If you follow this link: https://www.birdingwire.com/releases/4d268101-a122-4ffe-9b69-6a88cbd9fccf, you’ll find a short article on this winter’s southward movement of northern finches of all sorts.

Tom McCabe, Boise

After posting my sighting of a Hoary Redpoll, I went through a lot of angst as to whether I had actually seen a Hoary. The eBird sighting results for Hoary and Common show that Common are much more “common” in Idaho, and that Hoary has only rarely been seen in Idaho. So I started looking at all the resources I could find to see if I could locate something definitive.

Along the way, I discovered that there have been attempts to “lump” the 2 species, along with the Eurasian version, based on an essentially identical genetic makeup. That hasn’t happened yet, obviously. But I kept reading and reviewing photos, and I believe I have found a photo that is similar to the bird I saw in my back yard. If you follow this link: http://www.jeaniron.ca/2015/redpollsRP.htm, you will see a series of photos of the various types of Redpoll. Scroll down to the “Southern” Hoary Redpoll and you will see a series of photos. The very first photo of a “Southern” is the closest I can find to the bird I saw, after looking at probably a hundred or so pictures of Redpolls (isn’t the internet amazing?).

Anyway, I just wanted to clarify my sighting and put everyone on the lookout for this tiny visitor. Unfortunately, the neighbor across the alley is having a large tree removed today, with all the noise that attends such an endeavor, so there’s little likelihood that my visitor will return today. But I hope he visits someone with good binoculars—and maybe a camera. (Jason, I’m talking to you.)

Tom McCabe, Boise

This morning’s birding in my back yard, watching the comings and goings of the Pine Siskins, et al, became quite exciting when I realized that the little striped guy on one of the feeders was not a PISI but a Hoary Redpoll! I wasn’t immediately sure which brand of Redpoll it was, but my Sibley’s sits right by the viewing window, and the choice was obvious. My good binos were right there as well, so I got excellent views before he took off. I don’t remember ever seeing either brand of Redpoll in Boise before, let alone my back yard.

After such a great start, I was hoping other good birds would cooperate as well. The 2 Bald Eagles at Esther Simplot were great, but the roosting Great Horned Owl was an even bigger treat. Final tally was 38 species in 12 miles. A great day.

Tom McCabe, Boise