Birding at Foote Park near Boise, Idaho

If you live in Boise, Idaho, a great place to catch migrants is Foote Park.  This seems to be the first place we've found a lot of state birds as they have been arriving.  Park near the bathrooms and head uphill along a small stream and riparian area.  Warblers and Lazuli Buntings are very common in the willows, and one time we spotted a Hermit Thrush foraging along the stream.  Keep an eye out for Chipping Sparrows, California Quail, raptors, and flycatchers on the hillsides ajdacent to the trail.

Drive up Rt. 21 towards Lucky Peak Dam and cross the bridge over the dam (blue). 

Bird along the path (orange) on both sides of the riparian area.

Yesterday morning, Alex and I didn't find anything extraordinary, but the park was loaded with Yellow Warblers.  Two males in particular were singing extremely loud and chasing eachother across the path.  There was an obvious territorial dispute, but a passing female Yellow Warbler pretty much ignored both of the males and just continued foraging in the willows. 

Yellow Warbler - male, patrolling territory

Yellow Warbler - male, foraging

Yellow Warbler - male, singing on territory

Yellow Warbler - female

Nearby, we also found our FOY Western Wood Pewee, who got chased out of the Yellow Warblers territories very quickly after they realized he was there.

Western Wood Pewee

Western Wood Pewee

We counted 6 Yellow-breasted Chats as well, who seem to be spending a little more time out in the open proclaiming their territories.

Yellow-breasted Chat