Bewicks Wrens are present here, above us in the foothills east of Emmett,
for the first time. They like the willow and alder thickets in the
crevasses of the hills, but I have also seen them in the sage brush, and
more than just one is sticking around. I wondered if it wasn’t because of
denser, more abundant habitat due to heavy spring rains.

Speaking of numbers, we have a couple of extra YB Chats, more Says Phoebes,
a surprising flock of lesser Goldfinches sticking around, but fewer
Black-chinned hummers, the Red-tailed hawks that were sitting on their
usual nest have disappeared, and I’m rarely spying a Swainson, typically
have a couple of nesting pairs. Yellow warblers, Bullocks Orioles, and
Western Kingbird numbers seem stable.

Curious year.

Liz
Emmett