That’s interesting Bill. They’ve been around Pocatello for years
– I think I got my lifer at Mink Creek. Any way keep looking
through those goldfinches. It’s inevitable a Lesser will show up.
Cliff
On 3/24/24 05:04PM, Bill Moore wrote:
I’ve spent over twenty years valiantly trying to
turn American Goldfinches into Lesser, no luck so far. I have to
look for them when I’m in Boise. I also work hard to turn
siskens into redpolls, but that has work a few times.
Had our FOY nuthatches show late week. No idea
where they’ve been, up higher or lower or down south? Who knows?
Resident Sandhills showed yesterday, right on schedule. Not sure
if it’s one or two pair like last year. Lucky to live with
nesting Sandhills. Great Horned Owls are making a nightly racket
and hawks buzzing the hills. Still masses of groupings.
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom
On Mar 24, 2024, at 2:25 PM,
lcarrigan_55 <carriganbw@…> wrote:
My most numerous feeder visitors are the
American Goldfinches, lately. Upwards of 75+ coming in. I kept
thinking a Lesser had to show at some point & one finally
did, this afternoon.
Others today: Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Green-winged
Teal, Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye,
Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robins & Bald Eagles. Was
watching an adult Bald Eagle on a cottonwood by river’s edge,
when it took flight & swooped low over the water, where
two female Common Mergansers were busy diving. At first
thought it was harassing the Mergansers. But, then saw some
surface hits by trout on a midge hatch & realized the
eagle was honing in for a good spot to snag a fish, just as
the Mergansers had. The Eagle perched above the new river
stretch, the Mergansers left & I watched for another half
hour, but never witnessed a take. Exciting encounter though!
Yeah, Bill it’s only worked a few times for me over the years, here along the Snake. Usually, one single Lesser mixed in with dozens of Americans. And, have only seen about 3 over the years. About an hour later, saw 2 Bohemian Waxwings at top of a Rocky Mountain Juniper at edge of yard. I usually see them in much larger flocks, but was glad to observe, my first this winter. So, my best birds this winter have been: Red Crossbill, Lesser Goldfinch & Bohemian Waxwing.
Getting daily flyovers of Sandhills for past week. And our Great-horneds are calling nightly, too. I’ve had at least 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches stay year round for 2nd year in a row now, at our location.
I’ve spent over twenty years valiantly trying to turn American Goldfinches into Lesser, no luck so far. I have to look for them when I’m in Boise. I also work hard to turn siskens into redpolls, but that has work a few times.
Had our FOY nuthatches show late week. No idea where they’ve been, up higher or lower or down south? Who knows? Resident Sandhills showed yesterday, right on schedule. Not sure if it’s one or two pair like last year. Lucky to live with nesting Sandhills. Great Horned Owls are making a nightly racket and hawks buzzing the hills. Still masses of groupings.
My most numerous feeder visitors are the American Goldfinches, lately. Upwards of 75+ coming in. I kept thinking a Lesser had to show at some point & one finally did, this afternoon.
Others today: Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robins & Bald Eagles. Was watching an adult Bald Eagle on a cottonwood by river’s edge, when it took flight & swooped low over the water, where two female Common Mergansers were busy diving. At first thought it was harassing the Mergansers. But, then saw some surface hits by trout on a midge hatch & realized the eagle was honing in for a good spot to snag a fish, just as the Mergansers had. The Eagle perched above the new river stretch, the Mergansers left & I watched for another half hour, but never witnessed a take. Exciting encounter though!
This is swimming in my Pond along with some wood ducks. It appears to have paired with a female wood duck. Can anybody tell me how to post a photo to ebird? I have submitted a checklist but don’t know how to add a photo. Linda Lamb Priest River
I knew it was going to be at least a “good” day when I spotted the Cooper’s Hawk sitting on a power pole a half block north of my house as I left on my bike ride. Things got even better when the Say’s Phoebe flew over my head at Esther
Simplot. I only had 17 species by that time, but it was early in the ride. Then I saw my first Gadwall in weeks at Silver Lake, followed by a pair of RT Hawks circling above the old racetrack. That put me at 34, but the kicker was when Susan spotted a bird
lurking in the bushes and binos confirmed my 2d Townsend’s Solitaire of the year (in 1 week).That was 37, and then I picked up a RC Kinglet and RB Gull. But I was 2 blocks from home with only 39 species when I heard a WB Nuthatch. Not trusting my sound ID,
I hung around until it showed itself, and I happily rode the 2 blocks home with 40 species. (I know, I have a round number fetish!)