Hi All -
On Friday afternoon I found 11 Tundra Swans, ~20 Canada Geese, ~150 Mallards, and ~20 Northern Pintails along the Palouse R. in Latah Co., ID a few miles east of town of Palouse, WA. The broad floodplain here has standing water in low areas and is attractive to waterfowl. There isn't much else in the way of open water except the rivers which are flowing fast and full w/ snow melt at the moment. This area should continue to be attractive to waterbirds until these ephemeral ponds dry up later in the spring. The best way to access this area is from the town of Palouse along North or South River Rd.
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Fwd: eBird Report - Moscow - East Side (My Home) , 2/23/09
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 7:28 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Moscow - East Side (My Home) , 2/23/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com
Location: Moscow - East Side (My Home)
Observation date: 2/23/09
Notes: Lots of bird song from the porch this morning. Brown Creeper was on the southwest corner maple, first detected it singing. Also juncos and flickers singing. A pair of crows wandering around probably checking out potential nest sites.
Number of species: 10
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Bewick's Wren 1
American Robin 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 7:28 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Moscow - East Side (My Home) , 2/23/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com
Location: Moscow - East Side (My Home)
Observation date: 2/23/09
Notes: Lots of bird song from the porch this morning. Brown Creeper was on the southwest corner maple, first detected it singing. Also juncos and flickers singing. A pair of crows wandering around probably checking out potential nest sites.
Number of species: 10
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Bewick's Wren 1
American Robin 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Moscow Yellow-rumped Warbler (& Pine Grosbeaks), 2/3/09
Hi All -
I had a Yellow-rumped Warbler at noon along Paradise Ck. on the east side of the UI Campus. This is in the general area of Moscow where I have found a few YRWA the past few winters. I wonder if this bird has been around all winter, surviving the severe Dec. cold snap, or has moved here recently w/ the milder weather. It's a balmy 45 F in Moscow right now.
I also tracked down the Pine Grosbeaks in the "Heritage Grove" east of the UI Admin. Bldg. There was a group of as many as 10 and some were feeding on buds on the maple trees in the area. Pine Grosbeaks have been pretty consistent in this area the past few weeks so would be a good bet for anyone still looking.
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
I had a Yellow-rumped Warbler at noon along Paradise Ck. on the east side of the UI Campus. This is in the general area of Moscow where I have found a few YRWA the past few winters. I wonder if this bird has been around all winter, surviving the severe Dec. cold snap, or has moved here recently w/ the milder weather. It's a balmy 45 F in Moscow right now.
I also tracked down the Pine Grosbeaks in the "Heritage Grove" east of the UI Admin. Bldg. There was a group of as many as 10 and some were feeding on buds on the maple trees in the area. Pine Grosbeaks have been pretty consistent in this area the past few weeks so would be a good bet for anyone still looking.
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Moscow finch & Mann Lake report, 1/29/09
Just catching up on a few things:
On Tuesday, 1/27 I did a winter bird survey on private property along the Snake R. south of Lewiston which I will report on later (hopefully!). Afterwards I did a bit of birding around Mann Lake, Nez Perce Co., ID. It was frozen and fairly quiet but I found 3 Rough-legged Hawks, a "singing" immature Northern Shrike, and many hundreds of Horned Larks (both white and yellow faced forms). I searched the Horned Larks but could not find any buntings of longspurs however the weather was deteriorating making viewing difficult. The biggest group was near the intersection of Lapwai (also called Soldiers Canyon Rd.) and Wagner Rd. (It occurred to me that it would be worth searching Lewiston for winter finches but I didn't have time, I was thinking the area around LCSC would be worth a look.)
On returning home to Moscow I heard the familiar cheedle calls of Pine Grosbeaks. I also flushed a Mourning Dove from my yard which I consider to be a sign a spring as they are very early nesters and we often get one and then later 2 (a pair I presume) later in January.
On the morning of 1/28 while heading out the door I heard a singke White-winged Crossbill fly by - they have been reported over the past few days from my neighborhood but this is first for my yard (so a new yard bird!).
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
On Tuesday, 1/27 I did a winter bird survey on private property along the Snake R. south of Lewiston which I will report on later (hopefully!). Afterwards I did a bit of birding around Mann Lake, Nez Perce Co., ID. It was frozen and fairly quiet but I found 3 Rough-legged Hawks, a "singing" immature Northern Shrike, and many hundreds of Horned Larks (both white and yellow faced forms). I searched the Horned Larks but could not find any buntings of longspurs however the weather was deteriorating making viewing difficult. The biggest group was near the intersection of Lapwai (also called Soldiers Canyon Rd.) and Wagner Rd. (It occurred to me that it would be worth searching Lewiston for winter finches but I didn't have time, I was thinking the area around LCSC would be worth a look.)
On returning home to Moscow I heard the familiar cheedle calls of Pine Grosbeaks. I also flushed a Mourning Dove from my yard which I consider to be a sign a spring as they are very early nesters and we often get one and then later 2 (a pair I presume) later in January.
On the morning of 1/28 while heading out the door I heard a singke White-winged Crossbill fly by - they have been reported over the past few days from my neighborhood but this is first for my yard (so a new yard bird!).
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Monday, January 26, 2009
Moscow Pine Grosbeak update, 1/26/09
I had ~45 Pine Grosbeaks on my walk into work this morning (on a sub-zero degree but beautifully clear morning!). There was a group of ~25 grosbeaks (including at least 1 nice adult male) at the intersection of 7th & Adams, many of which were feeding on a deciduous tree w/ bunches of dry, hanging seeds. I had PIGR on a similar tree in a different part of town several weeks ago. Still haven't figured out what kind of tree this is - I'll try to get a photo next time - it's probably an ornamental of some kind. I also had a group of ~20 Pine Grosbeaks in the tops of spruces just outside my building on the central part of the UI Campus.
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Saturday, January 24, 2009
more Moscow WW Crossbills, 1/24/09
Hi All -
I had a nice walk around my neighborhood this morning with loads of birds. A flock of mostly White-winged Crossbills flew over and landed briefly just south of 6th & Lincoln Sts. There were at least 30 probably more, most White-winged by calls but at least 1 Red Crossbill by call and brief views. These birds were on the move. I estimated 700 A. Robins in a many roving flocks near Blaine & 7th Streets. Also a pair of Bewick's Wrens on Lynn St.
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
I had a nice walk around my neighborhood this morning with loads of birds. A flock of mostly White-winged Crossbills flew over and landed briefly just south of 6th & Lincoln Sts. There were at least 30 probably more, most White-winged by calls but at least 1 Red Crossbill by call and brief views. These birds were on the move. I estimated 700 A. Robins in a many roving flocks near Blaine & 7th Streets. Also a pair of Bewick's Wrens on Lynn St.
Charles.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Moscow - Southeast (south of 1st Street) , 1/24/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com
Location: Moscow - Southeast (south of 1st Street)
Observation date: 1/24/09
Notes: Walking loop south and east across Blaine and then back on 7th. and Lynn. Robins & waxwings were mostly east of Blaine. Pine Grosbeaks were in several locations. Crossbill flock flew over and landed briefly just south of 6th & Lincoln - at least 30 mostly White-winged by call and brief views but with at least a few Red Crossbills mixed in.
Number of species: 18
California Quail 1
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
Northern Flicker 2
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Bewick's Wren 2
American Robin 500
European Starling 10
Bohemian Waxwing 100
Cedar Waxwing 10
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Pine Grosbeak 17
House Finch 20
Red Crossbill 1
White-winged Crossbill 30
Pine Siskin 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Moscow - Southeast (south of 1st Street) , 1/24/09
To: chaetura@gmail.com
Location: Moscow - Southeast (south of 1st Street)
Observation date: 1/24/09
Notes: Walking loop south and east across Blaine and then back on 7th. and Lynn. Robins & waxwings were mostly east of Blaine. Pine Grosbeaks were in several locations. Crossbill flock flew over and landed briefly just south of 6th & Lincoln - at least 30 mostly White-winged by call and brief views but with at least a few Red Crossbills mixed in.
Number of species: 18
California Quail 1
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
Northern Flicker 2
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Bewick's Wren 2
American Robin 500
European Starling 10
Bohemian Waxwing 100
Cedar Waxwing 10
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Pine Grosbeak 17
House Finch 20
Red Crossbill 1
White-winged Crossbill 30
Pine Siskin 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Moscow update - Pine Grosbeaks, White-winged Crossbill, American Robins, 1/24/09
Hi All -
Plenty of Pine Grosbeaks around town still - hardly worth commenting on anymore! Anytime I walk at least a few blocks I run into some. Yesterday I had them at several locations on the east side of Moscow and on the UI Campus near the admin. bldg. At the 7th & Hayes location mentioned by Nancy Miller I had a flyover White-winged Crossbill on the 23rd - this is only several blocks from my house but I haven't detected any for my yard list yet. There are also *lots* of American Robins around Moscow right now - certainly many hundreds if not more. On Thursday I had ~250 robins feeding on frozen crab apples near the UI Music School, yesterday I had several hundred fly over my house and several hundred more at 7th & Hayes. Still no major invasion of Bohemian Waxwings yet although there have been some flocks of several hundred around (major invasions bring several thousand into the area).
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Plenty of Pine Grosbeaks around town still - hardly worth commenting on anymore! Anytime I walk at least a few blocks I run into some. Yesterday I had them at several locations on the east side of Moscow and on the UI Campus near the admin. bldg. At the 7th & Hayes location mentioned by Nancy Miller I had a flyover White-winged Crossbill on the 23rd - this is only several blocks from my house but I haven't detected any for my yard list yet. There are also *lots* of American Robins around Moscow right now - certainly many hundreds if not more. On Thursday I had ~250 robins feeding on frozen crab apples near the UI Music School, yesterday I had several hundred fly over my house and several hundred more at 7th & Hayes. Still no major invasion of Bohemian Waxwings yet although there have been some flocks of several hundred around (major invasions bring several thousand into the area).
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Monday, January 19, 2009
Fwd: Moscow White-winged Crossbill & Pine Grobseaks, 1/19/09
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Subject: Moscow White-winged Crossbill & Pine Grobseaks, 1/19/09
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>
Cc: IBLE <ible@yahoogroups.com>, David Trochlell <dtrochlell@verizon.net>
Hi All -
Along the lines of other reports, I found a female White-winged Crossbill on the east side Moscow this afternoon. It was at the top of a spruce tree near the intersection of Homestead & Moore Street in the Ft Russell district of Moscow (east side of town north of East City Park). After I got a good look at its wing bars It flew off to the west. I initially heard the harsh jip notes and suspected WW Crossbill and was ecstatic to get a good look at the bird before it flew. I had another 4 crossbills fly by that could have also been White-wings.
I also had a flock of ~10 Pine Grosbeaks feeding on a Crab Apple on the west side of East City Park and heard several others elsewhere. (Pine Grosbeaks have now been around Moscow since at least Friday, Jan. 9.) In this same area on the edge of E. City Park I had ~300 Bohemian Waxings on Friday (1/16). Also yesterday I had a Bewick's Wren singing near the house.
I don't think I ever would have imagined seeing Pine Grobeaks and a White-winged Crossbill on the same day within a few blocks of my house!
thanks,
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Subject: Moscow White-winged Crossbill & Pine Grobseaks, 1/19/09
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>
Cc: IBLE <ible@yahoogroups.com>, David Trochlell <dtrochlell@verizon.net>
Hi All -
Along the lines of other reports, I found a female White-winged Crossbill on the east side Moscow this afternoon. It was at the top of a spruce tree near the intersection of Homestead & Moore Street in the Ft Russell district of Moscow (east side of town north of East City Park). After I got a good look at its wing bars It flew off to the west. I initially heard the harsh jip notes and suspected WW Crossbill and was ecstatic to get a good look at the bird before it flew. I had another 4 crossbills fly by that could have also been White-wings.
I also had a flock of ~10 Pine Grosbeaks feeding on a Crab Apple on the west side of East City Park and heard several others elsewhere. (Pine Grosbeaks have now been around Moscow since at least Friday, Jan. 9.) In this same area on the edge of E. City Park I had ~300 Bohemian Waxings on Friday (1/16). Also yesterday I had a Bewick's Wren singing near the house.
I don't think I ever would have imagined seeing Pine Grobeaks and a White-winged Crossbill on the same day within a few blocks of my house!
thanks,
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Palouse, WA Pine Grosbeaks, 1/11/09
Hi again -
More Pine Grosbeaks today this time a flock of ~15 in the town of Palouse in eastern Whitman Co. I kind of had a feeling that Palouse would be a good place to look for them being fairly close to Latah Co. Idaho and therefore fairly close to forest. Although Pine Grosbeaks are showing up widely in suburban areas they are still mostly in or close to forested areas. It will be interesting to see if they do show up further west into the Columbia basin. I found this flock just by driving through town w/ windows down listening for birds. They were on the north side of Palouse near the intersection of Beach & Mohr Streets.
Also in the area were a couple Rough-legged Hawks, a Cooper's Hawk, and a bunch of robins among others. At the Palouse Cemetery on the south side of town I found a Bewick's Wren among others. On the way home along the Palouse R. on N. River Rd. I found an adult Bald Eagle just into Latah Co.flying down the river and then later standing in a flooded field. There was a lot of standing water in fields along the Palouse R. but no ducks.
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
More Pine Grosbeaks today this time a flock of ~15 in the town of Palouse in eastern Whitman Co. I kind of had a feeling that Palouse would be a good place to look for them being fairly close to Latah Co. Idaho and therefore fairly close to forest. Although Pine Grosbeaks are showing up widely in suburban areas they are still mostly in or close to forested areas. It will be interesting to see if they do show up further west into the Columbia basin. I found this flock just by driving through town w/ windows down listening for birds. They were on the north side of Palouse near the intersection of Beach & Mohr Streets.
Also in the area were a couple Rough-legged Hawks, a Cooper's Hawk, and a bunch of robins among others. At the Palouse Cemetery on the south side of town I found a Bewick's Wren among others. On the way home along the Palouse R. on N. River Rd. I found an adult Bald Eagle just into Latah Co.flying down the river and then later standing in a flooded field. There was a lot of standing water in fields along the Palouse R. but no ducks.
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Friday, January 09, 2009
Moscow Pine Grosbeaks, 1/9/09
Hi All -
I just now had a flock of ~20 Pine Grosbeaks in the treetops just across the street from my east Moscow home. It appears that there is a wide spread irruption under way in northern Idaho and birders should be on the lookout throughout the inland northwest. I suspect they might show up in some of the lowland e. WA counties. It's helpful to be familiar w/ their lilting flight and contact calls - I found some especially good examples on Cornell's Birds of NA Online web site (subscription required). I'm actually pretty sure I heard some while skiing just north of Moscow last Saturday and perhaps one other time but couldn't be certain (one reason I went and found some calls to listen to!). This is my second record in town although they are more or less annual in winter in small numbers in the forested areas east of Moscow. With the large number of birds appearing over such a broad area I suspect these birds may be coming from outside of our region. I believe western Montana is also experiencing an influx of Pine Grosbeaks.
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
I just now had a flock of ~20 Pine Grosbeaks in the treetops just across the street from my east Moscow home. It appears that there is a wide spread irruption under way in northern Idaho and birders should be on the lookout throughout the inland northwest. I suspect they might show up in some of the lowland e. WA counties. It's helpful to be familiar w/ their lilting flight and contact calls - I found some especially good examples on Cornell's Birds of NA Online web site (subscription required). I'm actually pretty sure I heard some while skiing just north of Moscow last Saturday and perhaps one other time but couldn't be certain (one reason I went and found some calls to listen to!). This is my second record in town although they are more or less annual in winter in small numbers in the forested areas east of Moscow. With the large number of birds appearing over such a broad area I suspect these birds may be coming from outside of our region. I believe western Montana is also experiencing an influx of Pine Grosbeaks.
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Fwd: "double-breasted" cormorant article (AP article)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Subject: "double-breasted" cormorant article (AP article)
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>
Hi All -
This AP article was run in our local paper yesterday. I almost laughed out loud when I saw the reference to "double-breasted" cormorant. Unfortunately the rest of the article is no laughing matter. Seems to me if the US Army Corps exercises their permit to take 60 Cormorants between Lower Granite Dam and Lewiston that will effectively reduce the local population considerably (assuming this can be called a local population). Apparently stomach contents from some (how many??) cormorants analyzed last winter indicated they were eating primarily American Schad (a non-native fish species in the Columbia R. system) but they want to try again later in the winter. There are some other eyebrow raising points made in this article.
http://www.komonews.com/outdoors/featured/37058399.html
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Subject: "double-breasted" cormorant article (AP article)
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>
Hi All -
This AP article was run in our local paper yesterday. I almost laughed out loud when I saw the reference to "double-breasted" cormorant. Unfortunately the rest of the article is no laughing matter. Seems to me if the US Army Corps exercises their permit to take 60 Cormorants between Lower Granite Dam and Lewiston that will effectively reduce the local population considerably (assuming this can be called a local population). Apparently stomach contents from some (how many??) cormorants analyzed last winter indicated they were eating primarily American Schad (a non-native fish species in the Columbia R. system) but they want to try again later in the winter. There are some other eyebrow raising points made in this article.
http://www.komonews.com/outdoors/featured/37058399.html
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Friday, January 02, 2009
Fwd: southbound geese
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Subject: southbound geese
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>
While I was outside shoveling snow (off my roof!) this afternoon I had about 400 or so Canada Geese in ~5 flocks fly over heading south in a period of about 10 minutes.There were 2 large flocks of about 150 geese and several smaller flocks. These could have been local wintering geese but I was also wondering if they were heading south from points farther north to find some clear ground (perhaps from Lake Coeur d'Alene).
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
From: Charles Swift <chaetura@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Subject: southbound geese
To: inland birders <inland-nw-birders@uidaho.edu>
While I was outside shoveling snow (off my roof!) this afternoon I had about 400 or so Canada Geese in ~5 flocks fly over heading south in a period of about 10 minutes.There were 2 large flocks of about 150 geese and several smaller flocks. These could have been local wintering geese but I was also wondering if they were heading south from points farther north to find some clear ground (perhaps from Lake Coeur d'Alene).
Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
Sunday, December 07, 2008
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
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
Monday, December 01, 2008
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.
============================================
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
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)
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
Sunday, November 23, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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
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
Monday, September 01, 2008
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
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
Thursday, June 26, 2008
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.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura@gmail.com
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.Keith E. CarlsonLewiston
_______________________________________________
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
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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
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
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
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