.
-RBA
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* northern Idaho / eastern Washington /northeastern Oregon
* December 2, 1994
* IDWA9412.02
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-birds mentioned
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ROSS' GULL
MEW GULL
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL
WESTERN GULL
WESTERN x GLAUCOUS-WINGED HYBRID GULL
PACIFIC LOON
OLDSQUAW
PINE GROSBEAK
BLUE JAY
BARN OWL
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-transcript
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HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: December 2, 1994
Phone: (208) 882-6195
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Dale Goble
gobled at raven.csrv.uidaho.edu
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This is Kas Dumroese with the northern Idaho / eastern Washington
bird hotline for Friday, December 2. If you wish to bypass this
recording and simply leave a message for me, including the date of
your sighting and the DeLorme atlas page number if you have it,
push the star button on your telephone now.
.
Phil Bartley reports an adult plumaged ROSS' GULL below McNary Dam
along the Columbia River in Benton County, Washington and Umatilla
County, Oregon. First spotted on Sunday, November 27 the bird has
been seen daily, at least through yesterday, December 1. The bird
has been photographed, verified and seen by many folks. The bird
has a very pink belly but lacks a neck ring.
.
Good viewing is from the Corp of Engineers observation deck at the
dam's visitor center on the Oregon side, and from two locations
along the West Park Wildlife Area just downstream from the visitor
center. Please be on your best behavior when visiting as the Corp
has new grass planted. Stay on designated walkways and stay off
all hydroseeded areas, including those in the parking lot. It has been
fishing below the dam, loafing with BONAPARTE'S GULLS and cruising
down the river as far as the US 395 / Interstate 82 bridge. See
Washington DeLorme p. 29, a-6.
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If approaching via Interstate 82, take exit 1 on the Oregon side.
At the bottom of the ramp, turn east onto US 730 and travel about
a mile uphill to the traffic light. Turn north (left) into the dam
area. It's obvious and there are plenty of signs directing you all
the way from the interstate. I'd recommend you go directly to the
visitor center. There is a large map of the area posted near the
entrance that will help you find the other viewing spots in the wildlife
area. If you backtrack 0.25 mile from the visitor center you'll see a
sign for West Park. Turn right onto Third. Follow it for 0.5
mile to the nature trail and wildlife ponds. From here, you can
scan the loafing gulls for the Ross'.
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One other note, when I was there Thursday, the gull spent nearly an
hour preening itself while floating downstream along the Washington
shore, barely in scope range, before flying past me, so be patient.
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You may spend time when the gull is absent from good viewing by observing
the two PACIFIC LOONS, MEW GULL, WESTERN GULLS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS
and the hybrids. An OLDSQUAW was reported from earlier in the
week but was absent on Thursday.
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Let the hotline know about your sightings from McNary.

Dave Holick reports PINE GROSBEAKS along Idaho 8 between Troy and
Deary, Latah County, Idaho on Sunday, November 27.
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Four BLUE JAYS were in the yard at 200 N. Grant in Moscow on November
27. This flock is persisting in that neighborhood, but they are very
unpredictible and as far as I know, not visiting any feeder with
any consistancy.
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My wife, Debbie, reports a BARN OWL in our? timber on the south end of
Paradise Ridge about 5 miles south of Moscow. Give me a call at
208-883-0943 if you're interested.

I have some information on several Christmas Bird Counts. I'll
have the rest of the regional counts next week. For quickness,
I'll give you the location, date, and contact person and telephone
number.

In Idaho:
BONNERS FERRY: December 18, Earl Chapin, 208-263-2800
MOSCOW/PULLMAN: December 17, Dave Holick, 208-882-5556
SANDPOINT: December 17, Earl Chapin, 208-263-2800

I still don't have information on Coeur d'Alene or Indian Mountain
at Harrison.

In Washington:
PULLMAN/MOSCOW: December 17, Dave Holick, 208-882-5556
TRI-CITIES: December 17, Phil Bartley, 509-783-5265
TWO-RIVERS (mouth of the Walla Walla River) January 2,
Mike Denny, 509-529-0080
WALLA WALLA: December 17, Mike Denny, 509-529-0080

I still don't have information for Spokane or Moses Lake.