We all know how much fun it is to see a new bird, but that becomes harder as
we explore our environs. So we fall back to the joy of the first time we see
a bird in a particular year or even a season. We expect it when spring
arrives, but I wasn’t expecting it at the end of January.

My first FOY bird for today came at about 2:30 in the morning when a Western
Screech Owl started calling from the Ponderosa just outside our bedroom. We
have been looking and listening for them on our evening walks, but this one
came to us!

My second FOY bird for today came when I found at least 4, and maybe 6,
Northern Shovelers at Esther Simplot Park. I saw 2 in the main pond where it
is closest to Whitewater Park Blvd. The next 4 were in the back pond.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t be certain that the first 2 hadn’t moved over to
the back pond, hence the uncertainty as to numbers. And they were definitely
male/female pairs.

The third FOY bird was a Northern Pintail at Mallard Point, an assisted
living type operation at 50th St. in Garden City. In prior years I’ve seen a
Northern Pintail, probably this same one, across the river near Silver Lake.
But because Veteran’s Park is partially closed to bikers and the greenbelt
under Veterans Parkway is still being rebuilt, I haven’t been on that side
of the river for some time. Fortunately, he decided to come visit. 😉

A separate treat was a pair of Brown Creepers who flew across the path right
in front of me as I arrived at Ann Morrison today. They then posed for me on
the trunk of a small Locust tree. Even though they weren’t FOY’s, it’s
always fun to see them.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Boise
As of 5:45 the Barred has moved from where we found him earlier. Did not snoop around to re-find him… he may just be out getting dinner. A Great-horned out there was making quiet a bit of noise.
=)k
____________________
Kim Liebich =)

On Jan 31, 2018, at 10:16 AM, Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:

RL called and said he had a Barred Owl at Shakespeare Festival Grounds. I imagine the Wednesday morning group. He said to go left instead of past the ticket gate from the main parking lot. Will update with better details later. People will be there for a little while.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

The Barred Owl was just east of the parking lot near the building along the dirt path. It was in the trees just south of the path. Found by Jim James.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 10:30 AM, Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:

 
RL called and said he had a Barred Owl at Shakespeare Festival Grounds. I imagine the Wednesday morning group. He said to go left instead of past the ticket gate from the main parking lot. Will update with better details later. People will be there for a little while.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

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RL Rowland just called me with a barred owl sighting at the Idaho Shakespeare festival grounds.
Cheryl

Cheryl Huizinga
Caldwell, Idaho

RL called and said he had a Barred Owl at Shakespeare Festival Grounds. I imagine the Wednesday morning group. He said to go left instead of past the ticket gate from the main parking lot. Will update with better details later. People will be there for a little while.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Today saw a slew of white birds far out from dam. Even with camera zoomed
out over 1300mm. I could not identify them.in the photo the only thing I
could see it looked like a large Bill maybe some pelicans? Numbers in the
hundreds

Hi,
I find the discussions on IBLE to be very helpful in learning to ID
difficult birds. I am attaching a very poor picture of what I think is a
female Greater Scaup. I could not get closer due to a chain link fence. I
was digiscoping and having trouble focusing on the constantly diving bird.
The bird was on Veteran’s Pond in Boise found by Tom McCabe and Jason
Talbot.

I think the head shape looks more rounded and consistent with a Greater.

Thanks for any help.
Danette Henderson
Boise

Ruthann:

Yesterday there were 2 adult Bald Eagles on the island (Eagle Island?) north and east (upstream) of the heron and cormorant rookery near the West Boise STP. I then saw one flying, and being chased by Crows, in the vicinity of the Garden City West Bridge. Today, there was an adult perched on a dead tree between Veterans Pond and the river. And he stayed there for over an hour.

Two days ago I saw an adult and an immature where the bridge was taken out at the north end of Remington St., and an immature between Veterans Pond and the river (same tree as the adult today). Prior to 2 days ago I failed to find any Bald Eagles for several days. In other words, as my wife likes to say, it’s a matter of “luck and timing.”

Tom McCabe, Boise

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ruthanngreene@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 2:22 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Bald Eagles on the Greenbelt

I would like to photograph some Eagles and was wondering where a good spot would be to find them on the Greenbelt.

Any places in Eagle along the Greenbelt there or is it best to go to Boise?

Ruthann Greene

I would like to photograph some Eagles and was wondering where a good spot would be to find them on the Greenbelt.

Any places in Eagle along the Greenbelt there or is it best to go to Boise?

Ruthann Greene

Cackling goose in Boise at Greenbelt mile marker SE 1.9 seen Tuesday and Thursday. Best viewing on south side of river.
Alan Crockett