Hi Birders,
Saw the Glaucous Gull near the “pile” feasting on something. Gorgeous bird! Told several of the staff about the special gull and they were excited for me. They were all very receptive to my wanting to look at gulls. Quite a few of the staff are women- even running the big equipment!
Happy birding!
Cheryl

Cheryl Huizinga
Caldwell, Idaho

This afternoon I was in the Henry’s Lake Mountains and had some
interesting sightings. In addition to a flock of Rosy Finches, a Golden
Eagle and a lone Dusky Grouse I saw a large accipiter fly over. I
figured it was a Gos since that’s all I’ve seen up here this late in the
year so I got my binocs on it. It was an adult Northern Goshawk, always
a treat. As I watched it began to speed up and fold its wings back in a
steep glide. It probably covered 300 yards before diving into a patch of
Douglas Firs, made two very fast laps around a large Doug Fir, then
chased a Dusky Grouse that flushed from the tree. An amazing sight even
though it didn’t catch the grouse.

Cliff

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

Enjoyed Austin’s report from Pocatello of both Common Redpolls & a Pine Grosbeak. West of Blackfoot, I’m still seeing Evening Grosbeaks & Red-breasted Nuthatches coming into the feeders. And, reports confirm an irruption of both Pine & Evening Grosbeaks to black oil sunflower seed feeders in Ontario this month. So, it is, indeed, shaping up to be a good irruption season for winter finches.

I spent time in Island Park this past weekend & my best bird was a quite cooperative Great Gray Owl which flew in & perched on a lodgepole pine and gave for a long & satisfying observation. I was afraid to move for fear of it flying off, so didn’t dare try to take my phone out of a pocket for photos. It landed close enough that I couldn’t even focus my binocs on it! Also, numerous Trumpeter Swans in the fields between St Anthony & Ashton.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Hey folks,

Today I encountered 4 Common Redpolls around Pocatello, one individual this
morning and a flock of three this afternoon (see below for specific
locations). Notable finds for the region this time of year and it could be
a good winter to see more northern finches. It was predicted this year that
the redpolls’ desired seed crops would be low further north but I did not
expect to see them. I also had a single Pine Grosbeak just outside of town
yesterday, at the top of China Peak!

For C. Redpoll photos, an audio recording, observation comments, and
specific locations take a look at the eBird checklists here:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40473442

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40473712

Good birding,

Austin Young
Pocatello

It was first reported a couple of weeks ago. Today I saw and heard it between 18th and 20th, Grant and Everett. There is a homeowner at 18th and Grant who says she has been feeding peanuts to 2 Blue Jays.

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

A Townsend’s Solitaire alighted in a tree right by the front of my house (Pinehurst Dr, W of 36th St, halfway between State and Hill Rd) until it was spooked by a trio of smaller birds, probably House Finches.
John Shortis

I know it seems like I’m posting a lot lately, but the birds keep finding me
(or vice versa). Today, when I got to Esther Simplot Park (ESP), I found a
juvenile Snow Goose. It was on the main pond at ESP, but it moved around a
lot. It’s back was “dingy gray” as mentioned in Sibley, but not as dark as
the picture of an immature in that book. I was initially stumped by what
appeared to be a black bill, but after looking at lots of pictures in
various books and apps, immatures seem to have very dark bills.

I observed the bird 3 separate times. Once it was cruising around the island
they built at ESP, once it was hanging out with Canada Geese near the
Quinn’s Pond end of the ESP pond, and the last time it was on the back part
of the pond, close to Whitewater Park Blvd. I hope it hangs around for a
while.

Tom McCabe, Boise

P.S. The Merlins and Magpies at Veteran’s Pond seem to be playing “tag.”
When it’s only one Magpie, the Merlin and Magpie alternate who’s “It.” When
there is more than one Magpie, they are always “it” and the Merlin is trying
to avoid getting tagged. I’ve seen the behavior several times in the last
few days and 3 times today.

Double day of the Merlin first east end of upper dam parking lot deer flat
n.w.r. second one Wilson spring ponds around north sideq

Wilson ponds interesting hybrids todayq

The last time I saw an Osprey-until today-was October 19th. Today, at 45th
St. on the Garden City side, I stopped to look over at Willow Lane in the
hopes of finding a Red-tail. Instead, I realized there was a large bird, not
one of the many gulls, doing lazy circles as it cruised downriver. I was
sure even before I got binos on it, but through binos he was outstanding. I
know one or two have stayed late in the year sometimes, but getting to see
one this late is a real treat.

Another treat was the large flock of Cedar Waxwings gathered at the Garden
City Senior Center. There were at least 50-my largest flock so far this
season-but there may have been twice as many. There were groups in various
trees but there were also groups going to the puddles to drink, sometimes
ten or more at a time, with no diminution of the groups in the trees.
Unfortunately, despite lots of squinting, I couldn’t turn any of them into
Bohemians. I’ve seen only one flock of Bohunks this year, a small group near
Veterans.

On another note, my young friend Ian, who birds Esther Simplot Park (ESP)
daily, tried to help me find the female Bufflehead that is hanging out at
ESP yesterday, without any luck. But today she showed up in the main ESP
pond. Thanks to Ian I was looking for her. Unusual to see a solo Bufflehead.

Tom McCabe, Boise