Great photos of RB Nuthatch! Looks like a Ruby-crowned Kinglet also came to check out the feeder, in last photo. Thanks for sharing.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Mountain Chickadee
I spent the weekend at a cabin in the Paddy Flat area northeast of Donnelly. A bird feeder with black sunflower seeds hanging from a piece of L-shaped rebar steadily drew a couple of mountain chickadees and a red-breasted nuthatch. A merry band of chipmunks were all too happy to scavenge the dropped seeds.
Kevin Merrell
Boise
An Old Friend
We’ve had some cooler, windy fronts start coming through since Tue evening, along E ID Snake River. Dropped to 46° the other evening. And, with the weather change, a noticeable decrease in fall migrants coming through. Just 3 juv BC & Calliope Hummingbirds hitting nectar since Wed evening. Appears the Yellow Warblers, Bullock’s Orioles, Lazuli Buntings, BH Grosbeaks & House Wrens are gone. The only warblers I observed from spring until now were Yellows & Wilson’s, not even a Yellow-rumped this summer! Sad!
But, did just see an old friend. A MacGillivray’s Warbler working through underbrush a few minutes ago. Brings back memories of Univ TX Ornithology Prof & me observing & recording a rare one for Tarrant County, TX many yrs ago. Unfortunately, the MacGillivray’s at my current location has, pretty much, heralded the end of fall songbird migrants pushing through. Plan to fill hummingbird feeder once more, then probably call it quits for the season.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Location
Where is sienna Parkside
Re: Valley county big day
Re: Valley county big day
Way to go! Cheryl Huizinga, Linda Wentz, JC Clancy, and I have been doing a Canyon County big day for 4 years now in early June. Valley County is much bigger than Canyon County. That might be better timing for you given the longer days and migration still underway. Still 120 species is mighty impressive. Congratulations!
Re: Pond lynwood
South of nampa out hiway 45 to big foot rd.t.r.on to Lynnwood t.r to pond view from road only private property
Re: Valley county big day
That sounds like a wonderful day and a fun read. 120 species in a day is always impressive! Now you have a number to attempt to beat next round.
Happy Birding,
Danette
Re: Pond lynwood
Where is Lynwood Pond? Where are you reporting from?
Thanks
Valley county big day
Hi all,
This past Monday, the 28th of August myself, my dad, Bruce, and my brother Andrew as well as a friend of ours did a valley county big day. I’m not aware of any previous attempts at a valley county big day, and this was mostly a trial run as we weren’t sure of the best route. (If anyone knows of any previous valley county big day records please let me know, I’d love to know of any.) We started by camping on the South fork of the salmon river, just barely in valley county and at the lowest elevation possible that I am aware of. On the way in the day before we had Red-Eyed Vireo and Canyon wren which were county birds for us. That night at Shiefer campground we heard a Western-Screech owl which as far as I am aware is a second county record of this species. The Big day went well, and we picked up many birds as we drove out of the backcountry. Three black bears were fun surprises on the drive. One surprise was the (very early) small flock of snow geese at old state hwy 55 where it runs into cascade lake. Also two Juvenile black-crowned herons were county birds for us. We struggled on shorebird numbers and missed several east birds we could have easily gotten with more time. We ended up short of time and daylight in long valley which didn’t help our numbers at all. Our last bird of the day was a Great horned owl near payette lake, the only owl of the day. Our ending number was 120 species in valley county that day. With a modified schedule I believe 130-40 species is very possible!!
Hope this is of interest to some.
Eric Pratt