-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* August 8, 1997
* IDWA9708.08

-birds mentioned

Eared Grebe
shorebirds
Black Tern
Vaux's Swift
White-throated Swift
Peregrine Falcon
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-throated Sparrow


-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon
Date: August 8, 1997
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 nearly dozen or so WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, possibly on
territory, near Tollgate, OR, northeast of Pendleton, first reported on
July 23 by Mike and MerryLynn Denny, were still in the area as of last
weekend, along with many RED CROSSBILLS. They report 6 birds in
the Woodward Campground, where males sang all day, and another
6-7 birds in nearby Target Meadows. To get to the birds, follow OR
204 east toward Tollgate to Woodward Campground on the west side
of Langdon Lake. Check space #3. Continue east on OR 204 another
0.5 mile and turn north on Jubilee Lake Road. Follow it 0.125 mile
and turn left on the road to Target Meadows and another campground.
OR DeLorme 86, A4.

I received two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO reports this past week. Dave
Trochlell reports a fellow birdwatcher, familiar with the species, found
a single cuckoo at the rest stop along US 95, about 6 miles south of
Riggins, Idaho Co., ID on July 21. ID DeLorme 50, B3. Clint Brumitt,
an out-of-region birder, saw the cuckoo that has been present for
awhile near Picabo, Blaine Co., ID on Aug 3. Clint found the bird along
Silver Creek, near the lagoon in Hayspur Campground. ID DeLorme
27, A6.

Andy Stepniewski reports a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW near Moses
Lake, Grant Co., WA last weekend. The bird was first spied by Bev
Clark. The lone adult bird was at the junction of the I-90 South
Frontage Road and D.5, just about 2.5 miles west of Moses Lake. The
area is just a few hundred yards south of the entrance to the Potholes
Wildlife Area. The sparrow was keeping company with adult Lark
Sparrows. WA DeLorme 69, D5.

Denny Granstrand observed well over 100 shorebirds at the ponds just
north of Reardon, Lincoln Co., WA last weekend. Denny reports the
best looks were from a gravel road on the south side of the ponds that
goes two blocks to the west of WA 231, the main north/south road.
To the north of the gravel road were several small muddy areas with
quite a few shorebirds. Species included GREATER and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 8 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS,
LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER, and 40 or so COMMON SNIPE. Also there were 70 or
so BLACK TERNS and EARED GREBES, including one with two little
ones on its back. WA DeLorme 88, C1.

Russ Roundy called in sightings of apparently nesting VAUX'S SWIFTS
in Pend Oreille Co., WA. The birds were seen on South Skookum
Lake, about 8 miles northeast of Usk. Take WA 20 to Usk, cross the
bridge to the east side of the river, and follow the signs 8 miles to the
lake. The birds were most visible late evening above the lake. WA
DeLorme 105, AB-7.

David Mann in Spokane reports a pair of nesting PEREGRINE FALCONS
with 3 juveniles nesting on the railroad bridge over Hangman Creek in
Spokane. David checked the band numbers and the male fledged from
the hack site in Clark Fork, ID in 1992, and the female fledged from
the same site in 1994. Hangman Creek is on the west end of Spokane
and the bridge is the gigantic one near the junction of I-90 and US
195. There are also WHITE- THROATED SWIFTS using the bridge.
WA DeLorme 89, CD-5. David's number is 509-534- 4181.

Good birding!