McCall, New Meadows, and vicinity sightings

Hi All -

I'm staying in McCall at the UI McCall Campus & Outdoor Science School (MOSS) while doing field work and have finally had a chance to do some birding around town.

A couple evenings ago (5/30) I heard (but didn't see) a loon out on the lake and there was an impressive group (120+) of Western Grebes across the lake from here. There are still a number of grebes on the lake as of today but much diminished. 

I'd noted on eBird that E. Collared-Doves are now in town and indeed saw a pair on the south side of town last evening. (I suspect every town between here and Moscow and perhaps south to Boise as well now have this species).

This morning I checked the city beach and vicinity and had a Say's Phoebe, a Wilson's Warbler, and 2 Brewer's Sparrows. These were all obvious migrants w/ the phoebe and sparrows being of particular interest. I suspect the beach/Brown's Park area of McCall (& perhaps elsewhere in town) may have potential as a migrant trap due to its location on the lake and habitat oasis characteristic (not in the sense that it's good habitat but that it's different from the surrounding extensive conifer forest).

It's nice to have 4 species of swallows seemingly nesting right on the lake shore in town (Tree, Violet-green, Barn, and Cliff w/ Rough-winged also a possibility). Also fun to have Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers seemingly omnipresent in town! The sewage ponds on the south side of McCall had among other waterfowl RN Ducks and 5 Barrow's Goldeneye (New Meadows also had BAGO a few days ago) - I guess a few must nest around here (RNDU likely nest at Ponderosa SP). Also had the final 2 swallow species - Rough-winged and Bank here as well as a Wilson's Phalarope.

Field work has been good and we've found 8 woodpecker nests including a Pileated yesterday (also 4 Hairy & 3 Flicker so far). We're using Tree Top Peepers to view inside the nest cavities and are finding the nests are at various stages (e.g. HAWO range from 0 eggs - 4 young) and the PIWO had 2 lanky young along w/ Mama all crammed into the cavity! We have localized a White-headed Woodpecker pair but just can't find the nest. Also yesterday w/ found a White-breasted Nuthatch nest w/ 4 young and our most numerous cavity nester so far Red-breasted Nuthatch w/ ~10 identified nest trees and more likely. One of my crew is really into owls and has found a good number of Flammulated Owls in the area we are working south of New Meadows. We are hoping to eventually locate 1 or 2 Flam. nests. I will post updates and eventually some photos as I have time.

thanks, Charles.

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Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
46°43′54″ N, 116°59′50″ W
email: chaetura@gmail.com

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Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
46°43′54″ N, 116°59′50″ W
email: chaetura@gmail.com