May 25, 2019 at Pomerelle, City of Rocks, and Big Cottonwood Wildlife Management Area.
We left Pocatello at 6:00 a.m. and the weather was gorgeous. We birded our way to and then up the mountain where the Pomerelle ski area is and wow were we happy to be there early, the birds were far more active at 7:00 than they were even at 8:00. Next we headed for City of Rocks and this is the sky started to leak. A few drips, a little shower, a little wind, we drove through on the southern route to the dirt road heading north towards Oakley. Long before we made it to Oakley the rain started for reals. There was so much mud and rain that we didn’t find any more birds for about an hour. After lunch in town we headed north to the Big Cottonwood WMA. The birds were back out since the rain stopped and it was awesome. Of course the rain came back and eventually we gave up and headed home.
Ground squirrel
It was difficult to get photos of the birds we only heard, or the flighty ones that rarely held still.
American kestrel
Least chipmunk
Cassin’s finch
Lazuli bunting (at City of Rocks)
Western tanager (at Big Cottonwood WMA)
- Black billed magpie
- Red wing blackbird
- Ring necked pheasant
- Eurasian collared doves
- Brewer’s blackbirds
- Red tailed hawks
- American robins
- American crows
- Common ravens
- Mourning doves
- Swainson’s hawks
- Canada geese
- Mallards
- European starlings
- Barn swallows
- House sparrows
- House finches
- Vesper sparrows
- Mountain chickadees
- Audubon’s warbler (formerly known as yellow rumped)
- Cassia Crossbill!!!!
- Red named sapsucker
- Dark eyed junco (gray headed)
- Tree swallow
- Downey woodpecker
- American kestrel
- Cassin’s finches
- Wilson’s warblers
- Western kingbirds
- Turkey vultures
- Rock doves
- Yellow warbler
- Lazuli buntings
- Green tailed towhees
- Western meadowlarks
- Mountain bluebirds
- Cliff swallows
- Sage sparrows
- Gray catbird
- Lark sparrow
- American goldfinch
- Red breasted nuthatch
- Killdeer
- Long billed curlews
- Western tanagers
- American white pelicans
And a few mammals: ground squirrel, least chipmunk
— Jenny
BlueRavenBirders 
For “beginners” here, yesterday I saw, as I was parking my car, since I go in reverse, Pronthonotary Warbler, two days before early morning I saw a Red-Breasted woodpecker, and again today making racket. Today Mallard Ducks, Geese of course, morning dove, today, sparrow/house finch. I forget how many I get to see in a day. There are more but I think some of there are interesting. A hawk two days ago. Two beautiful Quail in front of my car so close I could almost touch them: they took their own sweet time getting around the car and then down the road from me and then I have no idea where they went. I have seen a robin a few days ago and an eastern meadow lark! I think? By the call. I forget how much fun ! have! I spend a great deal of time out of doors. I wish you could see my yard now.
Sending double love, Aunt Corinne
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You have seen some awesome birds! I love Quail and have to really look to find any. To have one show up in front of your car at your house is AWESOME. I wish I could see your yard too.
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