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Since I have never felt the temerity to post a photo to IBLE (there are so
many great photographers on this list serve), I’m not sure my photo will get
through. If it does, it’s a photo of a small group of Turkey Vultures that
paused in the trees between Quinn’s Pond and the Boise River. There were 7
when I first saw them, but only 4 by the time I got to the tree. (I think
they paused here to defecate.)

They were such a sight that 2 of the Boise bike officers grabbed me to find
out what they were. They were quite pleased that they were correct in their
identification, but then wondered if there was any significance to the
vultures circling. When I explained they were just rising on a thermal to
get elevation, they were relieved that it didn’t indicate something had
died. (I think I may be infecting them with an interest in birds-and they’re
out there on the greenbelt all day long.)

Anyway, I hope the photo, however poor, comes through.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Hi Jay – I really appreciate your analysis, and taking the time to make these detailed observations. You’re obviously well-versed, and those are the opinions I’m looking for; however, since I saw the bird in real-time, and there were certain field marks that really stood out to me that I’ve never seen on any Warbling Vireo over many years, I still think it was a Philadelphia. I’ll blame it on my frantic photography attempts & poor lighting achieved. To your points, the eye-line on this bird was noticeably dark – darker than I’ve ever seen on a Warbling; the black line also WAS in front of the eye (best shown in #2, but also obvious on the bird in real-time; this should distinctively say it is a Philadelphia, not Warbling), the chest was yellow (pic 2 alludes to this better, since it’s front-on), along with the flanks/vent, and the dark wing-edge on this bird shows in Sibley’s specifically for the Philadelphia, but not for the Warbling Vireo. I can’t address a feather angle on a hurried shot, but the black edging to me is much more definitive; I’m sorry I didn’t mention that in my original notes. So, my photos are obviously not up to par, but I’ve seen a lot of Warbling Vireos in my lifetime, and this looked completely different in real-time. But, I also can’t say that I’m familiar specifically with a ‘fresh late summer/fall Warbling”, and Sibley’s doesn’t make a distinction. But none of the Warbling Vireos in my Sibley’s field guide or iBird Plus app show a bird that looked like this, whereas the Philadelphia Vireo in the field guides match it. I also looked up images on the Internet for both birds. I think maybe the biggest definitive thing for me is the very definite slate-gray cap on my bird, that was distinctively separated from the back color. In every Warbling Vireo picture I found, there is a lack of distinction between head color and back color. In the pictures on the Internet, I saw huge variation in the patterns of yellow vs white on the front of the birds, so I think the best distinguishing field marks in this case are the dark black line that does go in front of the eye, and the strong distinction between head and back colors. Anyone else want to weigh in on this? Thanks again Jay… and a good night to all…JB

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

________________________________
From: ible@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Jay Carlisle carlislejay@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 8:21:09 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [IBLE] Philadelphia Vireo ? Need ID confirmation assistance, please – asap

Hi Jonathan

Delayed reply because your message just made it to my inbox. I hate to burst your bubble but this bird looks good for a young Warbling Vireo (which are the brightest/most contrasty version of this species that we see because they’re in fresh plumage July to September whereas adults arrive in May & leave by August in quite worn/ faded plumage) and here are several reasons:

* the eye-line isn’t black enough – on Philadelphia, it should be darker than the cap, and distinctly dark in front of the eye
* the chest isn’t yellow enough – in particular, Philadelphia should be brightest on the center of the chest whereas this bird seems equally yellowish-white, or maybe the flanks are subtly brighter
* beak too long (though this one is hard to judge & I wouldn’t rely solely on this)
* and, for the finer details, on your image #1 you can actually make out the reduced primary 10 (barely longer than the primary coverts) as it slightly hangs down from the folded wing – this is a feather that Warbling has and Philadelphia lacks

You are far the from the first person to jump at a fresh late summer/fall Warbling … and I was a bit tempted when I saw the thumbnail shots pop up, including one view (image #3) which suggests a shorter tail (though image #1 shows that the tail isn’t so short).

I hope this helps/makes sense,

Jay

Hi Jonathan
Delayed reply because your message just made it to my inbox.  I hate to burst your bubble but this bird looks good for a young Warbling Vireo (which are the brightest/most contrasty version of this species that we see because they’re in fresh plumage July to September whereas adults arrive in May & leave by August in quite worn/ faded plumage) and here are several reasons:

– the eye-line isn’t black enough – on Philadelphia, it should be darker than the cap, and distinctly dark in front of the eye
– the chest isn’t yellow enough – in particular, Philadelphia should be brightest on the center of the chest whereas this bird seems equally yellowish-white, or maybe the flanks are subtly brighter
– beak too long (though this one is hard to judge & I wouldn’t rely solely on this)
– and, for the finer details, on your image #1 you can actually make out the reduced primary 10 (barely longer than the primary coverts) as it slightly hangs down from the folded wing – this is a feather that Warbling has and Philadelphia lacks
You are far the from the first person to jump at a fresh late summer/fall Warbling … and I was a bit tempted when I saw the thumbnail shots pop up, including one view (image #3) which suggests a shorter tail (though image #1 shows that the tail isn’t so short).
I hope this helps/makes sense,
Jay

Actually, after looking at page 340 – which I just discovered – in Sibley’s Field Guide from 2000, I am convinced it is indeed a Philadelphia vireo. It matches perfectly, and no other vireo on the comparison page does. That is New Yard Bird #72! JB

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

________________________________
From: ible@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Jonathan Barnett jrb4jc@hotmail.com [ible]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 7:22:15 PM
To: IBLE
Subject: [IBLE] Philadelphia Vireo ? Need ID confirmation assistance, please – asap [3 Attachments]

[Attachment(s) from Jonathan Barnett included below]
Hi – I noticed a ‘different’ bird in my crabapple tree this evening, so I zoomed in and was able to snap a few shots before it flitted off.
I’ve been looking through Sibley’s, and it looks the most to me like a Philadelphia Vireo. Since I had a Palm Warbler in this same garden last Fall, it wouldn’t surprise me.
But I wanted to get ID feedback from those of you in the group who are proficient at vireo identification – please weigh in before I submit it to eBird. Thanks! Jonathan, Horseshoe Bend

For my own ID thoughts…

It appeared ‘stubbier’ and smaller-billed than the Red-eyed vireos I’m used to. The ‘lines’ didn’t seem as ‘sharp’ as a REV either. (sorry if my acronyms aren’t technically sanctified)
It has no wingbars, which rules out most others. It definitely has a contrast between the grayish crown and the greenish back.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

I’m with you, Larry. Though I don’t spend as much time searching for bird
as others apparently do, I enjoy observing in my yard and occasionally on
an outing to local park or the Foothills. I get kicks out of watching the
Black-capped Chickadees do their grab and go from the feeder to a nearby
branch to eat a tasty morsel. Watching young of any species flap tiny wings
and beg vocally for food from adults is always of interest to me. This
summer I especially enjoyed the daily activities of three young Cooper’s
Hawks along my driveway on the Depot Bench in Boise.

The postings that always enlighten and entertain me are those of Tom McCabe
in Boise and Brian Carrigan in Blackfoot. Jinathan in Horseshoe Bend also
contributes good observation anecdotes Of course, your reports from
outings and trips with Missy, I always read attentively. Thanks.

Diann Stone Depot Bench Boise

On Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 5:04 PM LARRY ARNOLD larnold47@cableone.net [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> I understand this is a state listserv for chasing year birds
>
> most state list servs are such and such
>
> what I wish is that we could discuss more of behaviors
>
> we enter eBird lists
>
> and if a rarity shows up, we chase
>
> c’mon
>
> there’s more than this
>
> eh?
>
> why oh why are we like every other state list serv??
>
> can’t we be a bit different?
>
> more like the AZ-NM list
>
> above that fray of chasing????????
>
>
> is any one left, not all moved to FB??
>
> moi
> Boise
>
>
> —
>
>
>

That was a great Boreal Owl sighting, a pleasant surprise. Would Boreal
Owls normally be in the area of your cabin? And where is that?

On Mon, Sep 3, 2018, 2:01 AM lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
> Spent a few days at the cabin &, last evening while taking a walk, an owl
> flew across my path & landed in a Douglas Fir. From 15 ft away, I got great
> binoc views of a Boreal Owl. The owl was on the hunt & took off a few
> minutes later. Earlier in the day, I found a female Western Tanager. And
> for Ruth Shea, the Trumpeter Swan pr at Swan Lake, Island Park were
> successful again this year, at least 2 & maybe more juveniles with them.
>
> Now, back at home &, it appears, that both my Black-headed Grosbeaks &
> Calliope Hummingbirds have moved on. Not for lack of seeds or nectar, as
> both still had food. I’ll keep my nectar up a bit longer to see if I get
> any straggler migrants. Not much in the way if Warblers, yet.
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
>

On Mon, Sep 3, 2018, 2:01 AM lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
> Spent a few days at the cabin &, last evening while taking a walk, an owl
> flew across my path & landed in a Douglas Fir. From 15 ft away, I got great
> binoc views of a Boreal Owl. The owl was on the hunt & took off a few
> minutes later. Earlier in the day, I found a female Western Tanager. And
> for Ruth Shea, the Trumpeter Swan pr at Swan Lake, Island Park were
> successful again this year, at least 2 & maybe more juveniles with them.
>
> Now, back at home &, it appears, that both my Black-headed Grosbeaks &
> Calliope Hummingbirds have moved on. Not for lack of seeds or nectar, as
> both still had food. I’ll keep my nectar up a bit longer to see if I get
> any straggler migrants. Not much in the way if Warblers, yet.
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
>

Hi – I noticed a ‘different’ bird in my crabapple tree this evening, so I zoomed in and was able to snap a few shots before it flitted off.
I’ve been looking through Sibley’s, and it looks the most to me like a Philadelphia Vireo. Since I had a Palm Warbler in this same garden last Fall, it wouldn’t surprise me.
But I wanted to get ID feedback from those of you in the group who are proficient at vireo identification – please weigh in before I submit it to eBird. Thanks! Jonathan, Horseshoe Bend

For my own ID thoughts…

It appeared ‘stubbier’ and smaller-billed than the Red-eyed vireos I’m used to. The ‘lines’ didn’t seem as ‘sharp’ as a REV either. (sorry if my acronyms aren’t technically sanctified)
It has no wingbars, which rules out most others. It definitely has a contrast between the grayish crown and the greenish back.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

I don’t even have a Facebook account, so I can’t move. And eBird doesn’t work for my daily bike rides because they want only 5 miles at a time, and I don’t even record my birds until I get home.. So Larry, you’re stuck with me.

As for behavior, I see some changes happening. Yesterday, the Merlin who hung out at Esther Simplot last winter returned. And the day before, a raft of 7 Ruddy Ducks showed up at Silver Lake, but they were one day wonders. Some days I have a hard time getting my Minimum Daily Allowance of 20, and other days I exceed my Recommended Daily Allowance of 30.

Tom

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of LARRY ARNOLD larnold47@cableone.net [ible]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 9:53 AM
To: ible
Subject: [IBLE] I wish a wish

I understand this is a state listserv for chasing year birds

most state list servs are such and such

what I wish is that we could discuss more of behaviors

we enter eBird lists

and if a rarity shows up, we chase

c’mon

there’s more than this

eh?

why oh why are we like every other state list serv??

can’t we be a bit different?

more like the AZ-NM list

above that fray of chasing????????

is any one left, not all moved to FB??

moi

Boise

—

Hi all!
I just learned that there are still spaces open in the Golden Eagle Audubon “Mastering eBird” Workshop.
This workshop is put on by eBird project coordinator, Ian Davies! I’m sure it will be a great way to learn some eBird tips and tricks, and pick Ian’s ear about all things eBird 🙂
Here’s the link to sign up: Golden Eagle Audubon Society – Mastering eBird Workshop
Thanks to GEAS for providing such a great opportunity to the Idaho birding community!

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Golden Eagle Audubon Society – Mastering eBird Workshop

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