This morning (9/27/17) about 10:15 I spotted a few soaring birds, leading up to a gathering of about 12, soaring over Boise’s North End. They did the circling-at-different-levels thing, then before I could get to my good camera, they had headed south, stringing out in something more like single file. The iPhone out-the-upstairs-window was the shot that will have to do, and thinking back they may have been kettling directly over Tom McCabe’s house!
We returned to the north end of Mackay Reservoir early this evening and found the juvenile Sabine’s Gull again in the same place. It was extremely tolerant or our presence, coming within 10 feet of us multiple times. (With better reflexes and a faster camera, I could have gotten incredible photos when it flew right towards me, veering at the last moment!) After about an hour, a second juvenile Sabine’s Gull showed up in the same area.
If interested in seeing these, turn west at the northernmost marked access point for Mackay Reservoir off Hwy 93 and go down to the water’s edge. They are feeding in muddy patches right on the shoreline as well as out in the water less than 20 feet off shore.
Wendy McCradyMackay, ID
Sitting here on a perfectly windless, sun-shiny, autumn day in SW Idaho,
it’s impossible for me to imagine what they’re going through in the
Caribbean!
—–Original Message—–
From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line)
[mailto:BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.KSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Gail Mackiernan
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 10:41 AM
To: BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.KSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Dominica
Very sad, we birded with him in Dominica a number of years ago. It is
horrifying to think of the damage to the people and the environment of the
“Nature Island”
Gail Mackiernan
Silver Spring MD
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 26, 2017, at 11:23 AM, Patrick C. Hodgson <
>
> I have heard (via text) from my friend the popular Dominica bird guide
> Bertrand Jno-Baptiste. He is OK but has lost everything in terms of
> home and possessions. No report yet on the condition of the forest,
> he has not been able to go there yet.
>
> Pat Hodgson
> Toronto, Canada
>
> For BirdChat Guidelines go to
>
> For BirdChat archives or to change your subscription options, go to
> Archives:
https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdchat.html
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>
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Hi folks,
Amy and I took a drive towards Prairie via Hwy 20 on Saturday. We stopped for about 30 minutes at a point on the west side of the road about 2 miles in from the beginning from where it leaves Hwy 20 at Mile 111. There we saw a flyover of at least 50 Mountain Bluebirds, presumably a migrating flock. Most of the time could see about 7-8 at once, but on one occasion at least this many flew over our heads, They were flying around and settling on rocks and on small shrubs, occasionally flying out to catch airborne insects. Looked to see if any Westerns mixed in, but all appeared to be Mountain as far as I could see. eBird flagged it as a high count, but I wonder at this time of year?
John Shortis.
A couple weeks ago, in the early morning dusk, I had a bird fly into my
kitchen window. I went out on the deck and it was lying stunned on a
chair cushion. As I approached it flew into a plant we have on the deck
and I decided to leave it alone. An hour or so later I went out on the
deck and it flushed and quickly flew around the side of the house. I had
a 2-3 second look, at best. At the time I thought “That seems like one
of those small dark wrens – basically it looked like a flying mouse”.
Today I was out in the yard watering plants and heard an interesting
“chip chip” coming from a bush. I could see under the bush what was
clearly a wren of some sorts. So I ran back into the house and grabbed
my binocular. When I got back out in the yard there was a Pacific Wren
just sitting on the lawn for me to get a good view of it. Very obliging.
This is the second time I have had this specie in my yard.
Scott Tuthill
We didn’t see any hummingbirds in our yard yesterday, thought they had bolted, but a Black-chinned just now showed up at our Salvias in back
From: Larry Arnold [mailto:larnold47@cableone.net]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 9:27 AM
To: ‘Cliff and Lisa Weisse’
Cc: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: mini invasion here in W Boise
Thx for this reminder, Cliff. We’ve seen Sabine’s at the smallest puddles imaginable along the Colorado River in W Colorado, as well as along the river itself.
A couple FOS species are at our feeders this morning: Pine Siskin and Cassin’s Finch, several of each. And two Evening Grosbeaks continue in our hood.
Hey Tom, are you seeing new/FOS birds at your feeders in N Boise? Anyone else?
Thanks again Julie for sharing your Brown Thrasher with our birding Community. Nice find! =)
And thank you Cheryl for posting my plovers yesterday! That was a strange observation, since there were no Killdeer present.
Good boid’n folks!
Larry
From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Cliff and Lisa Weisse cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com [ible]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 8:32 AM
To: IBLE
Subject: [IBLE] Late Report / Sabine’s Gull in Teton County
Sorry for the late post (I didn’t have internet access until late last
night) but I saw a juvenile Sabine’s Gull on the Teton River about 1/4
mile upstream from the Bates Bridge. It was walking on the bank and
swimming around eating insects (there were lots of small mayflies on the
water) and allowed very close approach of the boat and great views. This
is the second Sabine’s I’ve seen away from regular locations at
reservoirs (one was flying down the Henry’s Fork at Seeley’s several
years ago in a flock of other gulls) so they’re probably worth watching
for anywhere during migration.
Cliff
—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
Thx for this reminder, Cliff. We’ve seen Sabine’s at the smallest puddles imaginable along the Colorado River in W Colorado, as well as along the river itself.
A couple FOS species are at our feeders this morning: Pine Siskin and Cassin’s Finch, several of each. And two Evening Grosbeaks continue in our hood.
Hey Tom, are you seeing new/FOS birds at your feeders in N Boise? Anyone else?
Thanks again Julie for sharing your Brown Thrasher with our birding Community. Nice find! =)
And thank you Cheryl for posting my plovers yesterday! That was a strange observation, since there were no Killdeer present.
Good boid’n folks!
Larry
From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Cliff and Lisa Weisse cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com [ible]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 8:32 AM
To: IBLE
Subject: [IBLE] Late Report / Sabine’s Gull in Teton County
Sorry for the late post (I didn’t have internet access until late last
night) but I saw a juvenile Sabine’s Gull on the Teton River about 1/4
mile upstream from the Bates Bridge. It was walking on the bank and
swimming around eating insects (there were lots of small mayflies on the
water) and allowed very close approach of the boat and great views. This
is the second Sabine’s I’ve seen away from regular locations at
reservoirs (one was flying down the Henry’s Fork at Seeley’s several
years ago in a flock of other gulls) so they’re probably worth watching
for anywhere during migration.
Cliff
—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
We also had a juvenile Sabine’s Gull yesterday, but at Mackay Reservoir in Custer County. Like Cliff’s, not concerned about our presence. Initially seen foraging on shore right at the water’s edge, then flushed by Ring-billed Gull into the water where it floated nearby long enough for photos.
Earlier in the day, I had a too-brief view of a small tern. The lousy photos I was able to snap of it in flight make me wonder whether it might be a Common rather than a Forster’s. I have very little tern experience so would be happy for any feedback. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39376445
Wendy McCradyMackay, ID
Sorry for the late post (I didn’t have internet access until late last
night) but I saw a juvenile Sabine’s Gull on the Teton River about 1/4
mile upstream from the Bates Bridge. It was walking on the bank and
swimming around eating insects (there were lots of small mayflies on the
water) and allowed very close approach of the boat and great views. This
is the second Sabine’s I’ve seen away from regular locations at
reservoirs (one was flying down the Henry’s Fork at Seeley’s several
years ago in a flock of other gulls) so they’re probably worth watching
for anywhere during migration.
Cliff
—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
Today, was more of the same: YR Warblers, Wilson’s & Orange-crowned Warblers & numerous RC Kinglets & a few Chipping Sparrows. American Robins are staging & really hitting the Russian Olive trees. But, the best bird was just a few minutes ago: a female Mountain Bluebird, fly-catching from the top of a Russian Olive in the backyard.
Mt Bluebirds rarely put in an appearance along our stretch of the Snake River Riparian Grounds, even though they are fairly common in the more open Sagebrush Steppe just a short drive away. Old-timers tell me they used to be common along the river corridor but, I suspect, the non-native European Starling out-competed them for cottonwood cavity nesting sites years ago. Another bird, which is becoming increasingly more noticeable was a Common Raven this afternoon in our front pasture. In the last 5 years, Ravens have started replacing the Common Crow in our area but haven’t yet made an impact on the BB Magpie. I hope they don’t, as I enjoy seeing the tailored “suit” of a magpie.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot