Today, my last day in Idaho this year, I hiked down Mt Baldy in Ketchum ID. I had two obvious highlights. First, was an absolute fallout of migrant passerines along the Bald Mountain Hiking Trail uphill from the Traverse Trail (the upper-elevation section). Highlights included multiple NASHVILLE, ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON’S, MACGILLIVRAY’S, over 40 Y-RUMPED, & 26 (!) TOWNSEND’S WARBLERS. BROWN CREEPERS were prolific. DUSKY & HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHERS were present and common species such as nuthatches and chickadees numbered in the dozens, possibly up to a hundred individuals of a few species. It was INCREDIBLE — birds were just dripping off the trees! Secondly, near the lowest heavily-wooded switchback on the Warm Springs Bike Trail much closer to the base of the mountain, I had my best looks ever of a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. I spent 45 minutes photographing the beauty. So if you are in the area, get up on Mt. Baldy! Today was truly one of those birding days to remember.
-Henry

Henry Griffin
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