On the subject of WIPH: we drove up to Centennial Marsh near Hill City yesterday. Found at least a couple dozen of the phalaropes in and around the marsh. A handful of willets were there, as well. Quite
a few cinnamon teal and northern shovelers. Many blackbirds of all three species. A few sandhill cranes flew over, as well as at least four red tail hawks. On Old Bennet Mountain Rd the bluebirds are returning to the nesting boxes. Saw close to three dozen.
No sign of any of the larger shore birds, but suspect they will be arriving soon.
Saw 3 Whimbrels in a mixed flock of LBCU in Valley County. It was so strange to see 5 LBCU (22.8″) together, so I started to study them closer. The WHIM’s were smaller (16.9″), had shorter straighter bills (though also down turned), eye stripe. I sent to a Master Birder who ID’d them.
Hey, Haven’t posted in a very long time, but thought the Great Gray Owl I saw last night here in Teton County was noteworthy. Kinda cool it coincided with the unusual solar storm that pushed the Northern Lights down to this latitude. Wonder what the owl thought of those coronal mass ejections? Owl launched couple of times at voles but missed. Time was around 20:00. Scott MacButch – Tetonia
That’s fun news, Bill! After your posting a couple of weeks ago, I put my feeder right out. No customers, yet, but I did hear a yellow warbler this evening! Bullocks are back, too. Huzzah! Spring is happening at last. Looking forward to the hummer invasion!
Hummers numbers are picking up finally, getting multiple visits a day and females. Cassins Finch arrived and they are here all Summer. House wrens also showed, but early ones showed up with abbreviated song, only back end. Maybe more will show up with full melody and teach the others. I wonder if they could be last year’s brood in first breeding cycle. Great Horns are singing through night.
Just filled my hummingbird feeder, as had a Black-chinned come through earlier. And, the hummingbird was followed by a mature male Bullock’s Oriole. Last year, a male Bullock’s was a regular visitor to the hummingbird feeder in early Spring.
Brian Carrigan Blackfoot
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
