What is the seedcop like in the pines and firs ? These seedeaters’ numbers fluctuate with seed availability in Valley County I’ve noticed, and we have more evidence of that in their numbers on our Christmas bird counts.
Anyone in eastern Idaho seeing RB Nuthatches? We normally have lots of them but have recently noticed that we’re not seeing any (Also, little to no house finches or pine siskins, fwiw). Wondering what, if anything, might be going on. We still have many Stellars Jays, lots of chickadees, goldfinches and evening grosbeaks. Maybe just the normal fluctuation that occurs year to year?
I got distracted and didn’t finish my thought. There are a few
around east Idaho.
On 1/27/25 04:42PM, Cliff Weisse wrote:
FWIW, we saw one Rough-legged and one Ferruginous Hawk on the
Rexburg bench in Madison County today so there are at least a
few around.
Cliff
On 1/27/25 01:14PM, lcarrigan_55 via
groups.io wrote:
Thanks for info from both of you, Bill & Tim! Wow,
wonder what’s kept the Rough-leggeds not that far away, just
to the NE? Good food supply I suppose. Interesting. Will be
watching for Rosy Finches, too! Had an irruption one year of
literally, thousands! Would go thru a 50 lb bag of sunflower
seeds in 3-4 days. That was 40 yrs ago though.
FWIW, we saw one Rough-legged and one Ferruginous Hawk on the
Rexburg bench in Madison County today so there are at least a few
around.
Cliff
On 1/27/25 01:14PM, lcarrigan_55 via
groups.io wrote:
Thanks for info from both of you, Bill & Tim! Wow, wonder
what’s kept the Rough-leggeds not that far away, just to the NE?
Good food supply I suppose. Interesting. Will be watching for
Rosy Finches, too! Had an irruption one year of literally,
thousands! Would go thru a 50 lb bag of sunflower seeds in 3-4
days. That was 40 yrs ago though.
Thanks for info from both of you, Bill & Tim! Wow, wonder what’s kept the Rough-leggeds not that far away, just to the NE? Good food supply I suppose. Interesting. Will be watching for Rosy Finches, too! Had an irruption one year of literally, thousands! Would go thru a 50 lb bag of sunflower seeds in 3-4 days. That was 40 yrs ago though.
Just had rosy finches show up at sunflower feeder. Maybe you’ll finally get your winter finches Brian. My recollection is in past they show up in the depth of winter. Below zero here for most of last week. Heard from one person from Blackfoot who helped with F&G eagle count and they were mostly skunked.
Seem late in their winter arrival to me, but finally saw 2 Rough-legged Hawks today, fly over our place. And, have been looking during recent outings across Arco Desert & up to Challis & also snowshoeing in Wilderness Area. Never saw any Rough-leggeds during outings over several crossings from end of Dec, up until this past Fri. Very unusual, esp with an abundance of deer mice & meadow voles about, again this winter, as last year.
Saw a Ferruginous Hawk from our place last weekend & one yesterday. Numerous Red-tailed Hawks about in all diff’t color phases from jet black to near completely white. Bald Eagles abound with both adults & juveniles around, along the river. Saw 5 today in as many minutes.
Interestingly, near absent this winter are Townsend’s Solitaires, despite an abundance of juniper berries. Have only seen a couple & very sparingly. And, my hope for winter finches is rapidly fading, even though there are excellent cone crops at home & up in the high country I’ve recently visited. A surprise was a grouping of ~15 W Meadowlarks along the edge of the road near the Salmon River on outskirts of Challis last Monday.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
