By Dan Casey
Rare and Notables – November/December 2024
Real winter weather had yet to make an appearance by December 15, and a few of the notables were lingering species not often seen this time of year. These included two Long-billed Dowitchers in Creston November 15 (Craig H.), a Turkey Vulture in Rollins Nov. 20 (Dan C.), a Spotted Towhee at a Polson feeder Dec. 1-11 (Bradon L.), and a Yellow-headed Blackbird in the usual blackbird flock near Egan Slough Dec. 9 (Craig H.), found again near Somers during the Bigfork CBC Dec. 14 (Dan C.). Most of the rest of the notable birds were waterfowl, gulls or raptors, as is typical for the season. The female Black Scoter found Nov. 15 at Mission Reservoir was seen through Nov. 20. A number of Ferruginous Hawks were reported, including one near Proctor found Nov. 17 (Braydon L.) and still present as of Dec. 13 (Nolan W.). Others were at Irvine Flats near Polson Dec. 3 (Josh C.) and near Round Butte west of Ronan Dec. 3-11 (James M.). A Long-tailed Duck on Lake Mary Ronan was present from at least Nov. 24 through Dec. 13 (Braydon L.). Ninepipe Reservoir hosted seven Greater White-fronted Geese Nov. 26-30 (Braydon L.) and a single Snow Goose Dec. 15 (Dan C.); the latter was new to the Ninepipe CBC list. An immature Peregrine Falcon was seen hunting pigeons in Ronan Dec. 5 (Dan S.). A Bonaparte’s Gull photographed in the Flathead Lake Waterfowl Production Area (Shawn R.) on Dec. 14 was new to the Bigfork CBC list. Three Iceland (Thayer’s) Gulls and two Short-billed (Mew) Gulls were also found on the North Shore during the count (Shawn R., Dan C.). The first Glaucous Gull of the season was at the Flathead County Landfill Dec. 9 (Dan C.). See also: https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all
What to Expect – January 2025
As we truly enter winter, local birders are best advised to search for raptors in the open country, waterfowl on whatever open water remains, and birds attracted to feeders and fruiting shrubs and trees. It remains to be seen if “winter finch” numbers will pick up; reports of Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill and White-winged Crossbill have been scant to non-existent so far this winter. Cone crops look poor, but birch catkins may attract some of these birds, particularly Redpolls. There were very few reports of Bohemian Waxwings prior to the first CBC weekend, but we would expect those to increase, and there appears to be no shortage of mountain ash fruits for them to find. Watch for Merlins attending the flocks!