You know it’s going to be a great day when you get a half block from your house and there’s a Spotted Towhee in a neighbor’s bushes. While he was not FOY, he was the first I’ve ever seen in the North End of Boise.
Then, at Esther Simplot, I saw a Kestrel gliding down from a tree. I followed his trajectory and he went UNDER a car, scaring up a Song Sparrow that was his apparent target. After going under the car and missing, he just kept on going to another tree.
Next treat at Esther was a mixed raft of ducks: N. Shovelers, Canvasbacks, and FOY Cinnamon Teal. Twenty-two birds in less than 2 miles, a good start.
At 6 miles I already had 36 species, so of course I had to go further. At the GH Owl’s nest, I had a flyover of Sandhill Cranes. That’s when I ran into my first birder, Missy Arnold. Shortly after that I ran into Jason Talbot. Thanks to the two of them, I was able to add a few more birds, including a pair of N. Harriers that seemed to be doing a “pas de deux” over the large open field at the end of the paved path. Right after that, I spotted something quite large moving through that field. Thinking it was a deer, I got out binos and found a Wild Turkey moving through the brush.
I’ve attached the full list. Final tally was 57 birds in a little under 22 miles.
There is a great map at hummingbirdcentral.com that shows the hummingbirds migration in real time. It is interactive. If you see a hummingbird you add it to the map. It has shown a hummingbird overwintering in Boise. I use it to tell when I should put out my feeders.
I think that Anna’s Hummingbirds have been observed at Hulls Gulch, just east of Camel’s Back Park, all winter. I saw a gorgeous male there a couple of days ago. 🙂 — Aidan Lorenz Caldwell
My wife and a friend were walking at Camelsback Park this morning and sighted a hummingbird. Distance was too great for a solid identification, but movement and the irredecent green were obvious. Anyone else have them visiting?
I had a Says Phoebe show up this morning, first ever here. It didn’t stay long but flew off toward the stream below us. At first I thought it was a Robin, but the behavior, perching and tail wagging, was different and on looking definitely not a Robin. Guess I’ll need to watch our Robins a little closer from now on. Female Red Wings just showed up a day or so ago along with our local Sandhills.
I’ve been doing a Winter Raptor Survey nearby and last week while looking for Raptors, largely skunked, I headed down to Red Rocks Pass and Swan Lake, below Downey, and found over 50 Tundra Swans on the main lake and a few more in the weeds below the lake.
Was finishing up a round of birding at Emmett Wastewater Treatment Plant earlier this morning when I heard the characteristic call. Tracked it down on the footpath running east at the south end of the ponds. Too quick for me to snap a pic but was able to get a wee recording. Tried following it east, and checked Gem Island park as well but the trail went cold. Still, a rare but very cheerful appearance.
This AM, had a bright, spring-plumage male, Cassin’s Finch in yard. Yesterday, a small group (3-4) Mtn Chickadees came through.
Also, most of the week, esp mid-AM have seen & heard (at night) flyovers of thousands of Tundra Swans & Snow Geese, all headed north. And, some Sandhill Cranes, as well. Red-winged Blackbird males are here singing & setting up territories, awaiting the arrival of females. Robins are starting to show in larger numbers, as well.
Had to look up, every spring this is a repeat for me, the mating call of male Spotted Towhees, as their behavior changes from the rest of the year. Getting to watch a male Towhee in his fresh, bright colors, singing from 15′ up in a tree & staying in place, is a treat.
Yesterday I took a longer ride west to Eagle. Twenty-three miles got me 49 species, including a FOY Canvasback (thank you Jason), a pair of Bald Eagles at their nest, and a GH Owl peeking out of its tree nest. I tried hard to get a round number, but the 50th bird eluded me.
Today, I took a ride only half that long (11 miles) and found 45 species. Highlights included a flyover by a large “V” of Sandhill Cranes, a pair of Osprey setting up housekeeping on a light tower at Willow Lane, and a rocket Cooper’s in my back yard. Of course, I got a little colder and wetter than yesterday, but that’s birding.
BTW, today was the 3rd day in 4 that I exceeded 40 species. Gotta love Springtime!
