I think that Anna’s Hummingbirds have been observed at Hulls Gulch, just east of Camel’s Back Park, all winter. I saw a gorgeous male there a couple of days ago. 🙂
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Aidan Lorenz
Caldwell
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Aidan Lorenz
Caldwell
Re: HUMMERS
I had an Anna’s Hummingbird visit about two weeks ago at my heated feeder. Haven’t had one since.
Kerry
North End, Boise
HUMMERS
My wife and a friend were walking at Camelsback Park this morning and sighted a hummingbird. Distance was too great for a solid identification, but movement and the irredecent green were obvious. Anyone else have them visiting?
Tom Soniville
West Bech, Boise
Says Phoebe
I had a Says Phoebe show up this morning, first ever here. It didn’t stay long but flew off toward the stream below us. At first I thought it was a Robin, but the behavior, perching and tail wagging, was different and on looking definitely not a Robin. Guess I’ll need to watch our Robins a little closer from now on. Female Red Wings just showed up a day or so ago along with our local Sandhills.
I’ve been doing a Winter Raptor Survey nearby and last week while looking for Raptors, largely skunked, I headed down to Red Rocks Pass and Swan Lake, below Downey, and found over 50 Tundra Swans on the main lake and a few more in the weeds below the lake.
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom
Blue Jay calling
Was finishing up a round of birding at Emmett Wastewater Treatment Plant earlier this morning when I heard the characteristic call. Tracked it down on the footpath running east at the south end of the ponds. Too quick for me to snap a pic but was able to get a wee recording. Tried following it east, and checked Gem Island park as well but the trail went cold. Still, a rare but very cheerful appearance.
Liz Medes
Emmett
Cassin’s Finch
This AM, had a bright, spring-plumage male, Cassin’s Finch in yard. Yesterday, a small group (3-4) Mtn Chickadees came through.Â
Also, most of the week, esp mid-AM have seen & heard (at night) flyovers of thousands of Tundra Swans & Snow Geese, all headed north. And, some Sandhill Cranes, as well. Red-winged Blackbird males are here singing & setting up territories, awaiting the arrival of females. Robins are starting to show in larger numbers, as well.Â
Had to look up, every spring this is a repeat for me, the mating call of male Spotted Towhees, as their behavior changes from the rest of the year. Getting to watch a male Towhee in his fresh, bright colors, singing from 15′ up in a tree & staying in place, is a treat.Â
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Riding the Greenbelt
Yesterday I took a longer ride west to Eagle. Twenty-three miles got me 49 species, including a FOY Canvasback (thank you Jason), a pair of Bald Eagles at their nest, and a GH Owl peeking out of its tree nest. I tried hard to get a round number, but the 50th bird eluded me.
Today, I took a ride only half that long (11 miles) and found 45 species. Highlights included a flyover by a large “V” of Sandhill Cranes, a pair of Osprey setting up housekeeping on a light tower at Willow Lane, and a rocket Cooper’s in my back yard. Of course, I got a little colder and wetter than yesterday, but that’s birding.
BTW, today was the 3rd day in 4 that I exceeded 40 species. Gotta love Springtime!
Tom McCabe, Boise
Re: Harris sparrow
I believe that the Harris’s Sparrow has been residing at Borah Park in Boise. 🙂
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Aidan Lorenz
Caldwell
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Aidan Lorenz
Caldwell
Harris sparrow
Where was the. Harris locatedÂ
Cold, wet ride
Since I was scheduled to get my 2d vaccine at the VA today, I had to do an early ride or not go at all (which is not a choice). So I headed out relatively early for me, but after the stuff falling out of the sky stopped being white and thick. By the time I had gone 5 blocks, I already had 10 birds. Then at Esther Simplot I found C. Goldeneye and a pair of N. Shovelers, and I started to get my hopes up—although by this time it was pretty wet, and I was getting cold.
The birds kept falling into place as I proceeded down river. Just past Willow Lane, I found #31, a Cooper’s Hawk. Right after that I found a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye and heard a RB Nuthatch, and the rain intensified. At Les Bois track, I was able to peek through the fence to see a male Bufflehead and a couple of male GW Teal. And the birds kept coming–as did the rain. Number 40 was a huge GB Heron standing in the middle of the river, and 41 was a RT Hawk.
When I got back to Willow Lane, I decided I should try the restrooms to see if I could warm my hands. No luck on that, but just then an Osprey flew over, circled a few times and landed on a light tower with nesting material in his talons. My day was made, but I didn’t get to warm my hands until Esther Simplot.
Final tally was 43 species in about 11 miles. A wonderful, but wet, day.
Tom McCabe, Boise