Nothing rare to report. But, after a grayer overcast winter than we usually have, it’s nice to see aspen catkins appearing, willow & cottonwood buds swelling & grasses greening. This weekend, new arrivals were: White Pelicans & DC Cormorants along the Snake & a couple of Bohemian Waxwings through the yard. 

Bald Eagle pair along the river have a new nest in same tree (old one blew down last fall) & female has been in the nest, with only head & back showing, every time I hike down to check over past 2 weeks. Good to see! If it’s the same pair, 4th nest they’ve built in general vicinity over past 15 years. Seems, after a certain size, our wind-tunnel winds along the Snake are good at taking eagle nests down. Most numerous feeder bird is still American Goldfinch, 50+ at a time. 

Brian Carrigan 
Blackfoot 

Red-throated Loon continuing at CJ Strike first found by Eric Heisey around 11am. Refound by Kent Kleman and also seen by Cheryl Huizinga and Linda Wentz at 2:30 pm. Seen from East side of Black Sand resort. Scoped across to far side of reservoir. Lots of wind and waves. 

Tree Swallows arrived today along the river. Counted a half dozen or so. Red-winged Blackbirds are getting more vocal & spreading out a bit, establishing their territories while awaiting arrival of their mates. 

Not only spreading black-oil sunflower seeds for birds, but my little colony of least chipmunks has awakened & are out & about from their winter torpor & burrows. Have at least 4, all  busy stuffing cheek pouches with seeds. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

This ebird site has been quite active with birdwatchers and photographers since the tricolored blackbirds have reappeared in larger numbers than seen before.  Please remember that the land on both sides of the road is private property and clearly posted “no trespassing.”  This is an active cattle ranch currently in full swing with calving so please park your cars where they will not impede ranch traffic.  

Many thanks,

Liz Medes
Emmett ID

We had 18 to 20 LEGOs at our feeders, all winter in Idaho Falls 

That’s interesting Bill. They’ve been around Pocatello for years
– I think I got my lifer at Mink Creek. Any way keep looking
through those goldfinches. It’s inevitable a Lesser will show up.

Cliff

I’ve spent over twenty years valiantly trying to
turn American Goldfinches into Lesser, no luck so far. I have to
look for them when I’m in Boise. I also work hard to turn
siskens into redpolls, but that has work a few times.

Had our FOY  nuthatches show late week. No idea
where they’ve been, up higher or lower or down south? Who knows?
Resident Sandhills showed yesterday, right on schedule. Not sure
if it’s one or two pair like last year. Lucky to live with
nesting Sandhills. Great Horned Owls are making a nightly racket
and hawks buzzing the hills. Still masses of groupings.

Bill Moore

Hoot Owl

Inkom

On Mar 24, 2024, at 2:25 PM,
lcarrigan_55 <carriganbw@…> wrote:

My most numerous feeder visitors are the
American Goldfinches, lately. Upwards of 75+ coming in. I kept
thinking a Lesser had to show at some point & one finally
did, this afternoon. 

Others today: Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Green-winged
Teal, Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye,
Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robins & Bald Eagles. Was
watching an adult Bald Eagle on a cottonwood by river’s edge,
when it took flight & swooped low over the water, where
two female Common Mergansers were busy diving. At first
thought it was harassing the Mergansers. But, then saw some
surface hits by trout on a midge hatch & realized the
eagle was honing in for a good spot to snag a fish, just as
the Mergansers had. The Eagle perched above the new river
stretch, the Mergansers left & I watched for another half
hour, but never witnessed a take. Exciting encounter though! 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@...

Yeah, Bill it’s only worked a few times for me over the years, here along the Snake. Usually, one single Lesser mixed in with dozens of Americans. And, have only seen about 3 over the years. About an hour later, saw 2 Bohemian Waxwings at top of a Rocky Mountain Juniper at edge of yard. I usually see them in much larger flocks, but was glad to observe, my first this winter. So, my best birds this winter have been: Red Crossbill, Lesser Goldfinch & Bohemian Waxwing. 

Getting daily flyovers of Sandhills for past week. And our Great-horneds are calling nightly, too. I’ve had at least 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches stay year round for 2nd year in a row now, at our location. 

Good Birding, 
Brian