May means great Idaho birding!

I took a lunchtime hike with Shon and Ian today up the draw going east created by Spring Valley Creek. We saw all kinds of great wildflowers and butterflies. The birding was pretty great, especially for being a mid-day excursion. I think Shon just found a great birding hotspot at Avimor.

We found a Red-tailed Hawk on a nest. We found three young Great Horned Owls that are right at that stage where they are losing their baby-fuzz and are growing flight feathers. Two of them were snuggled up close together. The Momma-owl was also there nearby. In that same area we saw the first Lazuli Bunting of the year, along with an Orange-crowned Warbler. I heard at least three Yellow Warblers, but did not see them. There were several Yellow-rumped Warblers flitting about. I heard a Black-capped Chickadee. We saw White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, American Robin, European Starling, Swallows that I couldn't identify, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Willow Flycatcher, Black-billed Magpie, Meadow Lark, and lots of California Quail. I expect to see Bullock's Oriole any day up here at Avimor. I saw one on Sunday at Shadow Valley Golf Course on my way home from church, so they are getting closer.

Here are some warbler pictures that will help you identify some of the warblers common to this area:
Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler