Today, a couple of definite Bullock’s Orioles have arrived, identified by sight & sound. Lazuli Buntings, male & female, hit the sunflower seeds every morning & evening. The Bullock’s Orioles, males & females, take over the seeds for most of the day. Along with American Goldfinches & House Finches. Spotted Towhees go after scattered seeds beneath the feeder. And, BC Chickadees sneak in as they can. Yellow Warblers work through the cottonwoods.
At least 6 BC Hummingbirds are coming into the nectar. Have counted 4 males & 2 females. One male makes regular display flights for one of the females 3-4 times/day. Long, looping “U”-shaped patterns with “winnowing” wing sounds.
Overhead: White Pelicans, DC Cormorants, Bald Eagles (from first-yr birds to adults), RT & Swainson’s Hawks & at least one Osprey are regulars. An occasional Sandhill Crane passes over, as well.
I spotted my first Rufous Hummingbird this morning up Military Reserve on Cottonwood Creek. Gorgeous view of a male resting on a bare branch of an old willow. 3 species there so far this spring: Rufous, Black-chinned, and Calliope, as well as the usual Yellow-breasted Chats, Lazuli Buntings, Willow, Western and Dusky Flycatchers and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Life is good.
Only have a voice memo and crummy digi-bino pics but just had a singing male Tennessee Warbler in our yard in Boise … and while outside trying to document it, had a singing male Black-throated Gray come by (didn’t track it but it came from S so may have kept moving towards canal). Haven’t heard it for the last 15 minutes but people are welcome to try for it – in area near junction of Bitteroot & Lawrence.
43°36’00.1″N 116°16’44.8″W · 410 Bitteroot Dr, Boise, ID 83709
410 Bitteroot Dr, Boise, ID 83709
Jay
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