-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* October 6, 1995
* IDWA9510.06

-birds mentioned

RED PHALAROPE
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
SURF SCOTER
GREATER SCAUP
HORNED GREBE
RED-NECKED GREBE
COMMON POCHARD
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
MERLIN
SANDHILL CRANE
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
CASPIAN TERN
assorted shorebirds
NORTHERN SHRIKE
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK


-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: October 6, 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.

Idaho's 4th RED PHALAROPE was spied by Dan and Ila Svingen on
Sunday, October 1 at Mann Lake east of Lewiston, Idaho. Fortunately, I
was along too. The bird was an immature going into first winter
plumage. Dan reports seeing the bird again on October 3. Also at Mann
Lake on Sunday were 21 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, several PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER spied
by Carole Vande Voorde, 7 WESTERN GREBES and a flock of 40+
SANDHILL CRANES flew over. Midweek Dan and Dale Goble added
SNOW GEESE and a HORNED GREBE.

To get to Mann Lake, take US 12 west into Lewiston, cross the
Clearwater River via the Memorial Bridge and stay in the left lane. Take
the first left after crossing the bridge onto Main Street toward East
Lewiston. At the blinking light, turn right onto Lindsay Creek Road.
Follow it until it terminates at Grelle Avenue. Turn left onto Grelle and
after Grelle makes a 20 m.p.h. right turn, turn left. Immediately you'll see
a sign for Mann Lake. Continue straight, through the dead end, to the
lake. See Idaho DeLorme p. 54, a-1.

On October 4, Scott Ray saw some good birds at Vantage, Washington,
along the Columbia. Birds included a COMMON LOON, 5 RED-NECKED
GREBES, 3 SURF SCOTERS, 3 GREATER SCAUP, and an immature
BONAPARTE'S GULL. Vantage is along Interstate 90. Good viewing can
be had from the west side of the Columbia via Wanapum Road or the east
side via Washington 243. See Washington DeLorme p. 52, a-1.

The weird duck at the display pond at Hatrock State Park near Umatilla,
Oregon, this past week caused some discussion, although no one seems
to be declaring it a COMMON POCHARD with any authority. The
descriptions tend to rule out Canvasback, Redhead or a Canvasback x
Redhead hybrid. The bird was last reported seen on Tuesday, October 3
by Craig Miller, but since it is extremely wary and feeds along the shore in
the dense vegetation, it may still be present. Other birds there this week
included HORNED GREBE and RED-NECKED GREBES. Hatrock State Park
is 1 mile east of Umatilla and its subarb McNary along US 730 in Umatilla
County, Oregon.

At the Walla Walla River Delta on Sunday, October 1, according to Mike
Denny, were 2 late VAUX'S SWIFTS, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 2
WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 2 immature
SANDHILL CRANES. Today, October 6, Mike also saw 8 HERRING
GULLS and a late STILT SANDPIPER. 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. Cross the Walla Walla River and go
0.2 mile more. Just before milepost 307, turn left onto the gravel
two-track opposite North Shore Road. Walk across the railroad tracks and
follow the well worn path. See Washington DeLorme p. 40, d-1.

LINCOLN'S SPARROW were numerous and conspicuous at Whitcomb
Island off Washington 14 in southern Benton County, Washington on
October 1, according to Mike Denny. Whitcomb Island is in the Columbia
River about 7 or 8 miles west of Paterson. Just a little further west at
Crow Butte State Park, Mike also tallied a WARBLING VIREO,
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, VARIED THRUSH and a suckleyi MERLIN. See
Washington DeLorme p. 28, b-2.

Also that day, just across the border, Mike saw a CASPIAN TERN near
milepost 201 along US 730 near Umatilla, Oregon.

Along Woodward Canyon Road, which is about 2.5 miles west of
Lowden, Washington along US 12, west of Walla Walla, Mike Denny saw
2 SANDHILL CRANES, 11 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and 76 KILLDEER
today, October 6. Washington DeLorme p. 40, d-4.

Further west, just west of Touchet, Washington, along Burns Road which
is the first left (south) off US 12 after leaving Touchet, Mike saw a
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE today, October 6, but on October 1 he had an
immature NORTHERN SHRIKE there. The Northern was the earliest date
for the area. See Washington DeLorme p. 40, d-3.

Another sign of winter was a single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK along Saddle
Ridge Road about 6.5 miles north of Moscow, Idaho on October 5,
reported by John and Marty Hirth.