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

Hi birders,
Just got a call from Larry Arnold and he wanted me to post about the birds he found today at site listed above. There were also other shorebirds present.
Great birds, Larry! Thanks for getting the word out!
Cheryl

Cheryl Huizinga
Caldwell, Idaho

Fall migrants were on the move all day. Figure birds must have held tight for a couple of storm days & are making up for lost time in their southward travels. MacGillivray’s, Wilson’s, Orange-crowned & Yellow-rumped Warblers were common. As were Western Tanagers & White-crowned Sparrows. Also, Ruby-crowned Kinglets & Red-breasted Nuthatches. Did have a Willow Flycatcher come through, as well.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

This afternoon I was floating the South Fork of the Snake River upstream
from Heise and I had good looks at a small dark swift foraging over the
river with Violet-green Swallows. It looked slightly larger than the
swallows, was dark blackish gray overall with slightly contrasting rump
and paler throat than the rest of the underparts. My impression at the
time was Chimney Swift but Vaux’s is obviously more likely and I don’t
feel like I saw enough to nail down the ID despite close looks (30 yards
at times) with trees/cliffs behind the bird so it wasn’t back lit,
making color easy to see. So despite my initial excitement I’m calling
it a Vaux’s/Chimney Swift, either of which is a good bird for the location.

There was also a flock of 14 Pinion Jays in the area (further upstream
than I’ve seen them before). Quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and
Western Wood Pewees as well.

Cliff

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

Greetings, Birders!
I got in a few hours of birding duringthe break in the storm today, all of it at the Land of the YankeeFork State Park on the south end of Challis in Custer County. I’vebeen birding this location almost daily since arriving here inmid-April, so was rather surprised to add a number of new species tothe hotspot list today. Fall migrants plus the storm break yielded avery nice bird list which can be seen on eBird:http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39335042
New additions included Sharp-shinnedHawk, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, and Dark-eyed Junco. Therewere large numbers of birds almost frantically foraging in thecottonwoods, willows along the irrigation canal,sagebrush-grasslands, and swale near the Bison Kill Site. Almost twodozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 8 Orange-crowned Warblers, 4 Wilson’sWarblers, and a couple of MacGillivray’s were present, along with aconservative count of 75 Yellow-rumped Warblers and over 30 MountainBluebirds. The Black-capped Chickadees are looking very fresh rightnow. Two Rock Wrens remain, along with a single Barn Swallow.White-crowned Sparrows came out in force, vastly outnumbering theVesper Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows, and Song Sparrow. A single WesternTanager was present and a Swainson’s Thrush popped up by theagricultural fields.
The real highlight, however, was finallyseeing a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in Idaho. Such a surprise to see thisshort-tailed, big-headed sparrow perch on a low sagebrush in fall. Of course,no camera with me due to occasional drizzle but I won’t soon forgetits beauty. Deep dark yellow lores. The rich color and contrast ofthe wide rufous stripes on the gray scapulars made me think of thosefancy tapestries one sees hanging in castles. What a way to end ourstay here.
Good birding,
Wendy McCradyChallis, ID – for only one more day

Rain & rain/snow mix finally quit & getting a small push of migrants. American Robin, RB Nuthatch, YR Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, White-crowned Sparrows &, best bird today, a Western Tanager.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot