Just since yesterday’s entries, the ordering of bird groups (families, etc.) looks wacko!!
I had to go looking for raptors of all things……
Does anyone know if this is temporary whilst they juggle for a few days, or is this now the order of things avian?

Very strange!

Thanks in advance for any insight,
Larry

—

A few photos to peek at =)
Larry

From: texbirds-bounce@freelists.org [mailto:texbirds-bounce@freelists.org] On Behalf Of Justin Bosler
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2018 9:49 AM
To: 4 Texbirds Maillist
Subject: [texbirds] Hybrid Lucifer x Black-chinned Hummingbird, Davis Mountains Preserve

Texbirds,

One of the many highlights from the Open Weekend (10-12 August) at the Davis Mountains Preserve, in Jeff Davis County, was the hummingbird spectacle at the McIvor Visitor Center feeders. Among the 6-7 species of hummingbirds present in the hour that Devin Bosler and I spent ogling the feeding frenzy, we located this apparent adult male Lucifer x Black-chinned Hummingbird:

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47794659

Michael Gray has incredible photos of a similar looking bird from Kelly Bryan’s place the day before! He may post them on one of the Facebook birding pages.

For those of you who were lucky enough to see this spectacular bird and use eBird, I have requested that eBird Central add this hybrid option to the official species checklist ahead of the annual Taxonomic update occurring tomorrow. I/ we may be too late to get that added this year, but hopefully it’ll be available in the near future.

Good birding!

Justin Bosler

Austin, TX

Saw this bird at my feeder this morning with the evening grosbeaks. It was acting more aggressive than the other birds. Sorry about the blurry photo.. It was predawn hours and a long lens. I assume it is just a weird color morph. Any other thoughts?
Dan Richards
New Meadows, ID

Conditions at Camas NWR (Jefferson County) are fantastic for shorebirds. Toomey Pond (at the south end of the auto route) is one big mud flat. There are hundreds of Ibis (including young birds with really short bills), and various shorebird species. I had 15 species today, including several super close Solitary Sandpipers. Also, there are still at least 2 Blue Grosbeaks in the area.

Darren Clark
Rexburg, ID

I always enjoy the postings about hummers! I believe that peak southbound
migration through Ada County and through the South Hills near Twin is during
late July through mid-August, based primarily on sugar-water consumption.
Might be similar for the feeders at Silver City in Owyhee County..?

Our usual peak is 20+ hums fussing over our 10 feeders, mostly Black-chins
with an occasional Rufous and Calliope. During the winter of 2015-16, we
had a peak of 4 Anna’s, and we know this because Heidi and Jessica had come
over for banding. =) I really miss the Broad-tails we had in western
Colorado, and of course all those SE Arizona specialties.

This is the time of year that Ospreys, Collared-doves, and Screech-owls are
doing a lot of yipping and hollering in our hood. I’m thinking it has to do
with fledged birds on the loose, eh?

Larry

Boise

Just some of the thousands of Bank Swallows near the Springfield Fish Hatchery this afternoon.

Kit

Kit Struthers
Idaho Falls, ID
kit619@centurylink.net

Hundreds of them on the wires, in the trees and flying around today at Springfield Ponds. Then thousands of them near the Springfield Fish Hatchery—on the power lines, on the road and flying around over the water. Fall migration starting?

Kit

Kit Struthers
Idaho Falls, ID
kit619@centurylink.net

Thx Tom……. birding that part of the state (LRGV) has become a weird experience over the years. Missy and I were there a few years ago and I believe it will be our last attempt, sadly

Larry

—– Original Message —–

From: “‘Tom McCabe’ tmccabe9@cableone.net [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Sunday, August 5, 2018 10:51:12 AM
Subject: [IBLE] Birding in Texas may soon be reduced

I don’t normally post things about the Rio Grande, since I am content to bird my own river. But this item seemed too strange to ignore. Here’s a link to a story about the side effects of a border wall: https://netargv.com/2018/07/26/texas-may-forfeit-bentsen-state-park-to-feds-for-border-wall/ .

Tom McCabe, Boise

I don’t normally post things about the Rio Grande, since I am content to
bird my own river. But this item seemed too strange to ignore. Here’s a link
to a story about the side effects of a border wall:
https://netargv.com/2018/07/26/texas-may-forfeit-bentsen-state-park-to-feds-for-border-wall/

Tom McCabe, Boise

jealous to hear about everyone’s hums, esp Rufous, and we should be close to peak fall migration, ja?
i miss them dearly, big sigh…….!!!
i know where to go see them, but it’s not the same as hosting them, eh?

Larry

—– Original Message —–

From: “Bill Moore hootowlbill@gmail.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2018 8:23:34 AM
Subject: [IBLE] Hoot Owl Hummers

Up our way hummers remain abundant. I’m filling at least 2 4 cup feeders a day and one day I did 4. We have all four species and the most spectacular is a male Rufous in breeding plumage (they’ve been around since late June). Plenty of displays so I guess a second brood is on the way..
After a slow start, feeder emptying is now ahead of last years numbers; 93 ytd vs 84.

The house wrens are starting a second batch and the bluebirds seemed to do well.

No Kestrels in the box yet, but it seemed some were in the area maybe checking it out. Next year?

Bill Moore
Hoot Owl Rd
Inkom