Blacks Creek Bird Reserve – found the flock of Common Redpolls (seven) and also two American Tree Sparrows with White-crowned Sparrows and House Finches. I stayed seated on the broken board bench and the flock came within fifteen feet of me.
Upper dam
Lake lowell 9:30 this a m cold& blustery day w.end by outlet tower red neck grebes red breasted. Mergansers east end by boat ramp 15 n.shovlers fly by comm.golden eye comm.mergansers
Re: Red-throated Loon at Deer Flat NWR lower dam
Attached is a brochure (Bird Watching Tour), with a map of Lake Lowell. I believe this document is 10+ years old, but I suspect the basics are still accurate. On the maps the reference to “Access” is where the various numbered parking lots exist where you can get out and explore the southern reaches of the lake.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Marty Marzinelli, Eagle
Another unusual goose at ESP
When I got back to Esther Simplot Park today, I went to the “back pond,” which is the one closest to State St. It’s north of Veteran’s Pond and north of the ditch that runs along that pond. On the back pond were 2 groups of Canada Geese
and between them was a very noisy different goose. From the neck up, it resembles a Barnacle Goose, with some slight variance. From the neck down, it looks like a Canada Goose. I tried not to disturb the raft of geese, since they looked like they were transients
and not locals.
Larry and Missy Arnold went out and scoped the bird, and he also thought Barnacle x Canada, but not perfect, because he thought the bill was too light.
Anyway, chase it if you want, and if you get some good photos, please share.
Tom McCabe, Boise
Re: Common Loon
There are still a number of Common Loons in the area along the Snake River and even at the confluence of the Boise and Snake.
On Nov 14, 2021, at 5:00 PM, bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:
I think you’re giving them too much credit. The fisherman I talked to, who had assisted them previously, said that they told him they intended to release the bird into the Boise River.TomFrom: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Diann Stone
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2021 8:29 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Common LoonIf F& G does things correctly, they will find an appropriate place to release the bird. It might mean a commercial flight elsewhere to wintering grounds.On Sat, Nov 13, 2021, 3:09 PM bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:Yesterday, for the first time since late May, I couldn’t find the Common Loon that’s been hanging out in a pond just off Glenwood. Today, I again couldn’t find it, so I asked a fisherman if he had seen the bird. He said that Idaho F&G had captured the bird because they thought the pond was too short for the bird to take off from. He said he had helped them try to capture it once before, but they were unsuccessful at that time. He also said that they were concerned that the bird was consuming so many fish that it was getting too fat to take off. (?)I’m sad that I will no longer get to see such a rare visitor. I also wonder if F&G was catering to the fisherman by eliminating their main competition. 🙁Fortunately, there are lots of winter visitors still arriving.Tom McCabe, Boise
Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
Re: Common Loon
I think you’re giving them too much credit. The fisherman I talked to, who had assisted them previously, said that they told him they intended to release the bird into the Boise River.
Tom
Re: Common Loon
If F& G does things correctly, they will find an appropriate place to release the bird. It might mean a commercial flight elsewhere to wintering grounds.
Re: Red-throated Loon at Deer Flat NWR lower dam
Parking lot seven is the first parking lot after you cross Lower Dam and head along Lakeshore Drive (or Road, not sure which it is). The parking areas have signs with their number along the road. Since Lake Lowell lies on a diagonal from northwest to southeast, I’m not sure how to describe the part of the lake it’s on. Parking lot 7 also allows people to drive right up to the lake edge from the paved area. I think some people use it to launch boats. Maps were available at the Visitors Center but that remains closed to the public. Just so you know, the Visitors Center is near one end of Upper Dam.
Re: Red-throated Loon at Deer Flat NWR lower dam
Welcome! I think you’ll find the parking lot without an issue.
Kathy
Snake River birds
From the IdahoHwy. 78 bridge over the Snake River in Elmore County this afternoon, I saw both Western and Clark’s Grebes as well as a Great Blue Heron, one Tree Swallow, and many Ring-billed Gulls.In town yesterday (Friday), I heard a Say’s Phoebe.
Alan Gregory in Mountain Home
—