Hey, folks...

This evening after work, I decided to bird the east side of the Mayfield Route
in search of Grasshopper Sparrows, which I found! LIFE BIRD! for me.

I went in the opposite direction of my usual pattern, off to the east up the
Regina Rd portion (the eastern leg of the route as it is shown in the Birding
Guide to Idaho). I worked it slowly, and found a few fun things:

More Lark Sparrows than you can shake a stick at...
(4) Sage Thrashers
(1) Loggerhead Shrike
Western Kingbirds galore!
(1) Eastern Kingbird--in the area of the Grasshopper Sparrows

The spot for the Grasshopper Sparrow is actually on Bown Rd, roughly 1/4 mile
south of where it intersects with Mayfield Rd. The west side of the road is
sloping hillside with sage brush. The east side is bordered by fence, with a
grassy expanse behind it (there is an isolated group of 3-4 tall trees in the
grass, about 80 yards in the distance--that's your marker.)

This spot will have TONS of Lark Sparrows, both adult and juvenile. If you take
your time and sort through them, you will find the Grasshopper Sparrows among
them--I found them on the fence. I had to wait and consult my Sparrow books
when I got home to confirm the i.d., so it would help to do your homework before
you go. I saw 2-3 adults and at least 1-2 juveniles. They had the buffy color
on the chest/flanks, the dark crown with the white strip in the middle, the bill
that seems too big for the head. The Grasshoppers dipped back down into the
grass, while the Lark Sparrows tended to scatter up the hill in the other
direction. I did not hear them call/sing, mainly because all I heard were the
Lark Sparrows and Kingbirds! Just stop a lot and watch, because the sparrows are
all over the road and fence in this area.

Have fun!

Louie Quintana
Kuna, ID
lnquintana@...