Subject: RBA: N ID / E WA / NE OR -- 3/28/97
Date: Mar 31 17:10:27 1997
From: Dale Goble - gobled at uidaho.edu



-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* March 28, 1997
* IDWA9703.28

-birds mentioned

Ferruginous Hawk
Northern Hawk-owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Dunlin
Eurasian Wigeon
Sandhill Crane
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
Hermit Thrush
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch


-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon
Date: March 28, 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 in Cheney, WA as of March 10. Look
for the bird near 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. WA DeLorme 72, A4.

A single NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL has been roosting in a small
clump of conifers in Rooks Park just east of Walla Walla, WA. Look for
the bird about west of the restrooms.

The adult male NORTHERN CARDINAL, first seen on Jan 5, in
Lewiston, ID is still being seen at the home of Lloyd and Helen Hogden,
but much less frequently. The Hogden's live at 2975 Mayfair Ridge.
Lloyd tells me no one that has come looking for it has missed it. Call
me at 208-883-0943 if you need directions.

Dale Goble reports a couple of BLUE JAYS are being obvious in
northern Moscow of late. Look for the birds in their usual haunt, north
of Homestead, east of Polk, west of Orchard.

John and Marty Hirth saw 250 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH along
Asotin Creek Road, west of Asotin, WA, about 0.5 mile after the
pavement ends. Also there was a single TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE
and a GOLDEN EAGLE. Asotin Creek Road heads off to the right just
before you cross Asotin Creek going into Asotin. WA DeLorme 43,
B8.

John and Mary Roberson and Mike and MerryLynn Denny saw 140
DUNLIN at the Walla Walla River Delta on Mar 13, along with 2
second-winter GLAUCOUS GULLS on Mar 14, and just north of the
delta at the Wallula poop piles were 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS (one first-
winter, one second-winter) and about a dozen GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULLS. The delta is just north of the junction of US 12 and US 730 in
western Walla Walla County. About 3 miles north of the poop piles at
Casey's Pond along US 12 on McNary NWR were 50 GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. WA DeLorme 40, D1.

The Robersons also report a HERMIT THRUSH on Bateman Island in
the Columbia River on the west end of Kennewick, WA on Mar 14.
The bird was at the extreme northern end. WA DeLorme 39, C7.

John Montgomery reported 2 male EURASIAN WIGEONS on Benewah
Lake between Plummer and St. Maries, ID last week. I saw one bird
last Sat. Good views of Benewah Lake can be had from the Benewah
Resort at ID 5, milepost 11.7, and pullouts along ID 5 just before you
enter Heyburn State Park. ID DeLorme 60, C1 and your Sept 1995
copy of Winging It.

John and Mary Roberson also report seeing 1000 SANDHILL CRANES
on the Scootenay Reservoir southeast of Othello, WA on Mar 14.
Take WA 17 south from WA 26 just east of Othello 13 miles to the
reservoir entrance. John suggests two good viewing spots. From the
visitors center drive north as far as you can then hike to the bluff and
look down on the birds, or climb the hill near the dam for another good
vantage.

Dick Johnson saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK south of Pullman, WA on
Mar 9 along Chambers Road which is near Johnson. WA DeLorme 57,
C7.

Dr. Johnson also reports 3 immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
at the big levee pond in Lewiston, ID on Mar 9, with single birds on the
11th and 12th. To get there, take US 12 West into Lewiston, cross
the Clearwater River, stay right around the first traffic light, and at
the light for 18th Street, turn right onto the levee bypass. Go 1 mile to
the parking lot for the pond.

Other interesting tidbits for the week include SPOTTED TOWHEES in
Grangeville according to Dan Svingen, and at the base of Moscow Mt.
according to Tom Besser. The Hirth's and I each saw a couple of
NORTHERN SHRIKE persisting south of Moscow, ID toward Genesee,
and I saw a single VARIED THRUSH about 5 miles south of Moscow
with a flock of American Robins.

Good birding!