-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* January 31, 1997
* IDWA9701.31

-birds mentioned

Tufted Duck
Mew Gull
Glaucous Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Saw-whet OwlNorthern Hawk-owl
Snowy Owl
Gyrfalcon
Black-backed Woodpecker
Siberian Accentor
Black Rosy Finch
Northern Cardinal

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern
Oregon
Date: January 31, 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.

Warren Hall and Mark Houston report a NORTHERN HAWK-OWL is on
the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney today, January
31. Rumor is that the bird has been present for about 10 days. The
bird was seen on and off all afternoon by lots of folks. Warren
described the location as east of the football stadium and north of the
science building by the water towers, sitting on a power pole on the
high part of campus. Mark described the same area as east of
Washington Street and north of Elm Street, north of the silo dormitories.
That should get you close. Mark reports the bird is quite tame.
Washington DeLorme p. 72, A4. Let me know if you see this bird.

The adult male NORTHERN CARDINAL, first seen on Sun, Jan 5, in
Lewiston, Idaho is still being seen at the home of Lloyd and Helen
Hogden. 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, Washington 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.

SNOWY OWLS, 4-8 birds, have been seen the last two weeks west of
Spokane in the Reardon-Davenport-Mondovi area according to Warren
Hall. Look for them along Detour Road, which parallels US 2, about a
mile south of US 2 between Davenport and Reardon, along Old State
Hwy which runs parallel to US 2 one mile north of US 2, and along
Waukon Road which heads south from US 2 about 2 miles east of
Reardon. Washington DeLorme p. 87, C8 and p. 88, D2.

Warren also reports a pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS in the
burned area of Riverside State Park, just north of Bowl and Pitcher along
the Spokane River in the northwest area of Spokane. Washington
DeLorme p. 88-89, C right on the crease.

Ila Svingen saw the first-winter MEW GULL that has been seen on and
off the last two months in the Lewiston-Clarkston area. On Jan 23 the
bird was in Swallows Park, along Washington 129, just south of
Clarkston. Washington DeLorme p. 43, AB-8.

In western Walla Walla County, Washington, Mike and MerryLynn Denny
saw a first or second year GLAUCOUS GULL and 3 adult WESTERN
GULLS at the Walla Walla River delta just north of the junction of US 12
and US 730, south of Pasco. Just a little farther north, at the Wallula
poop piles along US 12, they saw 8 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS.
Washington DeLorme p. 40, D1.

Winne Hepburn called in a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL that has taken
up a winter residence in Myrtle, Idaho along US 12 and the Clearwater
River east of Lewiston. The bird resides in the large cedar tree in the
front yard of the Palmers, how live on the left side of the main street in
a gray house. If those directions sound nebulous, don't worry, Myrtle
isn't that big and you'll find the house OK. Idaho DeLorme p. 54, A-1.5

The SIBERIAN ACCENTOR is still residing between Hailey and Ketchum,
Idaho, about a 3-hour drive northeast of Boise. The bird has been
present for over a month. Take Idaho 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.

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. Idaho 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 Idaho DeLorme p.
27, A6.

The TUFTED DUCK, which had disappeared around Christmas, is
apparantly now being seen somewhat 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. Idaho DeLorme p. 26, C3, just above
the arrow to Buhl and right below "Vader Grade."

Good birding!