Listserv Posts

RS Hawk and WW Crossbill

Morning birders, 

For those interested, late yesterday morning my birding group and I encountered a Red-shouldered Hawk at Grayback Gulch Campground and it was calling and flying towards Idaho City which is a few miles to the north. 
We also had a pair of White-winged Crossbills a little north and east, past Mores Creek Summit at Whoop Em Up Campground.  I haven’t heard of them being expected, so I thought it notable! 
Sharing this for public info and anyone interested in these sightings. 
Good birding,
Austin 

—

Austin Young
younaust@…
Undergraduate Student
Ecology and Conservation Biology Club President
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Listserv Posts

Out of Area: Lamoille Canyon Road Closed ; Snowcock Avalanche

Kamilia Canyon Road in the Ruby Mountains, where you go to see Himalayan Snowcock, has been closed as of Sunday by multiple avalanches. This happened while we were in the air, on our way west.

We were told that the decision had not yet been made on reopening the road, and that if they decide to go ahead, it will be at least several months’ work to clear the road, perhaps even a year.

Sorry that this is for a site outside Idaho, where we just were, but I don’t subscribe to the Nevada Listserv, and this species would be relevant to many folks in Idaho This was quite a bummer for a trip that was two years in the planning, but

Scott Spangenberg
Amherst, NH

Odd spellings, unusual grammar, and bizarre word substitutions are all creations of software of random quality, and not the ham-fingered soul who wrote this

Listserv Posts

Dry lake

A MISNOMER TODAY lots of birds got there.  cheryl Louisa RL Wsaid lots of birds enjoyed  red phalaropes & semi palm peeps  left to check out nearby ponds ponds Dearborn spotted piper several w.kind birds photo 3 together on wire while sitting there seen 2 more then 5 w.peep landed near onto rim rd.pond   full no mud flats for shore birds but got this photo of c.teal went back to dry lake  canal just w.of dry lake eared grebe R.L. still there said new birds while I was gone L.yell leg.  dowitchers  and willet . Thanks earth mother for the rain & plethora of birds 
Listserv Posts

Backyard birding

Given our current “heat dome,” birding along the Boise River has slowed down somewhat. But, amazingly, my backyard has gotten more active. While I realize I am catering (literally) to the little feather balls, I’m still amazed.

I won’t bore you with my list for the yard for the year, but just in the last 2 days I’ve had mobs of Lesser and American Goldfinches, House Finches, House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, and BC Hummers. But I’ve also had appearances by Song Sparrows, RB Nuthatches, and BC Chickadees. Then today we had a visit by a Cooper’s hawk (obviously attracted by all the little guys) and then a Lazuli Bunting. While I realize these are not earth-shaking observations, try to remember that I live in a city that is currently frying.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my good fortune. The LABU, in particular, is not a bird that regularly visits my house.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Listserv Posts

IBRC Update

Here’s a list of the latest records IBRC has completed voting on.

Cliff

Accepted in first round:
Flammulated Owl 38-B-2020
Bullock’s Oriole 65-B-2020
Broad-winged Hawk 48-B-2020
Blackpoll Warbler 71-B-2020
Magnolia Warbler 70-B-2020
Black-throated Green Warbler 69-B-2020
Common Grackle 5-B-2021
Tennessee Warbler 3-B-2021
Western Tanager 1-B-2021
Alder Flycatcher 61-B-2020
Broad-winged Hawk 42-B-2020
Dusky Flycatcher 72-B-2020
Yellow-billed Loon 73-B-2020
Rusty Blackbird 66-B-2020
Rusty Blackbird 68-B-2020
Glaucous Gull 26-B-2021
Short-billed Dowitcher 25-B-2021
California Scrub-Jay 23-B-2021
Snowy Plover 21-B-2021
Northern Mockingbird 20-B-2021
Ferruginous Hawk 19-B-2021
Rusty Blackbird 16-B-2021
Fox Sparrow 14-B-2021
Purple Finch 12-B-2021
Clay-colored Sparrow 13-B-2021
Northern Mockingbird 11-B-2021
Black Scoter 75-B-2020

Not Accepted in first round:
Purple Finch 74-B-2020
Field Sparrow 3-A-2020

Accepted in second round:
California Scrub-Jay 16-B-2019 (5-2)
Clay-colored Sparrow 74-B-2015 (6-1)
Eastern Bluebird 4-A-2015 (6-1)
Greater Yellowlegs 9-B-2021 (5-2)

Not Accepted in second round:
Clay-colored Sparrow 36-B-2020 (0-7)
Red-breasted Sapsucker 6-B-2020 (0-7)
Dunlin 10-B-2021 (0-7)
Greater Yellowlegs 8-B-2021 (0-7)
Dunlin 6-B-2021 (1-6)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 64-B-2020 (2-5)
Yellow Rail 40-B-2020 (1-6)

Not Accepted in third round:
Red-breasted Sapsucker 11-B-2016 (4-3)

I’ve been asked a few times about the meaning of the alpha-numeric codes shown after the species name in the list of reviewed records I send out in these updates.  All records are in this format:
Species name, Record Number, (Vote).
Species name is self explanatory.
The record number is in 3 parts separated by hyphens.  The first part is the number of the record within a given year.  The second part is a letter, either A or B, which designates whether the report is for a species with previous Idaho records (B), or if the report is for a species not yet documented in Idaho (A).   The third part is the year in which the report was submitted.
The numbers in parenthesis are the final vote arrived at by IBRC for the record, with the first number for “accept” votes, the second for “not accept” votes.  First round votes must be unanimous to be decisive so any record Accepted/Not Accepted in first round is necessarily 7-0 or 0-7.

Here’s an example:
Lincoln’s Sparrow 11-B-13 (7-0)
In this case the species is Lincoln’s Sparrow.
The record number, 11-B-13, shows that this is the 11th report submitted to IBRC during the year, the “B” shows that there are previous records for Lincoln’s Sparrow, “13” is the year, 2013.
The numbers in parenthesis, (7-0), are the final vote on the record.  7 votes to Accept, 0 votes for Not Accept.

Accepted in first round:
Bewick’s Wren 15-B-13

Accepted in second round:
Lincoln’s Sparrow 11-B-13 (7-0)

-Report rarities to the Idaho Bird Records Committee via the online form at:
https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/node/add/rare_bird_reports
-Helpful tips for preparing your report can be found in this article:
https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/how-to-document
-Don’t forget to check the Review List before taking the time to prepare a report:
https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/review-species
-You can contact the Secretary via email at this address:
secretary@idahobirds.net
-As always you can email any Committee member with questions. Addresses can be found here:
https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee