Birding Update for Boise, ID parks

I've been staying fairly close to Boise over the last few days for birding.  There are a few species out right now that you are pretty much guaranteed to see if you visit any of Boise's parks, especially Foote Park and Discovery Park.  Bullock's Orioles are very numerous and have begun nesting, and are the most numerous yard bird we have at the moment.  They devour about 5 oranges a day up at our camper.

Bullock's Oriole - immature male

Bullock's Oriole - male

Black-headed Grosbeaks are also everywhere, and seem to jump around in flocks with orioles and Western Tanagers.  No one really touched the suet feeder in our yard the first few weeks we had it out, but the Black-headed Grosbeaks surprisingly love it!

Black-headed Grosbeak - male

Black-headed Grosbeak - male at suet feeder

Western Tanagers are also here in full force, and we noticed a surge of them with a storm two nights ago.  Surprisingly, they also really like the oranges at our feeders, but are easily bullied by the Bullock's Orioles that dominate the oranges.  House Wrens and Magpies also visit our oranges throughout the day.

Western Tanager - female

Western Tanager - male

If you've been birding in the foothills near Boise, you've likely come across huge flocks of Chipping Sparrows in the past week and a half or so.  There were hundreds on the hillsides by Foote Park a week ago, and the numbers seem to be dropping off just slightly.

Chipping Sparrow

While birding with local birder "RL" at Foote Park a few days ago, we came across our FOY Wilson's Warbler and Warbling Vireo!!!  Both species are pretty much a guarantee this week at Foote and Discovery Parks.

Wilson's Warbler

RL and I also found about 6 different Dusky Flycatchers.  Gray flycatchers have been reported here, but we haven't yet been able to spot one.

Dusky Flycatcher

And although they've been around for awhile, I still enjoy seeing Lewis's Woodpeckers in our yard and at Discovery Park.  They may be turning into my new favorite woodpecker species!

Lewis's Woodpecker

Yesterday, while birding with Alex and our new co-worker Morgan, we found our first MacGillivrays Warbler at Foote Park.  We didn't get photos, but we are sure we will come across more.  Yellow Warblers are still packed in as well, and are now busy nest-building at Foote Park. 

Another guarantee is now Lazuli Bunting, which are one of the most common birds at Foote Park and are easily spotted foraging low in the willows.

Lazuli Bunting - male

Yellow-breasted Chats are now on territories as well, and are chatting their little hearts out at Foote Park.  They are a lot more visible and less sneaky now that they are defending territories, and can be easily spotted when they do their crazy displays.

Yellow-breasted Chat - male

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