Teton Valley floor is still plastered over with a gleaming layer of white snow but someone in Victor today heard and saw a solitary crane out in a field. I also had a Western Meadowlark on Packsaddle Road–second one as I saw one farther to the east on Sunday. Many Red-tailed Hawks perched near nest sites, and

Also on Sunday, we toured Mud Lake which is east of Hwy 15 and north of Hwy 33. It was completely frozen but at least the roads were dry or frozen also.
..
At the South boat ramp, had a group of 6 American Tree Sparrows and some juncos foraging along the edges of remaining snow patches. Two Northern Harrier males flew courtship displays. A solitary Red-winged Blackbird rattled a few times. One large female Prairie Falcon was seriously harassing a Short-eared Owl. along the entrance road. And numbers of Red-tailed Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks were soaring with a few immature Bald Eagles, and Rough-leggeds of different hues also perched along the road.

At the North Boat ramp it was even quieter with a few flickers and robins. Then we spied a group of over 90 Canada geese and 10 Trumpeter Swans (6 were cygnets) resting on the ice mid-lake. As we left a male Mountain Bluebird flashed us and against the brown background, appeared to be the brightest bluebird we have ever seen.

Happy birding, Susan Patla Teton Valley Idaho

A bit of a change at the feeders. Had only 2 Pine Siskins yesterday, none today. But 2 Lesser Goldfinches finally showed at my feeders. Also, a Red-breasted Nuthatch showed up yesterday & is still present.

DC Cormorants, Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, Canada Geese & at least one Cackling Goose & a Hooded Merganser have been on the river. I’ve watched up to 6 Trumpeter Swans landing on the Snake River, near the Canada Geese in the evenings, as well.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

A couple of mountain bluebirds were visiting the back area of the Winco parking lot in Pocatello around noon today.  – Jenny

Saw a Turkey Vulture this morning on my way to work. Very Surprised. This was in Payette County.

Tim Teal

We were hoping for an avocet or curlew or yellowlegs yesterday somewhere in SW Idaho, none of which happened, but here’s our report:

Hagerman Valley – most of the wintering waterfowl had departed, but Lesser Scaup were numerous, and we found a treasure trove of night-herons.

Bruneau Duck Pond – much water, no mud, no shorebirds detected, but a new pedestrian access gate installed by Fish and Game means no more hassling with barbed wire fences to get in there with a scope !! =)

CJ Strike Jack’s Creek – very few birds on the open water, no grebes in sight (weird), but many gulls and Snow Geese, one LB Dowitcher was very early per the eBird bar chart, and a RB Merganser looked out of place because we typically see them below CJ Strike Dam, not out here

Ted Trueblood – no room for shorebirds on the little island where they tend to show up, island and pond were covered with Snow geese! We estimated 4600 of them among the Canada and GWF geese.

Indian Cr Res – much water, some exposed shoreline, 10+ killdeer, c’est tout for shorebirds, but a good mix of waterfowl

Black’s Cr Res – much water, no exposed mud, not even a killdeer present, and very few waterfowl

Nary a swallow anywhere all day, but 67 other species, including a Northern Shrike near Bliss, and a uniquely Sunny-Not-Windy day made for an awesome road trip.

Larry and Missy

Possibly of interest to some in Idaho,

2019 DEAN HALE WOODPECKER FESTIVAL, SISTERS, OREGON

The 9th Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival will be held May 30 – June 2.
Based in Sisters, Oregon, this is an opportunity to see eleven species
of woodpeckers that nest locally as well as up to 200 other bird species
found in central Oregon. East Cascades Audubon Society (ECAS) sponsors
this festival, which offers a fun, friendly, casual atmosphere that is
all about the birds. The trips are affordable and two local volunteers
guide each trip with the proceeds supporting the many ECAS projects and
programs that foster bird conservation. On-line registration opens April
1, 2019 at 8am, PDT. Trip registration fills quickly. Complete
information can be found at:

www.ecaudubon.org/dean-hale-woodpecker-festival

Wow! 200 Pine Siskins. My high count has been 20. I have noticed that the males’ wing bars are becoming a much brighter lemon yellow this past week. I do have 50+ American Goldfinches coming in…and can’t locate a single Lesser in the bunch.

Blue Jay is now in his 5th month here. And, a surprise this AM, was a visit by a/the female Purple Finch. Not sure if she overwintered or another one? As, her visits are so infrequent & unpredictable. It does appear that the Harris’ Sparrows are gone. Still getting daily Trumpeter Swan flyovers, esp AM at sunrise.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

An excellent article on bird migration and human thought.

Bob Perata
Boise/Punta Del Este, Uruguay

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-van-hemert-migration-birds-spring-20190310-htmlstory.html

Sent from my iPhone

There’s a few signs of spring in Bannock County. The Portneuf River
wetlands along Siphon Road didn’t have as many new waterfowl migrants
as I hoped this weekend, but 6 double-crested cormorants flew over and
the first ruddy duck of the year appeared. The number of singing
red-winged blackbirds and song sparrows certainly increased. At least
one yellow-rumped warbler and a white-crowned sparrow survived the
winter here, but it’s been three weeks since the last marsh wren.

Not much at the Pocatello Water Pollution Control Plant except my
first killdeer of the year. Very little at my birdfeeders except a
new high count for the season of just over 200 pine siskins.

A big push of gulls came in during the week so I checked out Fort Hall
Mine Landfill. There were 1300 California, 300 ring-billed, and 7
herring gulls. After combing through them for almost an hr I finally
turned up a second winter lesser black-backed.

The golden eagle pair at Red Rock Pass appears intent on nesting there
again this year. The number of rough-legged hawks has gone way down
the past two weeks. A western meadowlark was just down the road from
Red Rock Pass also.

Sent from my iPhone

On east side of state, haven’t seen nor heard any Snow Geese, yet. But, at lower Snake River Plain elevations, fields are thawing & winter wheat just showing. In those fields seeing lots of Canada Geese & steady numbers of Trumpeter Swans. Found one field this AM with hundreds of Canada Geese, 17 Trumpeter Swans & 15 Wild Turkey, just out into field, but staying close to some cottonwood trees. Recommend scanning open fields around Pingree & Springfield areas.

At our place, still getting daily Blue Jay visits (present since 10/21/18), a dozen Pine Siskins at a time & numerous American Goldfinches & House Finches. The last two, getting more colorful by the day.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot