Monday, June 25, 2012

Joel BBS route (Nez Perce & Latah Cos.), 6/24/12

Hi All - 

I ran the Joel Breeding Bird Survey Sunday morning which is a bit later in the month than I usually run it but there was still plenty of bird song (which accounts for the bulk of observations on most BBS routes). BBS's are comprised of 50 3 minute point counts at .5 mile intervals along a 25 mile route.The Joel BBS starts down on the Clearwater R. and comes up Coyote Grade then proceeding east on Genesee-Julietta Rd. and north on Lenville Rd. up on to the Palouse. Traversing this elevation gradient and its variety of habitats results in a nice diversity of species despite a number of stops in agricultural areas. I usually start at ~4:30 AM (was a bit late today) with nighthawks, Rock Wrens, Western Kingbirds, etc. in the canyon and end at ~9:30 AM (again a bit later today) with Eastern Kingbirds, Tree Swallows, etc. on the grassland. Interesting birds found at various stops include Willow Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Veery, Gray Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock's Oriole among others. 

Every year is a bit different and I usually find a few uncommon species (for the route) along with the regulars. The only trend I've noticed in ~10 years of doing this is the increase in Lesser Goldfinches although there is a fair amount of inter-annual variation especially in the small forest patches. In addition to all the birds I almost always have some cool experiences in the way of mammals, weather, and scenery, etc. such as a cow Moose (Alces alces) Sunday along Genesee-Julietta Rd. which is a first in ~10 years of doing this BBS. (Just as a side note I saw a cow and calf moose at the upper end of Payette Lake just this morning.)   

Of interest on Sunday were 2 different Brewer's Sparrows (a first for the route I think) in somewhat atypical habitat. They were in shrubby areas at the edge of wheat fields along Lenville Rd. and Genesee-Juliaetta Rd. They sang short songs so after the I finished the point count I played my iPod which elicited a response from each. (No coaxing allowed on point counts but can be used post-count to confirm an individual identity.) It seems to me Brewer's have showed up in atypical habitat later in June some years perhaps as a result of drought(?) elsewhere so could be worth keeping an eye/ear open for them. I wish I could post a route summary but will have to wait until the data are processed and ready for final review (something the BBS folks could probably improve if they had the time/money to do so!).

thanks, Charles.

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


Saturday, June 02, 2012

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.


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





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