3 ponds 3 hours 04-29-2011

I got a tip about a couple of ponds in the area that have some birds hanging out that I had not seen before or seen this year. Going and checking them out sure paid off, one pond I had to get permission from the owner before I could go down and look around but it was worth it. 

Everyday that I go out and look at birds I become even more amazed about how many different species there are and how different each one is.  I am also amazed at how each one acts so differently. For example a Great Blue heron spots me a hundred yards off and it is gone. Whereas I am on the shore of a pond and a Common Loon will swim right by me.  I am starting to notice and learn different ways to observe birds based on what I know they will do and always giving them plenty of room. Most of shots are taken with a 500mm lens so I can creep up on them from behind a tree.

Here are a couple of Mourning doves trying to soak up what ever sun they can after a few inches of snow fell last night.

Mourning Dove, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Here is one of my lifers from today an Eared Greebe another one of those birds that could careless if you hung around for a little bit.

Eared Greebe, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

I have been able to see a lot of Greater and Lesser Scaups but never close enough to get a good picture. While I was at one of the ponds today hiding behind some willows these two floated right on pass.

Greater Scaup, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

The pond was covered in different swallows hovering over the water feasting on whatever insects were there to take advantage of.

Swallow, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Killdeer were all over the place trying to lead me away from where they wanted to be.

Killdeer, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

My favorite bird that I saw today that is a lifer and one of the type of birds that I can remember wanting to see for half of my life.  I lived for a while close to a lake in the Sierra Nevada's called Loon lake and I been heard about the loons in the area but never saw them that I can remember.

Something that I thought that was interesting is I could hear a loon calling in the distance and it looked like this one was answering. But I was pretty close ad it would open its mouth and no sound would follow.

Common Loon, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Common Loon, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Common Loon, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

One of the birds that is most elusive when ever I find one in the perfect pose for a picture. I have tried everything to circle back and get a picture and they are always to fast and I miss the shot.

Great Blue Heron, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Todays List

Common Loon, Eared Greebe, Forster's Tern, Ruddy Duck, Greater Scaup, Bald Eagle, American Pipit, Gray Partridge, Western Grebe, Hooded Merganser, American Avocet, American Coot, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Mallards, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Sand piper, Mourning Dove, Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Meadow Lark, Swainson's hawk, and Double Crested Cormorant.

Lifers and other sightings 04-26-2011

This last week I got a call from Darren Clark and was told about a little bird that had lost its way, a Yellow-throated Warbler. The Yellow-throated Warbler is most commonly found in the Easter United States and migrates into Mexico. Somehow one of these birds made its way to Idaho and it was recorded as the fourth one in Idaho. I went up to the Ashton, ID fish hatchery where it was first seen and was given some direction as to where it had been seen. After waiting and looking for not to long I first heard it then found it, it came out close and jumped around for awhile then disappeared for a few minutes and soon came back. In total I watched it for about 45 min before I had to go. I came back again the next day 4-24-2011 and found and watched it for another 20 min before I went and talked with the new manager of the hatchery while our families hung out together. The yellow throat is a pretty distinguishing mark on this bird you will also notice the black and white stripes in its wing.

Yellow-throated Warbler, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Yellow-throated Warbler, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Yellow-throated Warbler, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Yellow-throated Warbler, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Yellow-throated Warbler, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Don’t mistake this next one for the Yellow-throated Warbler, when I first saw this bird buzzing around I saw the yellow and thought I was looking at the warbling.  I was told that this is actually a pretty common bird in the area also a warbler, a Yellow-rumped Warbler a lifer.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

This night heron hung out in the tree while we were searching for the Yellow-throated Warbler another lifer.

Night Heron, 4-23-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

While I was visiting the Fish Hatchery I saw a few other birds not all I got picture of. Some of them were lifers and other I had seen before, including Evening Grosbeak, Crossbill, Cassin’s Finch, Goldfinch, Junco, Mallards, Cinnamon Teal, and others.

Dark-eyes Junco, 4-24-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Both days that I was at the fish hatchery I saw a Muskrat, the manager latter told me that there is 5 or 6 of them around as well as a beaver, otter sign and he was told that there has been mink in the area.

Muskrat, 4-24-2011, Ashton Fish Hatchery, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

After I visited the hatchery I went on a nice hike through the Cartier Slough, there was not a lot around compared to past visits probably due to the shotguns going off. I still saw a good variety of birds though at one time I thought I saw some sort of Ibis. After walking a half mile I came across a couple of Willets hanging out with a Wilson’s Snipe.

Wilson’s Snipe, 4-23-2011, Cartier Slough, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Willet, 4-23-2011, Cartier Slough, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Willet, 4-23-2011, Cartier Slough, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

These two American Kestrels below I had a lot of chances to take pictures of. Every time they would fly away they would always come and land at the same place. I think that they probably had a nest in the area, at one time I startled a Red-tailed Hawk from its nest and the two Kestrels started dive bombing it trying to drive it away.

American Kestrel, Cartier Slough, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

American Kestrel, 4-23-2011, Cartier Slough, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

This is the Red-tailed Hawk that sat calmly in the tree as two upset Kestrels tried to drive it off.

Red-tailed Hawk, 4-23-2011, Cartier Slough, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Sunday Morning I also found a couple hoping around in my year also a lifer.

White-crowned Sparrows , 4-24-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.

Island Park 04-21-2011

A quick trip to Island Park turned into a long trip with some great opportunities. At the Macks Inn area I saw a Bald Eagle, 2 Osprey, Mallards, Merganser, and a Bufflehead.  I was surprised that the Mallards did not take off as I was taking pictures of them. They were on the other side of the river form me but they always seem some of the first to go when anything gets close.

When I first looked at this osprey I thought oh I have never noticed how orange there feet are. At a closer look you can see blood on the belly of this bird.

Osprey, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

Mallards, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

Bufflehead, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

I almost completely missed this moose as you cross the Buffalo Rive I glanced upstream and just as the river was turning my I caught something so I had to turn around and see what it was.

Moose on Buffalo River, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

Moose on Buffalo River, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

I walked along the river behind the trees to get a better shat of the moose and while I was taking pictures this White-tailed Deer wandered up to the river as well. I also was able to get some pictures as it crossed the river.

White-tailed Deer on Buffalo River, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

I was also surprised when this King Fisher posed for me while I tool pictures I almost had to stop underneath of it to get off the road.

Belted King Fisher, 04-21-2011, Island Park, ID, Canon 60D, 500mm

Henry's Fork Audubon

We are starting a local chapter of the National Audubon Society for the Fremont, Madison, and Teton counties in Idaho. Our first meeting will be April 28th, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Rexburg Senior/Community Center 40 South 2nd West Rexburg, ID. Bill Schiess a local school teacher who also writes for the Rexburg Standard Journal will be presenting on Sage Grouse Leks. Email me at 1goodgeocacher@gmail.com for more info.

Sage Grouse Lek 04-13-2011

It started about 6:15 this morning, I was driving along the Red Road past the Saint Anthony Sand Dunes watching for any signs of Sage Grouse. About 2 miles past the turnout for the civil defense caves I spotted a Sage Grouse Cock in the middle of the road strutting his stuff.  I stopped the pickup backed up and sat and waited, pretty soon as the light started to fill the sky they started to gather some flew in by themselves others came in groups.  There were about 15 cocks and 25 hens altogether the cocks put on the show while the hens watched the spectacle. I was not able to stay long enough to watch much, but I did see cocks chase each other and fight back and forth. On the way home I spotted two more leks on the way back both further off the road.

A Lek is a display area a ritual area the breeding grounds.

Sage Grouse Lek

The fighting stance.

The fight.

The Strut.

The Strut.

Market Lake Idaho 04-08-2011

Today I set a record for myself in the number of bird species I have seen in one day and recorded. My final count was 35 I know there was more out there that I either did not recognize or that were unidentifiable to me in the brief time that I saw them. 

I first stopped close to Beaver Dick Park and counted about 50 pelicans. This is the first time that I have seen them this year and the most that I have seen at anyone time before. In this same area I also saw Mallards, Northern Pintails, Canadian Geese, Trumpeter swans, and after the day was over I swung back by and counted 9 Great Blue Herons. 

American White Pelican, 04-08-2011 Rexburg, ID.

Northern Harrier, 04-08-2011, Market Lake ID.

These are Redhead ducks I saw both Redhead and Canvasbacks today and the color pattern in remarkably similar. The big difference lies in their body shape and beak color and shape.

Redhead, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

These Northern Harriers were putting on quite a show for us, there was actually 3 pair that were all in the same area doing the same thing.

Northern Harrier, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

Red-tailed Hawk, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

Northern Shoveler, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

Red-breasted Merganser, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

 

Red-breasted Merganser, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

The American Coot was in mass numbers today with other ducks mingled in with them. It was amazing that when ever I would stop every duck beside the coot would all take off at the same time leaving only the coot.  Having so many of the coots around it was easy to watch them, they are funny to watch swim and even funnier to watch as the waddle on the land. This seems to be a very awkward bird.

American Coot, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

I have seen so many sparrows and usually label them all as a house sparrow out of convenience. Recently I decided that I would start differentiating between the different sparrows and labeling them correctly. This will be quite the task considering that there is at least 20 different sparrows. 

Song Sparrow, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

I was hoping to see this bird all day then as we were leaving I saw close to 25 different ones. In order to correctly identify this bird look at the name and find one that matches the description.

Yellow-headed Blackbird, 04-08-2011, Market Lake, ID.

I was quite surprised to 9 Blue herons all in the same place I have never seen more than one at a time so to see ten all at once was quite a treat.

Great Blue Heron, 04-08-2011, Rexburg, ID.

After looking over all my pictures I cant wait for spring to really be here, right now the only color in any of my pictures is due to the bird in the picture.

My neighboring owls 4-6-2011

I have been watching and listening a couple owls behind my house for about a month and they were finally in the open enough to get a couple pictures.  They put on quite the show for me tonight as they flew back and forth across the road and called constantly back and forth to each other.