This is my first time reporting in to Tweeters, and I must begin by=20
saying how much I have appreciated and enjoyed reading the timely=20
first-hand accounts of fellow birders throughout the Pacific=20
Northwest. Thank you!!

If any of you have wondered how practical it is to see both the=20
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL and the SIBERIAN ACCENTOR on the same weekend, I=20
thought I'd share my experience. My 11 year old son and I left=20
Lynnwood at noon last Friday, and arrived in Cheney about 4PM. Thanks=20
to other birders there, we found the HAWK-OWL in about 2 minutes, and=20
watched it until about 5:15, when it flew too far away to follow.=20
While we watched, it flew several times, and it caught and eat a=20
vole.

After dinner there, we drove down US-195 to Boise, arriving about=20
1:00AM, and slept until 6:00AM. During the remaining drive to Hailey,=20
ID, on US-20, we saw about 50 SNOW BUNTINGS. We arrived in Hailey=20
about 8:00AM and saw the Accentor when it showed up about 9:30. It is=20
a very beautiful bird, and if we had seen nothing else, the trip would=20
have been worth it.

We drove a few miles to Triumph, and saw both the GRAY-CROWNED and=20
BLACK ROSY-FINCHES eating bird seed at the little store there. Then=20
we drove to Gannet, and parked under the power pole with the gray=20
phased GYRFALCON. All 3 species were very nice, but the GYR was=20
particularly cooperative.

We had received additional information about a group of 12 GREAT GRAY=20
OWLS in a field just south of Tetonia, ID, on the eastern border with=20
Wyoming. After a stop at Craters of the Moon Nat'l Mon. to enjoy the=20
WinterFest celebration, we drove on to Tetonia, arriving about 5:00PM.=20
The sun had not yet set as we observed 10 of the 12 GREAT GRAY's=20
perching, flying, and catching prey. On the way there we also saw 2=20
PRAIRIE FALCONs, and 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES along US-20 and ID-33. To=20
locate the GREAT-GRAYS, drive south out of Tetonia on ID-33,=20
continuing straight south on Cache Rd. (unfortunately no street sign)=20
when the highway turns east. Proceed through some woods another =BE=20
miles until a large open field appears in the middle of the woods.=20
The owls were located in the trees around the open field on both=20
sides of the road. Incredibly impressive...almost as impressive as=20
the setting sun turning the western flanks of the Tetons blood red=20
with its waning light.

We decided to eat dinner in Jackson Hole, WY, just to say we'd been=20
there, and then took US-26 back to Idaho Falls, and I-15 north into=20
Montana. We slept for at few hours at a bitter cold rest area,=20
leaving about 4:00AM to come westbound on I-90. We arrived back at=20
Cheney around noon on Sunday, quickly relocating the Hawk-Owl. By=20
then many of the birders we had met at Hailey had arrived (we had told=20
them the owl was a must see), and they helped us located the 4 PINE=20
GROSBEAKS, the 1 TOWNSEND'S SOLITARE, the 1 BLUE JAY and the flock of=20
about 70-100 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. Having found and observed all the=20
wished for species (and then some), we drove home, arriving back in=20
Lynnwood about 5:00PM Sunday evening. Total elapsed time was 53=20
hours; total milage was 2,003 miles, total life birds 4 (Hawk-Owl,=20
Accentor, Black Rosy-Finch, and Pine Grosbeak), total species 52.

Is it possible and practical to see the Hawk-Owl and Accentor in 1=20
weekend? Yes, but it would be easier with more than one driver,=20
especially if you go for the GREAT GRAY OWLs as well. Was it worth=20
it? Absolutely!!


Dennis A. Jones
Lynnwood, Washington
(206) 483-7852