Hey out there in ible-land, RL here.
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

A couple days ago, I was surprised to see a Dusky Grouse in my front yard in the east end of the Emmett valley. It was quite wary and didn’t stay long. I haven’t seen it again since then. 

Leanne Lloyd-Fairey
Emmett, Idaho

I also participate in the winter monitoring project with Sageland Collaborative. Should we submit data to you that is also reported to them?

Yes, the Canada Jays are characters, at our cabin, I can get them to take peanuts out of my hand, but only when the Stellar’s Jays are there watching me put out a few on the picnic table. Over the years they have learned my whistle and most days they arrive w/I minutes, even when I haven’t been up to the cabin in weeks.

That’s cool! 😀

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

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.

Dean

On Sat, Sep 16, 2023
at 5:00 PM Cliff Weisse <cliffandlisa@…>
wrote:

FWIW, 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@...

Recently some interesting jays have shown up at my house here in North Idaho. 

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