-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* December 15, 1995
* IDWA9512.15

-birds mentioned

Yellow-billed Loon
Dunlin
Northern Goshawk
Prairie Falcon
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Short-eared Owl
Bewick's Wren
Say's Phoebe
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Snow bunting
Lapland Longspur

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: December 15, 1995
Phone: (208) 882-6195
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Dale Goble
gobled at uidaho.edu


This is Kas Dumroese with the northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon bird hotline.

On December 10, Jim Nestler, and on December 13, Dale Litzenberger
reported the YELLOW-BILLED LOON on Blue Lake in northwestern Grant
County, Washington, first seen on November 4 by Warren Hall, was still
there. Jim also had a PRAIRIE FALCON there as well. Look for the loon
below Dry Falls and along the eastern side of the lake. Blue Lake is
between Coulee City and Soap Lake along Washington 17. See
Washington DeLorme p. 85, d-5.

Mike Denny reports 12 DUNLIN at the Walla Walla River Delta on
December 15. The Walla Walla River Delta is about 30 miles west of
Walla Walla at the Columbia River, just north of the junction of US 12 and
US 730. From the junction, head north and just before milepost 307,
take the gravel road on the west side of the highway, just opposite North
Shore Road. Walk across the railroad tracks and follow the well worn
path. See Washington DeLorme p. 40, d-1.

Also on December 15, Mike saw a first-year NORTHERN GOSHAWK and
a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW just west of Touchet, Washington. To
get to the area, take Burns Road, which is the first road left (south) just
west of Touchet. The birds were where Burns Road first meets the Walla
Walla River. Also in Touchet were a pair of SAY'S PHOEBE at the
Touchet Community Church. See Washington DeLorme p. 40, d-3.

A flock of Canyon Birders called in a lone COMMON REDPOLL at the west
levee pond in Lewiston, Idaho, seen on December 9. The bird was
feeding in a birch tree right at the beginning of the fitness trail. To get
there, take US 12 west into Lewiston, cross the Clearwater River via the
Memorial Bridge and stay right past Locomotive Park. At the first traffic
light past the park, turn right on the US 12 bypass and 18th Street. Go
about a mile to the parking area on the right just before the railroad
bridge. See Idaho DeLorme p. 54, a-1. Winnie Hepburn also says there
are lots and lots of waterfowl on the pond and in the river.

A small flock of 4-5 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen December 13 by me
at the University of Idaho Plant Science Farm just east of Moscow, Idaho.
On the 15th, Dan and Ila Svingen and myself found the flock had grown
to 8 birds, including one HOARY REDPOLL. The flock was still present on
December 18. If you go looking, be careful, there's also one very light
Common in the flock. From the Eastside Marketplace on the east edge of
Moscow, along Idaho 8, go about 1 mile to Lenville Road. Turn left,
north, onto Lenville. Follow it in, past the greenhouses and to the
arboretum area. Look in the birches.

On December 10, Jim Nestler reports three huge flocks of HORNED
LARKS, with SNOW BUNTINGS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS mixed in, in
Douglas County, Washington. The first flock was 6 miles west of Farmer
along US 2, between Toler and Brandts Road. There were 5000 HORNED
LARK, 30 SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. The second
flock was one mile east of Farmer along US 2 and had 1000 HORNED
LARKS and 50 SNOW BUNTINGS. The last flock was 0.5 mile east of
Baird along US 2 and consisted of 1000 HORNED LARKS, 30 SNOW
BUNTINGS, and 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR. See Washington DeLorme p.
84 and 85. US 2 runs east-west along the bottom third of the pages.

I saw a single BEWICK'S WREN at the top of Coyote Grade in northern
Nez Perce County, Idaho, today, December 15. Also today, Ila and Dan
Svingen and myself found a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL near Moscow.
Give me a call at 208-883-0943 if you'd like more info on these species.

David Lauten saw three SHORT-EARED OWLS along Interstate 90
between mile posts 201 and 204, in Adams County, Washington, on
December 6.

Three DUNLIN were reported by Gorden and Pam Comrie on December 9
near Sandpoint, Idaho. The birds were on the west side of the north end
of the US 95 bridge.

Finally, last Sunday, December 10, Ila Svingen saw a PRAIRIE FALCON
and a pair of MOURNING DOVES, perhaps dinner, at the grain towers on
the north end of Grangeville, Idaho.

Good birding!