FWIW, I’m seeing a bunch of eBird reports for juvenile Herring Gulls in Idaho lately so I thought I’d comment. This is extremely early for juveniles in this area (or any other age). All the photos I’ve looked at are of juvenile California Gulls. They look much like juv HEGUs but they’re smaller, lack the pale window in the inner primaries, and they have a more attenuated look with long primary extension. The bill is black and gradually gets pale as they age – I’ve seen some in December that still have a mostly black bill rather than the sharply bicolored bill typically shown in field guides. Just wanted to make everyone aware of this ID pitfall.
Cliff
— Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho cliffandlisa@…
Working its way along the lower step towards the west. Headed toward the water control structure when last seen. Found by JC Clancy. Occasionally moves out of sight when gets next to the riser.
Saw godwits, ibis, egret, willet, greater and lesser yellowlegs; Baird’s, pec,least, western, and semipalmated sandpipers, and lots of spotted sandpipers and killdeer. Other birds were grebes, pelicans, a few ducks, tons of Franklin’s and ring-billed gulls. Hit the filter for both Caspian and Forster’s terns.
Thanks for the response! Yup, not even close to your numbers, Bill. But, that’s good to hear. Interesting… their migration corridors.
Most entertaining birds today are the W Wood-Pewees. Yesterday, I heard & saw one miss a cabbage butterfly flitting across the yard. Could hear the Pewee’s bills “clacking” together as it missed 3 times, then returned to its perch with no luck. Today, while watching the nectar feeder, heard that same clacking sound, just in time to see a W Wood-Pewee snatch a cabbage butterfly from the air & return to its perch to, literally, gulp it down. A minute later, same Pewee caught another of the butterflies trying to dodge the bird to no avail. 4 zig-zags & down the butterfly went, mid-flight, before the Pewee returned to its perch. Amazing flight maneuverability of the little birds!
Great-horneds are calling &, hear in early AM hours, too. A hen turkey with 3 young comes in towards evening. No Sandhills close by that I’ve seen this year. Haven’t checked out backwaters of Amer Falls lately, tho. In past, have always found a few there. Most abundant seed feeder bird is Black-headed Grosbeak. The young are all flying now &, at times, will have up to 11 (adults plus juvies) vying for space atop the platform feeder.
Ok, here goes. Still have four feeders up, probably going through 2-3 4 cups feeders a day. I keep thinking they are slowing down, but then the mob hits again and all ports are occupied. I think all four species, fewer calliope, and the short billed stubby juvies. They seldom sit long enough to ID. I thought BC were down, but then the majority for a while. Guardy rufous try to monopolize a feeder, but don’t succeed long. Made up four batches yesterday and now they’re all out in feeders.
Wrens fledged from the satt dish nest yesterday. Turkeys are roaming and getting bigger, but not great flyers yet. Sandhills are working fields and sticking around. Great Horns are noisy in predawn light.
Getting 3 hummingbird species at feeders: Black-chinned, Rufous & Calliope. No Broad-tailed, as of yet. Have seen adults & juveniles of all the 3 that are pushing through, at present. But, in noticeably fewer numbers than past years. Only going through 2 to 3 oz, total, per day of nectar.
Be curious if Bill Moore will weigh in & let us know his numbers? I did read where E Oregon birders noted a significant decrease in Spring arrivals, of all bird species usual for their region, this year. Various explanations, including drought conditions in Western US. I’ll be curious to see what rest of the month & Sept brings at my location. But, so far, a decrease in hummingbird migrants at my spot on the map.
Just saw my first Calliope Hummingbird of the season, a female, come into the feeder this evening. As usual, she’s even more aggressive than the Rufous! Battling off both Black-chinned & Rufous Hummingbirds, and taking over the feeder for herself.
In theory, we’ll see a lake again but from what I understand, IDFG has plans to refurbish the main pond much as they did with the south ponds. Don’t know when that will happen though. The gate that accesses Sparrow Alley has been a problem ever since they rebuilt the fence. Whoever did the work made it too tight.
The lake itself is completely covered with tall vegetation with some reed beds around the edges, but these looked dried up also. There is some water in the marshy areas near the top of the road on the corner of the WMA, where we heard a Virginia Rail. The marshy area on the other side of the road looked much the same but the trail there has been turned into a gravel road. Access to this is almost impossible since the gate there was so tight it was v difficult to unfasten, even with both Amy & I trying. There is also a new gravel road alongside the length of the WMA, below the observation platform.
Does anyone have any idea what is going on here? I am just wondering if we will ever see a lake again.
The southward trek of Rufous Hummingbirds arrived at my location this weekend. Males, females & juveniles hitting the feeder & outnumbering the Black-chinneds 3:1. A few really bright Rufous males appeared & catching the sun just right to flash that fiery crimson gorget! Good to see.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
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