-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* December 27, 1996
* IDWA9612.27

-birds mentioned

Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Greater Scaup
Short-eared Owl
Greater White-fronted Goose
Red-breasted Merganser
Mew Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Merlin
Blue Jay
Northern Pygmy-owl
Bewick's Wren
Varied Thrush
Pine Grosbeak
Bohemian Waxwing

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern
Oregon
Date: December 27, 1996
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.

At Mann Lake, east of Lewiston, ID, last Sun, Dec 22, was a DUNLIN
and a very late LEAST SANDPIPER. Also there was a MERLIN, a female
GREATER SCAUP, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, according to Dan and Ila
Svingen. To get to Mann Lake, take US 12 west into Lewiston, cross
the Clearwater Bridge and immediately turn left toward East Lewiston.
Follow Main Street to the blinking yellow light and turn right onto
Lindsay Creek Road. Stay right at the Y and follow Lindsay Creek until
it dead ends at Grelle. Turn left onto Grelle, and just after Grelle
makes a 20 mph right turn, turn left toward the lake. Head straight about
1.3 miles to the dead end and the parking area. ID DeLorme p. 54, A1.

Also in Lewiston on Dec 22, at the big levee pond (aka West Pond) was
an immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, seen by the Svingen's
and Winnie Hepburn. At Kiwanis Park along the levee was a female
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and a first-winter MEW GULL. Near the
US 12 bridge between Lewiston and Clarkston was a single DOUBLE-
CRESTED CORMORANT. To get to these sites, take US 12 west into
Lewiston, cross the Clearwater Bridge and stay right until you reach the
traffic light at 18th Street. Follow the signs for US 12 west to
Clarkston and turn right. In about 1 mile, the big levee pond will be on
the right. From the big levee pond, turn right and continue under the US
12 bridge to the stop sign at Snake River Avenue. Turn right onto
Snake River and go about 0.2 mile to Kiwanis Park on the right.

Look for BLUE JAYS in Moscow, ID on the north-northeast end of town.
Three to four birds are north of Homestead, east of Polk, west of
Orchard. Listen for them around Leith, just off F Street.

At the Asotin, WA, slough on Sun, Dec 22, Winnie Hepburn and Dan &
Ila Svingen saw 2 VARIED THRUSH, a single BEWICK'S WREN, and a
COPPER'S HAWK. The slough is about a mile or so upriver from Asotin,
just as the road curves right. Look for a parking area on the river side
of the road. WA DeLorme p. 43, B8.

Dave Holick reports a single NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL is being seen
with regularity just east of Robinson Park, about 5 miles east of
Moscow, ID, at dusk or even earlier on cloudy days. On the east end of
Moscow, from the intersection of Joseph Street and Mountain View
Road, head east on Joseph, following the signs for the park. At the
intersection, when you reach the park, turn right going past the
manager's house. Watch for the bird on powerlines along the next 0.5 mile
or so, perhaps out as far as the nursery.

Earl Chapin in Sandpoint reports a banner year for NORTHERN PYGMY-
OWL and PINE GROSBEAK in the Sandpoint, ID area. Earl says you can
see 3-4 owls in an hour or so along Sunnyside Road east of Sandpoint.
Just north of Sandpoint, take ID 200 east toward Hope. About 7 miles
later, turn right onto Sunnyside at the Sportsman Access and
immediately go under the railroad tracks. Bear left and watch for owls.
The Pine Grosbeaks can be anywhere. ID DeLorme p. 62, B3.

There are about 3000 BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Moscow, ID. Look for
the big flocks in the southern portions of Moscow and in the area near
the intersection of Joseph and Mountain View Road.

Good birding!