718198

***** VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS:--Seen from the top of the park slope leading down to the Boise River. Observed for 30 minutes. Flying at, above, and below eye level; sometimes within 20-30 feet up to probably no more than 100 feet. I am not sure if there was one group flying back and forth down river (toward the north), or if there were more than one group of birds passing by. The max count I was able to make at one time was 19.--**--Seen with 7x26 B&L binoculars. Sometimes, binoculars were not needed.--**--Lighting: excellent; in bright light flying over Boise River, above me, and along the slopes behind me.--**--Features: Underparts white; upper parts green to dull green. White from undersides extended up sides of rump leaving a narrow stripe of green extending from back to tail. White circular area on side of face around part of eye. One or two tree swallows were flying within the group for comparison.----***** NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW:--Sighting and conditions same as above. It was associated with the flock of violet-green/tree swallows. I followed this individual around off and on for 5 to 10 minutes. It was also sometimes within 20-30 feet. Identified using 7x26 binoculars.--**--Upperside mid-brown overall; underside white except for light brown, irregularly edged chest that faded to white below. It was very close at times to see that there was no chest band, so not a bank swallow.----***** SWAN sp:--Seen flying overhead toward northeast while I was observing swallows overhead. It was somewhat high, but clearly visible. I do not know of any way to distinguish tundra from trumpeter swan at this height. I did notice a patch of dark vertical streaks centered on the lower portion of the secondaries as seen from below. The patches extended from the secondary edge into perhaps a third of the underwing.----***end of note--

swan sp. Cygnus sp.