This pond, although private property, is an excellent, overlooked, shorebird spot. I’ve also seen EU Wigeon, LT Ducks, and all three scoters there in early winter.
Zeke Watkins
208-731-1471
Instagram : @idahobirder
Not all those who wander are lost – J.R.R. Tolkien
Without the animals, Man would die of a great loneliness of the Spirit – Chief Seattle
An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only great curiosity but great fulfillment – Sir David Attenborough
I’ve seen lots of traffic (on eBird & Facebook) about the phalarope up at Mann Lake but an out of state birder (who’s doing some crossbill surveys for Intermountain Bird Observatory) located one yesterday just N of the South Hills – ebird.org/checklist/S92255923. Not sure if anyone has gone looking today …
Hummingbird action has been non-stop for going on 3 wks now. Filled my 10 oz feeder at 5 PM & it’s down by 3 oz now. Have counted, for sure, 4 individual Rufous & 4 individual Black-chinneds. Relates to at least 40 individuals hitting the feeders.
Have adult males, females & juveniles of both. Haven’t seen a Calliope in about 10 days & no Broad-taileds yet. But, for me, they’re usually an Aug arrival. Most of the action occurs at first light for an HR or two & then picks up again about 6 PM until dark. The male Rufous are tyrants!
Yesterday afternoon & again this AM, Calliope Hummingbirds started showing at the feeder. Both adult female & juvenile. For my location, that’s approx a month early. So now, have adults & juvs of Black-chinned, Rufous & Calliope coming in. The only one I haven’t seen an adult male for yet, is the Calliope (but, even in a typical yr, may only get one male, as must take a bit diff’t route than the females & juvs). Believe the excessive heat combined with regional wildfires is pushing hummingbird migration a bit early this season.
In the ebird report canyon COUNTY photos the bird of a blk.bird has the white and red are in the right place on wing as that of a tri color b.b don’t know where photo was taken I saw one near malhuer several years ago ciao
Thanks for your response, Bill. Being NE of you, at homesite along Snake River, have never had Rufous nest here. And, our southward Rufous migration always seems to start toward end of July. We always seem to be 10 days later than your location for Rufous migration. Only time we had earlier dates was ’88, yr of Yellowstone fires.
But, the southward migration of Rufous thru here had definitely started. This AM, have seen adult male, female & juv Rufous, as well as, both male & female Black-chinneds which are summer residents. In fact, a male BC was just doing display flights to a female at the feeder. My 10 oz feeder is down by 4 oz since daybreak. By count & multiplying by 6, at least 36 hummers hitting feeder this AM. Some epic battles by Rufous, too!
Our first Rufous, a brilliant male, showed up last Thursday, right about the usual date. Migration is surely begun.
I have three hummer feeders up and am refilling about one four cup feeder a day. This is about half the rate of recent years. Lots of displaying going on near the feeders, so it’s likely brood two is on the way.
Have started getting regular visits to the nectar feeder past few days. My local Black-chinneds, both male & female, have been hitting hard in this heat. But, was surprised with sev visits yest evening by a juvenile Rufous. My first sightings for Rufous are usually the end of July, on their migration back south. I was esp surprised with this one being a juvenile. Of course, given the heat & warm summer, prob early nesting has occurred & migration south may have started.
Brian Carrigan Blackfoot
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
