*********************** Tempe Regan (she/her) Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist Idaho Department of Fish and Game 99 US-93 Salmon, ID 83467 Office: 208.756.2271 Mobile: 406.396.4856
I’ve seen a few reports of Blue Jay already this fall so I wasn’t too surprised to hear one calling near St. Anthony today. It was in a yard along the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and it called repeatedly for fifteen minutes or so. Maybe this will be a good winter for Blue Jays???
Cliff
— Cliff and Lisa Weisse Island Park, Idaho @cliffweisse
These last few weeks I’ve spent considerable time in the canyons southwest of Challis,,,, Spar canyon, Road creek, and Herd creek. In every one of them I saw lots and lots of White-Crowns. Way more than I’ve usually seen in the hills before. I just figured that they were this years batch flocking up before they went south, but maybe there is more to it than just that. Less Mountain Bluebirds, also. Still plenty of them, but smaller groups, it seems.
Just an interesting observation on a common species. Over the last couple of weeks I have had a huge buildup of White-crowned Sparrows in my yard. (Boise Highlands Area, Ada County). The vast majority are first year birds. I have seen at one time 15 on the ground under my feeders. There are 2 to 3 adults that show up from time to time. Also interesting is I am hearing quite a lot of singing going on. I am not sure I remember this from past years — but I don’t keep records on that sort of thing. Pieplow’s book says males sing all year round. The vocalizations don’t sound like clear adult songs but maybe the first year birds learning and trying out their songs. More like the subsong on the Peterson web site that goes with Pieplow’s book. I am going to dust off my recording gear and capture some snippets. Will post on eBird.
Thanks, Brian. When I magnify it all the way up, on some I can see what looks like a dark spot on the tip of the bill. There have been ring-billed gulls there this summer.
These were circling over the Emmett WW Treatment Plant this a.m. Unfortunately, this was as close as I could get with my point and shoot before they took off. Any clues? Got mixed results with Merlin photo ID.
YR Warblers have invaded Boise. I have been seeing and hearing them everywhere along my bike rides, from the North End to Les Bois race track. And my first (and, so far, only) RC Kinglet was 2 days ago. Plus a DE Junco snuck into our yard 2 days ago to grab some of the seed that the doves and squirrels didn’t get. He was back again yesterday and today, but solo. But the real treat was 9 Pine Siskins in our Rudbeckia plants and the feeders this am. We have a picture from a few years ago where I’m standing by the feeders with about 20 Pine Siskins at my feet and one in my hand. 😉 Maybe a repeat this year?
Tom
P.S. Almost forgot that I had my first male Gadwall in breeding plumage yesterday. Another treat.
This week counted several kinglets, nearly all Ruby C, at Sage Hen Res and Wilson’s Meadow in Gem Cty, and near Cascade Lake shoreline, all mixed with YR Audobon warblers. RCs were in our Emmett yard yesterday, along with the arrival of Oregon juncos. Hate to see the RCs go.
Notable at Cascade was lack of evening grosbeaks and juncos, which we saw in high numbers exactly 1 year ago. Checked out the southern half of the reservoir and other than coots, no migrating waterfowl whereas last year this time, it was jam packed. Much warmer weather this year, and a whole lotta smoke.
Liz Medes
Emmett, the east side
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