Ashton the rents kayaks so you could always get there by floating in.
This afternoon I was floating the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River downstream from Warm River and I heard an Alder Flycatcher singing. It hung around for the thirty or so minutes I was in the area and seemed to be on territory, at one point countersinging with a Willow Flycatcher. The location is 44° 5’47.57″N / 111°22’47.44″W. I’m pretty sure this is private property but it’s not posted and lots of fishermen eat lunch on the bank here. I most likely won’t be able to get back there and check on it for at least a week. I’m hoping someone can find and record it in the mean time.
Cliff
— Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@…
Slower on this side of Blackfoot as well, although YH Blackbirds are as numrous as always. We have several pairs of House Wrens nesting and serenading and a few W Tanagers visiting the pot fountain. Bullock’s Orioles are fairly plentiful, but not in our usual numbers. Only a few BH Grosbeaks, Cassin’s Finches, Yellow Warblers, and BC Hummers. I’m hearing Western Wood Peewees but have only seen one. The same with Meadow Larks. Last year we had Evening Grosbeaks galore all summer, but only one brief visit by a male a vew weeks ago. Still an occasional Lazuli Bunting but not in earlier numbers. We’re waking to Ring-necked Pheasant call but no Sand Hill Cranes. California Quail abound. Strange year.
I was birding in the Portal area of Arizona this spring from April 21-24 and compared to the year before when we were there, the migration was behind. Things were just starting to ‘heat up” on our last day there, and it seems to me at least, this slower migration has also been noted here in southern Idaho, as well. Interesting.
Sounds about like SE ID along the Snake. Was curious if others were witnessing same. By this time last yr, had House Wrens already building nests. Guess we’ll see what next couple of weeks brings.
Brian
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
