There has been a significant influx or irruption of Vermilion Flycatchers to higher-than-usual latitudes, this fall (going back to at least October), from the Great Lakes region (northern Wisconsin, western Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio) to central Quebec, the north coast of California, and in the interior west (Loveland Colorado, Provo Utah). And this arrival timing, in late fall, is consistent with previous Idaho records (November 2022 in Salmon, late October 2019 in Nampa). So, while this is an exciting record, it fits an established pattern and is hard to attribute to a particular weather event (though the overall pattern may well reflect climate change).
Male Vermillion Flycatcher is at a private residence but owners are fine with birders coming. You can park in the driveway as it is a loop. Homeoner’s names are Paige & Tucker.
Sue Braastad just called to tell me that she and Leslie Soderquist found a Varied Thrush while they are doing their Winter Raptor Survey near St. Anthony.
Holding off filling my platform feeder for a week appears to have worked! I started refilling yesterday & the bird visitors appear unmolested by Sharp-shinned Hawks. Of course, now I’m going through more sunflower seeds again.
Today, had a large group of American Goldfinches arrive & between grit from the gravel drive & the feeder seeds, seem to have been well-satisfied. Others: House Finches, BC Chickadees, RB Nuthatches, Spotted Towhees, DE Juncos & Song Sparrows. Trumpeter Swan flyovers are common now. Best birds today have been a couple of Lesser Goldfinches mixed in with the American flock. Very striking & easy to distinguish.
Greetings IBLER’s, Just throwing this out there, as I am waiting to be accepted on a FB pigeon racers page. Here’s the ask, does anyone have contact of local pigeon owner/racers club? My neighborhood Coopers hawk, killed a banded pigeon in my yard this morning. I thought I’d make an attempt to contact the owner or a local pigeon aficionado. Cheers and Happy Binos to you all! Rich Rusnak, Boise
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
