It has been a while since I’ve posted to this blog, due mainly to the fact that some poor luck fell on me, and my laptop was stolen from my desk in my office while I was off teaching. Luckily, most of my photos and video were backed up, but it’s been rough not being able to share anything while I’ve searched for a solution. For the meantime, I’ve found a temporary fix in borrowing a computer. This has allowed me to look through some photos I’ve gathered while I was computer-less.

Anyway, the photo above was taken yesterday morning. I went for a day of birding with some new and talented Idaho birding friends to a large reservoir on the west end of the Treasure Valley. It was a great day with some good birds. We ventured to Deer Flats Reservoir in the early morning, making it to the mudflats just as the sun rose. The light was electric, and luckily we found some tolerant Least Sandpipers. I again found myself on my elbows and knees, shooting shorebirds, remembering my summer in the north.

I don’t know much about birding in Idaho, but I sure am learning. We found a juvenile American Golden-Plover, which is a great bird here. It was a lifer for one of the fellows in our group. That is always fun to be a part of, in my opinion, even if it is not you who gets to see something new.

Here are the ebird checklists for those interested in knowing what we found:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15553530

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15553364

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15553253

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15553246

I really enjoy the new birding community I’ve found here in Idaho. Lots to learn as always, and hopefully now that I have a way to blog again, I’ll keep the posting regular.