With the return of a RB Nuthatch to the neighborhood, and the continued
expansion of the EC Doves, I was able to start my ride today with 9 birds.
The neighborhood Swainson’s juvenile hasn’t left the nest yet, so that was
#10. At Esther Simplot I found the usual suspects, minus the W. Grebes, but
that was compensated for by a flyover of a GB Heron(#21). Just before I
entered Ann Morrison, I found a family of A. Kestrels for #30. A loop of the
park produced 6 more birds, and I headed downriver towards Remington St., on
the Garden City side. Near the railroad trestle I found a Cedar Waxwing
(#37), and an Osprey (#38)was noisily complaining just west of Veteran’s
Parkway. As I turned onto Remington, I heard and then saw one of the local
W. Kingbirds (#39), and while I was looking at him, I realized there was a
Red-tail Hawk (#40)high in the sky beyond him. I almost quit at that point,
but some chattering in the Russian Olives halfway down Remington produced a
juvenile Bullock’s Oriole (#41). Final birds were Bank Swallows (#42) all
along Remington and NRW Swallows (#43)back at Esther Simplot. Not bad for a
15 mile cruise.

My numbers have been hovering right around 40 birds for the last week or so
(since the river went down enough to bike to Remington St.), but I continue
to be amazed at the diversity and numbers in light of the high temps and the
fact that it’s mid-July.

On another note, I do burn gas to cruise Lucky Peak in our boat. (I just
don’t add the birds to my day list.) Last night was a real treat with a Bald
Eagle, 2 Osprey, 2 Red-tails, 2 GB Herons and numerous other birds that I
don’t find in the valley. Plus it is quite peaceful up the Mores Creek arm
in the no-wake zone.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Thanks Ken, RL, Denise and Jason for your help with my grouse id.
Well Dusky seems to be the consensus between you, and although these birds were smaller than adult Dusky, we know that most birds from this group (quail, partridge, grouse etc) can fly before they’re full grown, so I must conclude that all those we saw were juveniles. None of those we saw were big enough to be adults. As you say, Spruce would be wrong for this location and habitat, and there was no sign of a crest on the one bird I had a reasonable view of.
Thanks again!John Shortis 

On Monday, July 10, 2017 7:39 AM, John Shortis wrote:

Hi birders, yesterday we stumbled upon and flushed about 8 or 9 grouse species right by the trail at Upper Hulls Gulch. I was unable to get a positive id on them, but they could only have been Ruffed or Spruce. I guess they were a family group. My thoughts are that it was the wrong habitat for Spruce, however, I could see no sign of a crest on the head which you’d normally expect for Ruffed Grouse. But I’m still leaning towards Ruffed, the birds did not vocalize, and I only had a brief look at the top half of the body of one bird, which was dark barring. Can anyone suggest which of these 2 species would be most likely there?         Thanks!John Shortis

Hey all,
As of 10:45 this morning, the young male white-winged Scoter is still at
Island Park Reservoir Dam, I assume it’s the same bird as the one in early
June. I also got a good look at the white secondaries just to make myself
110% sure. He still has a little bit of white on his face from younger
plumage.

Austin Young
Twin Falls, ID
—
Austin Young Pocatello/Twin Falls, ID austinyoung224@gmail.com

I just returned from the city of rocks and wanted to let everyone know that we were able to relocate the blue grosbeak. It took us several tries and we waited each time probably over an hour, so the bird is not coming up near the road. You have to watch the Willows at a distance. The exact coordinates were
N42.066940
W113.516876
Also in the same area I believe I saw a male lark bunting. It only flew up briefly and I was the only person to see the bird. I did not put it on eBird since I didn’t get a long look and we were never able to confirm it. But it would be worth watching for if anyone goes to the area. Birding was still fantastic despite the heat:-)
Mary Rumple
Boise, ID

Sent from my iPhone

Hi birders, yesterday we stumbled upon and flushed about 8 or 9 grouse species right by the trail at Upper Hulls Gulch. I was unable to get a positive id on them, but they could only have been Ruffed or Spruce. I guess they were a family group. My thoughts are that it was the wrong habitat for Spruce, however, I could see no sign of a crest on the head which you’d normally expect for Ruffed Grouse. But I’m still leaning towards Ruffed, the birds did not vocalize, and I only had a brief look at the top half of the body of one bird, which was dark barring. Can anyone suggest which of these 2 species would be most likely there?         Thanks!John Shortis

Very cool observation, Kim! At feeder, I had a juvenile Rufous come visit yesterday. Thought that was interesting, so both adults & juveniles are headed south now. Today, has been all Black-chinneds: male, female & juvenile.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Out towards Idaho City for the last couple days…
Watched Black-chinned Hummingbirds feeding for insects on the river – super cool hovering to the river and then back to the branch.
=)kim liebich

On Jul 8, 2017, at 2:05 PM, lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:

First, thanks to Cliff & Lisa for the link to info re: Cassia Crossbill. I have followed the info re: possible split for sev yrs now & find the birds rather fascinating. Quite interesting how the lack of one species (red squirrel) led to the evolution of a stationary species of Red Crossbill adapted to the further specialization of cone type in the lodgepole pines of the South Hills & Albion area of Idaho.

Next, it looks like my Rufous Hummingbirds have moved on. I got one morning visit yesterday by the male who gave a long & satisfying view of all his field marks plus flashing his brilliant orange/red throat. No more visits since. The only hummer coming in today has been the female Black-chinned & her visits are inconsistent. Maybe spending time on a nest? As she goes back & forth to the same patch of streamside willows. But, making up for the decrease in hummingbirds is an increase in Lazuli Buntings. I must have several pairs nesting on the place this year, as I’ve seen both males and females in several locations esp mornings & evenings. There’s just something about that turqoise blue head on the male.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

=)kim liebich
Boise Idaho

Hi All,

The WW dove was at the usual spot near the Warm Springs Golf Course
clubhouse. Also a nice variety of birds still singing along the river near
the Shakespeare Festival grounds.

thanks,
Charles.

—
Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
chaetura@gmail.com

First, thanks to Cliff & Lisa for the link to info re: Cassia Crossbill. I have followed the info re: possible split for sev yrs now & find the birds rather fascinating. Quite interesting how the lack of one species (red squirrel) led to the evolution of a stationary species of Red Crossbill adapted to the further specialization of cone type in the lodgepole pines of the South Hills & Albion area of Idaho.

Next, it looks like my Rufous Hummingbirds have moved on. I got one morning visit yesterday by the male who gave a long & satisfying view of all his field marks plus flashing his brilliant orange/red throat. No more visits since. The only hummer coming in today has been the female Black-chinned & her visits are inconsistent. Maybe spending time on a nest? As she goes back & forth to the same patch of streamside willows. But, making up for the decrease in hummingbirds is an increase in Lazuli Buntings. I must have several pairs nesting on the place this year, as I’ve seen both males and females in several locations esp mornings & evenings. There’s just something about that turqoise blue head on the male.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

With the help of Craig Benkman, the biologist who discovered them, we
have a new page devoted to the Cassia Crossbill on the Idaho Birds web
site. It lists locations and directions to where you can find them, and
recordings of the call notes needed to identify. This is a work in
progress, and I’m sure we will be adding more to this area of the site
in the future. For now anyone who wants to find them should be able to
with this info.

Cassia Crossbill

Lisa

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