Latah Co. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches, 12/5/08 (& a few other sightings)

Hi All -

I found a flock of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches along Eikum Rd. about 15 miles south of Moscow around 2:45 PM Friday afternoon. There were probably 60-80 birds present although flock size was somewhat hard to estimate. Shortly after I arrived a swirling flock of birds appeared and started checking out the tractor shed where they (presumably) roost. They were still active around the tractor shed and barn when I left 5-10 minutes later. I ran into the owner and told her what I was doing and there was no problem. I've added the location to my Latah Co. birding google map here - http://tinyurl.com/6amabs

I checked this location probably 5 or more times last winter w/o any success so either there is a short time window for observing birds coming into roost or they are changing roost sites during the winter. Birds generally arrive 1.5 hrs. or so before dusk, perhaps earlier on cloudy (dark) afternoons. There is another tractor shed at a farm along Martinson Rd. several miles west of this location that has been used in the past but apparently not in the past couple years. There is also a house w/ feeders a bit to the east on Berger Rd. which sometimes has rosy-finches but on Friday only a large flock of House Finches was present.

I believe Kas Dumroese discovered the Martinson Rd. roost site some years ago on the Moscow-Pullman CBC and Terry Gray found the Eikum Rd. roost site just a couple years ago.

Other sightings -

On Friday afternoon I had a couple Rough-legged Hawks along Swenson Rd. a bit north of Eikum Rd. Not much else although there is a lot of interesting habitat along Swenson Rd, Campbell Loop Rd., and Lonestar Rd. (an area I'd really like to visit in breeding season!).

Saturday evening and early Sunday this morning a pair of Great Horned Owls were calling in my east Moscow neighborhood. Nice to know they continue as a breeding species in town.

Mid-day today I found a female Lesser Scaup at the UI Dairy Ponds w/ a small group of Mallards (geese had apparently departed for the day). This bird threw me for a loop initially as it was on the bank w/ the Mallards!

thanks, Charles.






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

Fwd: eBird Report - U. of Idaho, Moscow Main Campus , 12/1/08

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - U. of Idaho, Moscow Main Campus , 12/1/08
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Hi All -

I had a pleasant walk around campus at noon today. It felt more like mid-October than 1st of December and it looks like Pullman is about 1 deg. F off the record high for this date (and Winchester, ID set a record for highest low temp. for this date). Most notable was a Hairy Woodpecker at the Arboretum and a big flock of goldfinches feeding in ornamental birches and willows. I looked carefully through this group for redpolls but no luck. Results are below.

Charles.


============================================

Location:     U. of Idaho, Moscow Main Campus
Observation date:     12/1/08
Number of species:     18

Mallard     4
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
American Kestrel     1
Downy Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     2
Black-billed Magpie     1
Common Raven     1
Black-capped Chickadee     2
Mountain Chickadee     1
Golden-crowned Kinglet     2
American Robin     1
European Starling     60
Cedar Waxwing     30
Dark-eyed Junco     10
House Finch     30
Pine Siskin     X
American Goldfinch     50

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

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

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

Moscow area birds, 11/22-23/2008

Hi All -

There was a N. Shoveler at the UI Dairy on Saturday. Pretty late for here but consistent w/ other recent reports from the region. Otherwise the dairy ponds have been largely abandonded by waterfowl in the past couple weeks w/ only a handful of C. Geese and 50 Mallards present yesterday. I suppose they might be out in the fields feeding on winter wheat. At Syringa Ponds there were 2 Ring-necked Ducks (f) and about 8 Bufflehead. Neither of these locations have been as good for waterfowl this fall as they were last fall.

Today (Sunday) we went for a short hike at the UI Plant Science Farm (aka Parker Farm) on a pleasant but chilly morning. Most notable were diurnal raptors with a Cooper's Hawk, a Rough-legged Hawk, 3+ Red-tailed Hawks, and 2 adult Bald Eagles which drifted lazily south as we were leaving.

Charles.


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

Fwd: Moscow Golden Eagle

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Subject: Moscow Golden Eagle
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Hi All -

I had an adult Golden Eagle in steady, flapping, southbound flight over the UI Arboretum at about 1:00 this afternoon. It took less than a minute to pass my position on the west ridge of the Arb. Still no Blue Jays - they must take a siesta right around noon. I also had among others, a Townsend's Solitaire tooting away, a kingfisher in the lower pond, and robins and Cedar Waxwings in the Crab Apple grove near the north entrance.

Charles.

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

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

Latah Co. shorebirds, Viola Sewage Ponds, 8/31/08

Howdy -

I finally found a few species of shorebirds (4 to be exact) in Latah Co. at the Viola Sewage Ponds yesterday afternoon. They were Killdeer (~6), Least Sandpiper (2), Western Sandpiper (1), and Red-necked Phalarope (4). I may have missed a Spotted Sandpiper which I think I heard but didn't see (would have brought my total to 5 shorebird species!).

Also present were ~150 Canada Geese, ~20 Mallards, 2 Green-winged Teal, Barn, Bank, and Rough-winged Swallows (seemed to be a lot of swallows migrating yesterday), a bunch of Cedar Waxwings, Savannah and Chipping Sparrows and the usual blackbirds, starling, doves & pigeons.

The Viola sewage ponds are just west of US 95 off Trestle Rd. a bit south of the small burg of Viola which is about 8 miles north of Moscow. This would be a pretty good location if not for the fact that one has to peer through a chain-linked fence from the weedy, rocked embankment of the ponds. The 2 main ponds are rock lined and the peeps and Killdeer foraged from the rocks w/ the phalaropes of course swimming around in the ponds (I've now found RN Phalaropes over the years at the Viola, Deary, Genesee, and Syringa sewage ponds, and UI Dairy). Least Sandpipers are actually not all that unusual at rock lined sewage ponds despite being the classic "mudpipers".

Chas.

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

Re: [inland-NW-birders] Banded Caspian Terns

Keith -

Here is information on the Columbia R. Caspian Tern research  - http://www.columbiabirdresearch.org/ I think terns banded at the mouth of the Columbia R. usually have color bands in addition to a metal band. It's possible that birds from this (huge) colony could wander up the Columbia and the Snake but there are Caspian Terns nesting closer on the Columbia R. which are a likely source.

Here is more information on Seattle Audubon's birdweb -  http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=213#description

If you noted the band number you can submit it to the USGS Bird Banding Lab - http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/
and they will eventually get back to you w/ information on where the bird was banded.

Charles.

On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 3:05 PM, Kec201814 <kec201814@cableone.net> wrote:

one of the nine Caspian Terns present today at Chief Timothy HMU was wearing a leg band.

Anyone know what this program is about?

I suppose it has to do with their "alledged" smolt eating, but that was down by the mouth of the Columbia.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birddog/2614007536/

 

Keith E. Carlson

Lewiston

_______________________________________________
Inland-nw-birders mailing list
Inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu
https://www.lists.uidaho.edu/mailman/listinfo/inland-nw-birders

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

U. of Idaho, Moscow, ID birds, mid June, 2008

I've been biking, running, and walking quite a bit around the UI campus the past few weeks and making note of the birds present on campus during the breeding season. Many of these are breeding or suspected to be breeding. Here are a few of interest:

Red-tailed Hawk - nested in Heritage Grove, adult and imm. have been around (Swainson's Hawks have nested in this area in the past)
Cordilleran Flycatcher - one calling/singing regularly at west end of Shattuck Arboretum and another at the east end of the Heritage grove (near the Admin Bldg.), also a few around town
Western Wood-Pewee - at least 4 or 5 singing in the main arboretum, several more in Shattuck and more elsewhere around campus (seem particularly common this summer)
Red-eyed Vireo - singing away in the Shattuck just west of the President's house (seen & heard today)
Violet-green Swallow - a few around but may have taken a hit from cold weather
Barn Swallow - east side of campus, presume nesting on bridges along Paradise Ck.
Black-capped Chickadee - prob nest Shattuck
Red-breasted Nuthatch - prob nest Shattuck
House Wren - near grad housing (& Iris's daycare)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - prob nest Shattuck
American Robin - many around incl. w/ fledged young or food for young (probably on second broods)
Yellow Warbler - main Arboretum and along Paradise Ck.
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 singing in Shattuck, present since early June
Common Yellowthroat - singing at Sand Rd wetlands, just across from arboretum
Savannah Sparrow - in field just across from south end of the arboretum
Chipping Sparrow
Red Crossbill - continue to be fairly common around town, flying over or in tops of tall conifers

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

Flammulated Owl surveys, Northern Region USFS (northern Idaho/western Montana)

Hi All -

The Northern Landbird Monitoring Program is run by University of Montana's Avian Science Center for the Northern Region of the US Forest Service (USFS) (which is described here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/ and includes the Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Panhandle NFs in Idaho). As part of this program a Flammulated Owl survey was initiated in 2005. More information and results for this survey can be found here: http://avianscience.dbs.umt.edu/research_landbird_flam.htm (information on related surveys can be found elsewhere on this web site).

The Nez Perce National Forest (headquarters Grangeville, ID) recorded the most Flammulated Owls of any of the Northern Region FS units surveyed with 69 detections out of 278 points surveyed (~21% detection rate). Some other interesting observations to come out of the survey as a whole are that birds were detected from May 9 to July 21 with detections only slightly lower after mid-June. Of all detections, 35% were of birds calling spontaneously before observers broadcast Flam calls.

This area has not been well known to Idaho birders as a place to look for Flams but clearly is. Parts of the Nez Perce NF are difficult to access and some distance from population centers but some of these areas should be fairly accessible. I was directed to one of the survey locations on the ridge between the Snake and Salmon Rivers near Lucille, ID several years ago and easily found Flams which responded readily to taped calls and were easily spotlighted as well (unfortunately this area burned last summer which may have displaced Flams from this area).

Charles.

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

Latah Co. Spring Valley Reservoir & Bobolinks , 6/15/08

A hike around Spring Valley Res. at mid-day yielded a nice variety of typical mixed conifer and lakeside riparian habitat species. A couple of California Gulls were cruising around the lake part of the time - about the only place in Latah Co. they are semi-regular. Otherwise few waterbirds due to large numbers of fisherfolk on and around the lake. Complete eBird list is below (effort - time: ~2 hrs, distance ~ 1mile).

We drove north from Deary on ID-9 to Harvard after the hike to let Iris nap (she didn't) and let me check for Bobolinks. I saw at least 4 male Bobolinks in the field near the end of Garden Gulch Rd. just north of the intersection of ID-9 and ID-6. This is the only known Latah Co. location for this species although there is lots of good looking habitat elsewhere.

thanks, Charles.

Location:     Spring Valley Reservoir
Observation date:     6/15/08
Number of species:     40

Canada Goose     20
Ruddy Duck     3
Great Blue Heron     1
Osprey     2
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Coot     1
Killdeer     2
Spotted Sandpiper     1
California Gull     2
Western Wood-Pewee     1
Willow Flycatcher     3
Hammond's Flycatcher     6
Dusky Flycatcher     2
Common Raven     1
Tree Swallow     5
Violet-green Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     1
Black-capped Chickadee     4
Mountain Chickadee     3
Chestnut-backed Chickadee     3
Red-breasted Nuthatch     5
Brown Creeper     2
House Wren     1
Golden-crowned Kinglet     2
Swainson's Thrush     5
American Robin     6
Gray Catbird     2
Cedar Waxwing     2
Orange-crowned Warbler     2
Yellow Warbler     6
Yellow-rumped Warbler     2
Townsend's Warbler     2
MacGillivray's Warbler     1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Western Tanager     2
Chipping Sparrow     2
Song Sparrow     6
Red-winged Blackbird     6
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
Red Crossbill     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

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

Fwd: Latah Co. Lewis's Woodpecker etc., 5/4/08

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 7, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Subject: Latah Co. Lewis's Woodpecker etc., 5/4/08
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Hi All -

This past Sunday I wandered east of Moscow to Deary, then south to Kendrick, and back north to Troy via Little Bear Ridge Rd. then home to Moscow.

- A stop at Spring Valley Res. was unproductive due to the large number of fisherfolk around and on the lake - on warm weekend afternoons it's best to avoid SVR!

- The Deary sewage ponds had 45 Bufflehead and a few other ducks (Bufflehead seem to really like sewage ponds - what is the attraction??).

- Heading south from Deary on ID-3 I checked some ponds and fields (and visited a couple of old rural cemeteries in the area). This is a really impressive drive w/ excellent views of mountains and  the eastern Palouse wheat fields in all directions. Along the grade down to Kendrick I stopped at a nice road cut just past mp 16 where I had Bank, Rough-winged, and Violet-green Swallows all nesting or checking out (in the case of the Bank Swallows) nest holes in various strata including sandstone. At this point the road is above the Potlatch R. providing good foraging for the swallows. Looking back up the hill I noticed a Lewis's Woodpecker flycatching from trees near the house at mp 16 (west side of the rd.). I went back to get a closer look but couldn't relocate the bird. It looks like a great area for them and suspect nesting in the area is likely. I've had my eye on nearby Little Bear Ck. canyon for this species as well so was not totally surprised at this discovery.

- At Kendrick I noted Cliff Swallows (which nest on the grain elevators) and heard a Yellow Warbler. (Iris had woken up by this point so we stopped in town to play in the park and get an ice cream bar for the drive home.) Just outside of town heading up Little Bear Ridge Rd. an adult Bald Eagle was soaring around - perhaps one of the nesters from nearby Dworshak Res. which isn't far from here as the eagle flies (I understand there are 3 active eagle nests on the lake this year).

- Finally there were only a few ducks on the Little Bear ponds but they included a foy Blue-winged Teal and several downy Killdeer chick w/ adults on the shore.

It was nice to be back home - what a difference from Florida!

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

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

Fwd: U. of Idaho Arboreta & other Moscow sightings, 5/6/08

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 7, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Subject: U. of Idaho Arboreta & other Moscow sightings, 5/6/08
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


I had a pleasant walk through the old (Shattuck) and new UI arboreta yesterday at noon and found a nice bunch of migrants and spring arrivals.

Calliope Hummingbird - ~ 8 seen well but there were probably 15-20 with all the zipping around and calling I detected, at least 2 were drinking in the stream below the lower pond which was neat to see [a few Calliope's have been at our yard feeders since 5/4 and a male has been doing display flights, Rufous Hummingbirds showed up yesterday, 5/6]

Hammond's & Dusky Flycatchers - several of each as far as I could tell, at least a few were calling sporadically confirming what I thought I was seeing
Cassin's Vireo - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush - 4 together in a loose group in the understory shrubs at the sw end of Shattuck
Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Nashville Warbler - 4
Townsend's Warbler - 1 (well seen in low brush and brilliant!)
Chipping Sparrow - 4
White-crowned Sparrow - 8 (many around other parts of campus as well)
Dark-eyed Junco - 1 (still a few coming through)

I also found a dead adult Great Horned Owl in Shattuck and flushed a live Great Horned Owl from the new arboretum where we don't see them very often.

Yard birds in addition to hummingbirds mentioned above include a male Cassin's Finch still coming to the feeders but not many migrants as seen elsewhere. I've also heard House Wrens the past few mornings on my bike into work in south Moscow.

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

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

Moscow swifts and swallows, 4/22/2008

Violet-green Swallows were back on the UI Campus today and this afternoon there were 3 Vaux's Swifts chasing each other around the Life Sciences building. I have to wonder if these were in the group of swifts and swallows I saw down along the Potlatch R. yesterday afternoon. (I also wonder if they will be back down there tomorrow w/ the incoming weather!)

Charles.

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

Latah Co. arrivals, 4/21/2008

I decide to head down to the lower elevations of Latah Co. this afternoon to see if migrants were stuck down there waiting out the cold weather. This means heading to Kendrick which is along the Potlatch R. at ~750 ', considerably lower than Moscow at ~2500'. I went down Little Bear Ridge Rd. east of Troy and was surprised to see ~15 N. Shovelers resting along the upper part of Little Bear Ck. which is in a forested valley at this point. Further along past Little Bear Ridge cemetery I stopped at my favorite farm pond which had the following:

Tundra Swan     1
Gadwall     2
American Wigeon     20
Mallard     2
Northern Shoveler     10
Canvasback     1 (female, persisting from last week)
Bufflehead     5
Killdeer     3
Greater Yellowlegs     1
Lesser Yellowlegs     1 (foy - first of year)
American Robin     20

Heading on down to Kendrick I stopped a bit above the confluence of Big & Little Bear Cks. and spent the next hour working the area just above and below the confluence which held a good variety of migrants. Most notable was a group of 10 Townsend's Solitaires in several cottonwoods just below the confluence along w/ a Mountain Bluebird. I presume most of these and the other migrants were waiting out the cold here before heading to higher elevations. This area is about a mile north of Kendrick.

Mallard     3
Turkey Vulture     3
Cooper's Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     1
Northern Flicker     1
Common Raven     1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     2 (first of year)
Black-capped Chickadee     2
Rock Wren     1                             (first of year)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
Western Bluebird     8
Mountain Bluebird     1                  (first of year)
Townsend's Solitaire     12
American Robin     4
Orange-crowned Warbler     5
Nashville Warbler     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     8
Song Sparrow     2
White-crowned Sparrow     2

Reports generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

A stop at Kendrick produced an Osprey (foy) flying over the Potlatch R. We then stopped at the Juliaetta park so Iris could play and had a large flock of swallows fly over heading up the river - mostly unidentifiable due to height and light (but I presume mostly Violet-green Swallows) but with a few Vaux's Swifts (foy) mixed in. This last experience makes me wonder if this is where most of the swallows from Moscow and points east retreat to during these early spring cold snaps.

thanks, Charles.

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

Moscow area weekend birds

Hi All -

Not too much to report as I've been working around the house mostly (in between trips to the park to play w/ Iris!). With the warm weather the bird activity in town has dropped off considerably but I still had a small group of CASSIN'S FINCHES at my feeders this afternoon and a few DE JUNCOS still around yesterday (Saturday). Robins and crows are clearly nesting in the area (found a crow nest in E. City Park this PM). Also had a Ruby-crowned Kinglet singing near the house (and more on Friday at the UI Arboretum).

While running errands I managed a few quick stops. Notable yesterday at "Loch 95" - the spring runoff pond along US 95  north of Moscow - were 6 GW Teal, Mallard, 3 N. Pintail, 15 A. Wigeon, and 2 Ring-necked Ducks. Today (Sunday) at the UI Dairy ponds were a male Wood Duck and a female Hooded Merganser together (both pretty good Moscow City species).

There have been a lot of California Tortoiseshell butterflies flying around Moscow the past few days. This is an interesting species as all adults overwinter and then breed the following spring. Apparently there was an influx into the are last fall - they are also known to have erratic population explosions and mass migrations.

Tomorrow could be interesting w/ this vigorous low pressure arriving perhaps grounding some migrants.

thanks, Charles.

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

Latah Co., 4/4/2008

Hi All -

Iris and I went for a drive east of Moscow this afternoon out to Deary and back. It was snowing heavy, wet snow when we got to Deary. North of Deary there was still a foot or more of snow in places (I'm sure there is much more up higher). [On a side note, from a high point in Moscow on Thursday, we could see lots of patches of snow on the Palouse hills surrounding Moscow, pretty unusual for early April.] Also noted a lot of standing water in fields and creeks running pretty full out east of Moscow.

Just east of Troy a Turkey Vulture flew over. I checked Spring Valley Res. which is still fast frozen but there are a dozen or so Canada Geese on the grassy areas waiting for it to thaw. The Deary Sewage Ponds were busy - list below. (Pied-billed Grebe was interesting at this location, clearly a migrant.)

Location:     Deary Sewage Ponds
Observation date:     4/4/08
Notes:     East ponds counted from church and west church from highway. Wet snow falling at time but good visibility.
Number of species:     12

Canada Goose     X
Wood Duck     5
Mallard     4
Bufflehead     36
Common Goldeneye     11
Barrow's Goldeneye     1
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Killdeer     1
Black-billed Magpie     X
Common Raven     3
Pine Siskin     X
Evening Grosbeak     15 fly overs

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

North of Deary I did a traveling count along Mica Mountain Rd. looping back on Deer Rd. and had 3 Savannah Sparrows among others. After checking out the old Avon Cemetery just to the west I did another traveling count the Ailor Cutoff Rd. back to the highway (ID-3). Results are below. 

Charles.

Location:     Ailor Rd.
Observation date:     4/4/08
Notes:     Road follows Big Bear Ck. in part. Lots of standing water. Snipe was calling.
Number of species:     11

Canada Goose     30
Mallard     4
Hooded Merganser     1
Wilson's Snipe     1
Black-billed Magpie     6
American Robin     X
European Starling     X
Savannah Sparrow     1
Red-winged Blackbird     18
Western Meadowlark     2
Brewer's Blackbird     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

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

Latah Co. Golden Eagle etc., 3/23/2008

Howdy All -

I watched an adult Golden Eagle for several minutes this afternoon a bit east of Moscow (Randall Flat & Lyons Rd. to be exact). It was heading more or less north but didn't seem to be in hurry. This was during a short trip this afternoon while giving my daughter Iris a car nap. Here are a few other sightings of interest:

Syringa Ponds - ice free, Canada Goose - 15 (incl. a possible "Lesser" Canada Goose = B.c.parvipes, digiscoped images), Ring-necked duck -1, Bufflehead - 18, C. Goldeneye - 5

Randall Flat & Lyons Rd. - Spotted Towhee, Evening Grosbeak - 3, Cassin's Finches, Pine Siskins

Randall Flat & Felton Rds. - W. Bluebird - 2 (another bluebird was east of Troy)

East of Troy along ID-8 - Turkey Vulture 2, I had 4 Turkey Vultures nearby from Burnt Ridge Rd. returning from Deary, seems a bit early to me

Spring Valley Res. - still frozen

Deary Sewage Ponds - Bufflehead 54, C. Goldeneye - 5, just west of Deary I had 4 Red-tailed Hawks with 3 of them sharing the same telephone pole!

Camps Canyon Rd (east of Troy off Burnt Ridge Rd.) - small farm pond had 8 Common Mergansers and a Rough-legged Hawk was nearby.

 I also made a quick stop at the Burnt Ridge Cemetery in my continuing quest to visit rural cemeteries in Latah Co. This is a very nice one w/ great views. Also noted today were lots of robins in the wet fields and a good number of juncos (many singing).

This past week at my feeders here in Moscow I've continued to have a regular group of Cassin's Finches (up to 6 or so), a smattering of Pine Siskins (also noted today widely), and the usual winter junco flock. I've also had a Spotted Towhee in the yard on and off since last Monday evening. Today I noted several of the "female-type" (i.e. brown) Cassin's Finches had some light red wash in the face and head which I presumes indicates 1st winter males.

thanks, Charles.


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

Fwd: Moscow C. Redpolls 1/21/08 & weekend birds

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Jan 23, 2008 3:15 PM
Subject: Moscow C. Redpolls 1/21/08 & weekend birds
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Hi All -

On Monday afternoon (1/21/08) I found 6-8 Common Redpolls with ~15 American Goldfinches at the UI Plant Science Farm (Parker Farm) just east of Moscow. They were in the usual spot at the northwest corner of the large planting area east of buildings. I didn't see the Hoary Redpoll on Monday. The location is on my Latah Co. birding sites map here:  http://tinyurl.com/2xahzu

I also noted a fair number of birds in Moscow over the weekend and especially enjoyed a gathering of (at various times) Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings, American Robins, and E. Starlings on a scraggly Mnt. Ash in a neighbor's yard. In the midst of this a male A. Kestrel bombed through and provided nice looks - in my part of town I'm expecting Merlins rather than kestrels at this time of year! On Saturday (1/19/08) I had 3 different Bewick's Wrens singing within several blocks and on Sunday AM had a pair of them just down the alley. I also continue to have a few Pine Siskins at the feeders and elsewhere and have had some decent sized flocks (30 or more) or Red Crossbills around town.

I had a great deal of activity at the feeders on Saturday and a fair amount on Sunday but surprisingly little activity on Monday which was the coldest day recently. Not sure if there was some mortality over night or just a shift in feeding patters (there are other feeders around after all). This morning (1/23/08) I had a male Cassin's Finch at the feeder and I've had a 1 legged DE Junco at my feeders since 1/20 (surprising it has survived this long in this cold!).

I've included a number of eBird reports below.

thanks, Charles.

==========================================================================

eBird reports:

Location:     414 S. Lincoln & vicinity
Observation date:     1/19/08
Notes:     Snowy morning walk around east Moscow w/ Iris in stroller.
Number of species:     16

Northern Flicker     8
American Crow     6
Common Raven     3
Black-capped Chickadee     3
Mountain Chickadee     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     3
Bewick's Wren     3
Golden-crowned Kinglet     1
American Robin     15
European Starling     40
Cedar Waxwing     10
Dark-eyed Junco     25
House Finch     25
Red Crossbill     30
Pine Siskin     10
House Sparrow     10

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

=========================================================
Location:     414 S. Lincoln & vicinity
Observation date:     1/20/08
Notes:     waxwings, robins, and starlings all feeding on scraggly Mnt. Ash tree in neighbor yard across alley. Yard and alley had lots of birds for several days now - very birds! A DE Junco w/ only one leg has been around since 1/20.
Number of species:     9

American Kestrel     1     Dove through big flock of birds along alley behind house. (Not sure if it got anything!)
Bewick's Wren     2     Pair at alley & 3rd St.
American Robin     30
European Starling     200
Bohemian Waxwing     100
Cedar Waxwing     20
Dark-eyed Junco     20
House Finch     X
House Sparrow     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2( http://ebird.org)

also on 1/20 - 200 Bohemian Waxwings along Mountainview Rd. and a Rough-legged Hawk on Moscow Mountain Rd (outside of town)
============================================================================

Location:     Northeast Moscow (Mountain View Park & vicinity)
Observation date:     1/21/08
Notes:     Walked around Good Sam Village. Owl sign in conifers but couldn't find any owls. H. Sparrows & H. Finches were in hedgerow and near large feeder spread of house on D St.
Number of species:     10

Mourning Dove     1
American Crow     12
Black-capped Chickadee     1
Brown Creeper     1
American Robin     5
European Starling     20
Dark-eyed Junco     X
House Finch     100
Pine Siskin     20
House Sparrow     200

=============================================
Location:     UI Plant Science Farm
Observation date:     1/21/08
Notes:     Redpolls were w/ AMGO in nw corner of wind break.
Number of species:     11

Ring-necked Pheasant     3
California Quail     15
Cooper's Hawk     1
Black-billed Magpie     2
Black-capped Chickadee     2
American Robin     7
European Starling     1
Bohemian Waxwing     10
Dark-eyed Junco     20
Common Redpoll     6
American Goldfinch     15



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

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