changes at Blue Lake Sewage Ponds
Some changes, for the worse(?), happening at Blue Lake Sewage Ponds (ebird Hotspot) here in SE end of Boise just off the turnpike.
I assume the owners are “cleaning(?)” the place up. The big pond’s cattails, that have been growing there the last 2-3yrs., as well as the small Russian Olive thicket, have been recently burned out and the pond seems to be in the process of having the residue cleared. Only one small willow on the far side remains. The other ponds are not being touched, at the moment. Not sure how much is to be done. Not my place to ask as it is pvt. prop., but, this seems to happen periodically. Three years ago all the vegetation on the berms inside the fence was cleared. Many years before that, when I first was shown this place, the same thing happened and it was 20yrs. before anyone, or I, returned.
CGB. RL
Dusky Grouse out of its typical habitat
Leanne Lloyd-Fairey
Emmett, Idaho
Re: Rosy-finch incidental observation form
Hi Heather,
No if you continue the winter feeder watch then that data is all going to the same place so no need to fill out this form for that. However for ebird locations it would be good to fill out our observation form as well bc it will input right
into the rosy-finch groups hands.
Thanks,
Tempe
***********************
Tempe Regan
(she/her)
Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
99 US-93
Salmon, ID 83467
Office: 208.756.2271
Mobile: 406.396.4856
Re: Rosy-finch incidental observation form
I also participate in the winter monitoring project with Sageland Collaborative. Should we submit data to you that is also reported to them?
Rosy-finch incidental observation form
Hi all,
The Rosy-finch Working group has been working hard on several protocols and one of them is a basic incidental observation form. I thought I would distribute to IBLE and ask that if you encounter any of the rosy-finch species you please
use this form to submit the data directly to the working group. Please consider submitting this even if you do an ebird checklist as it contains detailed information and will put data directly into our hands as we begin curating long-term datasets.
https://utahdwr.formstack.com/forms/incidental_rosy_finch_observation_form
Thank you,
Tempe
***********************
Tempe Regan
(she/her)
Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
99 US-93
Salmon, ID 83467
Office: 208.756.2271
Mobile: 406.396.4856
Re: Jays
Re: Jays
I was up at Warm Lake near Cascade this weekend, and I saw 4 Canada Jays hopping through the trees with one Stellar’s Jay. It was neat to see both species together! 😀
—
Aidan Lorenz
Caldwell
Re: Possible Sharp-tailed Sandpiper?
Re: Possible Sharp-tailed Sandpiper?
It’s not terribly clear but there appears to be a lot of
streaking on the breast and it appears buffy, not orange, and it
looks really long necked in this image. A quick Google search came
up with several images of Pecs with a white eye ring like this
one:
https://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/pectoral_sandpiper_info.htm
I guess I’m still thinking this is a Pec.
Cliff
Or are we seeing a sharply demarcated breast/belly
line, typical of Pec not STSA?On Sep 17, 2023, at 12:39 PM, scott
urban via groups.io <scotturban610@…>
wrote:
I appreciate all the feedback from everybody. I
remain confused by the bold eye ring that both Sibley and
Kaufman suggest as diagnostic between the two species. But I
also agree the longer bill is Pec-like. My friend Rick who
was with me yesterday got this picture of the front of the
bird: looks rather buffy like a young STSA? Or maybe the
bold eye-ring simply falls into the category of “usually” a
STSA.On Sep 16, 2023, at 5:24 PM,
rattlesnake4873 <Rattlesnake4873@…> wrote:The white eye ring is much more pronounced
than in a Pect, and the white fringes on the wing
feathers look hood to me. It’s neck May be protracted,
yet it seems shorter than a Pect.This is a mystery for Dick Tracy or
Columbo.DeanFWIW, your bird is not faded – it’s a bright
fresh juvenile (the known Pec is also a juvy).
Without a look at the front we’ll probably never
be sure.Cliff
On 9/16/23 04:25PM, scott urban wrote:Thanks for your thoughts, Cliff!
I agree the bill seems longer than expected
for STSA, but the plumage issues I was
assuming were due to fading (possibly?) See
attached picture on that topic. And that eye
ring is so striking compared to the known PESA
seen today? Wish I had gotten a good look from
the front!On Sep 16, 2023, at
2:42 PM, Cliff Weisse <cliffandlisa@…>
wrote:Off the cuff this doesn’t strike me as a
Sharp-tailed. The crown doesn’t look as
dark as I expect, supercilium doesn’t
contrast with crown and face, bill looks
kind of long and I think the white mantle
stripes are better for Pec. It also seems
like it’s a bit early for inland records
but I suppose it’s possible.Cliff
On 9/16/23 01:32PM, scott urban wrote:Hi, I just posted this same message
to the Facebook Rare Bird Sightings
group:Hi, seeking
thoughts on a possible Sharp-tailed
Sandpiper today (9-16-23) at Blacks
Creek. The bird on the left is a
Pectoral, but the bird on the right
appears to have a flatter head and
prominent eye ring, both features of
a Sharp-tailed (Kaufman 1987). The
wings “may” be matching or longer
than the tail. Thoughts? I was not
able to see the breast.-- Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@...-- Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@...
-- Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@...
Jays
On September 6th, I had 2 Blue Jays in my yard. I only saw them briefly as a Belted Kingfisher appeared to chase them away never to be seen again. Today I had 2 Canada Jays eating off of my large suet cake in my front yard. I only mention these occurrences because in the 32 years I have lived here that is a first for both in my yard. I have seen Canada Jays in Washington and at Scweitzer Mountain. Both are between several hundred to a few thousand feet above my elevation here at the house. One of the Canada Jays was darker and looked like the boreal photo in Ibird pro. Unfortunately I only got photos of the lighter jay.
Linda Lamb
Priest River, ID