Yesterday, it was Common Redpolls. Today, it was a flock of about 50 Bohemian Waxwings. Over a couple of hours, the flock completely stripped every remaining fruit from a crabapple tree. When finished, wouldn’t say the waxwings were “drunk”, just very contented! They flew up to uppermost branches of a nearby golden willow & absorbed the sun for another hour or so, before taking off. 

Between, the redpolls, crossbills &, now waxwings, definitely shaping up to be a good “irruption” winter of some rarities. Good number of Townsend’s Solitaires have appeared in Snake River Bottoms for the winter, as well. There’s a bumper crop of Rocky Mtn Juniper berries to feed on. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Common redpolls here in Halfway OR, SE corner of the Wallowa Mountains, 2800 ft elevation. It was a large flock, +30, flying around in pasture land, landing on Hawthorn bushes. A lifer for me😻

Pam Conley
Halfway OR

I’ve been spending time around Henry’s Lake this week and have
also been seeing flocks of redpolls. Today there was one large
flock numbering 50 or more foraging in Sagebrush. Seems like it is
indeed going to be a good winer for them.

Cliff

Started seeing reports of Redpolls in W MT about 10 days ago. And,
then the note the other day on this forum. Just had a group of
about 20 Common Redpolls on our place along the Snake River. They
were working through dried tansy bush stands along a spring
channel. Shaping up to be a good winter finch irruption year. The
last weekend that Yellowstone roads were open recently, saw sev
large flocks of Red Crossbills. Winter Finches are on the move. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@...

Started seeing reports of Redpolls in W MT about 10 days ago. And, then the note the other day on this forum. Just had a group of about 20 Common Redpolls on our place along the Snake River. They were working through dried tansy bush stands along a spring channel. Shaping up to be a good winter finch irruption year. The last weekend that Yellowstone roads were open recently, saw sev large flocks of Red Crossbills. Winter Finches are on the move. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Thank you for the update. I wondered if that might be the location as I watched an immature Common Loon there yesterday.