[IBLE] McCown’s Longspur

Steve Butterworth found a McCown’s Longspur near the intersection of 105th West and 113th North in Osgood (north of Idaho Falls). I was able to refind it and then found two more about a mile and a half east along 113th North. There was a snow storm that dumped around 4” of snow that’s pushing things to the road eden. I’ll post a link to pics later.

Darren Clark
Rexburg, ID

Sent from my iPhone

Re: [IBLE] Surf Scoter @ Black’s Creek

Oops, Surf Scoter, not a Black Scoter.

On Oct 13, 2017 2:03 PM, “Robert Kiernan” wrote:

> Top of email you say surf scoter then further down black scoter which one
> is it
>
> On Oct 13, 2017 1:31 PM, “Jordan Ragsdale salmanazar@gmail.com [ible]” < > ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Saw a Juvenile Black Scoter at Black’s Creek Reservoir south of Boise
>> this morning. It was hanging on the far side opposite the main parking lot
>> and not diving much.
>>
>> Good birding!
>> Jordan Ragsdale
>>
>>
>

[IBLE] Moscow and Lewiston

I birded this morning and early afternoon around Moscow and Lewiston. At
the UI Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, highlights included a(nother or
continuing) WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, a getting-late ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
VARIED THRUSH, MERLIN, and an apparent intergrade Red-shafted Flicker
(exhibiting both red malar and complete red nape crescent). In the Ash
Grove, were dozens each of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers
(including multiple Myrtles) eating aphids. Full checklist on eBird:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39619661. More kinglets and
yellow-rumps (including more Myrtles) were in a couple of areas of main
campus.

At Mann Lake, I found the continuing BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (2) each, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 18 Long-billed
Dowitchers, and a drake EURASIAN WIGEON (eBird checklist:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39622919). Hell’s Gate SP had
another 40 Yellow-rumps (including several Myrtles) and a few other
migrants.

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

[IBLE] A great day birding

After I let the dog out around 6, I climbed back into bed. That’s when I
heard the W. Screech Owl, bird (1) of the day. Birds (2) through (5) were
the usual suspects, M. Dove, H. Sparrow, H. Finch and L. Goldfinch. But (6)
was a Pine Siskin, an irregular visitor to the yard. Then, while doing my
backyard Poop Fairy duties, I was nearly hit by one of the many RB
Nuthatches (7) that like my feeders. Also chiming in were RC Kinglet (8) and
BC Chickadee (9), followed by a flyover of A. Robins (10) and a screech from
a N. Flicker (11). Last, but not least, was my first DE Junco (12) in the
yard this season.

The ride down Brumback produced the first of many YR Warblers (13) of the
day, as well as EC Doves (14). The R Pigeons (15) at St. Mary’s are pretty
reliable, but the C. Quail (16) on Stewart is more of a will o’ the wisp.
The Mallards, Killdeer and C. Geese (17-19) are to be expected at Esther
Simplot Park (ESP), but I haven’t seen Horned Grebes (20) in winter plumage
for a long time. The B. Swallows (21) are late, but the DC Cormorants (22)
are still to be expected.

Veteran’s Pond produced a PB Grebe (23) and Wood Ducks (24). The trail along
the canal bank produced the usual Song Sparrows (25), but the A. Coot (26)
that splashed away from me was a surprise. My last bird at ESP was a BB
Magpie (27), expressing his raucous displeasure at something.

I didn’t encounter any new birds along the river until I heard A. Crows (28)
in Ann Morrison Park. My loop through the park wasn’t productive until I got
to the duck pond and found Gadwalls, RB Gulls, and A. Wigeons (29-31).

Then I headed downriver, heading to my daily scouring of Remington St. and
Les Bois track. But at the footbridge to ESP, I heard and then saw a Downy
Woodpecker (32). This was followed by a couple of flocks of previously seen
Nuthatches and YR Warblers. But as I cruised the south side of the river, I
caught a glimpse of something black and white and moving. Unfortunately, it
was a soccer ball caught in an eddy of the river. Fortunately, a couple of
C. Mergansers (33) were cruising by just at that moment. And right after
that, I heard my first B. Kingfisher (34) of the day.

When I got to Remington St., I realized I hadn’t noted a E. Starling yet,
but there were a gazillion there for bird number (35). A scan of the pond in
the Les Bois infield produced a GB Heron (36), perched on a deteriorating
goose platform. Then I spotted some of the (winter) resident WC Sparrows
(37) at one of the puddles along the street.

I paused at the river end of Remington to eat a Clif Bar and marvel at all
the Flickers, YR Warblers, Chickadees and Magpies that call that area home.
Then I headed home, pleased with my tally but hoping for something new and
different. While it wasn’t exactly “new,” the Osprey (38) at Quinn’s Pond
was nevertheless quite different, given the time of year.

While it was a cold ride the whole way, it was a very rewarding 15 miles on
my bike.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee