South Idaho Bird Alert
August 11, 1998


This is the South Idaho Bird Alert for Tuesday, August 11th, brought
to you by the Idaho Museum of Natural History. To report a sighting call
(208) 236-3337
Highlights for this week include many shorebirds in the area, both
at Aberdeen's Big Hole and especially at Market Lake. CATTLE EGRETS are
along Yuma Road west of Sterling. Finally, BUSHTITS can be seen at City of
Rocks.
Seventeen species of shorebirds were seen Sunday, the 8th at Market
Lake WMA. These included a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a
STILT SANDPIPER, in addition to many GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, as well
as several SEMIPALMATED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. These birds are
concentrated at Pond #3, which is the second pond from the north end of
Market Lake, along the main dike road. A possible COMMON MOORHEN was
spotted along the dike between Ponds 3 and 4 also yesterday, but it wasn't
seen well enough to call. Look for a coot sized bird with a white line on
its side running under the wing. If you see this bird please call in this
sighting immediately. Also, an otter was swimming in the ditch at Pond 3 on
Sunday. This is near B-2 on page 40 of the Idaho Atlas. To get there take
the Roberts exit off of I-15 about 15 miles north of Idaho Falls. Turn
right to the stop sign. Then drive north out of town. Follow the right
branch just north of Roberts, and then drive about 3 miles out to the marsh.
You can park along the dike between ponds 3 and 4, then walk along the inner
dike and look at birds in the shallows of Pond 3.
Shorebirds are being seen wherever mudflats are exposed on American
Falls Reservoir. Six species were seen, on the mud flats near Aberdeen's
Sportsman's Park. These included 20 MARBLED GODWITS, 15 WESTERN SANDPIPERS,
and a SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER. There were also about 20 COMMON TERNS and 3
BLACK TERNS sitting on the rocks near Gull Island. To get there follow the
Sportsman's Access signs east for about 4 miles out of Aberdeen, then turn
right and head out toward the beacon on the edge of the reservoir. This is
near C-5 on pg 29 of the Idaho Atlas. Be careful not to drive too far out,
as the mud is almost bottomless.
Several groups of CATTLE EGRETS are with cattle along Yuma Road.
which is about a mile west of Sterling along the north side of American
Falls Reservoir. This is at about B-5 on page 29 of the Idaho Atlas.
A PECTORAL SANDPIPER, as well as numerous BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at
Hubbard's Reservoir, south of Boise on Saturday.
Finally, a flock of BUSHTITS has been found at City of Rocks
National Reserve, which is at about C-2 on page 20 of the Idaho Atlas. To
find them look in the aspens in the valley behind campsites 46-49.
Deborah K. Beutler
Department of Zoology
Washington State University
Pullman, WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu