Mostly common shrub-nesting species including red-winged blackbird, gray catbird, brown thrasher, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, cedar waxwing, dark-eyed junco, indigo bunting. One record of wild turkey (on the ground under knotweed). Many nests are found in winter and are difficult to identify. Likely there are many additional species.
After I posted my 3 days of biking, I received several emails to my old Cable One address. I’m still working through the process of updating everybody, but just to be safe, my new email address is tmccabe9@….
BTW, today seemed even colder than the prior days, but the birding was still quite good. I tallied 40 species, again in 11 miles. And I had not realized today was the Christmas Bird Count. There were multiple people with giant cameras on
the path today, each working their assigned turf. I considered doing a list of birders. 😉
It’s so great that you continue biking for birds even as temperatures drop in winter. Thank you for posting your explorations and sightings for us on IBLE email. I appreciate your narratives. The Townsend’s Solitaires and Bohemian waxwing would have brought joy to my day also. Just reading about those brought me a smile. Thanks.
As the weather has shifted to winter temperatures, the birds have amazingly become more cooperative. Tuesday was too wet and icy, but Wednesday eased up. Highlights included a Bald Eagle at Esther Simplot Park and a Great Horned Owl roosting
along the greenbelt. During the ride, I found 4 Redtail Hawks, 4 A. Kestrels, 11 Great Blue herons and 13 DC Cormorants (the DCCO’s were all together). Final treat was a Bohemian Waxwing in a flock of Cedars near 25th and Brumback. My FOY! Final
tally was 40 species in 12 miles.
Thursday was nearly as bird filled, starting with a Cooper’s Hawk in our back yard, plus 2 Bald Eagles at Veterans Pond and a final tally of 38 species in 11 miles. Today was even better, with 40 species in 11 miles. The 2 Bald Eagles were
again hanging out in a tree between the back pond at ESP and Veterans Pond. My big treat today was 2 separate Townsend Solitaires, one at 23rd and Brumback and the other at 25th.
