Weekend birding around Latah County, ID

A few sightings of interest from the long weekend and select eBird lists below (photo: Grasshopper Sparrow, Paradise Ridge):

5/22 - I hiked the 1 mile paved trail along the upper Potlatch R. (near USFS LIttle Boulder Creek CG southeast of Deary, ID) w/ Iris where we found many of the typical breeding species for this locale. Had an FOY Cordilleran Flycatcher right at the bridge. A briefly seen Western Skink in the parking area was pretty cool. White Pelican and 2 Bald Eagles (adult & near adult) among others at Spring Valley Res. in the PM. Belted Kingfisher along Little Bear Ck. just east of Troy, ID at likely cut bank nesting area (also here last year).

5/24 - Family hike around Spring Valley Reservoir had most expected breeders for this locale incl. FOY Willow Flycatcher and loudly calling Sora. Afternoon nap drive farther east to East Fork Potlatch R. (east of Bovil, ID) where I found 2 American Redstarts, a Northern Waterthrush, and another Willow Flycatcher (which will be common here within the next few days) among others along this willow lined creek. This is probably the best location in Latah Co. for Redstarts and N. Waterthrush (at least the best known to date although Redstarts can be found elsewhere).

5/25 - Hiked w/ Kas Dumroese around his "back 40" on Paradise Ridge south of Moscow where we found the following sparrows - 1 Grasshopper, 2 Clay-colored, 1 Brewer's, and 2 Vesper along w/ many of the typical Palouse prairie species such as E. Kingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, etc. A Rock Wren was a nice find here as well although Kas gets them annually at least in migration (although breeding seems possible at this location higher up on the ridge). The Clay-colored Sparrows were in the draw beyond the pines to the north of his house. I believe visitors are welcome, just contact Kas ahead of time at kas.dumroese@gmail.com.

thanks,

Charles.

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

Location: Little Boulder Ck Trail - Potkatch R.
Observation date: 5/22/09
Notes: Walk along paved trail w/ Iris is stroller most of the time. Also saw a Western Skink at the trailhead parking lot.
Number of species: 24

Ruffed Grouse 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Red-naped Sapsucker 1
Hammond's Flycatcher 12
Cordilleran Flycatcher 1
Cassin's Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 3
Common Raven 1
Violet-green Swallow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Townsend's Warbler 2
MacGillivray's Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 1
Western Tanager 2
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco 1

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

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

Location: Spring Valley Reservoir
Observation date: 5/24/09
Notes: Family hike around west side of lake. Muddy and buggy in places. Iris walked almost the entire trail except I carried her across the muddy parts. A nice variety of birds despite large # of holiday weekend visitors.
Number of species: 36

Canada Goose 25
Mallard 1
Ruddy Duck 4
Ruffed Grouse 1
Horned Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 2
Spotted Sandpiper 4
California Gull 2
Hammond's Flycatcher 14
Dusky Flycatcher 5
Cassin's Vireo 5
Common Raven 3
Tree Swallow X
Violet-green Swallow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Mountain Chickadee 1
Brown Creeper 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Townsend's Warbler 3
Western Tanager 5
Spotted Towhee 2
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Black-headed Grosbeak 6
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Pine Siskin 5

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

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

Location: Paradise Ridge West
Observation date: 5/25/09
Notes: Hiked w/ Kas around his back 40 to check out sparrows situation and inspect Palouse prairie remnants. CC Sparrows were fairly close to the his in the draw, heard & seen w/ some video.
Number of species: 40

Ring-necked Pheasant 2
California Quail 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 1
Mourning Dove 5
Black-chinned Hummingbird 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Western Wood-Pewee 3
Eastern Kingbird 4
Black-billed Magpie 6
Tree Swallow 1
Violet-green Swallow 10
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Pygmy Nuthatch X
Rock Wren 1
House Wren 4
Western Bluebird 2
Mountain Bluebird 2
American Robin 5
European Starling 3
Orange-crowned Warbler 4
Wilson's Warbler 3
Spotted Towhee 4
Clay-colored Sparrow 2
Brewer's Sparrow 1
Vesper Sparrow 2
Grasshopper Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
Black-headed Grosbeak 8
Lazuli Bunting 5
Western Meadowlark 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Bullock's Oriole 5
Cassin's Finch 1
House Finch X
Red Crossbill 5
American Goldfinch 5

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

Moscow neighborhood sightings, 5/22/09 - 5/24/09

image - Cedar Waxwings in our backyard apple tree.

Migrant activity has dropped off considerably in the past few days but plenty of birds are still to be found on the east side of Moscow. This morning I had another WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - this time a lone male in a spruce on the south side of the Latah Co. Fairgrounds about 6 blocks south of my house. The only migrants this AM were a Wilson's Warbler in my yard and a couple of Dusky Flycatchers (another interesting empid. was left unidentified). I've included a complete list from my morning walk below although this is somewhat atypical as I walked farther (~2 miles) than usual (and as a result had to count more house sparrows, starlings, and house finches than usual which is a bother!).

On 5/22 I had another LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the yard and have attached an image of that bird. Also in the past week we've had fledged young Great Horned Owls and I've attached an image of an adult and young bird that were just across the alley for a day or 2. Also of interest in the past couple days I've had 2 fly-overs of a WESTERN KINGBIRD (a new yard bird) which I presume is nesting somewhere to the south of us (although not at the fairgrounds which seemed a likely location). Finally the Cedar Waxwings have descended on our yard and have been devouring the flowers off our apple tree which just came into bloom this week.

Charles.

Location: Moscow - East Side (My Home) - 2 mile rt walk to southeast
Observation date: 5/24/09
Number of species: 30

Ring-necked Pheasant 3
California Quail 5
Great Blue Heron 2 - flying fairly high
American Kestrel 1
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 7
Vaux's Swift 2
Northern Flicker 2
Dusky Flycatcher 2
American Crow 6
Violet-green Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Bewick's Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
American Robin 25
European Starling 25
Cedar Waxwing 15
Yellow Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
House Finch 20
White-winged Crossbill 1
Pine Siskin 8
American Goldfinch 7
House Sparrow 20

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

Moscow migrant report, 5/21/09

Hi All -

Migrants are greatly reduced in town today after yesterdays nice push of birds. It was quieter around my house this morning and on a walk through the Shattuck Arboretum at noon. Some migrants were noted but in some cases by this date in town it's hard to determine migrant vs. local breeder. Some birds of interest noted this morning and my speculation on their status are listed below. It would be really interesting to study the ebb and flow of migration at a migrant trap like Basset park (Washtucna, Adams Co., WA). There must be a lot of existing Washtucna data - it would be great to get it into eBird and do some analysis.

Charles.

select species - east Moscow & Shattuck Arboretum, 5/21/09

Western Wood-Pewee - 1 calling on 7th St. in shady yard, migrant and local breeder in town
Warbling Vireo - probably migrants but may nest in town and has nested in UI Arboretum
Cassin's Vireo - probably migrant
Hermit Thrush - 1 AM, and 2 at Shattuck, migrants
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 7 found on walk around neighborhood this morning, all singing consistently from a localized area, appearing teritorial, will have to determine local breeding status this year!
Yellow Warbler - a pretty common breeder in town along Paradise Ck. & elsewhere, nested in my lilacs one year, presumed migrants noted in mixed flocks, or not behaving teritorially
Yellow-rumped Warbler - has probably nested in Shattuck Arboretum but also a common migrant w/ some birds coming through
Wilson's Warbler - migrants, typically trickle through until early June, most common migrant warbler after mid-May I'd guess
Western Tanager - probably migrants or non-breeders, commonly seen well into June in town
Black-headed Grosbeak - same as W. Tanager
Lazuli Bunting - migrants
Chipping Sparrow - just a few scattered, mostly migrants but nests around on the edge of town
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 flew through my yard this AM, migrant


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

Fwd: Moscow noon bird report, 5/20/09

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Subject: Moscow noon bird report, 5/20/09
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Howdy -

Lots of birds still moving through Moscow at noon today. In an apartment parking lot (w/ trees!) in downtown Moscow just before 1:00 PM were BH Grosbeak, multiple Western Tanagers, mutiple Lazuli Buntings, Cassin's & Warbling Vireos, Orange-crowned Warbler, multiple Chipping Sparrows, etc. Also Cedar Waxwings have returned in good numbers just in the past few days (there seems to be a gap between the wintering birds dissapearance and breeders arrival). Also along Paradise Creek were Calliope Hummingbirds, Yellow Warblers, and Song Sparrows and plenty of Barn and Violet-green Swallows on campus. Will try around the house again when I get home!

Charles.

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

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

Moscow White-winged Crossbills, lots of migrants, 5/20/09

Hi All -

This chilly (low 40's) morning was great for migrants around my house and got even better when I found 5 White-winged Crossbills a couple blocks south of my house. There were 2 very nice adult males, 2 females, and a younger, streaky male. They were feeding in a deciduous tree w/ winged seeds (eating new buds I guess) along w/ several Red Crossbills, 3 Western Tanagers and 4 Black-headed Grosbeaks (an interesting combination). They were giving soft chut-chut calls. It was very sastifying to find these after several false alarms back in March and having flocks of crossbills flying over frequently the past few weeks.

As for migrants, warblers, Lazuli Buntings, tanagers, grosbeaks, and Chipping Sparrows (again) were the most common this morning. It's getting harder to get a good count w/ the trees (finally) leafing out but there were about 5 each of Yellow, Townsend's, and Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Lazuli Buntings. There were about 50 Chipping Sparrows in and around the yard and also about 30 yesterday. There were lesser numbers of Hammond's (3) and Dusky (1) Flycatchers, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers (all females), Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds, and a couple Ruby-crowned Kinglets. No new arrivals although I thought I heard a pewee at one point.

The continuing cool weather here seems to be keeping a lot of migrants in town. This is the best May for migrants here in Moscow I think I've had in several years.

thanks, Charles.


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

Benewah Co. report part #1 - Desmet Sewage Ponds , 5/17/09

I just noticed on Google Maps there are also sewage ponds in Tensed just a bit to the north although I can't tell if they are accessible. This area of southwestern Benewah Co. is very much like western Latah Co. w/ rolling Palouse hills merging into the "Hoo Doo" Range (as it's known locally).

Location:     Desmet Sewage Ponds
Observation date:     5/17/09
Notes:     The ponds were mostly scoped from the cemetery to the west (and some birds from that location are included). A group of 7 Ring-billed Gulls came in for a look just as I was leaving - about 4 of the 7 were 2nd year birds (hatched last year).
Number of species:     17

Gadwall     4
Cinnamon Teal     2
Northern Shoveler     5
Ruddy Duck     1
American Coot     8
Wilson's Phalarope     7
Ring-billed Gull     7
Northern Flicker     1
Tree Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     1
American Robin     1
European Starling     1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Chipping Sparrow     1
Red-winged Blackbird     10
Western Meadowlark     2
Yellow-headed Blackbird     6

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

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

Moscow area birds, 5/16/09

With this warm weather most of the migrants moved out of my neighborhood (and probably most of Moscow) overnight. I had loads of Chippings Sparrows as well as a smattering of vireos and warblers through yesterday afternoon right around my yard but it was pretty quiet this morning.

Sara de la Rue and I checked out Heron's Hideout and Bring Park in southeast Moscow this morning and had several interesting finds. The first is a restored natural area along Paradise Creek that I've been mostly checking in the fall for migrants. This morning we had a Wilson's Snipe displaying as if on territory and a couple of Yellow-headed Blackbirds in wet meadows & a small patch cattails. Also present were Yellow Warblers and Song Sparrows in the Willows and brush along Paradise Creek as they are elsewhere in town. The suprising find was a Lincoln's Sparrow singing from a yard on the edge of the wet meadow. Move this meadow a couple thousand feet higher and this would be fine breeding habitat for the species. We ended up w/ 27 species - not bad for right in town.

Later this afternoon I ventured north of Moscow (Iris suggested a car nap which was fine by me). A 15 mintute stop at the Viola Sewage Ponds yielded 22 species including a couple Spotted Sandipers (FOY), 2 Wilson's and 1 Red-necked Phalaropes among others. Like Syringa this spot can be virtually dead on some visits (although in mid May most stops are likely to produce something of interes!). From there we went north to Palouse, WA and the east back into Idaho and along the Palouse River. There were loads of swallows over the Palouse R. floodplain and a another likely singing Lincoln's Sparrow - surprising again to hear in migration (presumably).

thanks, Charles.

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

Fwd: eBird Report - Spring Valley Reservoir , 5/15/09

A quick afternoon trip to Spring Valley Res. east of Moscow produced a California Gull - uncommon in the county but seemingly regular at this location at least in June and perhaps earlier in spring. Also a breeding plumage Horned Grebe and the usual suspects listed below. Syringa just on the eastern edge of Moscow failed to produce phalaropes but did have 7 species of waterfowl plus a bunch of coots (full list below). This small pair of ponds is often virtually devoid of waterbirds but at other times can be quite busy.

good bird'n!
Charles.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Fri, May 15, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Spring Valley Reservoir , 5/15/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com


Location:     Spring Valley Reservoir
Observation date:     5/15/09
Notes:     Quick trip to res. so Iris can nap in car. Despite time and lots of fisherfolk around lake a fair number of birds around incl. several year birds.
Number of species:     22

Canada Goose     25
Mallard     2
Northern Shoveler     2
Ruddy Duck     8
Horned Grebe     1
Great Blue Heron     2
Osprey     2
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Coot     11
Killdeer     1
California Gull     1
Vaux's Swift     2
Calliope Hummingbird     1
Common Raven     2
Tree Swallow     5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
American Robin     5
Yellow Warbler     1
Spotted Towhee     1
Song Sparrow     1
Red-winged Blackbird     8

Location:     Syringa Ponds
Observation date:     5/15/09
Number of species:     11

Canada Goose     2
Gadwall     1
American Wigeon     2
Mallard     1
Green-winged Teal     1
Bufflehead     3
Ruddy Duck     9
American Coot     11
Tree Swallow     2
Black-headed Grosbeak     1
Red-winged Blackbird     6

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

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

Fwd: eBird Report - Foothill Rd. ponds , 5/14/09

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 15, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Foothill Rd. ponds , 5/14/09
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Hi All -

I hit several wetlands north of Moscow yesterday afternoon. A few new species included Wilson's Phalarope and Common Yellowthroat at Foothill Rd. ponds (compete list below for that location) and several Soras calling spontaneously at the "Sora Spot" wetlands on Mountainview Rd. Also personal FOYs were Bank Swallow (a couple migrants at the Sora spot) and Blue-winged Teal. I've added 22 species to my Latah Co. year list just this week - there's nothing like spring migration and new arrivals!

The Red-tailed Hawks mentioned below are on nest just south of the ponds.

thanks. Charles.

Location:     Foothill Rd. ponds
Observation date:     5/14/09
Notes:     A nice variety of birds in 15 minutes in between rain showers including a few FOYs.
Number of species:     18

Canada Goose     2
Mallard     2
Cinnamon Teal     2
Green-winged Teal     2
Great Blue Heron     1
Red-tailed Hawk     2
American Coot     1
Wilson's Snipe     1
Wilson's Phalarope     3
Tree Swallow     3
Barn Swallow     1
American Robin     1
European Starling     3
Common Yellowthroat     1
Savannah Sparrow     1
Red-winged Blackbird     6
Yellow-headed Blackbird     2
Brewer's Blackbird     6

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

Fwd: eBird Report - Moscow - East Side (My Home) , 5/15/09

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 15, 2009 at 7:53 AM
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Moscow - East Side (My Home) , 5/15/09
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>


Good Morning -

Another good morning for migrants here on the east side of Moscow- complete list below. Fewer birds in number and diversity and no new species with the most numerous being Hammond's Flycatchers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Chipping Sparrows. The House Wrens are gone (although there was one in the yard through the afternoon yesterday) so presumably were migrants. Only 1 unidentified hummingbird this morning so they seem to have moved on (only Black-chinned nests in my immediate vicinity). No Western Wood-Pewees yet which are normally expected by now - perhaps they are late as well. Hermit Thrushes (2-3) were singing in my yard this morning - nice!

thanks, Charles.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Fri, May 15, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Moscow - East Side (My Home) , 5/15/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com




Location:     Moscow - East Side (My Home)
Observation date:     5/15/09
Notes:     A good number of migrants again this morning but somewhat fewer in number and diversity and nothing new. Hermit Thrushes were in the yard, singing and calling. Most Chipping Sparrows were again at Apt. complex a block east of the house.
Number of species:     29

Ring-necked Pheasant     2
California Quail     1
Mourning Dove     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     2
Hammond's Flycatcher     7
Dusky Flycatcher     2
Cassin's Vireo     3
Warbling Vireo     4
American Crow     4
Black-capped Chickadee     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     4
Hermit Thrush     3
American Robin     10
European Starling     9
Orange-crowned Warbler     1
Yellow Warbler     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     8
Townsend's Warbler     2
Wilson's Warbler     3
Chipping Sparrow     60
Lazuli Bunting     3
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
House Finch     5
Red Crossbill     2
Pine Siskin     2
American Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow     1

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, 5/14/09, big migrant movement, esp. Chipping Sparrows

Hi All -

Lots of migrants moving through Moscow this morning stalled out presumably by this strong front after favorable migration conditions overnight (and birds bottled up to our south). I had 34 species in an hour this morning in a couple blocks around my house (complete list below) w/ several new arrivals such Wilson's and MacGillivray's Warbler.

Especially evident this morning was a large number of Chipping Sparrows including a *huge* flock in the Heritage Grove in front of the UI Administration conservatively estimated at 250. I also had 60+ near my house and another ~80 in the Shattuck Arboretum. Also in the Shattuck were 3 more Hermit Thrushes, a Lincoln's Sparrow, and a smattering of other migrants.

I expect this wind may drop some shorebird as well. I'd be getting out to sheltered locations and shorebird spots to see what's around (just wish I could be out all morning!).

Charles.

Location:     Moscow - East Side (My Home)
Observation date:     5/14/09
Notes:     Great movement of migrants this morning. House Wrens (2) were new yard birds (somewhat amazingly). Hermit Thrushes were singing and 1 gave interesting towhee-like (zwhee) call and chuk notes.
Number of species:     34

Rock Pigeon     3
Mourning Dove     2
Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
Rufous Hummingbird     2
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     4
Hammond's Flycatcher     4
Dusky Flycatcher     2
Cassin's Vireo     1
Warbling Vireo     1
American Crow     4
Black-capped Chickadee     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     2
House Wren     4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     7
Hermit Thrush     2
American Robin     8
European Starling     15
Orange-crowned Warbler     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     1
Townsend's Warbler     4
MacGillivray's Warbler     2
Wilson's Warbler     3
Western Tanager     4
Chipping Sparrow     60
White-crowned Sparrow     2
Black-headed Grosbeak     2
Lazuli Bunting     1
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
Cassin's Finch     1
House Finch     8
Pine Siskin     3
American Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow     5

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

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

Moscow Lewis's Woodpecker, etc., 5/13/09

Hi All -

I had a Lewis's Woodpecker in one of the large Maple trees around my yard this yard this morning. Unfortunately when I ran into the house for the camera it disappeared. This is the second for my yard, also had one down the street in 2006. I think the Hoff's (a couple blocks away) get them from time to time in spring and they've showed up on campus before. Always nice to see.

[Another showed up in the yard on 5/22 and this time I had the camera at the ready and was able to get this image.]

Not much else in the way of migrants except 1 each Hammond's and Dusky Flycatchers (both vocalizing), 1 each Cassin's and Warbling Vireos, and a Townsend's Warbler singing somewhere nearby. A Rufous Humminbird has been in the lilacs since yesterday - attracted probably by the blooming Oregon Grape. I put a couple feeders up yesterday and saw him at it in the evening.

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

Fwd: eBird Report - Wakodahatchee Wetlands , 5/6/09

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Thu, May 7, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Wakodahatchee Wetlands , 5/6/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com




Location:     Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Observation date:     5/6/09
Notes:     With Sam Hunter, Tshering Tsherpa, Deb, and Iris. A nice walk around the wetlands - first visit for me. Hot (mid 80's) but good cloud cover and nice breeze plus low humidity made it reasonable. Loads of birds - most Anhingas I've seen in one place! Only sort of miss was Little Ble Heron (where are they - nesting??) and generally low numbers of herons except for the few that were nesting there. The fairly low number of species made up by the high quality including a couple Least Bitterns and Purple Gallinules.
Number of species:     33

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     5
Mottled Duck     2
Double-crested Cormorant     1
Anhinga     120     on nest w/ young
Least Bittern     2
Great Blue Heron     15     on nest w/ young
Great Egret     5     on nest
Snowy Egret     1
Tricolored Heron     25     on nest w/ downy young
Cattle Egret     5     on nest
Green Heron     5
White Ibis     7
Glossy Ibis     3
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture     5
Osprey     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Purple Gallinule     2
Common Moorhen     70     many young including some downy young
Black-necked Stilt     4
Least Tern     2
Eurasian Collared-Dove     25
White-winged Dove     1
Mourning Dove     2
Chimney Swift     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Blue Jay     1
Fish Crow     10
Purple Martin     2
Northern Mockingbird     2
Northern Cardinal     1
Red-winged Blackbird     20
Boat-tailed Grackle     80

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

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