SUMMER IDAHO: CASSIA CROSSBILL & MUCH MORE! JUNE 1 – 7, 2019 Stanley Lake, Idaho © Barry Zimmer With its 58 th Supplement, the American Ornithological Society split off the Cassia Crossbill from the Red Crossbill complex, giving it full species status. This created not only the newest United States endemic, but also one of the most endangered species in our country. Basically limited to Idaho’s South Hills and Albion Mountains, a tiny range comprising only 70 square kilometers, the Cassia Crossbill is surely one of the hardest species to add to one’s life list. This tour will be devoted to finding this special new species, but also to introducing birders to the fabulous birding in the state of Idaho. We will concentrate on the south-central portion of the state where a good variety of habitats occur. Open grasslands, scrub pasture land and marshlands could yield such species as Trumpeter Swan, Cinnamon Teal, Western and Clark’s grebes, Ferruginous Hawk (scarce), Prairie Falcon, Gray Partridge, California Quail, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson’s Phalarope, Burrowing Owl, Brewer’s Sparrow and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Foothill areas with junipers and oaks could produce such Summer Idaho, Page 2 gems as Golden Eagle, Gray Flycatcher, the highly sought Pinyon Jay, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Canyon Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Sage Thrasher, Black- throated Gray Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhee, while riparian tracts are home to Black-billed Magpie, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak and Bullock’s Oriole. Finally, in the higher elevation pine forests and willow-lined streams, we will seek out such species as Calliope Hummingbird; Lewis’s Woodpecker; Red-naped Sapsucker; Cordilleran, Hammond’s and Dusky flycatchers; Mountain Chickadee; MacGillivray’s Warbler; Western Tanager; Cassin’s Finch; Red Crossbill; and of course, our newest species, the Cassia Crossbill. Even such species Lazuli Bunting © Barry Zimmer as Williamson’s Sapsucker, American Three-toed Woodpecker and Clark’s Nutcracker are possible if we get high enough in elevation. Mammals should also be plentiful along our route with possibilities including Pronghorn, Elk, Moose, Red Fox, Yellow-bellied Marmot and American Badger. Discover the avian wonders that southern Idaho has to offer, plus seek out the special endemic Cassia Crossbill in its tiny world range on this trip through “the Gem State.” June 1, Day 1: Arrival in Boise. Participants should plan to arrive in Boise at any time this afternoon and catch the shuttle to our hotel where a room will be reserved in your name. We will meet in the hotel lobby at 5:30 p.m. for a brief orientation session followed by dinner. NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Boise June 2, Day 2: Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh and Drive to Twin Falls. We will likely start out with a brief stop or two in the Pleasant Valley area very near Summer Idaho, Page 3 the airport. Grasslands here may harbor California Quail, Gray Partridge (uncommon) and Swainson’s Hawk among others. A short drive to the southwest will take us to the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Here from a scenically spectacular overlook, we will search for Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk (scarce), White-throated Swifts (often at eye level), Common Raven (often sailing about acrobatically along the gorge) and Rock Wren. Some years, nests of various raptors may be found quite close and nearly at eye level as we scan along the cliff faces above the Snake River. Prairie Falcon © Barry Zimmer After an early lunch in Mountain Home, we will head northward through the Camas Prairie. We will make stops at a variety of small lakes, ponds, sagebrush flats and willow-lined creeks, where avian possibilities include Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck, Western Grebe, Sandhill Crane, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Wilson’s Phalarope, Wilson’s Snipe, Black Tern, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s and Vesper sparrows, spectacular Lazuli Buntings and Yellow-headed Blackbird among others. A good amount of time will be spent cruising around the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh, a location that offers excellent wildlife viewing. We should arrive in Twin Falls (our home for the next four nights) late in the afternoon. NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls June 3, Day 3: Southern Hills All Day. This day should be a very special one as we journey into the Southern Hills in search of the newly split and endemic Cassia Crossbill. As two types of Red Crossbill are also possible in these mountains, we will take great care in separating birds out by calls. Our travels today will take us through a variety of habitats from sagebrush flats to riparian lined streams to lodgepole pine forests interspersed with birch and aspens. Our search for the crossbill will likely be interrupted by other avian gems throughout the day. Early on, en route to Rock Creek Canyon, we may encounter Chukar (uncommon), Long-billed Curlew and Sage Thrasher in the sagebrush flats and agricultural areas. Higher up in elevation, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Green- tailed Towhee, Fox Sparrow (the slate-colored subspecies) and Lincoln’s Sparrow may be found along the stream sides, while nearby conifer forests harbor Williamson’s Sapsucker (very uncommon), Cordilleran Flycatcher, Summer Idaho, Page 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Cassin’s Finch. Red- naped Sapsucker, Hammond’s and Dusky flycatchers, Swainson’s Thrush and Western Tanager prefer mixed forest situations, while the incomparable Lewis’s Woodpecker favors recent burns. Additionally, we will keep an eye out along the roadsides, since two phantoms of the forest, Ruffed and Dusky grouse, are at least possible in this area as well. After a picnic lunch, we will visit a property filled with hummingbird feeders. Three species occur here—Broad- tailed, Black-chinned and Calliope, and all are quite common. Our success, or lack thereof, in locating the Cassia Crossbill will determine our late afternoon plans. If we have already tallied the crossbill, we will likely head down in elevation, searching areas we bypassed earlier in the morning. If we still need the crossbill, we will linger late into the afternoon at upper elevation campgrounds. NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls June 4, Day 4: City of Rocks National Preserve, Castle Rocks State Park. This morning we will head southeasterly toward scenic City of Rocks National Preserve and Castle Rock State Park. Juniper covered foothills and vast expanses of sagebrush here attract a different set of birds (some with a distinctly southwestern flavor). Special birds possible in the juniper forests include Gray Flycatcher, the nomadic Pinyon Jay (somewhat unpredictable, common some years, scarce others), Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Black-throated Gray Warbler. Sagebrush areas bordering mixed forests could yield magnificent Mountain Bluebirds, more Sage Thrashers, Green-tailed and Spotted towhees and Brewer’s Sparrow. Even the common Virginia’s Warbler, at the very northern edge of its range, is a possibility here. The scenery alone is worth the visit to this spectacular area. Sage Thrasher © Barry Zimmer Following another picnic lunch, our afternoon plans will be flexible. Possible destinations include a visit to Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge to the north (Clark’s Grebe, American White Pelican, Bank Swallow, Yellow- Summer Idaho, Page 5 breasted Chat and Bullock’s Oriole are among the many possibilities) and/or the Hagerman Wildlife Management area to the west of Twin Falls (Sora, Virginia Rail, Ring-necked Pheasant, California Quail and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds). NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls June 5, Day 5: Return to Southern Hills/ Albion Mountains or Head Eastward Toward Idaho Falls. Since finding the Cassia Crossbill is the main focus of this tour, we will return to its favored haunts in the Southern Hills or Albion Mountains if we are still missing this special, enigmatic bird. There are plenty of areas to explore and much forest to cover in these two small ranges. If, however, we have already enjoyed success with the crossbill, then this will be an open day for exploration. Although it is over two hours to the east, the Idaho Falls area offers some excellent birding. Camas National Wildlife Refuge hosts large numbers of nesting White-faced Ibis and Franklin’s Gulls, and majestic Trumpeter Swan and a variety of other waterfowl and shorebirds are likely. We will play it by ear today, depending on our previous successes. On one of our four nights in Twin Falls, we may offer a late-night owling excursion. Barn Owl and Great Horned owls scour the sagebrush country and agricultural fields, while Common Poorwills inhabit the foothills. Even the highly sought and near mythical Flammulated Owl is a possibility in the higher pine forests. Please note that any owling excursion will require a very late night, as it doesn’t get dark enough to start owling until nearly 10:00 p.m. NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls Mountain Bluebird © Barry Zimmer Summer Idaho, Page 6 June 6, Day 6: Sawtooth National Forest; Return to Boise. On our final day, we will likely embark on a northerly, somewhat circuitous route back towards Boise. The scenery between Galena Summit (nearly 9,000 feet elevation) and Stanley is simply mind-blowing and worthy of the detour. Additionally, the surrounding high mountain forests allow for better chances at several desirable upper elevation species. While most are uncommon, low density birds that require a healthy dose of luck to find, we will keep an eye out for the likes of Northern Goshawk, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Clark’s Nutcracker, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Grosbeak among others.