Took a look out our backyard water fountain yesterday here in the Boise
Highlands area and saw a gray bird in the shadows. From the distance I
was at I at first thought, ok just another female House Finch. Then I
thought, well actually it looks bigger and sleeker than a House Finch.
So I wandered over and grabbed my binoculars. Upon closer examination,
there was a Townsend’s Solitaire sitting in the flowing water. We have
these birds in the neighborhood during the winter — arriving in
mid-November – I have never seen one this time of year. Not sure if it
was a migrant heading south or maybe a local bird displaced from higher
elevations due to fires. Who knows. It is always fun to catch a specie
at a new time or place.
JB Peck just texted me & asked to share here: he’s seeing & has gotten pics of a tail-pumping Palm Warbler @ Blacks Creek! He says “eastern side where all the trees are”. He saw it on shore & in sagebrush but hasn’t seen it for a bit.
Just when I was certain it was gone, the immature RB Grosbeak was briefly at the feeder this AM. I had just seen an Orange-crowned Warbler & a Wilson’s, when I turned around and 20 ft away, the Grosbeak was at the feeder. Same bird with a distinctive red tear drop at bottom of rose breast. Feared moving for a photo, as it is quite “flighty”. No rhyme or reason to its visits, as hadn’t seen since Wed.
Others were Red-breasted Nuthatch & Cedar Waxwings. And, the resident “guide” Black-capped Chickadees are making sure that any migrants don’t dally too long in one particular tree. In fact, I’m using the chatter of the Chickadees to help locate groups of migrants working through the trees.
Hi all,
Just a quick note to say that our Lucky Peak crew caught a Magnolia Warbler today during our fall migration monitoring. It was banded and released this morning and I haven’t heard whether it was re-sighted later or not.
Just a reminder, our Lucky Peak hawk, owl, and songbird banding projects are open for visitors daily from now until October 15th, and our Boise River songbird banding station is open daily until October as well. Both stations are excellent places to bird!
More info:Â https://ibo.boisestate.edu/banding-dates/
Hope some of you come say hi 🙂
~Heidi
Haven’t seen the Rose-breasted Grosbeak nor Black-headed Grosbeaks since We’d.
This AM, getting a flush of migrants. White-crowned, Chipping & Brewer’s Sparrows, House Wrens, Wilson’s Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatch & Western Wood-Pewee. Best bird has been a quite cooperative Gray Catbird, calling & visibly showing itself.
Steve Butterworth and I have a White-eyed Vireo at Camas NWR. It’s in the same general area as the Great Crested Flycatcher (row of cottonwoods and willows 1/4 mile west of headquarters), but on the north side of the creek in short willows.
Back at birding today. Last I saw Red-breasted Grosbeak was Wed. Today, a flush of migrants coming through: Wilson’s Warblers, White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping & Brewer’s Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Wrens and, best bird this AM, a very cooperative Gray Catbird. Still watching for a Townsend’s Warbler.
Saw the bird this morning, about halfway between the little wooden trail gate and where the trail goes under bushy trees, just beyond the narrowest part of the canyon. At least one mile from the Trailhead. The bird was foraging in rabbit brush, moving fairly quickly, accompanied by it’s descending buzzing calls. Otherwise fairly quiet there, several juvenile White-crowned Sparrow moving through, also a few Spotted Towhees, and I had a nice view of a juvenile Golden Eagle.
Birding is good!John Shortis
There were probably 100 or more Swainson’s Hawks circling over and perched on the ground In a farm field where a tractor was working along 35th West south of 17th South a few minutes ago.
Kit
Kit Struthers
Idaho Falls, ID
kit619@centurylink.net
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
