High today of 69° with one brief rain earlier, enough to send me back inside with my AM coffee, & sustained showers forecast to start at 2PM. So, between storms, took a walk down to the river to check what might be pushing through. Wasn’t disappointed!
Started with a juv Calliope hitting nectar feeder. On walk, came into a large group of juvenile Chipping Sparrows. In fact, most birds I observed were juveniles: small group of Lazuli Buntings, a few BH Grosbeaks, 5-6 Spotted Towhees with a couple of adults nearby & both House Finches & American Goldfinches. One of the best birds was an adult Green-tailed Towhee.
But, when reached the river, even beat the GT Towhee, by watching a group of Common Terns plunge-diving in the shallows for red-sided shiners! Fun to watch! Had noticed the shiners were in their breeding colors (beautifully striking little fish!), while fly-fishing recently. Observed closely to separate from Forester’s & all the field marks came up Commons. Then, an adult Caspian Tern came in & started after the shiners, breaking up the Commons’ party. Others: adult Bald Eagle, Gray Catbird calling from deep brush & multiple groups of Canada Geese overhead. The cottonwoods & sumac are just starting to get tinges of fall color.
I’m beginning to wonder if it was just a really beat up NRWS, and that is why it looked like it had a pretty notched tail. As to why it looked bigger than the surrounding swallows and why I could pick it out of the crowd as it was flying, I’m not sure. It’s behavior was a bit different and slightly more erratic than the other swallows. I don’t think I ever heard it vocalize either 🙁
The only hummingbird visits today were by a juv female Calliope, came in briefly, 3 times. Best birds were a Red-naped Sapsucker &, assuming by range map—as gave no call, a Cordilleran Flycatcher working through stream bank willows. A couple of juvenile Black-headed Grosbeaks hit the sunflower seeds on platform feeder. Otherwise, Fall migration is rapidly quieting down, my direction. A definite change in weather forecast, starting tonight, with cooler temps & rain.
Most likely Great Egrets .. they have been quite plentiful in the Treasure Valley for several years. There have been 11 to 12 at Blacks Creek Bird Reserve for several weeks.
From our house this morning on Warm Springs Mesa, looking down hill toward the Boise River, we say a flock of about eight relatively large, bright white birds flying along the river corridor. All white, no dark markings. Seemed about the size of geese – not as large as, say, Great Blue Heron. Fluid, full wingbeats, about 3/second. So, faster beats than GBHE or GREG.
I see that Snowys are found along the corridor, but infrequently, and almost always singles or twos, not more. Could there be more of them if they are migrating? Or some other species?
Thanks for any education you can provide.
Gary T. Smith
Boise, Idaho
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
From our house this morning on Warm Springs Mesa, looking down hill toward the Boise River, we say a flock of about eight relatively large, bright white birds flying along the river corridor. All white, no dark markings. Seemed about the size of geese – not as large as, say, Great Blue Heron. Fluid, full wingbeats, about 3/second. So, faster beats than GBHE or GREG.
I see that Snowys are found along the corridor, but infrequently, and almost always singles or twos, not more. Could there be more of them if they are migrating? Or some other species?
Very cool sighting! In 35 yrs along the Snake River of E ID, I’ve seen just one, doing its “bittern pose” in front of some cattails along backyard stream.
I flushed an American bittern at Eagle Island State Park on the trail behind the abattoir this morning. After years of walks at the park this is the first bittern I’ve seen. Unfortunately it flew off to the west and looked like it crossed out of the park boundary. Keep an eye out as there could be more moving through.
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