A new arrival this weekend has been a Red-naped Sapsucker. He’s been visiting willows, cottonwoods & an aspen tree. Plus, N Flickers are drumming, incessantly!
And, the first female Red-winged Blackbird arrived at the feeder this morning. I didn’t even see the males, but within minutes, up & down a Snake River channel through the back, at least 4 started calling, vying for her attention! Others: White Pelicans, Forster’s & Caspian Terns along the river, Canada Geese are nesting, Mourning Doves are back & Tree Swallows are checking out last year’s tree cavities.
Our most common feeder bird remains American Goldfinch, followed by House Finch, BC Chickadee & 2 RB Nuthatches. My Least Chipmunk “colony” is up to at least 5 individuals &, apparently, this is the month when I may soon expect more. I don’t mind sharing the black oil sunflower seeds with them. Like the cottontails, their generations seem to be somewhat boom/bust by my observations over nearing 4 decades here. Counting it fortunate that this is their 3rd year at backyard’s edge to the woodland. Enjoy watching their antics!
Nothing rare to report. But, after a grayer overcast winter than we usually have, it’s nice to see aspen catkins appearing, willow & cottonwood buds swelling & grasses greening. This weekend, new arrivals were: White Pelicans & DC Cormorants along the Snake & a couple of Bohemian Waxwings through the yard.
Bald Eagle pair along the river have a new nest in same tree (old one blew down last fall) & female has been in the nest, with only head & back showing, every time I hike down to check over past 2 weeks. Good to see! If it’s the same pair, 4th nest they’ve built in general vicinity over past 15 years. Seems, after a certain size, our wind-tunnel winds along the Snake are good at taking eagle nests down. Most numerous feeder bird is still American Goldfinch, 50+ at a time.
Well Because of rainy weather I decided to go for drive by birding dry lake almost full no birds nearby ponds no birds new pond lynwood n.of big foot water Down away level just right for shorebirds but none oh well out of house couple hours
Red-throated Loon continuing at CJ Strike first found by Eric Heisey around 11am. Refound by Kent Kleman and also seen by Cheryl Huizinga and Linda Wentz at 2:30 pm. Seen from East side of Black Sand resort. Scoped across to far side of reservoir. Lots of wind and waves.
Tree Swallows arrived today along the river. Counted a half dozen or so. Red-winged Blackbirds are getting more vocal & spreading out a bit, establishing their territories while awaiting arrival of their mates.
Not only spreading black-oil sunflower seeds for birds, but my little colony of least chipmunks has awakened & are out & about from their winter torpor & burrows. Have at least 4, all busy stuffing cheek pouches with seeds.
This ebird site has been quite active with birdwatchers and photographers since the tricolored blackbirds have reappeared in larger numbers than seen before. Please remember that the land on both sides of the road is private property and clearly posted “no trespassing.” This is an active cattle ranch currently in full swing with calving so please park your cars where they will not impede ranch traffic.
Today’s ride surpassed the magic number of 40, with lots of fun sightings. While the American Goldfinches are dominant right now, we still have Lessers visiting our feeders, along with a mob of Pine Siskins (never found one last year).
DE Juncos disappeared for a few days but they’re back in our yard. And we still have RB Nuthatches in the neighborhood.
But things got interesting when I crossed State St. and heard an Osprey above me, riding a thermal with a RT Hawk. A few minutes later I spotted a W. Turkey on the roof of a house on Stewart St. Then the RB Merganser again joined the Commons
at Quinn’s Pond. Further along I found both a WB Nuthatch in fairly close proximity to a calling Cooper’s Hawk. But the newest addition to my year list was a small flock of NRW Swallows at Les Bois track. They kept flashing past me as I looked for birds in
the infield.
Final tally was 42, but my day list may increase, given the number of WS Owls we’re hearing (and seeing) on our night walk.
Tom McCabe, Boise
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
