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boundary county big year 2011

 

Compiled by Jan Rose

 

Boundary County is the only county in the US with an international border and two different state borders, but its natural wonders far outmatch the anomalies of its political boundaries.  The coastal influence is strong here and is obvious to those who have wondered any of the groves of giant cedars.  The connection to the Canadian Rockies can also be seen in the vast spruce and fir dominated forests in the higher peaks.  Nowhere is this more apparent than along the amazing crags of the Selkirk Crest.  These mountains are still home to wilderness-loving animals such as Grizzly Bears and Wolverines and the only herd of Woodland Caribou in the Lower 48 spends most of its year here.  This seems to be the best place in the state for specialties like Black Swift and Boreal Chickadee and even White-tailed Ptarmigan have been found here.  Boundary doesn’t have the enormous lakes of Bonner and Kootenai Counties (Priest Lake is suspiciously omitted from Boundary’s borders) but McArthur Lake provides some deep water and Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge and Boundary Creek Wildlife Management Area host large numbers of breeding and migrating aquatic species. 

 

Please be sure to submit any records

Jan Rose
BioTech/YCC Crew Leader
Kootenai NWR
287 Westside Rd
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

208/267-3888
208/267-5570 Fax

 

 

2011 Bird Sightings @ Kootenai NWR and Boundary County

 

 

 

Date First Sighted

Bird

Location

 

Date First Sighted

Bird

Location

 

 

 

LOONS

 

UPLAND GAME BIRDS

 

 

 

3/25,6/1

Common Loon

McArthur Lk, Smith Lk.

 

2/15

Ring-necked Pheasant

KNWR

 

 

 

GREBES

 

3/15,3/23

Ruffed Grouse

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

 

 

3/11

Pied-billed Grebe

KNWR

 

1/20

Spruce Grouse

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

 

Eared Grebe

 

 

1/3, 2/26

Wild Turkey

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

5/25

Horned Grebe

KNWR

 

5/10

California Quail

Moyie Springs

 

 

 

4/28, 5/2

Red-necked Grebe

McArthur Lk. KNWR

 

4/3

Chukar

Blume Hill area

 

 

 

5/1

Western Grebe

Koot.River

 

7/12

Dusky Grouse

Copper Lk area

 

 

 

PELICANS AND CORMORANT

 

CRANES, RAILS AND COOTS

 

 

 

5/2,5/12

American White Pelican

KNWR

 

3/11,5/25

Sandhill Crane - 15 flying

Bonners Ferry overhd, KNWR

 

 

 

3/31,9/7

Double-crested Cormorant

Koot.R.,KNWR

 

5/5

Sora Rail

KNWR

 

 

 

BITTERNS, HERONS AND EGRETS

 

4/28

Virginia Rail

KNWR

 

 

 

6/5

White-faced Ibis

Flying above Kootenai River

 

3/31

American Coot

KNWR

 

 

 

1/15,1/18

Great Blue Heron

Koot.R.,KNWR

 

SHOREBIRDS

 

 

 

 

American Bittern

 

 

3/14-8/31

Killdeer

KNWR

 

 

 

SWANS, GEESE AND DUCKS

 

5/10

Blk-necked Stilt

KNWR

 

 

 

3/5,3/14

Tundra Swan ~200

Moravia,KNWR

 

 

American Avocet

 

 

 

 

3/29, 3/31

Trumpeter Swan

KNWR

 

8/2-8/31

Greater Yellowlegs

KNWR

 

 

 

1/3, 1/18

Canada Goose

Koot.R., KNWR

 

8/3-9/7

Lesser Yellowlegs

KNWR

 

 

 

3/23,4/8

Greater WhFronted Goose

BSCWMA,KNWR

 

9/7

Solitary Sandpiper

KNWR

 

 

 

4/24,5/4

Snow Goose

KNWR

 

5/29,6/5

Spotted Sandpiper

Koot. R., KNWR/Deep Crk

 

 

 

1/3, 1/25

Mallard

Koot.R., KNWR

 

 

Long-billed Curlew

 

 

 

 

3/31

Wood Duck

KNWR

 

9/7

Semipalmated Sandpiper

KNWR

 

 

 

1/25

Northern Pintail

KNWR

 

 

Western Sandpiper

 

 

 

 

3/31

Gadwall

KNWR

 

 

Least Sandpiper

 

 

 

 

3/14

American Wigeon

KNWR

 

5/6,9/13

Pectoral Sandpiper

KNWR, KNWR

 

 

 

4/13

Eurasian Wigeon

KNWR

 

 

Misc. Peeps

 

 

 

 

4/13

Northern Shoveler

KNWR

 

5/12,9/7

Long-billed Dowitcher

KNWR (14 birds), KNWR

 

 

 

5/4

Blue-winged Teal

KNWR

 

4/21,4/28

Wilson's Snipe

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

 

 

4/28

Cinnamon Teal

KNWR

 

5/10,8/3

Wilson's Phalarope

KNWR

 

 

 

3/14

Green-winged Teal

KNWR

 

8/8,8/30

Red-necked Phalarope

KNWR

 

 

 

 

Lesser Scaup

 

 

8/30

Baird's Sandpiper

KNWR

 

 

 

3/31

Ring-necked Duck

KNWR

 

9/7

Sanderling

KNWR

 

 

 

5/13

Canvasback

KNWR

 

GULLS AND TERNS

 

 

 

3/15

Redhead

KNWR

 

 

California Gull

 

 

 

 

6/7

Harlequin Duck

Moyie River

 

3/14, 8/30

Ring-billed Gull

KNWR

 

 

 

1/8,4/13

Common Goldeneye

Koot.R.,KNWR

 

5/4,8/8

Bonaparte's Gull

KNWR

 

 

 

1/8, 3/23

Barrow's Goldeneye

Koot. R., McArthur Lk.

 

 

Franklin's Gull

 

 

 

 

1/18,4/13

Bufflehead

Koot.R.,KNWR

 

5/25

Black Tern

KNWR

 

 

 

1/10

Common Merganser

Kootenai River

 

 

Forster's Tern

 

 

 

 

3/13

Hooded Merganser

KNWR

 

 

Caspian Tern

 

 

 

 

2/19

Red-breasted Merganser

Koot.R. Copeland

 

 

Herring Gull

 

 

 

 

4/25,5/25

Ruddy Duck

McArthur Lk., KNWR

 

PIGEONS AND DOVES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/4, 3/31

Rock Dove

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/12

Eurasian Collared Dove

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

RAPTORS

 

1/4, 3/28

Mourning Dove

Bonners Ferry, Riverside Rd

 

 

 

3/25,4/11

Turkey Vulture

Bonners Ferry,KNWR

 

OWLS

 

 

 

2/16

Northern Harrier

KNWR

 

2/15, 3/13

Great Horned Owl

KNWR, Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

5/2, 8/3

Cooper's Hawk

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

2/21

Northern Pygmy Owl

McArthur Lk.

 

 

 

1/8, 7/27

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/11,5/20

Northern Goshawk

Moyie Springs, Hall Mt.

 

NIGHTHAWKS AND SWIFTS

 

 

 

1/11, 2/3

Red-tailed Hawk

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

6/4,6/5

Common Nighthawk

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

 

 

5/19

Swainson's Hawk

Bonners Ferry

 

5/4

Vaux's Swift

KNWR

 

 

 

1/11, 3/29

Rough-legged Hawk

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

5/25

Black Swift

Blume Hill area

 

 

 

4/13,5/25

Osprey

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

KINGFISHER

 

 

 

1/3

Golden Eagle

Bonners Ferry

 

1/22, 4/1

Belted Kingfisher

Koot. R., KNWR

 

 

 

1/3, 1/18

Bald Eagle

Koot.R., KNWR

 

HUMMINGBIRDS

 

 

 

4/8, 6/15

American Kestrel

Riverside Rd, KNWR

 

5/2,5/10

Calliope Hummingbird

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

1/17,6/1

Merlin

Smith Lk.Rd.,KNWR

 

4/30,5/4

Rufous Hummingbird

Bonners Ferry,KNWR

 

 

 

5/29,6/19

Peregrine Falcon

Koot.River, KNWR

 

5/2,5/12

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

 

Prairie Falcon

 

 

WOODPECKERS

 

 

 

FLYCATCHERS

 

1/2

Pileated Woodpecker

Moyie Springs

 

 

 

5/11,5/23

Western Wood Peewee

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

1/3, 1/18

Northern Flicker

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

6/9

Hammond's Flycatcher

KNWR

 

1/2, 2/14

Hairy Woodpecker

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

 

 

5/10

Least Flycatcher

KNWR

 

1/3

Downy Woodpecker

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

5/29

Willow Flycatcher

Koot.R

 

7/12

Three-toed Woodpecker

Copper Lk area

 

 

 

 

Dusky Flycatcher

 

 

 

Black-backed Woodpecker

 

 

 

6/5,6/9

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

21-Apr

Red-naped Sapsucker

Moyie Springs

 

 

 

5/21

Western Flycatcher

Bonners Ferry

 

6-May

Lewis's Woodpecker

Blume Hill area

 

 

 

5/24

Eastern Kingbird

KNWR

 

MIMIC THRUSHES AND PIPITS

 

 

 

5/20

Western Kingbird

Bonners Ferry

 

5/11

Gray Catbird

KNWR

 

 

 

4/20

Say's Phoebe

Mt. HallSchool area

 

 

Northern Mockingbird

 

 

 

 

SHRIKES AND VIREOS

 

9/7

American Pipit

KNWR

 

 

 

1/8, 3/18

Northern Shrike

KNWR

 

STARLINGS AND WAXWINGS

 

 

 

6/9

Red-eyed Vireo

KNWR

 

1/3

Bohemian Waxwing

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

4/15,5/23

Warbling Vireo

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

3/11,6/3

Cedar Waxwing

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

5/29

Cassin's Vireo

Blume Hill area

 

1/8, 3/22

European Starling

BF Landfill, KNWR

 

 

 

CROWS, JAYS AND MAGPIES

 

WARBLERS

 

 

 

1/2, 1/18

Steller's Jay

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

4/27

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

1/2

Gray Jay

Moyie Springs

 

5/1

MacGillivray's Warbler

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

5/3

Blue Jay

Bonners Ferry

 

5/11

Common Yellowthroat

KNWR

 

 

 

1/3, 1/18

American Crow

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

5/4,5/11

Yellow Warbler

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

1/3, 1/18

Common Raven

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

5/13

Townsend's Warbler

Leonia Knob/Katka area

 

 

 

1/3, 1/18

Black-billed Magpie

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

6/29

American Redstart

Robinson Lk

 

 

 

1/3,9/9

Clark's Nutcracker

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

6/29

Northern Waterthrush

Robinson Lk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5/6

Orange-crowned Warbler

Blume Hill area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5/6

Nashville Warbler

Blume Hill area

 

 

 

SWALLOWS

 

 

Wilson's Warbler

 

 

 

 

4/12

Tree Swallow

KNWR

 

TANAGERS, CARDINALS, GROSBEAKS AND ALLIES

 

 

 

4/1,4/13

Violet-green Swallow

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

5/25

Western Tanager

KNWR

 

 

 

4/30

N. Rough-winged Swallow

KNWR

 

5/13,6/2

Black-headed Grosbeak

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

 

 

4/29,5/4

Cliff Swallow

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

5/21,6/9

Lazuli Bunting

Blume Hill area, KNWR

 

 

 

5/4

Barn Swallow

KNWR

 

SPARROWS AND TOWHEES

 

 

 

4/12

Bank Swallow

Kootenai River

 

1/9, 3/21

Dark-eyed Junco

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

CHICKADEES, NUTHATCHES AND ALLIES

 

1/2, 3/11

Spotted Towhee

Blume Hill area, Porthill

 

 

 

7/12

Boreal Chickadee

Copper Lk area

 

2/9, 3/16

Song Sparrow

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

1/2, 1/18

Black-capped Chickadee

Moyie Sprgs, KNWR

 

 

Fox Sparrow

 

 

 

 

1/2

Mountain Chickadee

Moyie Springs

 

5/2,5/4

White-crowned Sparrow

Bonners Ferry,KNWR

 

 

 

1/2

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Moyie Springs

 

 

Vesper Sparrow

 

 

 

 

1/2, 1/18

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Moyie Sprgs, KNWR

 

4/28,9/7

Savannah Sparrow

KNWR

 

 

 

1/3

Pygmy Nuthatch

Blume Hill area

 

 

Lincoln's Sparrow

 

 

 

 

 

White-breasted Nuthatch

 

5/13,5/25

Chipping Sparrow

Blume Hill, KNWR

 

 

 

4/9

Brown Creeper

Moyie Springs

 

3/27, 3/31

American Tree Sparrow

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

 

 

WRENS, DIPPERS AND KINGLETS

 

1/20, 2/28

Snow Bunting

Moyie Springs, Riverside Rd

 

 

 

8/21,9/1

American Dipper

Koot.R, KNWR

 

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES AND ALLIES

 

 

 

7/12

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Copper Lk area

 

1/8

Red-winged Blackbird

KNWR

 

 

 

1/22

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Smith Lk Rd

 

4/13

Yellow-headed Blackbird

KNWR

 

 

 

4/14

Pacific Wren

KNWR

 

4/11

Brewer's Blackbird

Bonners Ferry

 

 

 

5/20

House Wren

Bonners Ferry

 

3/17

Western Meadowlark

KNWR

 

 

 

5/13

Marsh Wren

KNWR

 

5/19

Bullock's Oriole

KNWR

 

 

 

 

Canyon Wren

 

 

4/25,5/11

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

 

 

6/20

Rock Wren

Blume Hill area

 

 

Bobolink

 

 

 

 

THRUSHES

 

FINCHES

 

 

 

1/15, 3/1

American Robin

Bonners Ferry, KNWR

 

1/2, 3/15

House Finch

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

 

 

3/12, 3/15

Varied Thrush

Moyie Sprgs, KNWR

 

1/2,5/20

Cassin's Finch

Moyie Springs, KNWR

 

 

 

6/2

Swainson's Thrush