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.
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!
This is swimming in my Pond along with some wood ducks. It appears to have paired with a female wood duck. Can anybody tell me how to post a photo to ebird? I have submitted a checklist but don’t know how to add a photo. Linda Lamb Priest River
I knew it was going to be at least a “good” day when I spotted the Cooper’s Hawk sitting on a power pole a half block north of my house as I left on my bike ride. Things got even better when the Say’s Phoebe flew over my head at Esther
Simplot. I only had 17 species by that time, but it was early in the ride. Then I saw my first Gadwall in weeks at Silver Lake, followed by a pair of RT Hawks circling above the old racetrack. That put me at 34, but the kicker was when Susan spotted a bird
lurking in the bushes and binos confirmed my 2d Townsend’s Solitaire of the year (in 1 week).That was 37, and then I picked up a RC Kinglet and RB Gull. But I was 2 blocks from home with only 39 species when I heard a WB Nuthatch. Not trusting my sound ID,
I hung around until it showed itself, and I happily rode the 2 blocks home with 40 species. (I know, I have a round number fetish!)
Hi, I saw a BAGO this afternoon. The bird was seen just downstream from the NW corner of the West Boise Waste Water Treatment plant on the south channel of the Boise River. Access this trail from the west via Eagle Rd/E. River Meadow Dr. intersection. It is ~1.5 miles one-way. Stop at the cell tower and the river is to the left/north. Note, access from the east along the river is closed due to construction.
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