The annual spate of early Swainson’s Hawk reports has begun in Idaho. As
yet there are no validated interior records in eBird north of Las Vegas.
They are showing up in southern AZ and NM and in the TX panhandle but
this is still exceptionally early for Idaho. Migration timing in this
species is very consistent so even a couple days early is very rare. If
you think you see a Swainson’s Hawk please do your best to grab a photo.
They are distinctive so even a crummy photo can be very useful. Keep
your eyes peeled…
Cliff
—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
Howdy,
Austin’s LTDU was still present this afternoon below the dam on the Snake River. It was on the south side, with Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes and Red-breasted Mergansers. While filling the feeders in the nature trail at the trout farm I flushed a Barn Owl.
Good Birding!
Chuck Trost
Had more Mtn Bluebirds show up today – 7 total – and caught 44 Goldfinches in a photo, all in one tree/bush…see pic.
Also saw one of the Redpolls again, in the same tree later. Fyi…Jonathan, HSB
This morning I had at least 55 birds in my tree at one time – a mix of Lesser Goldfinches, American Goldfinches, and 2 Common Redpolls. 3 Pine Siskins were around also. Attached is one pic. It bounced back on me with 2 pics. Spring has sprung! Yesterday on the 1st day of Spring, I had my first Mountain Bluebirds show up (counted 4 total), and 2 American Robins.
Birdily yours…Jonathan, Horseshoe Bend
Amy Bechtel and I watched a single male, actively feeding at the surface since river too shallow for diving. At times it almost upended like a Mallard. The bird was about 400 yards west of the big grove of locust trees at the western entrance to the park where the gravel greenbelt ends. It was by a place where there is a strong bend in the river, adjacent to a wide open weedy area, with several houses backing onto it.
I finally got to see my first Osprey of the year today. As Susan and I
arrived at Esther Simplot, the bird was actively hunting the main pond. He
then found a nice prominent perch overlooking Veteran’s Pond and the river
and allowed everybody to admire him. I was pleased that a lot of people on
the greenbelt were aware of him.
Gee, I wonder what new delight will arrive tomorrow?
Howdy,
This afternoon I drove around AFR and found four large groups of Snow Geese.. One group of about 400 were in the N. E. Corner off Bower Road. Another group of about 1000 were in fields just south of Aberdeen’s Sportsman’s Park. Big Hole was still frozen, but the mouth was open. Another group of about 4000 were south of Hwy 39, about three miles east of Am. Falls. Finally a group of about 2500 were in a field north of I-86, just west of the Rainbow Beach exit, on the Fort Hall Reservation. Many groups of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes are in the open water.
Good Birding!
Chuck Trost
Are you feeling OK? They don’t know something we don’t know, do they? 😉
From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 6:08 PM
To: IBLE To Post
Subject: [IBLE] Turkey Vultures -Eagle
There are 40 Turkey Vultures roosting in the trees along hwy 55 in Eagle between Floating Feather and Beacon Light. They were all circling my house a little bit ago.
Jason
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