Eamon Harrity and I covered mostly the University of Idaho campus for
today’s Moscow-Pullman CBC. We started the day at the University of Idaho
Sheep Farm, where we found 2-3 continuing BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS, 3 Brewer’s
Blackbirds, and our only Merlin of the day. Along the Palouse River east
of the Stateline Wetlands, we had a Marsh Wren at the railroad crossing of
the river. We missed a lot of expected birds at the UI Arboretum, but were
lucky to pick up an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK with prey, relocated multiple
times. We added the other two local Accipiter species between the nearby
Sand Road Wetlands and the UI Golf Course. The main campus was unusually
quiet, but with a lot of effort we tracked down a flock of 8-10 Audubon’s
and one MYRTLE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. A second check of the Sheep Farm,
during the afternoon, produced a count of at least 14 Brewer’s Blackbirds
and the Cowbirds, again. Red-tailed Hawks were abundant in most areas,
including a couple of Harlan’s Hawks. Bohemian Waxwings and Common
Redpolls have not made an appearance on the Palouse this fall (I’ve had 2
of the waxwings in the Lewis-Clark Valley).

Good Birding,

Cal Lundblad
Moscow, ID