-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* November 28, 1997
* IDWA9711.28

-birds mentioned

Red-necked Grebe
Dunlin
Cattle Egret
Oldsquaw
Thayer's Gull
Merlin
Red-shouldered Hawk
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Rusty Blackbird
Common Redpoll

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon
Date: November 28, 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.

An OLDSQUAW was on the St. Maries, Benewah Co., ID sewage
ponds on November 26 according to Cody Montgomery. The ponds
are about 1 mile north of town on ID 3. I think getting there is still a
hassle because of the detour. From St. Maries, you'll have to take the
ID 3 detour. When you once again rejoin ID 3, you'll have to turn
around and follow the one-way back toward St. Maries to get to the
ponds. ID DeLorme 60, C-2.

Two CATTLE EGRETS were near Hermiston, Umatilla Co., OR on Sat
Nov 22, according to Craig Corder and Judy Stevens. To get there,
take OR 207 south from Hermiston to Buttercreek Kennels and turn
west on MinniHaHa Road. Follow MinniHaHa a few miles until the
pavement ends and then go another 150 feet. They were on the right
with a few cows and apparently were there the previous day. OR
DeLorme 85, A-7.

Six CATTLE EGRETS, presumably the same six reported by Mike and
MerryLynn Denny, were seen again about three miles west of WA 125
/ OR 11 along State Line Road, which runs on the border between
Walla Walla Co. WA and Umatilla Co. OR. The birds were near the
unincorporated metropolis of Calhoonville. WA DeLorme 41, D5-6,
right at the bottom of the page.

A single COMMON REDPOLL was at my feeder near Moscow, Latah
Co., ID on Sunday November 23. A single AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW was in my yard on Thanksgiving. Neither bird persisted.

Also near Moscow, Dave Holick reports a MERLIN has been
frequenting his Moscow Mt. feeder. For directions to the Merlin, give
Dave a call at 208-882-5556.

The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK that has been persisting near the Walla
Walla River Delta in western Walla Walla Co., southeast of Pasco, WA
for about 2 months, was seen through Nov 27, according to Mike and
MerryLynn Denny. The bird was still at Madame Doriane (sp?) Park,
which is just north of the junction of US 730 and US 12 at about US
12 milepost 307. Also at Madame Doriane, the Denny's report there
are now 4 HARRIS'S SPARROWS and two WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS, and a new arrival at the park is a LINCOLN'S SPARROW.
The sparrows were along the little dirt road, which is just beyond the
bathrooms, and runs west along the Walla Walla River. Look for a
RED-NECKED GREBE on the river. Across the road from Madame
Doriane, the Denny's saw 18 DUNLIN on the Walla Walla River Delta
on Nov 24. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

Just a few miles north at the Wallula poop piles along US 12, the
Denny's saw a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD and an adult THAYER'S
GULL on Nov 24. Mike also reports a weird gull on the piles. It
appears to be a second winter bird with a bill that has 76%
GULL on November 24. Mike also reports a weird gull on the piles. It
appears to be a second winter bird with a bill that has a fleshy-color
near the face, a dark band near the tip, and a red-tip. Hmmmmmm.


I need to say a few words about a fellow birdwatcher and friend. This
hotline is the last one Dan Svingen will hear as an Idaho resident. Dan
takes a promotion to southeastern Colorado and will be leaving with
his family Dec 3. All of us will certainly miss the sightings he
routinely phoned in. Idaho's birding community will miss much more.
Dan, although he probably would not admit it, has been a catalyst for
the state's birding effort. In the few short years he birded Idaho, Dan
changed our way of thinking about gulls in northern Idaho. During the
Svingen years, Glaucous, Glaucous-winged, Thayer's and Mew became
common. Wherever he went, rare birds popped up. Sabine's Gulls and
Black-legged Kittiwake in Lewiston. Baltimore Oriole in southeastern
Idaho. Red-bellied Woodpecker in Coeur d'Alene. Red Phalarope at Mann
Lake.

Dan served as regional editor for Audubon Field Notes, and through those
efforts, and his amiable spirit, jump-started the Idaho Bird Records
Committee and was able to spearhead and see to fruition the recently
published "A Birders Guide to Idaho." Only Dan, with tireless
enthusiasm, could have seen the latter project through, and although
I'm listed as a co-editor, it's just another example of how this birding
wiz is humble. Dan knows birds. Dan knows birds extremely well.
Watching him do a rare bird description in the field was beyond belief.
Amazing. However, there's no arrogance in the in the field. Dan can
always make the novice birder feel comfortable. I personally owe this
guy about 30 state lifers and only wish I could have returned the favor
once. Dan, I still feel really terrible about that Tennessee Warbler!
Dan, my friend, thank you for your contributions to Idaho's birding
community. Thank you for improving my birding skills. Thanks for
some great birds. With teary eyes and a heavy heart, I bid you, Ila,
and Emily farewell.

To you and to all, good birding!