Looking better all the time…

Cliff

On 05/23/2018 06:13 PM, Heidi Ware wrote:
> UPDATE: Costa’s Likely
>
> From Carl Lundblad (comment on Idaho Bird Sightings and Discussion)
> “From Sheri Williamson, hummingbird expert, bander, and author of A
> Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America: “Costa’s is what I’d
> call her. The pale eyebrow is a characteristic shared with Anna’s but
> not with either of the Archilochus, and the apparently “generic” inner
> primary shapes further eliminate Ruby-throated”. I also sent this to
> another hummingbird expert/bander in the Las Vegas area (where people
> are constantly mistaking Costa’s and Anna’s for Archilochus).”
>
> Cliff, to your comments about Anna’s: The thing that gets me is the
> birder who found it doesn’t have experience w/ costas (she had
> originally noticed the small size and had been considering Calliope or
> even Rufous), but she has been able to now consistently photograph
> this bird among a mix of Black-chinned (she added more photos
> today)…that tells me it must be extremely small to stand out so much?
>
> To view the thread (no need to log in to facebook) click here
> :
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Idaho Bird Sightings and Discussion
>
> Welcome! **Please read this and the pinned post before posting** Click
> the “see more” link below: Birders at al…
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, 5:31:31 PM MDT, Cliff and Lisa Weisse
> wrote:
>
>
> Interesting bird. Solidly green central rects further eliminate
> Calliope. Inner primaries look wide so it’s not an Archilochus, which
> leaves Calypte. As for Anna’s vs Costa’s – tough call. The straight
> bill actually favors Anna’s but the really short R5 on the photo of
> the bird hovering more vertically is a good mark for Costa’s. Clean
> white undertail coverts too? Someone should try to get video, hoping
> to record call note. And more photos.
>
> Thanks for getting this posted Heidi.
>
> Cliff
>
>
> On 05/23/2018 02:13 PM, Heidi Ware heidithebirdnerd@yahoo.com
> [ible] wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Jeremy Halka and I are sitting in the IBO offices obsessing about
>> this hummer photo on Facebook. Based on description of “very tiny”
>> and field marks including straight short bill, light supercilium, and
>> lack of buffy color (eliminating Calliope from consideration) we are
>> wondering if there’s any chance this is a vagrant *female Costa’s*?
>>
>> NOTHING is confirmed yet, but figured I’d get the sighting out there
>> just in case
>>
>> Near Aubrey Springs Ranch, Picabo. Sighting by Jeanene Parker
>> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2411952555497242&set=gm.1892519680792643&type=3&theater&ifg=1
>>
>> We’ve asked Jeanene for more photos/info
>>
>> ~Heidi
>>
>>
>
> —
> Cliff and Lisa Weisse
> Island Park, Idaho
> cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

UPDATE: Costa’s Likely
From Carl Lundblad (comment on Idaho Bird Sightings and Discussion)”From Sheri Williamson, hummingbird expert, bander, and author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America: “Costa’s is what I’d call her. The pale eyebrow is a characteristic shared with Anna’s but not with either of the Archilochus, and the apparently “generic” inner primary shapes further eliminate Ruby-throated”. I also sent this to another hummingbird expert/bander in the Las Vegas area (where people are constantly mistaking Costa’s and Anna’s for Archilochus).”

Cliff, to your comments about Anna’s: The thing that gets me is the birder who found it doesn’t have experience w/ costas (she had originally noticed the small size and had been considering Calliope or even Rufous), but she has been able to now consistently photograph this bird among a mix of Black-chinned (she added more photos today)…that tells me it must be extremely small to stand out so much?
To view the thread (no need to log in to facebook) click here: 

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Idaho Bird Sightings and Discussion

Welcome! **Please read this and the pinned post before posting** Click the “see more” link below: Birders at al…
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On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, 5:31:31 PM MDT, Cliff and Lisa Weisse wrote:

Interesting bird. Solidly green central rects further eliminate Calliope. Inner primaries look wide so it’s not an Archilochus, which leaves Calypte. As for Anna’s vs Costa’s – tough call. The straight bill actually favors Anna’s but the really short R5 on the photo of the bird hovering more vertically is a good mark for Costa’s. Clean white undertail coverts too? Someone should try to get video, hoping to record call note. And more photos.

Thanks for getting this posted Heidi.

Cliff

On 05/23/2018 02:13 PM, Heidi Ware heidithebirdnerd@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:

  Hi all,
Jeremy Halka and I are sitting in the IBO offices obsessing about this hummer photo on Facebook. Based on description of “very tiny” and field marks including straight short bill, light supercilium, and lack of buffy color (eliminating Calliope from consideration) we are wondering if there’s any chance this is a vagrant female Costa’s?
NOTHING is confirmed yet, but figured I’d get the sighting out there just in case
Near Aubrey Springs Ranch, Picabo. Sighting by Jeanene Parker https://www..facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2411952555497242&set=gm.1892519680792643&type=3&theater&ifg=1

We’ve asked Jeanene for more photos/info
~Heidi

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

When I got to Esther Simplot Park today, I found a Western Grebe in Quinn’s
Pond. While one had hung out at Quinn’s for a while, and another had hung
out at Silver Lake for a while, I hadn’t seen this species in weeks.

Then, at Silver Lake (Lake Harbor Pond), I found an immature male Common
Goldeneye, a species I hadn’t seen along the river for over a month, at
least. I call him immature male because his head was reddish like a
female’s, not dark green, but he had the telltale white circle in front of
his eye.

Still later, on my return to Esther Simplot, I discovered a m/f pair of
Canvasbacks on the main pond, a first of year bird for me. While I have seen
Canvasbacks along the river in prior years, my recollection is that it also
has been a while.

Finally, when I rode along the newly completed concrete path that forms the
Greenbelt between Quinn’s Pond and the river, I discovered a Ruddy Duck
hanging out with the Western Grebe that I’d spotted earlier. He was in full
breeding attire, blue bill and all.

What’s amazing to me is that for some time now I have only been seeing
Mallards and Wood Ducks along “my” section of the Greenbelt (plus C. Geese
and DC Cormorants). Lots of other species have arrived, but I thought all
the swimmers had already departed (including Coots). The last time I saw a
C. Merganser was at least a week ago, so today was quite a treat.

BTW, the river has been going up all week and today there was water on the
path between Willow Lane and Silver Lake. (Of course, last year this section
was so under water it had to be closed.)

Tom McCabe, Boise

Hi all,
Jeremy Halka and I are sitting in the IBO offices obsessing about this hummer photo on Facebook. Based on description of “very tiny” and field marks including straight short bill, light supercilium, and lack of buffy color (eliminating Calliope from consideration) we are wondering if there’s any chance this is a vagrant female Costa’s?
NOTHING is confirmed yet, but figured I’d get the sighting out there just in case
Near Aubrey Springs Ranch, Picabo. Sighting by Jeanene Parkerhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2411952555497242&set=gm.1892519680792643&type=3&theater&ifg=1

We’ve asked Jeanene for more photos/info
~Heidi

This morning I heard the first Western Tanager for the year singing in
the yard along with House Wren, Evening Grosbeaks, Cassin’s Finch, RC
Kinglets and Yr Warblers. Haven’t had a BH Grosbeak or Warbling Vireo
yet but they can’t be far behind.

Cliff

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

My latest foray into Hulls Gulch resulted in a couple more first of year
birds. While I would expect to find an Olive-sided Flycatcher in HG, I was
quite surprised by the Northern Harrier being chased by several RWBB’s. He
was a male, and I haven’t seen one on a bike ride in several years.

The bird gods were smiling and I left HG with 39 species and finished a 14
mile ride with 51. If I hadn’t had an appointment in the afternoon, I
probably would have kept going. But my experience is that those last few
birds above 50 cost a lot more in terms of miles ridden. 😉

Anyway, another great day of birding. And while I’m still finding Western
Tanagers, I have yet to encounter my first Western Wood Pewee.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Forw arding for Idaho.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: [obol] Great-tailed Grackles in Ontario
Date: 05-21-2018 18:02
From: Matt Cahill
To: OBOL
Reply-To: matt.c.cahill@gmail.com

Hi all,

On my way to Boise I’ve stopped at the Beck-Kiwanis Park in Ontario and
immediately found 5 GTGR (1 male, 4 females) that are moving and around
the bathroom and actively displaying. Lots of displaying. Only a few
eBird records out here previously so I figured it was worth a statewide
ping. Not sure where to post for the Idaho audience so if anyone knows
please forward this for me.

Best,
Matt Cahill 
Bend

I filled my sunflower seed feeder & went into the house, looked out the window & a male Lazuli Bunting had landed on the feeder. So, all my favs have now either arrived or I saw them migrating through. Good times!

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Hi – sorry for the late posting; two of my children were in a terrible accident (they are both alive, which was miraculous under the circumstances, thank God), so I’ve been in a fog for several days; but I just remembered now to mention that I got a new yard bird the evening of the 16th – Wilson’s Snipes winnowing overhead. I recognized their sound immediately, so it was fun to scan the sky and try to see them – much harder than you would think, lol. Fyi…Jonathan Barnett, Horseshoe Bend

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Hi birders,

This afternoon Ellen and I bumped into a flock of ibis in a flooded pasture west of Curlew Campground / east of the Stone Hills, and had one bird that looked like a pretty good candidate for Glossy. It had blueish gray feathering forming an incomplete line around the eye, black skin on the cheek, and a dark brown eye rather than red. I didn’t get a look at the legs. Our eBird checklist with the specific location and a photo can be found here:

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45885224

I know there’s been more talk of hybridization over the past few years, but I didn’t see anything to point to a hybrid on this bird. I’m happy to hear input from others if there’s something I’m missing.

Good birding!

Stoddard and Ellen Davenport

Boise