Hi all -

I'll be happy to report the first n. Idaho redpolls. I had several flocks
of Common Redpolls at the U of Idaho Plant Science Farm and nearby on Darby
Rd. this morning. Total numbers were probably around 100 in several flocks.
The birds on Darby could have been the same as those seen earlier at the
farm. I looked through the birds I could see well and did not find any
larger, paler birds(i.e. Hoary Redpolls). I'm also pretty certain now that
I had a small flock of redpolls fly through near our house in town yesterday.

Now for some local stuff. The Plant Science Farm is just east of Moscow on
the Troy Highway (ID 3). Entrance on the north side of the road across from
Lenville Rd. Drive past the green houses and trailers to the north-south
row of ornamentals. The redpolls were feeding in the on catkins of
ornamental birch trees near the gravel road and at the north end of the
trees. Also at the north end in the small grove of pines I had a Barn Owl
and a Sharp-shinned Hawk, the latter was dining on a redpoll! The redpolls
along Darby were feeding in a weedy patch along the road so if you don't
find them at the farm drive roads east of Moscow. A Belted Kingfisher was
along Paradise Creek - third winter in a row if it sticks around.

Thanks, Charles.
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Charles E. Swift
Moscow, Idaho
charless at moscow.com
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