Fwd: Moscow yard birds, 7/28/05

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 28, 2005 7:46 AM
Subject: Moscow yard birds, 7/28/05
To: inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu

Hi All -

I finally added BEWICK'S WREN to my yard list (although I have heard
them from my yard). This morning one was poking around in our Lilac
Hedge along w/ a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE which has been coming to the
feeder.

The resident RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES have been making frequent trips
to the sunflower feeders and I believe are stashing seed in trees
around the yard.

The SWAINSON'S HAWKS that nest a block away (we presume although we
haven't actually located the nest this year) are becoming increasingly
vocal. This probably involves a lot of communication between adults
and young as they range farther away from the nest in foraging trips.

We still have a nest full of A. ROBIN chicks that are being fed in the
Lilac hedge. This is interesting as we were seeing young from earlier
broods back in June.

I am also starting to notice a few early migrants or post-breeding
dispersers such as WESTERN TANAGER and some unidentified warbler
chips. All in all it is feeling very much like the breeding season is
winding down!

thanks, Charles.

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

Moscow shorebirds, 7/23/05

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 24, 2005 8:32 AM
Subject: Moscow shorebirds, 7/23/05
To: inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu

Hi All -

Shorebirds are pretty hard to come by in town here but can show up at
the UI Dairy's slop ponds. If they mowed the vegetation along the
shoreline there would probably be more.Yesterday there were these few:

Killdeer - a few
Common Snipe - 1
Least Sandpiper - 2
Western Sandpiper - 1

If I could get myself over therer more often I'd probably find a few
more but it is not the most pleasant place to look for birds!

thanks, Charles.

ps a Western Flycatcher just called (suweet) in our backyard

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

Spokane River C. Mergansers, 7/17/05

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 23, 2005 8:19 AM
Subject: Spokane River C. Mergansers, 7/17/05
To: inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu

Hi All -

I kayaked a stretch of the Spokane River in the Spokane Valley area
last Sunday (7/17). We put in at Harvard Park and floated down to
Sullivan Park. While I was primarily concentrating on kayaking, I did
note a number of the expected breeding species for this area including
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and YELLOW WARBLER (still
singing). Of note were several broods of COMMON MERGANSERS which I
thought was interesting considering this is a fairly urban stretch of
river. I wonder if they nested along this stretch or had moved down
from some more remote stretch of river or a tributary? They were fun
to watch exploring the shallows and ably skittering along the water
with just their legs and feet. Other waterbirds along the river
included CANADA GEESE, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and a patrolling OSPREY.

thanks, Charles.

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) Latah Co., ID 

Idaho Co. Flammulated Owls, 7/9/05 (& status in north-central Idaho)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 14, 2005 11:38 AM
Subject: Idaho Co. Flammulated Owls, 7/9/05 (& status in north-central Idaho)
To: inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu

Hi All -

The Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests have been conducting
surveys for Flammulated Owls in north-central Idaho. Based on
information I received about these surveys, I was able to easily
locate several FLAMMULATED OWLS in an area south of Pittsburg Saddle
(southwest of Whitebird, ID). They readily came into a tape playback
and were easily spotlighted (briefly) for good visuals.

The habitat here is mixed conifer with plenty of Ponderosa Pine of
various ages including large, older trees and snags. It seems like
good habitat for White-headed Woodpeckers and Williamson's Sapsucker
as well. We found many typical conifer nesting bird species on our way
out Sunday AM (after camping at the owl location).

Pittsburgh Saddle is on the ridge between the Snake and Salmon River
and is accessible from the road that crosses the ridge and continues
down to Pittsburgh Landing at Hells Canyon of the Snake R. The general
area where we found the owls is the intersection of USFS roads 2065
and 672 (clearly depicted on the DeLorme & USFS maps). Deb and I
camped at the location where we found the owls. This seemed the best
approach as it is ~1 hr. drive into this location from US 95. It would
also be possible to stay at a Motel in Whitebird or Riggins or camp
somewhere else.

As always, it is a but touchy posting locations of owls but based on
the survey results they seem to be well distributed in appropriate
habitat in this area. This is also a fairly remote area so I expect
birding pressure to be light. There are other well known locations for
"Flams" in WA and ID that are farther from the Palouse region. Surveys
north of the Salmon River area (e.g the Clearwater NF) have only found
a few birds. There are historical records from Craig Mountain and they
probably occur sparsely elsewhere to north but it appears the main
range in Idaho is from the Salmon R. south. (they have also been found
north of the Salmon R. east of of Riggins).

These USFS surveys should provide some good (possibly new) information
on the current distribution of FLAMMULATED OWLS in north-central
Idaho. I was not aware that they were in the Nez Perce NF although
suspected it was possible based on the habitat in the area. The most
recent nearby reports have come from the eastern Blue Mountains (e.g.
Fields Spring State Park) - maybe someone (Mike Denny?) could provide
information on thier status in the Blues and Wallowas Mountains.

I'll post some pictures of the area to my birding blog sometime in the
next few days (and will post more on other birds seen on this trip).

thanks, Charles.

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
http://chasbirds.blogspot.com/

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com

Flammulated Owl habitat ~15 miles southwest of Whitebird, Idaho Co., Idaho. 

MAPS update

Hi All -

I banded at the MAPS site at Vassar Meadows (east of Moscow) on 7/5.
We are now getting a good number of juveniles and some dispersing
adults. We had mostly new captures and it was our biggest day of the
season so far.

Juveniles banded included Song Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler,
Cassin's Vireo, and always cool juv. Red-naped Sapsucker. We are also
catching a good number of young chickadees and had a family group of
~8 (!) Chestnut-backed Chickadees hit one of our nets all at once. It
was a challenge getting them all out nets!

We also had an adult Nashville Warbler that was molting flight
feathers and ff coverts. Presumably this is a dispersing bird as we
have not detected them in the area. I've posted a few pictures on my
blog.

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
http://chasbirds.blogspot.com/

Nashville Warbler, Vassar Meadows. Note "pin" feathers (newly emerging feathers). This bird was growing in new flight feathers and coverts. 

Bird banders at Vassar Meadows taking a well deserved break (Joel, Rob, and Doyle, L-R). 

Cliff Swallow nests at Lookout Pass.on the Idaho/Montana border at 6026 ft. 

Round Lake shoreline w/ cattails and lotus (water lily) species. Bluegills were tending sandy nests in the shallows here. Bonner co., ID.  

Kootenai White Pelicans etc. over weekend

Hi All -

We were up in north Idaho over the weekend. Although we didn't do much
birding we did note of few birds of interest while at Round Lake, the
Hiawatha Trail, and Silverwood theme park (entertaining my brother and
niece).

7/1 -
White Pelican - 9 at Cougar Bay on Lake C d'A, presumably part of the
large influx reported by Shirley recently
Bald Eagle - pair of adults at Round Lake State Park, Bonner Co., a
small lake so presumably these are non or post breeders

- plenty of the expected Idaho forest breeding species at Round Lake
where we camped 2 nights, we were serenaded by Swainson's Thrushes
both mornings

7/2 -
Hiawatha bike trail - from East Portal (Taft, MT exit - just over the
ID/MT border south of I-90) south along Loop Ck to Pearson, ID
(Shoshone Co.), none of these are actual towns, just map place names
and extinct towns along the railroad.

- again, many of the expected northern Rockies breeders, of interest
Western Flycatcher, Varied Thrush, Wilson's Warbler

7/3 -
Silverwood Theme Park, north of C d'A - we were mostly distracted by
the rides, water slides, etc. but did note a flock of ~30 RING-BILLED
GULLS in the parking lot (presume post breeders). Also lots of
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS nesting around buildings in the park.

thanks, Charles.

--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
http://chasbirds.blogspot.com/