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18 Jun Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Tobacco Root Mountains. ["Tom Forwood Jr." ] 18 Jun Re: Common Nighthawks, Alder Flycatcher in Somers [Cheri Seli ] 18 Jun Common Nighthawks, Alder Flycatcher in Somers ["Dan Casey" ] 18 Jun Re: SPAM ["Dan Casey" ] 17 Jun Re: SPAM [Kristi DuBois ] 17 Jun Spam [Grace Blair ] 17 Jun Re: SPAM [Lonna Gray ] 17 Jun SPAM [] 17 Jun Roger Hogen [Roger Hogen ] 17 Jun Re: member? ["Chuck Carlson" ] 17 Jun Great Egret--Freezout [Michael Schwitters ] 17 Jun Re: member? ["Jeff Marks" ] 17 Jun member? ["Lynn Bacon" ] 16 Jun Tennessee Warbler [paul rossi ] 16 Jun Browning/Cut Bank Birding [paul rossi ] 16 Jun Re: Harlequin & Lesser Golfinch Photos ["Steven Hughes" ] 16 Jun Christopher Nixon [Christopher Nixon ] 16 Jun Dailey Lake, QLL 39C, Park County ["Mike Lesnik" ] 16 Jun Dailey Lake, QLL 39C, Park County ["Mike Lesnik" ] 16 Jun random Park and Gallatin County ["steel_rsd" ] 15 Jun Harlequin & Lesser Golfinch Photos ["DonaldJ" ] 15 Jun Lewis's Woodpecker nesting [Roger Hogen ] 15 Jun West Bank Park - Most Interesting [Beth Hill ] 15 Jun Janet Stevens [Janet Stevens ] 14 Jun White-rumped Sandpiper-Freezout [Michael Schwitters ] 14 Jun BBWO Custer Nat. Forest ["sean" ] 14 Jun Kingbird Highway II ["Mike" ] 14 Jun W Tanagers [Grace Blair ] 14 Jun Warm Springs WMA Survey ["Gary Swant" ] 14 Jun 6/14 NPS Bird Walk Glacier National Park - West Side ["avidbirderglac" ] 14 Jun Re: Re: June Photo Contest ["Chuck Carlson" ] 13 Jun Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's [Jackie Wilson ] 14 Jun Re: June Photo Contest ["rocks2pebbles3" ] 13 Jun Swifts ["gjkingfisher36" ] 13 Jun RE: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's [paul rossi ] 13 Jun Black Swifts [paul rossi ] 13 Jun Re: Hi, I am new to MOB, mainly because I wanted to share this info. Sat/Sun 6/8-9 I was at cottonwood creek campground along the Upper Ruby River Rd where cottonwood creek meets the river, about 30 mi from Alder, south of the reservoir. A bird singing very enthusiastically and distinctly in the upper trees all evening. Song was a trilling/chipping phrase followed by usually three two-syllable clear whistles that correspond to the peter peter peter description of the tufted titmouse. Sometimes there was an additional pete syllable added. On sunday it was singing some and I was determined to see it before leaving, but it became quite windy and the activity stopped. It occurred to me that the experience and song was very much like one I had in May in NY, searching for a bird making that clear two-syllable whistle, moving unseen from tree to tree before finally spotting the tufted titmouse. I have listened to the calls on my 2000 Peterson CD and I have to say that the initial phrase sounded ["BethM" ] 13 Jun Hi, I am new to MOB, mainly because I wanted to share this info. Sat/Sun 6/8-9 I was at cottonwood creek campground along the Upper Ruby River Rd where cottonwood creek meets the river, about 30 mi from Alder, south of the reservoir. A bird singing very enthusiastically and distinctly in the upper trees all evening. Song was a trilling/chipping phrase followed by usually three two-syllable clear whistles that correspond to the peter peter peter description of the tufted titmouse. Sometimes there was an additional pete syllable added. On sunday it was singing some and I was determined to see it before leaving, but it became quite windy and the activity stopped. It occurred to me that the experience and song was very much like one I had in May in NY, searching for a bird making that clear two-syllable whistle, moving unseen from tree to tree before finally spotting the tufted titmouse. I have listened to the calls on my 2000 Peterson CD and I have to say that the initial phrase sounded [John Karath ] 13 Jun Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park Birding Day ["Tom Forwood Jr." ] 13 Jun Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's [Forrest Rowland ] 13 Jun Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's [Forrest Rowland ] 13 Jun RE: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's ["Stevan Hawkins" ] 13 Jun Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's ["Stierle, Andrea" ] 13 Jun Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's ["Jeff Marks" ] 13 Jun RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's ["Stevan Hawkins" ] 13 Jun Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks [Kristin Olson ] 13 Jun Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks [Kristin Olson ] 13 Jun Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks [Jim Rogers ] 13 Jun Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks ["Chris J. Montano Jr." ] 13 Jun Re: Harlequin Ducks ["Thomas" ] 13 Jun Re: Harlequin Ducks ["Chris J. Montano Jr." ] 13 Jun Harlequin Ducks ["Kristin Olson" ] 13 Jun Long-billed Curlews with young ["dhannarmf" ] 13 Jun Freezout P.M. ["Larry Carter" ] 13 Jun Re: NPR Nature program ["Cheri" ] 13 Jun NPR Nature program ["Cheri" ] 12 Jun Battle Ridge Campground birding ["steel_rsd" ] 12 Jun RE: Empid ID article that may be of use ["Stevan Hawkins" ] 12 Jun Somers Black Swifts, Kalispell BBS ["Dan Casey" ] 12 Jun Re: Empid ID article that may be of use [Beth Madden ] 12 Jun Re: Wing tagged TUVU ["wscotthampton" ] 12 Jun Rocky Mountain Front ["Larry Carter" ] 11 Jun Empid ID article that may be of use [Forrest Rowland ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help [Forrest Rowland ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help [Forrest Rowland ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help [Forrest Rowland ] 12 Jun Long-billed Curlew ["wstrainer" ] 11 Jun Re: Two more Least Flycatcher shots [Beth Hill ] 11 Jun Re: Two more Least Flycatcher shots ["Tom Forwood Jr." ] 11 Jun Two more Least Flycatcher shots ["Dan Casey" ] 11 Jun Re: Flycatcher Help ["Dan Casey" ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help [Beth Hill ] 11 Jun Billings/Three Forks birds ["Chad Adams" ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help ["Jeff Marks" ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help [Beth Hill ] 11 Jun Re: Re: Flycatcher Help [Jackie Wilson ] Subject: Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Tobacco Root Mountains. From: "Tom Forwood Jr." <tjfishing75 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:21:11 -0600 MOB, I had a surprise with a Broad-tailed Hummer on South Willow Creek downstream from Potosi Campground in Madison Co. This was late Sunday and got out yesterday with no internet til today so sorry for the late post. Was in fields of wild flowers when I heard the hard chime like wing buzz (louder and more musical than Rufous) and had a quick look at a very green hummingbird. Wish I'd had a red shirt on that day. Also had MacGillivray's Warblers, Lazuli Buntings, Lincoln's Sparrows, both kinglets and both Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes with more of the usual cast of characters as well. A very underbirded area that is worth a look if you get a chance. -- Tom Forwood Park Ranger Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park P.O. Box 489 Whitehall, MT 59759 406-287-3541 fwptforwood AT gmail.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Common Nighthawks, Alder Flycatcher in Somers From: Cheri Seli <montanabirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:00:14 -0600 FOY Common Nighthawk heard as I gardened last evening. I love these guys, and anxiously wait to hear that nighthawk sound every year. Cheri Seli 8 miles north of Plains ------------------------------------ Subject: Common Nighthawks, Alder Flycatcher in Somers From: "Dan Casey" <danielcasey55 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:25:46 -0000 MOB-sters: Susannah and I walked from the house over to the boat ramp in Somers tonight, and had 3 FOY Common Nighthawks overhead. We also had a singing Alder Flycatcher in the swamp southeast of the bike trail along the highway between the swim beach and the Somers turnoff. Over the years, it has not been unusual for an occasional singing Alder to show up in the Flathead in June. They are usually one-day wonders. But I will check for this bird again in the morning. Dan CaseySomers Subject: Re: SPAM From: "Dan Casey" <danielcasey55 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:22:49 -0000 All: I have been deleting them from the MOB home page, but of course they show up there at the same time that members receive them. One way to avoid getting them is to change your options to "web only" and just go onto the MOB site to see the messages, rather than getting them sent to your email account. I have been doing it this way for some years now, and it works well. Keep in mind that it is not Yahoo which is sending you the spam, it is the computer of the sender. Dan Subject: Re: SPAM From: Kristi DuBois <kdubois AT montana.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:33:11 -0600 Subject: Spam From: Grace Blair <cpoodle AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:26:04 -0600 Yes lots of it, but it appears to be a virus in several members email programs. They need to change their mail password so that the infection can no longer transmit. NOT their Yahoo pw but the one on their computer for their email client. Grace Sent from my iPad ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: SPAM From: Lonna Gray <lonnag AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:19:09 -0600 Yes to the spam. Several times a week lately. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 17, 2013, at 8:58 PM, gavimmer AT yahoo.com wrote: > Dear MOB - > I've been receiving lots of spam lately via MOB. Any idea what's going on? Is everyone else receiving an unusual amount of spam? > Vince Slabe > Bozeman > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jun 17, 2013, at 13:03, "Chuck Carlson" wrote: > >> >> Lynn, Jeff, and Mobsters >> >> On occasion Yahoo groups just wants to check whether an account is still active or if it may have been compromised. >> >> When you go into MOB, if the lines “New Messages” and “New Photos” are in colored black rather than magenta, there will be a Join Group box to the upper right. If you click on this it will go to a new page. You usually only have to enter your password (but occasionally it will ask for your user ID also), hit enter and it will go to another page where you will see a box on the left side saying you are a member. Click on that and you’re back at home page. >> >> One other thing Lynn – you just sent your ID and password out to the entire MOB membership. You may want to change them. >> >> Chuck Carlson >> >> From: Jeff Marks >> Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 11:48 AM >> To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com >> Subject: Re: [MOB-Montana] member? >> >> Hi Lynn, >> >> Indeed, you are a member. For reasons unknown to me, peculiar to Yahoo listservs I think, you have to log out and sign back in from time to time. Happens to me about once a month. At the mob home page, click on your name in the far upper left, toggle down to sign out, then sign back in with your user name and password. May the force be with you... >> >> Jeff >> >> ******************* >> Jeff Marks >> 4241 SE Liebe Street >> Portland, OR 97206 >> 503-774-4783 >> Birds of Montana Project >> http://mtaudubon.org/ >> ******************* >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Lynn Bacon >> To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com >> Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:32 AM >> Subject: [MOB-Montana] member? >> >> >> Hi, I receive the MOB announcements, but confused whether I am a 'member' or not (aren't I if I receive MON emails?). When I open homepage some links are not available. I want to submit a cool photo for June, but link not selecting, thus wondering why not. >> >> >> I do have an ID (lbaconaves) and password, or so I thought.(iluvdog$). >> >> >> Thanks much, >> >> >> Lynn >> >> >> >> Lynn M. Bacon >> >> TerraQuatic, LLC >> >> Principal, Senior Scientist >> >> 614 West Lamme Street >> >> Bozeman, MT 59715 >> >> (406) 580-6993 >> >> lbacon AT terraquaticllc.com >> >> >> **TerraQuatic, LLC is a Certified DBE** >> > > Subject: SPAM From: gavimmer AT yahoo.com Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:58:41 -0600 Dear MOB - I've been receiving lots of spam lately via MOB. Any idea what's going on? Is everyone else receiving an unusual amount of spam? Vince Slabe Bozeman Sent from my iPhone On Jun 17, 2013, at 13:03, "Chuck Carlson" wrote: > Lynn, Jeff, and Mobsters > > On occasion Yahoo groups just wants to check whether an account is still active or if it may have been compromised. > > When you go into MOB, if the lines “New Messages” and “New Photos” are in colored black rather than magenta, there will be a Join Group box to the upper right. If you click on this it will go to a new page. You usually only have to enter your password (but occasionally it will ask for your user ID also), hit enter and it will go to another page where you will see a box on the left side saying you are a member. Click on that and you’re back at home page. > > One other thing Lynn – you just sent your ID and password out to the entire MOB membership. You may want to change them. > > Chuck Carlson > > From: Jeff Marks > Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 11:48 AM > To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [MOB-Montana] member? > > Hi Lynn, > > Indeed, you are a member. For reasons unknown to me, peculiar to Yahoo listservs I think, you have to log out and sign back in from time to time. Happens to me about once a month. At the mob home page, click on your name in the far upper left, toggle down to sign out, then sign back in with your user name and password. May the force be with you... > > Jeff > > ******************* > Jeff Marks > 4241 SE Liebe Street > Portland, OR 97206 > 503-774-4783 > Birds of Montana Project > http://mtaudubon.org/ > ******************* > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Lynn Bacon > To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:32 AM > Subject: [MOB-Montana] member? > > > Hi, I receive the MOB announcements, but confused whether I am a 'member' or not (aren't I if I receive MON emails?). When I open homepage some links are not available. I want to submit a cool photo for June, but link not selecting, thus wondering why not. > > > I do have an ID (lbaconaves) and password, or so I thought.(iluvdog$). > > > Thanks much, > > > Lynn > > > > Lynn M. Bacon > > TerraQuatic, LLC > > Principal, Senior Scientist > > 614 West Lamme Street > > Bozeman, MT 59715 > > (406) 580-6993 > > lbacon AT terraquaticllc.com > > > **TerraQuatic, LLC is a Certified DBE** > > > > Subject: Roger Hogen From: Roger Hogen <hogenmt AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:43:59 -0700 (PDT) cuo http://www.wnoc.org/fqinhnrj/RNDCHR,3,15%/tmlkfwtfoxvnan/hhoilvjettomm/xzwijpgxbgskkgj.htm tkrt Subject: Re: member? From: "Chuck Carlson" <chuckcmt AT nemont.net> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:03:40 -0600 Lynn, Jeff, and Mobsters On occasion Yahoo groups just wants to check whether an account is still active or if it may have been compromised. When you go into MOB, if the lines “New Messages” and “New Photos” are in colored black rather than magenta, there will be a Join Group box to the upper right. If you click on this it will go to a new page. You usually only have to enter your password (but occasionally it will ask for your user ID also), hit enter and it will go to another page where you will see a box on the left side saying you are a member. Click on that and you’re back at home page. One other thing Lynn – you just sent your ID and password out to the entire MOB membership. You may want to change them. Chuck Carlson From: Jeff Marks Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 11:48 AM To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [MOB-Montana] member? Hi Lynn, Indeed, you are a member. For reasons unknown to me, peculiar to Yahoo listservs I think, you have to log out and sign back in from time to time. Happens to me about once a month. At the mob home page, click on your name in the far upper left, toggle down to sign out, then sign back in with your user name and password. May the force be with you... Jeff ******************* Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ******************* ----- Original Message ----- From: Lynn Bacon To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:32 AM Subject: [MOB-Montana] member? Hi, I receive the MOB announcements, but confused whether I am a 'member' or not (aren't I if I receive MON emails?). When I open homepage some links are not available. I want to submit a cool photo for June, but link not selecting, thus wondering why not. I do have an ID (lbaconaves) and password, or so I thought.(iluvdog$). Thanks much, Lynn Lynn M. Bacon TerraQuatic, LLC Principal, Senior Scientist 614 West Lamme Street Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 580-6993 lbacon AT terraquaticllc.com **TerraQuatic, LLC is a Certified DBE** Subject: Great Egret--Freezout From: Michael Schwitters <schwit AT 3rivers.net> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:30:57 -0600 MOBsters, There is a Great Egret at Freezout Lake. It was seen at Pond 5 last evening and I saw it at Pond 6 this morning. The Great Egrets seem to match their arrival with the spawning of the carp--which is in full swing. Mike Schwitters Choteau MT ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: member? From: "Jeff Marks" <jeff17_marks AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:48:33 -0700 Hi Lynn, Indeed, you are a member. For reasons unknown to me, peculiar to Yahoo listservs I think, you have to log out and sign back in from time to time. Happens to me about once a month. At the mob home page, click on your name in the far upper left, toggle down to sign out, then sign back in with your user name and password. May the force be with you... Jeff ******************* Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ******************* ----- Original Message ----- From: Lynn Bacon To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:32 AM Subject: [MOB-Montana] member? Hi, I receive the MOB announcements, but confused whether I am a 'member' or not (aren't I if I receive MON emails?). When I open homepage some links are not available. I want to submit a cool photo for June, but link not selecting, thus wondering why not. I do have an ID (lbaconaves) and password, or so I thought.(iluvdog$). Thanks much, Lynn Lynn M. Bacon TerraQuatic, LLC Principal, Senior Scientist 614 West Lamme Street Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 580-6993 lbacon AT terraquaticllc.com **TerraQuatic, LLC is a Certified DBE** Subject: member? From: "Lynn Bacon" <lbacon AT terraquaticllc.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:32:53 -0600 Hi, I receive the MOB announcements, but confused whether I am a 'member' or not (aren't I if I receive MON emails?). When I open homepage some links are not available. I want to submit a cool photo for June, but link not selecting, thus wondering why not. I do have an ID (lbaconaves) and password, or so I thought.(iluvdog$). Thanks much, Lynn Lynn M. Bacon TerraQuatic, LLC Principal, Senior Scientist 614 West Lamme Street Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 580-6993 lbacon AT terraquaticllc.com **TerraQuatic, LLC is a Certified DBE** Subject: Tennessee Warbler From: paul rossi <polovetsian AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:45:02 -0600 I forgot to mention that I heard the tail-end of a Tennessee Warbler song along the road between Skiumah Creek and Ousel Peak (the straight-of-way west of Essex). Paul RossiColumbia Falls Subject: Browning/Cut Bank Birding From: paul rossi <polovetsian AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:30:49 -0600 This morning, I left Whitefish to bird on the east side of the mountains. Here's what I found and where I found it: Whitefish, 2nd St. E.: MacGillvray's Warbler Goat Lick, Glacier National Park: Mountain Goats Trumble Creek Road (north side): Bobolink Potholes between Browning and Cut Bank: American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal, Eared Grebe, Wilson's Phalarope, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Black Tern, Canvasback Mission Lake Road/Mission Lake: Chestnut-collared Longspur, McCown's Longspur, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Willet, American White Pelican Olson Road (north of Cut Bank): White-tailed Jackrabbit, Loggerhead Shrike Montana Power Road: Swainson's Hawk, Dark-morph Ferruginous Hawk Chalk Butte Road (northwest of Cut Bank): Gray Partridge, Pronghorn Antelope Paul RossiColumbia Falls Subject: Re: Harlequin & Lesser Golfinch Photos From: "Steven Hughes" <sdh AT montana.net> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:25:53 -0000 Very interesting. Did the harlequin have a fishy taste? --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "DonaldJ" wrote: > > Hi Everyone, > > I just uploaded the shot I took last week of the Lesser Goldfinch in my yard in Troy. I also uploaded a shot of a Female Harlequin I took in early May with a Sculpin that she caught and ate. I thought it unusual since I never have seen this but a Harlequin researcher contacted me and said it's very unusual and he's never seen a photo to prove it. I actually saw her get another sculpin on another day so -- learned behavior by an individual?? Any how, I thought I would share. > > Have a great weekend everyone! > > Don Jones > Troy > ------------------------------------ Subject: Christopher Nixon From: Christopher Nixon <christopherfnixon AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:21:14 -0700 (PDT) liksn http://www.vienne-secretariat-assistance.com/bifpvbu/rla/gnt/xpw.htm Christopher Nixon bdxp Subject: Dailey Lake, QLL 39C, Park County From: "Mike Lesnik" <vagapaddler AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:58:57 -0000 MOB, Two Marsh Wrens were seen at the southwest end of this small reservoir and another 8 or 10 were heard as I kayaked along the fringe of the thick reeds. First record in this QLL since 1986. Also of interest was a black fluff ball with a red head which stayed in sight for a minute or so before clambering over floating vegetation and back out of sight. My first ever American Coot chick. Mike Lesnik Livingston ------------------------------------ Subject: Dailey Lake, QLL 39C, Park County From: "Mike Lesnik" <vagapaddler AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:58:24 -0000 MOB, Two Marsh Wrens were seen at the southwest end of this small reservoir and another 8 or 10 were heard as I kayaked along the fringe of the thick reeds. First record in this QLL since 1986. Also of interest was a black fluff ball with a red head which stayed in sight for a minute or so before clambering over floating vegetation and back out of sight. My first ever American Coot chick. Mike Lesnik Livingston ------------------------------------ Subject: random Park and Gallatin County From: "steel_rsd" <steel_rsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:57:14 -0000 MOB, Some good birds today on a trip from Clyde Park to Bozeman via Brackett Creek with a stop at Battle Ridge Campground included Green-tailed Towhee White-Crowned Sparrow Western Tanager Warbling Vireo Turkey Vulture Cedar Waxwing and best bird of the day when I return home to find a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak at our feeder. First ever yard bird. Scott Dean Clyde Park, MT ------------------------------------ Subject: Harlequin & Lesser Golfinch Photos From: "DonaldJ" <gr8gray AT frontiernet.net> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:50:13 -0000 Hi Everyone, I just uploaded the shot I took last week of the Lesser Goldfinch in my yard in Troy. I also uploaded a shot of a Female Harlequin I took in early May with a Sculpin that she caught and ate. I thought it unusual since I never have seen this but a Harlequin researcher contacted me and said it's very unusual and he's never seen a photo to prove it. I actually saw her get another sculpin on another day so -- learned behavior by an individual?? Any how, I thought I would share. Have a great weekend everyone! Don Jones Troy ------------------------------------ Subject: Lewis's Woodpecker nesting From: Roger Hogen <hogenmt AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:37:27 -0700 (PDT) MOBers, Several weeks ago I watched a male�Lewis's Woodpecker displaying spread-winged for its mate on one of our cottonwoods.� On subsequent occasions, they appeared seemingly out of nowhere, above us where we sat at the picnic table, which is�below the same tree. � I began scanning the tree for nest holes but without finding anything definitive.� On a later occasion�I�took some photos of two�likely holes, one about 2 feet above the other.� When I enlarged them,�one photo showed a�dark but unmistakable�image of a Lewis's head looking out at me�(photo in album). �These holes�are just below the display area. � I have since seen them occupying both holes. Well today, there is no doubt that they are raising young.� They are busy bringing mouthfuls of insects to the lower nest hole. I think one parent sleeps in the adjacent hole while the other stays with the eggs/nestlings. Roger and Kathy The Big Flat Missoula � Subject: West Bank Park - Most Interesting From: Beth Hill <grizhill AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:55:55 -0600 It seemed like 5 minutes, but according to the time stamps on my images it was 30 minutes. I hadn't gotten very far on my early morning walk along West Bank Park (5:40 start time) when a Great Blue Heron flew in. Fine - mark one GBHE. It was pretty close but in the shade, what the heck I'll take a few pictures. It was stalking upstream, a mallard disturbed it and it flew upstream and on the bank side. I'll see how close I can get. There is a solid wall of willow spikes between the river and me - but I see it (her?) And as soon as I do she comes up with a fish - not just a snack, but this is a dinner for 6. It was dead right away as she dropped it quite a few times and picked it up again. I know she was cautious and knew I was there. But, she was not going to leave a meal that size. Or maybe she just had to keep trying to get it oriented correctly. Once she did - it slipped down in a blink of the eye. I got a couple pictures in focus through the willows and you can see the bulge in her neck after the big swallow. It looked like a bottom feeding fish (carp) - you can see the fish lips in one of the pictures I have. I have posted a couple of the pictures, 3 with the fish and 2 "post swallow". I thought it might be a "she" - there was a lot of feather loss/bare skin on the legs, chest, arm pit areas. From brooding? The wood ducks (that I've been seeing all week) were ho-hum after watching this. Beth Hill Great Falls Subject: Janet Stevens From: Janet Stevens <jcs1255 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:33:48 -0700 (PDT) tktwd http://drobf-mnr.ru/badpaw/vmimwkc/bpeleeurwtlvu.htm Janet Stevens geq Subject: White-rumped Sandpiper-Freezout From: Michael Schwitters <schwit AT 3rivers.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:14:54 -0600 MOB, After nearly two weeks with no "good" shorebirds I found two this morning. The first was a beautifully plumaged female Red-necked Phalarope. Second was a White-rumped Sandpiper which is very uncommon at Freezout. Both were feeding on mud flats at the "Neck" (Point P on the Freezout Lake birding brochure). Mike Schwitters Choteau MT ------------------------------------ Subject: BBWO Custer Nat. Forest From: "sean" <seanrclawson AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:23:01 -0000 Yesterday I spotted a black-backed woodpecker on the Custer National Forest a little NE of Ashland in an area that burned last year. Cheers, Sean ------------------------------------ Subject: Kingbird Highway II From: "Mike" <beckfarm AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:15:48 -0000 Needing a Cassin's Kingbird for a life list, we checked out last Sunday the Roundup/Billings Highway #87 and the "Old Divide Road," famously plotted for MOB's benefit by Robin Walcott and Ed Harper. (If you're coming from the north, say from a delightful bird festival in Lewistown, I'd recommend, however, going south from Roundup to mile marker 35 and turning east onto the nearby "Old Divide Road" and birding your way north--it's a loop of about 8 miles which comes out about 10 miles south of Roundup, near an imposing RR trestle. Go on Sunday if you can to avoid trucks from the mine at the top of the loop.) We saw, without half trying, at least a half dozen Cassin's, an equal number of Westerns, and a cantankerous Eastern pair to boot. The Cassin's was unmistakable, a storm-blue color, a streamlined shape that looked larger than the Western's, and a total lack of white on tip or sides of tail. The loop had some turn-off areas and lots of meadows and cottonwood galleries, full of the intense green and birdsong of early summer, 2013! Mike Becker, Harrison "And so the seasons went rolling on into summer, as one rambles into higher and higher grass." Thoreau, "Walden" ------------------------------------ Subject: W Tanagers From: Grace Blair <cpoodle AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:45:29 -0600 We have rain and snow with low clouds and 5 to 8 W Tanagers have returned to my suet feeders today. Mountain bluebirds (and I) are fighting off house sparrows. Several nests of BB babies. Grace Blair Ruby Valley Sent from my iPad ------------------------------------ Subject: Warm Springs WMA Survey From: "Gary Swant" <birdmontana1 AT hughes.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:35:07 -0000 The weather on Thursday had a range of temperatures from 50 to 52F with heavy rains and strong winds, it was cold. Consequently the number of birds and species were down. There were 1,600 individuals and 58 species, compared to 4,600 individuals, and 89 species last week. Highlights: All waterfowl were under 200 with the exception of Eared Grebe at 285, and American Coot at 438. There were 26 Western Grebes down from 45 last week. New birds today were Wood Duck, House Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and Common Snipe. Year to date bird species seen at Warm Springs WMA is now at 141. No migrant shorebirds today. There were 26 American Avocets with most of them on DU 3. I found several avocet nests on Job Corps 4. Other Highlights: There were 2 Common Loon on ARCO 3, which seems late. One White-crowned Sparrow was present; I imagine it moved down from the hills with the inclement weather. I found my first duck broods today having seen several broods of both mallards and Common Goldeneye. A single Northern Pintail was observed on ARCO 3 in the south end. I observed a single adult Black-crowned Night-Heron in ARCO East Pond in the cattails. I am assuming that there is a nest there somewhere, but I have not located it yet. Double-crested cormorants were up to 99 today with many young in the nests. The same is true for the 25 Great Blue Heron nests in the same set of dead willows. I continue to be amazed that Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants and a Great Horned Owl can all nest within inches of each other in the same dead willows. Nature is interesting. ------------------------------------ Subject: 6/14 NPS Bird Walk Glacier National Park - West Side From: "avidbirderglac" <leigh_lindstrom AT nps.gov> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:16:47 -0000 Hello all, Our first formal offered bird walk was a success! I had 15 birders, most self-identified as beginners. The weather was overcast, but it held, which was great for the sightings. We walked the opposite shore of the Oxbow Trail, which was going nuts with birds. We got stinkin' lucky with the views we were afforded of the young male American redstart, brilliant adult male yellow warblers, and black-headed grosbeaks. Tons more of the birds on the list I included below were "heard only" species. Our next walk is Thursday the 20th - and is free, but by in-person reservation up to 3 days prior, so I can keep track of numbers and be flexible in my location choice for the walk. Cheers! Leigh Lindstrom Seasonal Ranger Glacier National Park Glacier NP--Apgar, Flathead, US-MT Jun 14, 2013 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: NPS Bird Walk - Winged Wonders 26 species (+1 other taxa) Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 6 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 1 Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 1 Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1 Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) 1 Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 1 (reported by visitor) Hammond's/Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii/oberholseri) 1 Cassin's Vireo (Vireo cassinii) 1 Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1 Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2 Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) 1 Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 3 Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8 Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 2 MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei) 2 Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 1 American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1 First year male singing Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 5 Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 2 Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 4 Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) 1 Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) 2 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14417769 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Re: June Photo Contest From: "Chuck Carlson" <chuckcmt AT nemont.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:44:02 -0600 Glad I could. Chuck From: rocks2pebbles3 Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 6:36 PM To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [MOB-Montana] Re: June Photo Contest Thanks for your help. Kathy Rocchio Subject: Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: Jackie Wilson <drjdubs AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:03:24 -0600 Loving the humor as well as the references! Jackie Wilson Yellowstone National Park On Jun 13, 2013 10:29 AM, "Stevan Hawkins" wrote: > ** > > > Mobsters:**** > > ** ** > > Later this year I am contemplating a road trip to Glacier NP. According > to http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/birds-2011.pdf the only > swift that looks like a Chimney Swift there is Vaux's Swift. How do > birders in Montana pronounce Vaux's?**** > > ** ** > > Thanks!**** > > ** ** > > *Steve* > > ** ** > > Stevan Hawkins**** > > San Antonio TX**** > > ** ** > > Subject: Re: June Photo Contest From: "rocks2pebbles3" <rocks2pebbles3 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:36:42 -0000 Thanks for your help. Kathy Rocchio --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Carlson" wrote: > > At the MOB homepage click on Photos in the left menu. Once there, find June Photo Contest Click on that album, and then on ADD PHOTO at the upper right. At the bottom of the page is a question “do you want to use basic uploader?'’. Click on that and then Browse to find your photo. Double click on your photo and fill in the photo name line with the name of the species pictured, and the description line with location and date the photo was taken. Please be sure to fill in both those lines. These instruction are also posted in Files on the left menu on the home page. > > Also, when you post a message on MOB please put your name and location at the end of the message. > > Chuck Carlson > Moderator > > From: rocks2pebbles3 > Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 8:44 PM > To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [MOB-Montana] June Photo Contest > > > I'm new to this group. How do you submit photos to the monthly contests? > ------------------------------------ Subject: Swifts From: "gjkingfisher36" <gjkingfisher AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:49:50 -0000 Mob, Re Paul Rossi's comments on Vaux's Swift..... Aaaarrrgh. Actually I loved it and think we could use a bit more of this kind of stuff on the MOB. A chuckle never hurt anyone. George Kelly , Livingston ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: paul rossi <polovetsian AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:16:29 -0600 I started out saying "Vox's", but for a long time now, I've pronounced it "Voe's". Must be a vaux pas on my part. I'll correct it swiftly. Paul RossiColumbia Falls. To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com From: rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:41:38 -0700 Subject: Re: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's WHOOPS! Sorry to repost this... Nice find Andrea ;-) I should've read the whole thread before I went and posted something already posted... Good Birding, Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El jue, 6/13/13, Stierle, Andrea escribi�: De: Stierle, Andrea Asunto: Re: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's A: "MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com" Fecha: jueves, 13 de junio de 2013, 12:15 pm I found a great little article by Kevin McGowan on the Cornell website. In it, he discusses bird names and suggested pronunciations. His comments on Vaux�s swift are as follows: �Terres and Websters lists it as "vauks." I talked to someone once who knew some relative of William Vaux and said that they pronounced it vauks." http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm Take care, Andrea Stierle Butte and Missoula Subject: Black Swifts From: paul rossi <polovetsian AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:10:14 -0600 Just before 3 PM today, I saw about six Black Swifts above Central School in Whitefish. It's been overcast the past few days, and I know they're well-documented low fliers during inclement weather. Always a great bird to see. Paul RossiColumbia Falls Subject: Re: Hi, I am new to MOB, mainly because I wanted to share this info. Sat/Sun 6/8-9 I was at cottonwood creek campground along the Upper Ruby River Rd where cottonwood creek meets the river, about 30 mi from Alder, south of the reservoir. A bird singing very enthusiastically and distinctly in the upper trees all evening. Song was a trilling/chipping phrase followed by usually three two-syllable clear whistles that correspond to the peter peter peter description of the tufted titmouse. Sometimes there was an additional pete syllable added. On sunday it was singing some and I was determined to see it before leaving, but it became quite windy and the activity stopped. It occurred to me that the experience and song was very much like one I had in May in NY, searching for a bird making that clear two-syllable whistle, moving unseen from tree to tree before finally spotting the tufted titmouse. I have listened to the calls on my 2000 Peterson CD and I have to say that the initial phrase sounded From: "BethM" <bethmadden64 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:56:03 -0000 Hi John and welcome to the MOB! Your message got cut off as it was, I think, typed into the subject heading - oops. But from your description, I wonder if you were hearing a ruby-crowned kinglet singing? The end of their song has always reminded me of the peter peter peter of a tufted titmouse. The kinglets have much variations in song, but the California and Utah versions recorded here have a bit of what I am referring to. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ruby-crowned_kinglet/sounds Then again, maybe you had a tufted titmouse - that would be fun! (The end of your message was cut off.) Beth Madden Livingston ------------------------------------ Subject: Hi, I am new to MOB, mainly because I wanted to share this info. Sat/Sun 6/8-9 I was at cottonwood creek campground along the Upper Ruby River Rd where cottonwood creek meets the river, about 30 mi from Alder, south of the reservoir. A bird singing very enthusiastically and distinctly in the upper trees all evening. Song was a trilling/chipping phrase followed by usually three two-syllable clear whistles that correspond to the peter peter peter description of the tufted titmouse. Sometimes there was an additional pete syllable added. On sunday it was singing some and I was determined to see it before leaving, but it became quite windy and the activity stopped. It occurred to me that the experience and song was very much like one I had in May in NY, searching for a bird making that clear two-syllable whistle, moving unseen from tree to tree before finally spotting the tufted titmouse. I have listened to the calls on my 2000 Peterson CD and I have to say that the initial phrase sounded From: John Karath <jfkarath AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:03:32 -0600 Subject: Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park Birding Day From: "Tom Forwood Jr." <tjfishing75 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:57:32 -0600 Hi Folks, If anyone is in SW MT and is wanting to see some arid country birds this weekend stop on in at Lewis & Clark Caverns. I'll be leading bird walks throughout the park's various habitats from 8AM to around 2PM. Target species include Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, Cassin's Vireo, Lark Sparrow, Rock Wren, Cordilleran and Dusky Flycatchers and many others. Birding Day is free to MT residents and registered campers and all the walks are 1.5 miles or less (usually much less). Feel free to email me or call me at the park # below with any questions, I hope some of you can make it out, Tom -- Tom Forwood Park Ranger Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park P.O. Box 489 Whitehall, MT 59759 406-287-3541 fwptforwood AT gmail.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:41:38 -0700 (PDT) WHOOPS! Sorry to repost this...   Nice find Andrea ;-)   I should've read the whole thread before I went and posted something already posted...   Good Birding,   Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El jue, 6/13/13, Stierle, Andrea escribió: De: Stierle, Andrea Asunto: Re: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's A: "MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com" Fecha: jueves, 13 de junio de 2013, 12:15 pm   I found a great little article by Kevin McGowan on the Cornell website.  In it, he discusses bird names and suggested pronunciations.  His comments on Vaux’s swift are as follows:   “Terres and Websters lists it as "vauks." I talked to someone once who knew some relative of William Vaux and said that they pronounced it vauks."   http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm   Take care,   Andrea Stierle Butte and Missoula   Subject: Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:40:50 -0700 (PDT) MOB,   Hoo nose, indeed? We've probably all heard the three pronunciations given with equal vigour.   Check out this link, scroll towards the bottom for one Cornell Professor's take on the pronunciation...apparently he got as close to the source as possible (family member of William S. Vaux)   http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm   Good Birding,   Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El jue, 6/13/13, Jeff Marks escribió: De: Jeff Marks Asunto: Re: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Fecha: jueves, 13 de junio de 2013, 11:38 am   Steve,   I think most people pronounce it Vox's.  But years ago I asked taxonomy and nomenclature expert Ken Parkes, who said it was actually Vaw's and definitely not Voe's.  But who really nose?   Jeff   ******************* Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ******************* ----- Original Message ----- From: Stevan Hawkins To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 9:29 AM Subject: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's   Mobsters: Later this year I am contemplating a road trip to Glacier NP.  According to http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/birds-2011.pdf the only swift that looks like a Chimney Swift there is Vaux's Swift.  How do birders in Montana pronounce Vaux's? Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: RE: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: "Stevan Hawkins" <shawkins4 AT satx.rr.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:36:33 -0500 Andrea: McGown's page on bird name pronunciation was well worth visiting and bookmarking. As far as Mr. Vaux and his swift: Having been to the town of Vaux, France due to a vacation in France courtesy of my dad being a member of the US Army, you can guess how I want to pronounce that bird's name, which has nothing to do with how Mr. Vaux pronounced his name. Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX From: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Stierle, Andrea Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 12:16 PM To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's I found a great little article by Kevin McGowan on the Cornell website. In it, he discusses bird names and suggested pronunciations. His comments on Vaux's swift are as follows: "Terres and Websters lists it as "vauks." I talked to someone once who knew some relative of William Vaux and said that they pronounced it vauks." http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm Take care, Andrea Stierle Butte and Missoula Subject: Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: "Stierle, Andrea" <andrea.stierle AT mso.umt.edu> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:15:30 +0000 I found a great little article by Kevin McGowan on the Cornell website. In it, he discusses bird names and suggested pronunciations. His comments on Vaux's swift are as follows: "Terres and Websters lists it as "vauks." I talked to someone once who knew some relative of William Vaux and said that they pronounced it vauks." http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm Take care, Andrea Stierle Butte and Missoula Subject: Re: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: "Jeff Marks" <jeff17_marks AT msn.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:38:03 -0700 Steve, I think most people pronounce it Vox's. But years ago I asked taxonomy and nomenclature expert Ken Parkes, who said it was actually Vaw's and definitely not Voe's. But who really nose? Jeff ******************* Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ******************* ----- Original Message ----- From: Stevan Hawkins To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 9:29 AM Subject: [MOB-Montana] RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's Mobsters: Later this year I am contemplating a road trip to Glacier NP. According to http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/birds-2011.pdf the only swift that looks like a Chimney Swift there is Vaux's Swift. How do birders in Montana pronounce Vaux's? Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: RFI: Projunciation of Vaux's From: "Stevan Hawkins" <shawkins4 AT satx.rr.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:29:23 -0500 Mobsters: Later this year I am contemplating a road trip to Glacier NP. According to http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/birds-2011.pdf the only swift that looks like a Chimney Swift there is Vaux's Swift. How do birders in Montana pronounce Vaux's? Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX Subject: Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks From: Kristin Olson <kbcols AT centurytel.net> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:42:51 -0600 Thanks, Jim. Sounds like it still might be worth the effort. I usually get up there earlier than this. Kristin Olson Somers, MT On 6/13/2013 9:20 AM, Jim Rogers wrote: > Kristin, > > I observed several Harlequin males along McDonald on 5 June between > Avalanche and Logan creeks. I also know that a few more were seen > along the lower stretch between the lake and Avalanche. > > However, some of the female Harlequin ducks are now incubating eggs, > therefore males will soon- if not already- return to the coast. > > Best to look now, but with some effort, you can usually find a male > through June. > > Good luck, > > Jim Rogers > > Polson, Montana > > > > > On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 8:46 AM, Thomas > wrote: > > Kristin, > > We found 1 male below the Avalanche picnic area June 1. Chris, > when did you observe the 2 males? > > Thomas Kallmeyer, Missoula > > --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > , "Chris J. Montano Jr." > wrote: > > > > Not too familiar with glacier, but on the west entrance, I went > all the way up as far as they would let me go, I parked in that > little picnic area and walked down to the water and found two male > Harlequin Ducks and One Female with a transmitter. > > > > They weren't too shy... > > > > > > > > Chris J. Montano Jr. > > www.chrismontanojr.com > > > > > > > > On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Kristin Olson" wrote: > > > > > Good Morning MOB, > > > > > > Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be > found on Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! > > > > > > Kristin Olson > > > Somers, MT > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks From: Kristin Olson <kbcols AT centurytel.net> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:26:59 -0600 Thanks Chris and Thomas! On 6/13/2013 8:48 AM, Chris J. Montano Jr. wrote: > Found the two males on Tuesday, I'd attach some group pics for you, > but my laptop isn't cooperating, have to wait til I return to > California to process them. > > If anyone is in the Whitehall area, i found a spot yesterday for a > great horned owl with two fledglings and they didn't seem to be > bothered by me being there. Was about 30ft from them at eye level :) > > Chris J. Montano Jr. > www.chrismontanojr.com > > > > On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:46 AM, "Thomas" > wrote: > >> Kristin, >> >> We found 1 male below the Avalanche picnic area June 1. Chris, when >> did you observe the 2 males? >> >> Thomas Kallmeyer, Missoula >> >> --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com >> , "Chris J. Montano Jr." >> wrote: >> > >> > Not too familiar with glacier, but on the west entrance, I went all >> the way up as far as they would let me go, I parked in that little >> picnic area and walked down to the water and found two male Harlequin >> Ducks and One Female with a transmitter. >> > >> > They weren't too shy... >> > >> > >> > >> > Chris J. Montano Jr. >> > www.chrismontanojr.com >> > >> > >> > >> > On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Kristin Olson" wrote: >> > >> > > Good Morning MOB, >> > > >> > > Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be found >> on Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! >> > > >> > > Kristin Olson >> > > Somers, MT >> > > >> > > >> > >> > Subject: Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks From: Jim Rogers <jimrogers2007 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:20:07 -0600 Kristin, I observed several Harlequin males along McDonald on 5 June between Avalanche and Logan creeks. I also know that a few more were seen along the lower stretch between the lake and Avalanche. However, some of the female Harlequin ducks are now incubating eggs, therefore males will soon- if not already- return to the coast. Best to look now, but with some effort, you can usually find a male through June. Good luck, Jim Rogers Polson, Montana On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 8:46 AM, Thomas wrote: > ** > > > Kristin, > > We found 1 male below the Avalanche picnic area June 1. Chris, when did > you observe the 2 males? > > Thomas Kallmeyer, Missoula > > --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "Chris J. Montano Jr." > wrote: > > > > Not too familiar with glacier, but on the west entrance, I went all the > way up as far as they would let me go, I parked in that little picnic area > and walked down to the water and found two male Harlequin Ducks and One > Female with a transmitter. > > > > They weren't too shy... > > > > > > > > Chris J. Montano Jr. > > www.chrismontanojr.com > > > > > > > > On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Kristin Olson" wrote: > > > > > Good Morning MOB, > > > > > > Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be found on > Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! > > > > > > Kristin Olson > > > Somers, MT > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Re: Harlequin Ducks From: "Chris J. Montano Jr." <chris.montano81 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:48:57 -0600 Found the two males on Tuesday, I'd attach some group pics for you, but my laptop isn't cooperating, have to wait til I return to California to process them. If anyone is in the Whitehall area, i found a spot yesterday for a great horned owl with two fledglings and they didn't seem to be bothered by me being there. Was about 30ft from them at eye level :) Chris J. Montano Jr. www.chrismontanojr.com On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:46 AM, "Thomas" wrote: > Kristin, > > We found 1 male below the Avalanche picnic area June 1. Chris, when did you observe the 2 males? > > Thomas Kallmeyer, Missoula > > --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "Chris J. Montano Jr." wrote: > > > > Not too familiar with glacier, but on the west entrance, I went all the way up as far as they would let me go, I parked in that little picnic area and walked down to the water and found two male Harlequin Ducks and One Female with a transmitter. > > > > They weren't too shy... > > > > > > > > Chris J. Montano Jr. > > www.chrismontanojr.com > > > > > > > > On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Kristin Olson" wrote: > > > > > Good Morning MOB, > > > > > > Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be found on Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! > > > > > > Kristin Olson > > > Somers, MT > > > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Harlequin Ducks From: "Thomas" <thomas AT tarns.net> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:46:14 -0000 Kristin, We found 1 male below the Avalanche picnic area June 1. Chris, when did you observe the 2 males? Thomas Kallmeyer, Missoula --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "Chris J. Montano Jr." wrote: > > Not too familiar with glacier, but on the west entrance, I went all the way up as far as they would let me go, I parked in that little picnic area and walked down to the water and found two male Harlequin Ducks and One Female with a transmitter. > > They weren't too shy... > > > > Chris J. Montano Jr. > www.chrismontanojr.com > > > > On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Kristin Olson" wrote: > > > Good Morning MOB, > > > > Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be found on Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! > > > > Kristin Olson > > Somers, MT > > > > > ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Harlequin Ducks From: "Chris J. Montano Jr." <chris.montano81 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:30:56 -0600 Not too familiar with glacier, but on the west entrance, I went all the way up as far as they would let me go, I parked in that little picnic area and walked down to the water and found two male Harlequin Ducks and One Female with a transmitter. They weren't too shy... Chris J. Montano Jr. www.chrismontanojr.com On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Kristin Olson" wrote: > Good Morning MOB, > > Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be found on Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! > > Kristin Olson > Somers, MT > > Subject: Harlequin Ducks From: "Kristin Olson" <kbcols AT centurytel.net> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:27:41 -0000 Good Morning MOB, Does anyone know if the male Harlequin Ducks can still be found on Upper McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park? Thanks! Kristin Olson Somers, MT ------------------------------------ Subject: Long-billed Curlews with young From: "dhannarmf" <dhannarmf AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:37:04 -0000 This morning I saw two pairs of long-billed curlews with young in grasslands west of Choteau. One pair had at least one chick, the other had at least two. Fun to see the little ones, still pretty small but very mobile. I posted a fuzzy photo with adult and chick. Dave Hanna Choteau, MT ------------------------------------ Subject: Freezout P.M. From: "Larry Carter" <birder43 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:34:08 -0000 MOB, checked out Freezout this afternoon. First for year are--Bank Swallows over Pond 1, one Lark Bunting at Duffy's. Other birds worth a note are--8 Black Terns at the Dike, one White-faced Ibis at north end of Pond 2, one Common Nighthawk at Duffy's, one American Bittern, and only one Western Kingbird, the Eastern Kingbird are plentiful but not the Western this year anyway. Did not see the Snowy Egret. All for now, good birding Larry Carter Fairfield ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: NPR Nature program From: "Cheri" <montanabirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:37:04 -0000 Oops � I always do this: NOT NPR, PBS. And it's already streaming, the link is http://video.pbs.org/video/1380512531 {It was amazingly easy to find once I went to the correct website ;-) } With blushing cheeks, Cheri --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "Cheri" wrote: > > Anyone who missed it tonight, please go to npr.org and search their Nature program videos. I am not sure when it will be available to stream, but I am watching an amazing and enthralling Nature episode on hummingbirds. It is beautifully photographed, offering wonderful insights and information. > > Cheri > Plains > ------------------------------------ Subject: NPR Nature program From: "Cheri" <montanabirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:14:54 -0000 Anyone who missed it tonight, please go to npr.org and search their Nature program videos. I am not sure when it will be available to stream, but I am watching an amazing and enthralling Nature episode on hummingbirds. It is beautifully photographed, offering wonderful insights and information. Cheri Plains ------------------------------------ Subject: Battle Ridge Campground birding From: "steel_rsd" <steel_rsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:50:11 -0000 MOB, If anybody is familiar with Battle Ridge Campground, I'm looking for advice on where specifically to go. I presume this "hotspot" refers to the campground area and small north loop. But the road also continues up into the hills to the east and branches off into several mountain roads. There was a nice listing of birds posted on eBird yesterday for this location and I'd like to go check it out. Thanks to Tom Forwood's previous post, I had a nice look and listen at Olive-sided Flycatcher today up Little Bear Road southeast of Gallatin Gateway. Scott Dean, Clyde Park, MT ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Empid ID article that may be of use From: "Stevan Hawkins" <shawkins4 AT satx.rr.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:08:42 -0500 Forrest: I went there and book-marked it. Thanks! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX From: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Forrest Rowland Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 9:40 PM To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [MOB-Montana] Empid ID article that may be of use MOB, Over the years this very impasse has arisen, often, among birders who choose to endeavor identification of this genus. A while back I took the time to summarize some measurements from specimens I'd examined at the Delaware Museum of Natural History (sample sizes ranging from 24 to 100+ individuals per species) to sum up some of what other birders had published, and, combined with all the bander's records I could get my hands on from Pyle and others, what I had noticed when I was really paying attention to this genus in the field. I admit this article may be intimidating or confusing. I can't say that I'm any better off for having written it, but am glad I took the time. I can only say that, after subjecting myself to those awful silent Flycatchers in the Fall in Texas, I decided I would try to rationalize this very confusing genus, and come up with some general ideas for identifying each species by translating a large amount of data into what it means to an observing eye in the field. Again, it may not be of great use or interest to most, but for those of you out there who love Gulls, Shorebirds, and the like, the following link may be worth a read: http://aba.org/birding/v41n2p30.pdf Good Birding, Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT Subject: Somers Black Swifts, Kalispell BBS From: "Dan Casey" <danielcasey55 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:27:39 -0000 MOB-sters: Mid-June, overcast and rainy sky, and a good bug hatch over the north end of Flathead Lake can often mean Black Swifts over Somers. Such was the case this morning, when nine were over our house with a mixed group of swallows and a single Vaux's Swift. I ran the Kalispell Breeding Bird Survey route on Saturday; here is a summary of what I found at the 50 stops along the route, which runs from Kila, around the back (east) side of Smith Lake, through Foy's Canyon, and into the Lower Valley. Two additional species seen along the route, but not at a stop, are marked with an "X". Dan CaseySomers Kalispell BBS, Flathead, US-MT Jun 8, 2013 5:05 AM - 9:37 AM 93 species Canada Goose 1 Trumpeter Swan 2 Wood Duck 7 Gadwall 4 American Wigeon 1 Mallard 9 Northern Shoveler 4 Green-winged Teal 2 Common Goldeneye 1 Hooded Merganser 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 19 Wild Turkey 1 Common Loon 1 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Red-necked Grebe 3 American Bittern 5 Great Blue Heron X Osprey X Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Virginia Rail 1 Sora 19 American Coot 5 Sandhill Crane 5 Killdeer 13 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Wilson's Snipe 5 Ring-billed Gull 6 Rock Pigeon 17 Eurasian Collared-Dove 4 Mourning Dove 10 Great Horned Owl 2 Calliope Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-naped Sapsucker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 15 American Kestrel 3 Western Wood-Pewee 5 Willow Flycatcher 9 Hammond's Flycatcher 1 Dusky Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 13 Cassin's Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 5 Black-billed Magpie 31 American Crow 7 Common Raven 6 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 14 Tree Swallow 48 Violet-green Swallow 2 Bank Swallow 32 Barn Swallow 4 Cliff Swallow 15 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Mountain Chickadee 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 9 Marsh Wren 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Western Bluebird 1 Mountain Bluebird 3 Swainson's Thrush 3 American Robin 98 Gray Catbird 9 European Starling 68 Cedar Waxwing 2 Northern Waterthrush 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 MacGillivray's Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 14 Yellow Warbler 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 3 Spotted Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 12 Vesper Sparrow 6 Savannah Sparrow 28 Song Sparrow 7 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Western Tanager 8 Black-headed Grosbeak 4 Lazuli Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 44 Western Meadowlark 18 Yellow-headed Blackbird 13 Brewer's Blackbird 35 Brown-headed Cowbird 16 Bullock's Oriole 5 House Finch 13 Red Crossbill 1 Pine Siskin 4 American Goldfinch 1 House Sparrow 23 Subject: Re: Empid ID article that may be of use From: Beth Madden <bethmadden64 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:25:34 -0600 Wow, what a great article Forrest, thank you for your work on this! Beth Madden Livingston Subject: Re: Wing tagged TUVU From: "wscotthampton" <wscotthampton AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:15:55 -0000 Thanks to Jeff Marks, Stu Houston, Wayne Nelson, and everyone else who helped out we know the history of the tagged Turkey Vulture 'yellow AMR'! Here are the details I got from Wayne: "AMR is one year old. It was wing tagged by me, assisted by Pres Winter and Peter Mirejovsky, on 13 August 2012 at an estimated 60 days old, as the older of two nestling vultures in an abandoned house near Bonnie Lake, Alberta (SW17 - 60-13-W4M; 54d 10' 56"N, 111d 55' 34"W; UTM 12U 439557E, 6004175N). From the Flickr photos it appears that by June 9/13 AMR had a pure white beak. I have seen a photo of a July-Aug. TUVU in Alberta with a black tip on the white beak. So, it appears that there is a bit of variation in the time required to achieve the "adult plumage" of these birds." Thanks again to everyone and let's all keep an eye out for marked birds! Scott Hampton Missoula --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, "wscotthampton" wrote: > > Hi MOB crowd > Does anyone have any knowledge of wing tagged Turkey Vultures? Yesterday (9 June 2013) there was in Malta, MT with about 10 other TUVUs. Photos here: http://flic.kr/p/eJ5Qtv The tag was yellow and had AMR on it. > > Also yesterday, there was a Black-bellied Plover at Bowdoin NWR, resting on a sand spit near the southeast part of the lake. Presumably this bird stalled out on its northward movement during migration and is 'summering' here? Any opinions? > > And also yesterday there was a Sprague's Pipit singing high over head near a small reservoir at 48.701130, -109.039394. It was a great place to stop, here's my list for the spot: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14389081 > It's only 8 miles north of Hwy 2 about halfway between Malta and Havre. There may be hundreds of places in that part of the state that are just as good, I'm new to exploring out there, just thought I'd share in case anyone's interested. It's breeding season out on the grasslands and there's a lot going on out there! > > Scott Hampton > Missoula > ------------------------------------ Subject: Rocky Mountain Front From: "Larry Carter" <birder43 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:12:29 -0000 MOB, stayed at Cave Mountain Campground for a couple of days. Nothing real special but just to be in the mountains is sure special. Saw 2 Red-naped Sapsuckers in the campground as well as a few Warbling Vieros. Heard and saw a few Least Flycatchers, and saw a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets as well. Of course saw the common mountain Chickadee as well as the Red-breasted Nuthatches with a couple of Audubons Yellow-rumped Warblers. The special bird of this trip was seeing a pair of American Dippers carrying aquatic insects under this small bridge where the nest was. Heard the young Dippers calling for food when one of the parent's came back with the goodies. Took a few pictures hope they come out. Pretty cool up there but that is all right. On way up and back from the Rocky Mountain Front saw a few Mountain Bluebirds. Sunday June 9, saw the Western Screech Owl in the town park of Choteau with Mike Schwitters. All for now, Larry Carter Fairfield ------------------------------------ Subject: Empid ID article that may be of use From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:39:43 -0700 (PDT) MOB, � Over the years this very�impasse has arisen, often, among birders who choose to endeavor identification of this genus. A while back I took the time to summarize some measurements from specimens I'd examined at the Delaware Museum of Natural History (sample sizes ranging from 24 to 100+ individuals per species) to sum up some of what other birders had published, and, combined with all the bander's records I could get my hands on from Pyle and others,�what I had noticed when I was really paying attention to this genus in the field. � I admit this article may be intimidating or confusing. I can't say that I'm any better off for having written it, but am glad I took the time. I can only say that, after subjecting myself to those awful�silent Flycatchers in the Fall in Texas, I decided I would try to rationalize this very confusing genus, and come up with some general ideas for identifying each species by translating a large amount of data into what it means to an observing eye in the field. � Again, it may not be of great use or interest to most, but for those of you out there who love Gulls, Shorebirds, and the like, the following link may be worth a read: � http://aba.org/birding/v41n2p30.pdf � Good Birding, � Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:26:29 -0700 (PDT) Dan,   Specifically, I referred to Hammond's as having a long, sabre-like, primary projection. If you read more closely I listed the features of Hammond's as including : longish, sabre-shaped primary projection I simply copied and pasted this from the previous post, which is in the text below, so I believe I worded it correctly. I hope there wasn't confusion for other MOB members!   I think what may have been confusing was the following statement (which I have simply copied and pasted from below, as well):   "That being said, long-winged Least Flycatcher individuals do approach the shorter-winged Hammond's in primary projection length, but this feature never overlaps."   What I should've written was: "Least Flycatchers exhibiting the longest primary projection for that species will never overlap with Hammond's Flycatchers exhibiting the shortest primary projection for that species."   Everybody confused yet? What it means is: The shortest-winged Hammond's Flycatcher will still have a longer wing, and primary projection, than the longest-winged Least Flycatcher. So, yes, Dan is correct, but I was not mistaken in what I had written. I wrote the assessment poorly. My apologies for the confusion!   Nonetheless I do not feel I'm mistaken in judging the primary projection length of this Flycatcher, but this is a good lesson:   You can't identify every Empid!!!! "Empidonax species" is a very fine designation for birds with moderate measurements. I must disagree, to some extent, on Dan's assessment of behavioral characteristics. They can be quite indicative in breeding habitat. Perhaps these birds behavior is less significant during migration, but Hammond's Flycatchers tend to forage higher in the foliage than do Least, and often exhibit a wing-flicking, agitated behavior. Again, word of CAUTION: any agitated Empid can act this way. It's just tendency that Hammond's have, while Least flycatcher tend to stick to the tail-lifting. Again, just tendencies, so I'm not disagreeing with Dan. In these situations, you need ALL the information, making ID from photos alone very tough...   Big thing is - Empids are darn difficult birds to ID. Many of the features overlap, and some of the most salient features are only definable with time, experience, relative comparisons, etc. and we still screw up. Don't feel bad about not putting a name on this Flycatcher.   Cheers,   Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El mar, 6/11/13, Dan Casey escribió: De: Dan Casey Asunto: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 04:40 pm   Forrest: You referred to Hammond's as "shorter-winged", but it actually has the longest primary extension of our Empids, with Least being moderate to short. This bird appears to have short primary extension (for those unfamiliar with that term, the length that the folded primaries project beyond the rest of the folded wing.  But I  misspoke on the head/back contrast, which is indeed greater (and more gray/olive) in a Hammond's than a Least .   Beth, you can pretty much dismiss any wing- and tail-flicking behavior for identifying the bird. With the exception of the very exaggerated tail dip of the Gray, I think such behavioral cues are useless.  Dan Casey Somers --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Forrest Rowland wrote: > > Beth, >   > I don't see Cordilleran for the bird in the photo, for all the reason Dan mentioned in the previous reply. Barring any other feature (all of which are pretty inconsistent with Cordilleran) you could practically rule out this species by the bill shape and size alone. I left some comments on the photo itself, mentioning that, to my eye, Hammond's Flycatcher cannot be ruled out. Least would be the most likely candidate, I suppose, given the overall commonality of the species there, but things of note for Hammond's: >   > small bill > Distinct contrast between head and mantle > longish, sabre-shaped primary projection > oblong eyering > relatively short-looking tail >   > What is inconsistent with Hammond's, that I can see in the photo, is the coloration of the lower mandible, which seems (even though the angle only gives us the line of the mouth, which can be bright in any Empid. individual) to be orange/pale. Hammond's typically show a dark lower mandible. However, every other aspect of this particular individual appears consistent with Hammond's. >   > That being said, long-winged Least Flycatcher individuals do approach the shorter-winged Hammond's in primary projection length, but this feature never overlaps. Judging projection length, given the photo's angle, makes me think Hammond's...  >   > What am I saying? Well, I guess I'm saying it's an Empid. sp. looking closer to Hammond's, but not dissilmilar enough from Least to be definitive. Could be either. With a gun to my head I'd call Hammond's....but I'm really, REALLY, glad there's not.... >   > Behavioral notes help. How high was the bird foraging? Was it flicking both wings and tail? No vocalizations? >   > Good Birding, >   > Forrest Rowland > Livingston, MT > > > --- El mar, 6/11/13, Dan Casey danielcasey55 AT ... escribió: > > > De: Dan Casey danielcasey55 AT ... > Asunto: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help > A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 12:21 pm > > > >   > > > > Beth et al: > > > I think the photo shows a Least Flycatcher. They show a nice contrast between a grayish head and nape, light olive-tinged back.  Cordilleran would be much greener from head to tail. The shape of the eyering is not atypical for Least, which can be wider behind the eye, but not as much as Cordilleran. Note the strong contrast in the wingbars, white throat and smallish bill, all also better for Least than Cordilleran, > > > Dan Casey > Somers > --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Beth Hill wrote: > > > > My husband took the picture in ID Help at Giant Springs last week. Until > > he looked at it closely he thought he had just taken some nice least > > flycatcher pictures. It was not vocalizing, just flycatching. The color > > was the issue - the least flycatchers are the grayest of the bunch and this > > guy is olive on the back, his wings have some brown in them and the belly > > almost has some olive or yellow color. The eye ring is extended at the > > back - almost to a point. We are thinking Cordilleran - but I'd like some > > other thoughts from folks that have seen more flycatchers than I have (and > > never a Cordilleran). > > Thanks in advance > > Beth Hill > > Great Falls > > > Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:11:19 -0700 (PDT) Beth,   Colors often aren't helpful in Empids, alas. Primary Projection, Bill structure, tail length, and such structural features are more poignant.   Good Birding,   Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El mar, 6/11/13, Beth Hill escribió: De: Beth Hill Asunto: Re: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help A: "MOB-Montana" Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 03:39 pm   It was just flycatching.  I'll have to ask at what level.  I don't know about the tail flicking - I can ask about that as well.  I can pull up a couple of the nice, gray least flycatcher pictures as a comparison.  Taken with the same camera/lens and in sunlight as well.  That would rule out if it was just the camera interpreting the colors.  We realize that without vocalizations many are just - flycatcher.   (maybe they'll lump them together again?) Thanks for looking Beth Hill Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:09:56 -0700 (PDT) Jackie,   Cord-ee-yer-un   Or thereabouts ;-) It means "pertaining to/of the mountains", more or less.   Good Birding,   Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El mar, 6/11/13, Jackie Wilson escribió: De: Jackie Wilson Asunto: Re: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help A: "MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com" Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 03:14 pm   How do you pronounce Cordilleran? On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 2:03 PM, Forrest Rowland wrote:   Beth,   I don't see Cordilleran for the bird in the photo, for all the reason Dan mentioned in the previous reply. Barring any other feature (all of which are pretty inconsistent with Cordilleran) you could practically rule out this species by the bill shape and size alone. I left some comments on the photo itself, mentioning that, to my eye, Hammond's Flycatcher cannot be ruled out. Least would be the most likely candidate, I suppose, given the overall commonality of the species there, but things of note for Hammond's:   small bill Distinct contrast between head and mantle longish, sabre-shaped primary projection oblong eyering relatively short-looking tail   What is inconsistent with Hammond's, that I can see in the photo, is the coloration of the lower mandible, which seems (even though the angle only gives us the line of the mouth, which can be bright in any Empid. individual) to be orange/pale. Hammond's typically show a dark lower mandible. However, every other aspect of this particular individual appears consistent with Hammond's.   That being said, long-winged Least Flycatcher individuals do approach the shorter-winged Hammond's in primary projection length, but this feature never overlaps. Judging projection length, given the photo's angle, makes me think Hammond's...    What am I saying? Well, I guess I'm saying it's an Empid. sp. looking closer to Hammond's, but not dissilmilar enough from Least to be definitive. Could be either. With a gun to my head I'd call Hammond's....but I'm really, REALLY, glad there's not....   Behavioral notes help. How high was the bird foraging? Was it flicking both wings and tail? No vocalizations?   Good Birding,   Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El mar, 6/11/13, Dan Casey escribió: De: Dan Casey Asunto: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 12:21 pm   Beth et al: I think the photo shows a Least Flycatcher. They show a nice contrast between a grayish head and nape, light olive-tinged back.  Cordilleran would be much greener from head to tail. The shape of the eyering is not atypical for Least, which can be wider behind the eye, but not as much as Cordilleran. Note the strong contrast in the wingbars, white throat and smallish bill, all also better for Least than Cordilleran, Dan Casey Somers --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Beth Hill wrote: > > My husband took the picture in ID Help at Giant Springs last week. Until > he looked at it closely he thought he had just taken some nice least > flycatcher pictures. It was not vocalizing, just flycatching. The color > was the issue - the least flycatchers are the grayest of the bunch and this > guy is olive on the back, his wings have some brown in them and the belly > almost has some olive or yellow color. The eye ring is extended at the > back - almost to a point. We are thinking Cordilleran - but I'd like some > other thoughts from folks that have seen more flycatchers than I have (and > never a Cordilleran). > Thanks in advance > Beth Hill > Great Falls > -- Jackie "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."       Howard Thurman Subject: Long-billed Curlew From: "wstrainer" <wstrainer AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:18:26 -0000 We were driving on Filson Rd near Townsend, MT last night around 5:30pm and we spotted a Long-billed Curlew on a fence post. We slowed to get a picture but it flew away. It's the first time I've ever seen a Curlew! Very unique and beautiful bird!! ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Two more Least Flycatcher shots From: Beth Hill <grizhill AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:56:51 -0600 Maybe like the one in the photo my husband and I have been puzzling over. Sun can do wonderful things to color in feathers. Beth Hill Subject: Re: Two more Least Flycatcher shots From: "Tom Forwood Jr." <tjfishing75 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:42:19 -0600 I had a Least Flycatcher near Bozeman about a week ago that was vocalizing frequently making for easy ID, but had a VERY strong olive back. The sun was right on it and it looked a lot like a Cordilleran. You have to love empids! -- Tom Forwood Park Ranger Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park P.O. Box 489 Whitehall, MT 59759 406-287-3541 fwptforwood AT gmail.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Two more Least Flycatcher shots From: "Dan Casey" <danielcasey55 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:53:05 -0000 MOB-sters: While we're on the subject, I just posted two shots of a Least Flycatcher caught and banded at the Flathead Valley Bird Observatory site east of Kalispell last week. Note that this bird, too, shows some contrast between head and back, short wing projection, white throat and orange-yellow lower mandible (what you can see of it). Dan CaseySomers Subject: Re: Flycatcher Help From: "Dan Casey" <danielcasey55 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:40:58 -0000 Forrest: You referred to Hammond's as "shorter-winged", but it actually has the longest primary extension of our Empids, with Least being moderate to short. This bird appears to have short primary extension (for those unfamiliar with that term, the length that the folded primaries project beyond the rest of the folded wing. But I misspoke on the head/back contrast, which is indeed greater (and more gray/olive) in a Hammond's than a Least . Beth, you can pretty much dismiss any wing- and tail-flicking behavior for identifying the bird. With the exception of the very exaggerated tail dip of the Gray, I think such behavioral cues are useless. Dan CaseySomers --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Forrest Rowland wrote: > > Beth, > � > I don't see Cordilleran for the bird in the photo, for all the reason Dan mentioned in the previous reply. Barring any other feature (all of which are pretty inconsistent with Cordilleran) you could practically rule out this species by the bill shape and size alone. I left some comments on the photo itself, mentioning that, to my eye, Hammond's Flycatcher cannot be ruled out. Least would be the most likely candidate, I suppose, given the overall commonality of the species there, but things of note for Hammond's: > � > small bill > Distinct contrast between head and mantle > longish, sabre-shaped primary projection > oblong� eyering > relatively short-looking tail > � > What is inconsistent with Hammond's, that I can see in the photo, is the coloration of the lower mandible, which seems (even though the angle only gives us the line of the mouth, which can be bright in any Empid. individual) to be orange/pale. Hammond's typically show a dark lower mandible. However, every other aspect of this particular individual appears consistent with Hammond's. > � > That being said, long-winged Least Flycatcher individuals do approach the shorter-winged Hammond's in primary projection length, but this feature never overlaps.� Judging projection length, given the photo's angle, makes me think Hammond's...� > � > What am I saying? Well, I guess I'm saying it's an Empid. sp. looking closer to Hammond's, but not dissilmilar enough from Least to be definitive. Could be either. With a gun to my head I'd call Hammond's....but I'm really, REALLY, glad there's not.... > � > Behavioral notes help. How high was the bird foraging? Was it flicking both wings and tail? No vocalizations? > � > Good Birding, > � > Forrest Rowland > Livingston, MT > > > --- El mar, 6/11/13, Dan Casey danielcasey55 AT ... escribió: > > > De: Dan Casey danielcasey55 AT ... > Asunto: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help > A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 12:21 pm > > > > � > > > > Beth et al: > > > I think the photo shows a Least Flycatcher. They show a nice contrast between a grayish head and nape, light olive-tinged back. � Cordilleran would be much greener from head to tail. The shape of the eyering is not atypical for Least, which can be wider behind the eye, but not as much as Cordilleran. Note the strong contrast in the wingbars, white throat and smallish bill, all also better for Least than Cordilleran, > > > Dan Casey > Somers > --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Beth Hill wrote: > > > > My husband took the picture in ID Help at Giant Springs last week. Until > > he looked at it closely he thought he had just taken some nice least > > flycatcher pictures. It was not vocalizing, just flycatching. The color > > was the issue - the least flycatchers are the grayest of the bunch and this > > guy is olive on the back, his wings have some brown in them and the belly > > almost has some olive or yellow color. The eye ring is extended at the > > back - almost to a point. We are thinking Cordilleran - but I'd like some > > other thoughts from folks that have seen more flycatchers than I have (and > > never a Cordilleran). > > Thanks in advance > > Beth Hill > > Great Falls > > > Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: Beth Hill <grizhill AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:39:32 -0600 I posted the typical Least. Just all gray. The outermost primary on the bird in question is brown, but not in any of the possibly hundreds of Least photos he has taken. Anyway - interesting picture - and sometimes even with a nice sharp image you still can't be sure. Too bad it was "mute". Beth Hill Subject: Billings/Three Forks birds From: "Chad Adams" <candjbirds AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:22:40 -0000 Some quick birding in Billings yesterday while there for work. I had never been to the MSU Billings campus, but found several yellow warblers, a common yellowthroat, 3 Northern Flickers, and one Downy Woodpecker in a couple minutes walking from my car to a meeting. On the way home, stopped in Three Forks in a rain/thunderstorm and found 3 Burrowing Owls, one Wilson's Phalarope, pair of Cinnamon Teal, a Merlin, 2 Common Yellowthroats, several Eastern Kingbirds, and 20-30 noisy Long-Billed Curlew, one which kept running out in the road and sitting down in front of the car so I had to keep waiting for it to move to pass by without hitting it. ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: "Jeff Marks" <jeff17_marks AT msn.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:05:32 -0700 Like in Spanish, core-dee-yair-an, with accent on penultimate syllable. ******************* Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ******************* ----- Original Message ----- From: Jackie Wilson To: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 1:14 PM Subject: Re: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help How do you pronounce Cordilleran? On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 2:03 PM, Forrest Rowland > wrote: Beth, I don't see Cordilleran for the bird in the photo, for all the reason Dan mentioned in the previous reply. Barring any other feature (all of which are pretty inconsistent with Cordilleran) you could practically rule out this species by the bill shape and size alone. I left some comments on the photo itself, mentioning that, to my eye, Hammond's Flycatcher cannot be ruled out. Least would be the most likely candidate, I suppose, given the overall commonality of the species there, but things of note for Hammond's: small bill Distinct contrast between head and mantle longish, sabre-shaped primary projection oblong eyering relatively short-looking tail What is inconsistent with Hammond's, that I can see in the photo, is the coloration of the lower mandible, which seems (even though the angle only gives us the line of the mouth, which can be bright in any Empid. individual) to be orange/pale. Hammond's typically show a dark lower mandible. However, every other aspect of this particular individual appears consistent with Hammond's. That being said, long-winged Least Flycatcher individuals do approach the shorter-winged Hammond's in primary projection length, but this feature never overlaps. Judging projection length, given the photo's angle, makes me think Hammond's... What am I saying? Well, I guess I'm saying it's an Empid. sp. looking closer to Hammond's, but not dissilmilar enough from Least to be definitive. Could be either. With a gun to my head I'd call Hammond's....but I'm really, REALLY, glad there's not.... Behavioral notes help. How high was the bird foraging? Was it flicking both wings and tail? No vocalizations? Good Birding, Forrest Rowland Livingston, MT --- El mar, 6/11/13, Dan Casey > escribi�: De: Dan Casey > Asunto: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 12:21 pm Beth et al: I think the photo shows a Least Flycatcher. They show a nice contrast between a grayish head and nape, light olive-tinged back. Cordilleran would be much greener from head to tail. The shape of the eyering is not atypical for Least, which can be wider behind the eye, but not as much as Cordilleran. Note the strong contrast in the wingbars, white throat and smallish bill, all also better for Least than Cordilleran, Dan Casey Somers --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Beth Hill wrote: > > My husband took the picture in ID Help at Giant Springs last week. Until > he looked at it closely he thought he had just taken some nice least > flycatcher pictures. It was not vocalizing, just flycatching. The color > was the issue - the least flycatchers are the grayest of the bunch and this > guy is olive on the back, his wings have some brown in them and the belly > almost has some olive or yellow color. The eye ring is extended at the > back - almost to a point. We are thinking Cordilleran - but I'd like some > other thoughts from folks that have seen more flycatchers than I have (and > never a Cordilleran). > Thanks in advance > Beth Hill > Great Falls > -- Jackie "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: Beth Hill <grizhill AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:39:24 -0600 It was just flycatching. I'll have to ask at what level. I don't know about the tail flicking - I can ask about that as well. I can pull up a couple of the nice, gray least flycatcher pictures as a comparison. Taken with the same camera/lens and in sunlight as well. That would rule out if it was just the camera interpreting the colors. We realize that without vocalizations many are just - flycatcher. (maybe they'll lump them together again?) Thanks for looking Beth Hill Subject: Re: Re: Flycatcher Help From: Jackie Wilson <drjdubs AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:14:33 -0600 How do you pronounce Cordilleran? On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 2:03 PM, Forrest Rowland wrote: > ** > > > Beth, > > I don't see Cordilleran for the bird in the photo, for all the reason Dan > mentioned in the previous reply. Barring any other feature (all of which > are pretty inconsistent with Cordilleran) you could practically rule out > this species by the bill shape and size alone. I left some comments on the > photo itself, mentioning that, to my eye, Hammond's Flycatcher cannot be > ruled out. Least would be the most likely candidate, I suppose, given the > overall commonality of the species there, but things of note for Hammond's: > > small bill > Distinct contrast between head and mantle > longish, sabre-shaped primary projection > oblong eyering > relatively short-looking tail > > What is inconsistent with Hammond's, that I can see in the photo, is the > coloration of the lower mandible, which seems (even though the angle only > gives us the line of the mouth, which can be bright in any Empid. > individual) to be orange/pale. Hammond's typically show a dark lower > mandible. However, every other aspect of this particular individual appears > consistent with Hammond's. > > That being said, long-winged Least Flycatcher individuals do approach the > shorter-winged Hammond's in primary projection length, but this feature > never overlaps. Judging projection length, given the photo's angle, makes > me think Hammond's... > > What am I saying? Well, I guess I'm saying it's an Empid. sp. looking > closer to Hammond's, but not dissilmilar enough from Least to be > definitive. Could be either. With a gun to my head I'd call > Hammond's....but I'm really, REALLY, glad there's not.... > > Behavioral notes help. How high was the bird foraging? Was it flicking > both wings and tail? No vocalizations? > > Good Birding, > > Forrest Rowland > Livingston, MT > > > --- El *mar, 6/11/13, Dan Casey * escribi�: > > > De: Dan Casey > Asunto: [MOB-Montana] Re: Flycatcher Help > A: MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com > Fecha: martes, 11 de junio de 2013, 12:21 pm > > > Beth et al: > > I think the photo shows a Least Flycatcher. They show a nice contrast > between a grayish head and nape, light olive-tinged back. Cordilleran > would be much greener from head to tail. The shape of the eyering is not > atypical for Least, which can be wider behind the eye, but not as much as > Cordilleran. Note the strong contrast in the wingbars, white throat and > smallish bill, all also better for Least than Cordilleran, > > Dan Casey > Somers > --- In MOB-Montana AT yahoogroups.com, Beth Hill wrote: > > > > My husband took the picture in ID Help at Giant Springs last week. Until > > he looked at it closely he thought he had just taken some nice least > > flycatcher pictures. It was not vocalizing, just flycatching. The color > > was the issue - the least flycatchers are the grayest of the bunch and > this > > guy is olive on the back, his wings have some brown in them and the belly > > almost has some olive or yellow color. The eye ring is extended at the > > back - almost to a point. We are thinking Cordilleran - but I'd like some > > other thoughts from folks that have seen more flycatchers than I have > (and > > never a Cordilleran). > > Thanks in advance > > Beth Hill > > Great Falls > > > > > -- Jackie "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman