This past Saturday, 19 July, a small truck of some sort, P/U possibly, pulled off I-84E, Milemarker 65, just before the ITD Weigh Station entrance, a bit after Noon, likely overheated, caught fire (totalled) and started a grass fire (Milemarker 65 Fire, BLM designation) which later grew to encompass some 9000+/- acres by evening, windy conditions pushed the fire to the SE. Fire was kept to the South side of the Interstate except for a small part of the median in the area of the Weigh Station.

The fire stretched from the afore-mentioned Milemarker 65 clear along the Interstate to Indian Ck. Reservoir taking out the entire West end up to the road at the base of the dam/berm as well as a portion of the North end down to the heavy greenery just above the current waterline, ending at the culvert where Indian Ck. proper enters the reservoir. Most everything else within the confines of the reservoir is all okay, the Westside outside of the dam is now barren of vegetation, the canyon… everything. The Southside between the dam, entry road and the private shooting range is also okay. Stage Stop truck stop also not touched. I don’t know the extent of any damage down Orchard Access Rd. or further down Indian Ck.

Well, what does this have to do with birds. This fire has essentially left a small green spot on the edge of all this blackness that with the upcoming Fall migration might possibly provide some very interesting birding. None of the trees/willows were touched. Only problem is that the water surface area is about 75-90% currently covered with smartweed/knotweed and evaporation will decrease water level.

One of my favorite places, will keep an closer eye on as migration nears.

CGB. RL

An aside. There is to be a new subdivision (Mayfield Springs or some-such name) going in catty-corner across I-84 from the Stage Stop over the next few years, some 14/1500 homes. The amount of water drawn from wells will pretty much spell the end of Indian Ck. Reservoir as we have known it.

Just had my first Rufous Hummingbird of season show at the nectar feeder. A beautiful, completely rufous-colored male. So, their migration back South has started in the E ID Snake River Riparian areas. Last year, within a week of my first sighting, they really put on a show for sev weeks, followed by a good number of Calliope Hummers, as well. Will see how numbers go this season.

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot 

Out-n-about birding yesterday. Was not able to get to all my little waterholes. Had battery problems with my Ag (car) at Blair Trail Res. (Elmore Co.), wouldn’t start until shook loose (?) terminal cable. No cell service or tools to tighten cables properly so dared not to shut down lest I risk shorting out battery, so came home.

Anyway, had lowest water level at Pioneer Res. (East Gooding Co.) as I have ever seen in the few years I have birded the place. No water upper end, small pools with good bit of mud in the center, Dunlin (all in non-breeding plumage, ebird didn’t like my entry), Willets, WISN, WESP’s, messes of AWPE’s (heavily feeding in the shallow water of the pool behind the dam), many GBHE’s and some GREG’s. Bit surprised on the latter two sp. as the heronry/rookery seemed to have been abandoned a while when I was there earlier this past Spring, what with the nests (some 20+/- counted in previous years) appeared broken down.

When passed by Adin Hall Res. (Elmore Co., near that huge wind farm) because of the possible battery problem didn’t dare stop, as badly as I wanted to. There seemed to be much water flow from AHR into Reynold’s Pond so there may be a possibility of good mud developing and a chance of incoming shorebirds over the next month. Have had good shorebirding at AHR in past years. Get lucky?

CGB. RL

Hokay, out there in “ible-land”, RL here. Been a while. Got a poser for those who might be interested.

Was out at Black’s Ck. Bird Preserve the last 1-1/2hrs. of daylight this evening, 02 July. Have not yet published my list for there. This first.

Making a last scan with my scope (Swarovski 80mm HD, circa 1999) before departing I found a smallish-medium sized appearing, very dark gull-ish-looking bird on the water swimming toward a mess of CAGU’s (mostly, some juvie RBGU’s) on the far shore (North). Given the light conditions, right at sunset, cloudy I was only able to narrow the bird down one of three possibilities: 1) a juvie Heermann’s, 2) juvie dark-morph Parasitic Jaeger, or 3) juvie dark-morph Pomarine Jaeger. I dismissed juvie dark-morph Long-tailed Jaeger as the bird I was looking at had too much bill. Also, no way was this bird any kind of a Coot.

Rough description: bird smaller the nearby CAGU’s it was moving toward, seemed comparable in size to a RBGU but much slimmer/trimmer appearing, not as bulky. again, bird body all dark, very dark brown to black, no other colors or even patterns discernible given the light conditions. not able to tell any bill coloration other than all dark and more gull-like than jaeger-esque. primaries longer than tail.

At this point bird turned, butt toward me, and went ashore, preened momentarily then appeared to tuck in for the night.  Again, I was not able to see any other coloration stand-out during the brief preening process. It did not join in with the other gulls, but stayed apart.

I am leaning toward wanting to call Heermann’s as opposed to the two jaegers, mainly based on bill appearance (size and shape), but, also the overall , shall I say, “daintiness” of this bird’s appearance.

I will try to get back out there early, but, awakenings before sunrise are very rough for me. I am a devout “Swing Shifter”, sunrise is the middle of my night.

If you need to contact me for more info that I may not have noted here, either of my phones (H) or (C), if you’ve the numbers, or, my email address is noted on my ebird Profile description page.

Prove me right or prove me wrong, I would like to get this bird re-found and positively id’d. Right now I’m reluctant to call this bird unless a hard id can be determined. More eyes can only help. Hope the bird can be re-found.

Good Luck to you who may try for it and Continued Good Birding to all. RL

 

 

Good news! If history holds, then I should get my first here in a couple weeks, then. Thanks for the report! 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot