-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* February 14, 1997
* IDWA9702.14

-birds mentioned

Tufted Duck
Glaucous-winged Gull
Thayer's Gull
Mew Gull
Gyrfalcon
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk-owl
Black-backed Woodpecker
Siberian Accentor
Black Rosy Finch
Pine Grosbeak
Blue Jay

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern
Oregon
Date: February 14, 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 NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was still residing on the campus of Eastern
Washington University as of Feb 11. I haven't heard anything since
then. The bird has been present since January 15. As a starting point,
begin at the intersection of Washington Street, which runs N-S, and Elm
Street, which runs E-W on the EWU campus. There's a large silo
dormitory there and the football field is immediately west. From this
spot, the bird has been seen in all directions but within a 0.5 mile,
usually much closer. Check all possible perches, especially going on foot
around the Science Building and around the PUB (no beers, that's Pence
Union Building). During mid-day, it's fond of perching in the middles of
deciduous trees. Thanks to everyone who called in their sightings of this
bird. Please do the same. Also in the neighborhood are PINE
GROSBEAKS and a single BLUE JAY. WA DeLorme p. 72, A4.

SNOWY OWLS, 4-8 birds, have been seen the last month west of
Spokane in the Reardon-Davenport-Mondovi area. Look along Detour
Road, which parallels US 2, about a mile south of US 2 between
Davenport and Reardon, and 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. From reports provided
by Dick Johnson, John and Amy Roberson, and Clare and Sharron
Wiser, the best birding was along Detour Road.

The GYRFALCON reported along Old State Hwy last week by Howard
Ferguson was seen again by the Robersons. I also received several
reports of SNOW BUNTINGS in that same general area. WA DeLorme p.
87, C8 and p. 88, D2.

Idaho SNOWY OWLS, two of them, are on the Rathdrum Prairie just
west of Coeur d'Alene. John Shipley reports the birds are north of
Hayden Road, which runs east and west, and between Atlas Road on
the east and Meyer Road on the west. One bird frequents the CdA
airport at the north end of Atlas. It looks to me like you can access
this by taking ID 41 north from I-90 at exit 7 about three miles to Hayden
Road. ID DeLorme p. 60, A1.

Warren Hall 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. WA DeLorme p.
88-89, C right on the crease.

Shirley Sturts and Pam Comrie saw 2 first-winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULLS and a first-winter THAYER'S GULL at the Coeur d'Alene city
beach (aka Independence Point) on Tues, Feb 4. This small sandy spot
is just west of the CdA Resort. I saw these same birds last weekend,
Feb 8.

Dan and Ila Svingen relocated the first-winter MEW GULL in Lewiston,
ID last Sat, Feb 8. The bird was with Ring-billeds at Kiwanis Park along
the levee, just south of the US 12 bridge.

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 six weeks. 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.

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. Another 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. Another GYRFALCON was reported by Dick Johnson just north of
Shoshone along ID 75 on Feb 2.

The on again off again TUFTED DUCK, is apparantly off again near
Hagerman, ID 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. Bob Nardin from Washington only found a handful of Ring-
necks and no Tufted when he visited this past week. ID DeLorme p. 26,
C3, just above the arrow to Buhl and right below "Vader Grade."

This will probably be my last posting on the Siberian Accentor, Tufted
Duck, Gyr, and Black Rosy Finch.

Good birding!