Black Canyon North east of Howe, Idaho, August 27, 2015. Slim turn-out, but we had a great hike. This canyon is accessible by going north on 1500 W past the last farmstead and up a moderately rough 2-track about a mile to the mouth of the canyon. It is the western most of 3 canyons opening out from the south of Saddle Mountain at the end of the Lemhi Range. What used to be a 2 track into the canyon has eroded to the point that vehicular traffic into the canyon is not possible. But that's a good thing, as it means there are no 4 wheelers. Weather was mild, in the high 70's, clear but a little smokey from distant fires. Birds were scarce. We started up a short-eared owl from a juniper. It circled us and floated away up into the rocks. Rock wrens seemed to be everywhere, there were at least 2 golden eagles, a few Swainson's hawks, a red tail, and a Clark's nutcracker. Also had 1 rattlesnake, just for a little spice. Treat them with respect; we gave it a wide berth. Sandhill cranes Great blue herons a pair of Trumpeter swans with 3 cygnets Northern Harriers Red tailed hawks lesser yellowlegs American avocet and Black necked stilts a few peeps Wilson's phalaropes Eared grebes Pied billed grebes still a few White faced ibis Canada geese Mallards Pintails American wigeons Mourning doves and Collared doves Hairy and downy woodpeckers Cinnamon teal Ruddy ducks Sharp shin hawk Merlin Marsh wrens Tons of yellow rump warblers Wilson's warblers (a magnolia warbler reported on the 19th) a Townsend's warbler a Tennessee warbler 2 spp. of vireo American robin Hermit thrush and another thrush spp (?) Ruby crowned kinglets Oregon juncoes White crown sparrows Song sparrows Lincoln's sparrows Red winged blackbirds Cow birds European starlings Pronghorns (about 15), Elk (more than 50, cows and bulls mixed not in harems yet), 2 young moose Bird Sightings Get involved Please let us know about the birds you see in Eastern Idaho. Contact Snake River Audubon with your sightings. Include the date, general location, and species observed, also any interesting behaviors and a count or estimate of the numbers of birds seen. |
Bird sightings and Past Events
Craters of the Moon camp out and Star Party with the IF Astronomical Society
The good news is it wasn't really cold... But it did rain all night and much of Saturday as well. And the sky was not cooperative for star gazing. But Craters is a treat any time of year, and the rocks don't care what the weather is. But the birds do. Although still mild weather, there were very few birds to be seen or heard. But scarcity makes it fun. Join us for the Craters of the Moon Christmas Bird Count, tentatively Monday, December 15. Contact us at,Snake River Audubon or go to National Audubon for details: http://www.audubon.org. |
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