A large group, 30ish, of white -winged scoters landed in the first open spot in the Teton River in front of my house on March 4th. They were skittish and disappeared when I tried to get an angle on the opening to take a photo. They flew north and did not return.
scrub jay
curious who in Eagle is hosting the california scrub jay I saw fly across the road from homes near the Crunch Fitness Club (formerly Rocky Mtn. Fitness) this past week ?
that fitness club is just east of the Albertsons on Eagle Road between the old and new State Streets
with all the imports from California the past few years it is not surprising that one hitched a ride 😉
Michael Wiegand
Pearl, Idaho
Pearl, Idaho
208-859-3643-c
208-286-0506-h
208-286-0506-h
Re: Violet green swallows
Feb 24th we logged in tree swallows working the Payette west of Emmett… mind boggling. And today our neighbor’s apricot trees bloomed. Flummoxed in Gem County,
Liz Medes
Violet green swallows
On March 3rd I spotted a Violet-green swallow flying over the Pend Oreille River near Priest River. It was 10 days earlier than I had ever spotted one in this area. Last year one arrived on the 13th making the earliest arrival. I have been keeping an unofficial migratory record here since 1991. You could count on seeing the swallows arriving at approximately 2 pm on the 17th every year. I always considered it the unofficial start of spring. Today I spotted over 50 swallows, at least one was a Violet-green, feeding low on the water in the same location. Normally that volume doesn’t arrive until the end of the month. Did anyone else notice such an early arrival?
Linda Lamb, Priest River
Re: Deerflat nwr.
They early report had a error instead of hood grebe it was a hood merganser most probably knew that.i guess i got up too early
Deerflat nwr.
7:30 this am lower dam from east to west 2 w.grebes 2 hood grebe about 50 snow geese 300 or so White fronts 1red breast merganser
Snow Geese
Had my first-of-year formation of about 60 Snow Geese flyover this AM. The big groups of Trumpeter Swans that had been roosting on the Snake have dwindled to, last night, maybe 10 birds. There’s been a huge push northward, starting about 5 days ago, of both Swan types, Canada Geese, Mallards &, now, seeing the Snows. I usually hear them, before spotting. This AM was no different. Heard their non-stop “chattering talk” as they flew overhead.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Forty Birds and a flyover
Today was the 20th consecutive day where I was able to identify 40 or more birds. Since some of the waterfowl have started to leave, it has been getting a little harder, and I haven’t had a Sandhill Crane flyover to help me in about a week. But today, when I got back to Esther Simplot with only 39 birds, I was considering whether I should extend my ride. It was getting pretty warm, and I was definitely overdressed, but then, like a “deus ex machina” in a play, I was rescued.
I heard, and then saw, a small V formation of swans, flying over my location at Quinn’s Pond. At first I thought they must be Snow Geese, but they were BIG, and there was no black on the wings. The sound was somewhat similar to the cranes, and I have now listened to lots of recordings of both Trumpeter and Tundra Swans (at the time and then at home) and I’ve concluded they had to be Tundra Swans. This is definitely a first for me and my little corner of the greenbelt.
I wonder who will fly over tomorrow?
Tom McCabe, Boise
Gone to the Birds; on Idaho Matters
Heidi Ware Carlisle, Intermtn Bird Obs, featured on today’s program.
https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/programs/idaho-matters#stream/0
Scroll down to Wanna Know Idaho
Re: Spring is near….
love it MB !!!!
and Tom’s cranes =)~~~
Missy and I saw a crazy early TUVU yesterday………………..
LA