-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* January 5, 1996
* IDWA9601.5

-birds mentioned

Thayer's Gull
albinistic Rough-legged Hawk
Gyrfalcon
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Lewis' Woodpecker
Townsend's Solitaire
Bohemian Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch
Hoary Redpoll
Common Redpoll
Snow Bunting


-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: January 5, 1996
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.

The HOARY REDPOLL and the flock of 4-19 COMMON REDPOLLS it
associated with just east of Moscow, Idaho, were last seen January 1.
Diligent searches on Wednesday, Thursday and today produced no
redpolls. I'll continue checking the next couple of days. You may give
me a call during the week to see if their status has changed.

COMMON REDPOLLS were also reported by Mark Houston and Dave
Mann (sp?) near the entrance to Northrup Canyon State Park in northern
Grant County, Washington. The 15 birds were feeding in alders on
January 4, about 0.5 mile from the entrance to the park, just off
Washington 155, about 5 miles southwest of Electric City. Washington
DeLorme p. 85, b-8.

A flock of 150+ COMMON REDPOLLS were in Dalton Gardens, Idaho on
January 4, according to John Shipley. Dalton Gardens is adjacent to
Hayden Lake just north of Coeur d'Alene. The birds were in the yard of a
house that is for sale, at the corner of Hayden View and Sundown Drive.
Also at the house were 40-50 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.

Mark Houston and Dave Mann saw a GYRFALCON on the plateau in
northwestern Lincoln County, Washington, about 2 miles west of Bagdad
Junction, on January 4. Also in the vicinity of the Gyr were 15
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS feeding in sagebrush next to the road.
Take Washington 174 north from Wilbur about 10 miles to Bagdad Road
and follow it west to the junction. Washington DeLorme p. 86, ab-1.

Dan and Ila Svingen report a single AMERICAN TREE SPARROW along the
Whitebird Battlefield auto tour just south of Grangeville, Idaho, on
December 31. Also along the tour route was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL and a single MARSH WREN. Idaho DeLorme p. 55, c-4, right on the
crease. Call them for details at 208-983-3447.

The NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL just east of Moscow is still being seen
regularly. It has a couple of favorite trees. Call me at 208-883-0943 if
you're interested.

Randy Hill saw a single LEWIS' WOODPECKER just north of the Columbia
NWR near Othello, Washington, on January 4. To get to the bird from
Othello, take Broadway (aka Washington 24) north to McManamon Road.
Turn left (west) onto McManamon and follow it 2 miles past the refuge
and then turn left (south) onto Barton Road, which isn't shown on the
DeLorme. Follow Barton south for 2 miles and check in the last apple
orchard on the west side of the road. Washington DeLorme p. 53, b-7.

Mike and MerryLynn Denny report a 2nd-winter THAYER'S GULL came in
with the evening gull flight to Chief Timothy State Park just west of
Clarkston, Washington, on January 1. The park is about 6 miles west of
Clarkston along US 12 and the Snake River is Asotin County. See
Washington DeLorme p. 43, a-7.

Mark Houston and Dave Mann found SNOW BUNTINGS common in most
flocks of HORNED LARKS northwest of Wilbur, Washington, on January
4. Also that day they spied 100+ GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES
about 0.5 miles west of Bagdad Junction. Bagdad Road goes west from
Washington 174 between Wilbur and Grand Coulee, about 10 miles
northwest of Wilbur. Washington DeLorme p. 86, b-1.

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were seen by the Svingens last Sunday at a
couple of Idaho sites. One was 5.2 miles east of the Idaho 11 junction
with Idaho 12, above the breaks heading toward Weippe. The second
was 13.2 miles southeast of Orofino along Lower Ford's Creek Road.
Idaho DeLorme p. 55, a-4.

Mark Houston and Dave Mann saw an albinistic ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
near Steamboat Rock State Park, Washington, which is just south of
Electric City, on January 4. The bird was white from a distance but at
closer viewing some darker plumage was visible. It was near Steamboat
Rock, just a little north of the turnoff into the state park, along
Washington 155. Washington DeLorme p. 85, b-7.

Finally, a few odds and ends. Reports of single TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRES came in from Moscow, Paradise Ridge south of Moscow,
and Grangeville, Idaho this past week. Dan Svingen reports a flock of
1000+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Grangeville on December 31. A
single RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was along the Salmon River below
Hoot's Cafe, along US 95 just a mile or two south of Whitebird, Idaho,
according to Dan Svingen. BEWICK'S WRENS in Idaho were at Coyote
Grade in northern Nez Perce County and at Heart of the Monster
Historical Site near Kamiah. Call me for directions.

A final note about the Moscow Hoary Redpoll, if anyone has written
descriptions for it, please send a copy to Dan Svingen, PO Box 132,
Grangeville, ID, 83530. Thanks much.

Good birding!