Caught this wily Sharp-shinned Hawk stalking my backyard birdfeeder after the birds scattered. At least, I’m fairly sure it’s a Sharp-shinned Hawk rather than a Cooper’s Hawk. Great day observing multiple Juncos, Nuthatches x 2, several House Finch pairs, a Mourning dove and a plethora of sparrows. Sharon Meikle, Ada County, Boise, ID

Caught this wily Sharp-shinned Hawk stalking my backyard birdfeeder after the birds scattered. At least, I’m fairly sure it’s a Sharp-shinned Hawk rather than a Cooper’s Hawk. Great day observing multiple Juncos, Nuthatches x 2, several House Finch pairs, a Mourning dove and a plethora of sparrows. Sharon Meikle, Ada County, Boise, ID

When I was out doing my “Poop Fairy” duties this morning, I heard a noise
from the trees across the alley. I looked up in time to see a Rough-legged
Hawk flying out of the neighbor’s tree and heading northeast. I got great
looks at my newest yard bird. 😉

But then I had to finish my duties. 🙁

Tom McCabe, Boise

RL reported one at the landfill

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

This a.m side cove off orchard ave.before river rd. Always nice to see
hooded mergansers.

FYI, zone-tailed hawk being seen on Washington coast, location is noted on ebird checklist below.

Jane

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: [obol] Re: Zone-tailed Hawk photos
From: Mike Patterson
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:33 AM
To: OBOL
CC:

The eBird checklist with photos

http://ebird.org/ebird/pnw/view/checklist?subID=S40346303

—
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
That question…
http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=3294
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While my sightings can’t match Brian’s or Cliff’s or Chuck’s or Carl’s,
today was a pretty good day for birding in Boise, thanks to the storm. My
day began with a flock of Pine Siskins joining all the usual suspects at my
feeders, including one tame guy that may eventually be willing to eat out of
my hand. Then on my bike ride I found a small Merlin down Brumback, near
25th, followed by a large mixed raft of ducks at Quinn’s Pond. It took me a
while but I found Common Goldeneye (FOS), Buffleheads and Ruddy Ducks, plus
all the regulars (Hoodies, Common Mergansers, A. Wigeons, C. Geese, A.
Coots, DC Cormorants, etc.). At Ann Morrison I found Gadwalls and Wood
Ducks,

But it was the raptors that really got the day going. An adult Cooper’s Hawk
at Ann Morrison and an immature later in my back yard. Sharp-shinned near
50th St. on the Garden City Greenbelt, in close proximity to a Red-tail (and
a Great Blue Heron). Plus both A. Kestrel and my favorite dark Merlin at
Esther Simplot.

Along with the 5 raptors, I had 40 species as I returned to the North End.
But of course I wanted more. 😉

So at 23rd and Heron I found my first Brown Creeper of the season for #41.
Later, I glanced at my backyard feeders and realized the finch on the tray
was different. A quick look with the ever present binos showed my FOY
Cassin’s Finch, a bird I haven’t seen in my backyard for some time.

What a great way to spend the day. Tom McCabe, Boise

This evening I had a small bunch of Snow Buntings fly over the road near
Henry’s Lake in Island Park. Also saw several flocks of swans heading
south and a group of Canada Geese with one very small individual in it
but they were too far away to be sure what it was. I’m assuming a
Cackling Goose.

Cliff

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

I finished out yesterday seeing approx 1000 Snow Geese, 300 Tundra Swans & 100 Trumpeter Swans. All were headed SW, in direction of Am Falls Reservoir, as Chuck Trost noted in his post. Also saw a pr of Hooded Mergansers on the Snake River.

This evening, I just saw and heard a group of 28 Trumpeter Swans fly over, as I was filling my feeders for morning. I just had to pause at how beautiful a bird the Trumpeter really is. North America’s largest waterfowl flying with slow & deliberate wing strokes. And unlike the more vocal & chatty Tundra, just occasionally trumpeting. Against a graying sky with snow pellets falling they were, indeed, majestic.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot