You too Dean!
Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho
Re: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – No
Good to see you again Denise.
Dean
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – No
A few birders were out this morning looking for the Sharp-tail. No luck today.
Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho
Winter raptor surveys
HI Everyone,
On November 1, the Bend, OR based East Cascades Audubon Society’s Winter Raptor Survey Project will begin its 19th survey season, 12th in Idaho. Last winter we ended with 512 active survey routes throughout OR, ID, WA, and parts of northern CA, northeastern UT, and southwestern MT covering more than 30,000 miles of transects. Over 400 survey volunteers will again survey their routes during the primary survey season of December through February. November and March are also available as optional months. This is a very large and active citizen science project that has provided a very large data base to the Peregrine Fund to augment their worldwide data base for birds of prey.
Idaho has 146 routes and the following are in need of a volunteer to do surveys this winter:
New Plymouth – Fruitland. 90 miles long
Parma – Apple Valley 56
Hill City – Fairfield 110
Winchester 70
Nezperce 71 new route, never been surveyed
Coeur d’Alene 75
Churchill – Oakley. 65
Heyburn 40
Acequia 39
Rupert North 69
Burley SW 54
Burley SE 31
Paul 65 new route, never been surveyed
Minidoka NW 68 new route, never been surveyed
Blackfoot NW 49
American Falls NW 77
We ask that our volunteers commit to one survey per month during December through February, that they have a good grasp of raptor ID, and that they have at least binoculars to search for and ID birds, spotting scopes are preferable but not required. Surveys can be scheduled any day of the month that matches up with your life schedule each month.
If this sounds like something that you would like to be a part of, please get back to me as soon as you can with your route choice(s) and I will work with you to get prepared for the effort. Surveys start in two weeks, this is a great opportunity to learn about raptors in your chosen area, hope to hear from you soon, thank you 🙂
Jeff Fleischer
Project Coordinator
Winter Raptor Survey Project
East Cascades Audubon Society – Bend, OR (project sponsor)
Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett
Here are three (highly cropped) photos from my camera (500mm) that show different views of the Sharp-tailed, and a Dowitcher for scale. But I think the finest imagery so far may be from Louisa’s video: a screen capture from that renders a really nice image!
New Ada County Landill Birding Rules
Hey all, quick PSA for those of us who bird at the Ada County Landfil!
There are some new rules for birding at the landfill. The biggest change is they are now asking that you call 24 hours in advance of any birding related visits. They also provide a high-vis vest that must be worn at all times if you exit your vehicle and returned at the end of your visit, a safety handout, and a map of designated birding areas. I will attach photos of their safety/rules handout and the provided map of designated birding areas.
I think it is important that we all serve as good representatives for our community and abide by these new rules whenever we visit. It will help not only ensure safety, but to allow for all us to continue using the landfill as the phenomenal birding destination that it is and maintain a good relationship with the landfill.
On another note the gullwads are beginning to grow and the usual California swarm is already quite sizeable with a healthy handful of Ring-billed as well. Herring and Thayer’s gulls also made an appearance today and it shouldn’t be long before the other winter gull species start trickling in and out. Here is my eBird checklist from this afternoon for anyone who is curious: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120909784
Happy Birding Everyone!!
Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett
Nice photos (and video!), I’m glad more people were able to find it and get better documentation than Katie and I were, and that it stuck around this long. Good view of the red crown, white supercilium, and buffy wash on the front compared to the distinct streaks forming a bib on the many Pectorals that have been around.
From the last couple afternoons I’ve gone there, going a bit earlier before the heat waves get bad and the shorebirds settle down in the grass is best. Sometimes you need to go further down the road and look back towards the cement pipe, as they like the rest behind it (not viewable directly out from the pipe).
Peter
Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett
Carl – Helpful, thanks. All peeps are sandpipers, but not all sandpipers are peeps!
Jim Lyons
Boise
Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett
Excellent video, Louisa! Good resolution, and fun to watch its behavior! I need to get one of those digiscope devices 😉
And thank you Carl, I just processed some of the pictures from my camera, instead of that first picture which was hand-held digiscoped with my phone, and I will submit those.
Re: Possible continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Thornock Rd Ponds near Emmett
I posted a video of the bird in my eBird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120892459. It’s located on the left side of the frame. I didn’t want to try to get it better framed as it had been moving around quite a bit and looked like it might be headed right. Here’s a photo showing the size difference between the sandpiper and a long-billed dowitcher.
