[a bit of history]

-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* January 24, 1997
* IDWA9701.24

-birds mentioned

Siberian Accentor
Tufted Duck
Gyrfalcon
Black Rosy Finch
Northern Cardinal
Black-crowned Night-heron
Peregrine Falcon
Snow Goose
White-breasted Nuthatch

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern
Oregon
Date: January 24, 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 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR is still residing between Hailey and Ketchum,
ID, about a 3-hour drive northeast of Boise. The bird has been present
for about a month. Take ID 75 to Hailey and then continue another 5
miles north of town to milepost 122. Turn left onto Hidden Hollow
Road and go a couple of blocks, parking where Hidden Hollow turns
right into Easy Street. Walk down Easy Street to Abbey (sp?) Lane.
There is an old green trailer and cottage. The accentor is coming to the
birdfeeder at the cottage, often with chickadees, juncos, and American
Goldfinches. It also frequents the gray house further down the road.
Please don't disturb residents in this semi-private subdivision.

If you plan to go for this bird, there are several other outstanding birds
in the area. The Hailey-Ketchum-Sun Valley area is one of Idaho's best
spots for BLACK ROSY FINCH. Birds are being seen along Morningstar
Drive just a mile or so north of the accentor location. I think a better
spot is the old mining town of Triumph, about 6 miles east of the
accentor. At milepost 122.7 take the East Fork Wood River Road about
6 miles to Triumph. The local birders have been distributing maps with
these locales on them. ID DeLorme p. 37, C5.

A few miles south of Hailey is the small town of Gannett. A grey-phase
GYRFALCON is hunting around town.. Gannett is on ID DeLorme p. 27,
A6.

The TUFTED DUCK, which had disappeared around Christmas, is
apparantly now being seen regularly near Hagerman, west of Twin
Falls. Take US 30 south from I-84 to milepost 183.3, which is the
entrance to the state fish hatchery. Follow the gravel road and check
the large ponds to the left after you cross the small bridge. It was with
about 200 Ring-necked Ducks. ID DeLorme p. 26, C3, just above the
arrow to Buhl and right below "Vader Grade."

Closer to home, the adult male NORTHERN CARDINAL, first seen on
Sunday, January 5, in Lewiston, ID is still being seen at the home of
Lloyd and Helen Hogden. Both Dave Holick and Dick Johnson saw it
last weekend. To get there, take US 12 West into Lewiston, cross the
Clearwater River, and at the first traffic light, head up hill (south) on
21st Street. At 16th Avenue, turn right (west) and continue to 8th
Street, which I think is the second traffic light. At 8th Street, turn
left (south). As you head up hill, and just past Mayfair Court, turn
right (west) onto Mayfair Drive. Follow this curvy road uphill, staying
left onto Mayfair Ridge. The Hogden's live at 2975 Mayfair Ridge, in a
brown house with brick accent on the left (east) side of the street.
Please let the hotline know if you see the bird. If you're coming from
Clarkston, WA take US 12 East over the Snake River and immediately turn
right (south) onto Snake River Avenue. Follow it to the first traffic
light which is 16th Avenue and turn left (east). Follow 16th to the next
traffic light which is 8th Street and turn right (south). The rest of the
directions are as previously described.

Dave Holick reports the juvenile-plumaged BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-
HERON first spotted in Lewiston about a month ago was present both
Sat and Sun, Jan 18 and 19, at the big levee pond (aka West Pond).
Both days the bird was perched on large branches just above the water
on the west side of the island. Take US 12 West into Lewiston, cross
the river, bear right avoiding the traffic light. The next traffic light
is 18th Street. Turn right, following the signs for US 12. Go about 1
mile to the parking lot.

Just a public service note, last weekend while birding the levees, my
wife had her purse stolen from beneath the seat of our locked car. Be
extra careful and wary of any light tan, 4-wheel drive, small-sized pick-
ups, perhaps a Nissan or Toyota. The thief got less than a dollars worth
of change.

Mike and MerryLynn Denny saw a PEREGRINE FALCON on Fri, Jan 24
at Hood Park, WA, which is right near the intersection of US 12 and WA
124 just east of Pasco. Just a little further south, at McNary NWR
headquarters, was a blue-morph SNOW GOOSE. Also at headquarters,
Andy Stepnewski saw a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH for a local first.
WA DeLorme p. 39, C8 and p. 40, C1.

Good birding!