Yesterday saw a big push by N. Shovelers who were present on every pond from
Quinn’s to Esther Simplot to Veterans to Silver Lake. They were accompanied
by Ruddy Ducks and some other stragglers looking for company.
Today I saw almost every kind of duck that passes through Boise. N. Shoveler
at Quinn’s, Bufflehead, RN Duck and C. Goldeneye at Esther Simplot, and L.
Scaup and Cinnamon Teal (FOY) at Silver Lake, to name just a few. Gadwall,
Wood Duck, A. Wigeon, H. Merganser, Mallard and C. Merganser were also out
and about.
The real treat was a Black-necked Stilt (FOY)standing on a log out on Silver
Lake. Quite a shock for me since there is no shallow water for his kind at
Silver Lake.
When I got back to Veterans, I found 3 of the brightest Cinnamon Teal I’ve
ever seen floating around with a pair of GW Teal. The Cinnamons were redder
than any of their ilk that I’ve ever seen.
YR Warblers were also pretty common today, including one Myrtle subspecies
between Veterans and the back pond at ESP. Plus I was able to identify 4
species of swallow, missing only Cliff and Bank.
Thanks to all the new arrivals and all the old standbys, I was able to
identify 51 species in 16 miles. And it only rained on me a little bit. 😉
Tom McCabe, Boise
