Geese through Gulls

The only reported Greater White-fronted Goose was near Lewiston, ID 18 Dec (CS). A total of 170 Snow Geese reported from seven locations was far fewer than last winter’s record tally, but well above the norm for the season. The only reported Ross’s Goose was near Hagerman, ID 18 Dec (SH). Cackling Geese numbers were above average for winter, with 17 tallied from seven locations. Only one Eurasian Wigeon was reported, representing a low winter count. Although unusual for the season, a Cinnamon Teal near Hagerman, ID 20 Feb (ph, DH, CHu) undoubtedly represented an early spring arrival. Single Surf Scoters that showed up in Idaho’s Bonneville 3 Dec (SB) and Bingham 15 Dec (SM) added to only a few winter precedents. A Long-tailed Duck spotted in Shoshone, ID 25 Jan (BK) provided the season’s only report of the species. Very surprising, if not unprecedented, were single Eared Grebes in Bozeman, MT 17 Dec (JP), near Bigfork, MT 17 Dec (CH), and at American Falls, ID 22 Dec (PW). Also unexpected was an American White Pelican in Nez Perce, ID 5–7 Jan (JH).

    An Osprey that lingered in Boise, ID 9–28 Dec (ph, JT) added to just a few previous Treasure Valley winter records. Sightings of American Bitterns are rare after autumn in Idaho, so singles spotted in Canyon 3 Dec (†JCu) and Elmore 22 Feb (AT) were interesting. Spotted Sandpipers, not annual in winter, showed up in Salmon, ID 17 Dec (LH) and Twin Falls, ID 17 Dec (JR). Also noteworthy after autumn were Greater Yellowlegs in Bingham, ID 15 Dec (SM) and near American Falls, ID 31 Dec (CT). Least Sandpipers are unexpected anywhere away from the lower Treasure Valley in winter, making a report of two near Buhl, ID 27 Jan (ph, PW) interesting. The only reported Dunlins were two seen near Hagerman, ID 18 Dec (SH). The season’s count of rare-but-annual gulls was better than average and included three Mews Gulls, four Thayer’s Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Glaucous-winged Gulls, and two Glaucous Gulls. A regionally-rare Iceland Gull was a sensational find near Kalispell, MT 1–4 Jan (PF), as were two others in Kootenai, ID 14–16 Jan (ph, NS). If accepted, a Western Gull at CJ Strike Reservoir 26 Dec (CW) will provide Idaho’s fourth record.

Doves through Finches

The CBC tally of Eurasian Collared-Doves declined in Idaho for the first time since 2002, when the species was first recorded (CS). A Barn Owl in Lake 17 Dec (ph, JO) was interesting; the species is not seen annually in western Montana. The only reported Snowy Owl of the season was photographed in Jerome, ID 14 Jan (ph, JS). A Burrowing Owl discovered near Marsing 25–31 Jan (PM) may represent Idaho’s first Jan record. Two Great Gray Owls near Boise 10–27 Feb (ph, JT) was an interesting rare find. Although Anna’s Hummingbirds have been recorded in Idaho since the mid-1970s, a total of 37 that were documented  through mid-Dec (HW) was surprising. The only reported Montana Anna’s was in Somers 6–7 Dec (SR). Any sapsucker in Idaho after autumn would be unusual, so reports of two Red-napeds in Boise 8 Dec–26 Feb (JC, JT) plus single Red-napeds in Caldwell 17 Dec (HW) and Twin Falls 17 Dec (ZW) were very surprising, as was a reported Williamson’s Sapsucker in Latah 26 Dec (ph KD). For the third consecutive winter, a Red-breasted Sapsucker overwintered in Boise, ID 8 Dec–26 Feb (ph, JC, JT). Lewis’s Woodpeckers, not annual, were interesting finds near Eureka, MT 17 Dec (LY) and Stevensville, MT 31 Dec (DL). Gyrfalcon numbers were well above the norm for the season, with reports of six in Montana and one in Idaho. A total of only six Blue Jays were reported in Idaho, indicating an average non-irruption year.

    A Tree Swallow near Hagerman, ID 12 Jan (LA) may represent the region’s first Jan record. Single Violet-green Swallow and Tree Swallows near Bruneau, ID 22 Feb (RLR) were undoubtedly unusually early spring migrants. Notably rare for southwestern Montana was a Pacific Wren discovered in Bozeman, MT 15 Dec (PE). A Winter Wren in Twin Falls, ID since 23 Nov was last reported 3 Dec (MA). Varied Thrushes are usually scarce or absent in northern Idaho after late fall, but an astounding record 532 were recorded mainly on northern Idaho CBCs 14 Dec–5 Jan (CS). A Varied Thrush in Paradise Valley, MT 3–7 Feb (R & LF) provided a third local winter record. Seasonally rare Western Bluebirds held over in Montana near Missoula 17 Dec (LW) and Helena 2 Jan (CJ).

    The only Northern Mockingbird of the season was in Kimberly, ID 11–17 Dec (MA). An astounding 43 Lincoln’s Sparrows were recorded on southern Idaho CBCs 17 Dec–2 Jan; the species is unexpected in winter. Rare Swamp Sparrows made an excellent showing in Idaho, with three near Nampa 17 Dec (CHu), one in Caldwell 17–26 Dec (HW), one near Pocatello 30 Dec (fide CT), and up to two in Hagerman 18 Dec–4 Feb (AY). Golden-crowned Sparrows are especially rare in winter, so two spotted near Nampa, ID 17 Dec (CHu) were noteworthy. Montana tallied rare Rusty Blackbirds near Hamilton 17 Dec (JO), in Lake 18 Dec (ph, JCo), and near Missoula 15 Jan (ph, SC). Brown-headed Cowbirds are far from annual in northern Idaho, making one in Latah 16 Jan–17 Feb (TG) a great find. Always rare, a Purple Finch in Bonner, ID (ph, †RDC) represented the season’s only report.

SA Not only the bird of the season, but perhaps also the rarest bird ever recorded in the region was a Red-flanked Bluetail that wandered to Lewiston, ID. Local birder John Hanna was conducting a raptor survey in Lewiston’s Hells Gate State Park on 26 Dec when he detected an interesting small passerine that he didn’t recognize. After determined the bird’s identity that evening and spreading the news of this Eurasian vagrant, birders began to arrive in the park the next morning. Weather conditions in the Inland Northwest at the time of the bird’s discovery made for terrible travel; nevertheless many passionate birders from near and far braved dangerous road conditions to see the bluetail before it departed after 13 Jan. This Red-flanked Bluetail represented a first state and regional record, and was also the fourth record in the lower 48 states. Additionally, the Idaho location represents the furthest inland occurrence of the species in North America.

Report processed by Randi Minetor, 20 Feb 2021.