I know Linda Wentz and I studied our reported semipalmated sandpiper as carefully as we could before a harrier spooked the bird. We first thought a western sandpiper but the bill was too short and the wrong shape (more-or-less conical and not down-drooping). We also did not see any rufous on the head, auriculars, or scapulars and it lacked spotting in the flanks, nor was it the typical gray color of basic plumage. Definitely had black legs. Many birds are showing up early this year in southwest Idaho.
We are seeing a spate of eBird reports of Semipalmated Sandpiper in Idaho so I thought I’d throw this out there. This is exceedingly early for this species in Idaho. I just pulled up the eBird map for this year and the closest to Idaho there are checklists is in Kansas. I found two photos for Idaho in late April but May is a more typical time for them to come through.
Shorebirds in general can be difficult to ID (to say the least) and Semipalmated Sandpiper is notoriously easy to confuse with/for other species, especially Western Sandpiper. I would encourage everyone to try to get photos if you think you see one before May. Good luck.
Cliff
— Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@…
A few new spring arrivals past couple of days: numerous American Robins, more male Red-winged Blackbirds calling & a few White Pelicans along the river. Tundra Swans flying over, headed North. And, Sandhill Cranes calling while flying over.
Rich, I had four trumpeter swans segregated separately from thirty or so tundras on the south side. On the north side there were at least 100 tundras but too distant to ID for trumpeters. And two BAEA across the bay in a tall ponderosa.
Today there was an Osprey, my first of the season, harassing a Canada Goose on a nest on top of a light tower at Willow Lane Athletic Complex. He made multiple swoops with little benefit, before flying away.
Also, there were 2 DC Cormorants on the 2 perches out in the middle of Veterans Pond. I had a flyby yesterday, also my first of the season, but these two were more like what I’m used to on Veterans.
