-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* December 25, 1998
* IDWA9812.25

-birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
Mew Gull
Eurasian Wigeons
Long-eared Owl
Purple Finch


-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: December 25, 1998 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 adult male PURPLE FINCH, residing on Bateman Island near Richland,
Benton County, Washington since October 31 was still seen through
December 19 by Craig Corder and Judy Stevens. From Washington 240,
take the Columbia Drive exit, go to the right and find Wye Park. Walk
across the causeway and continue in the same northerly direction.
After 100 steps there's a garbage can, after 100 more there's a fork
in the trail you ignore, and another 400 steps brings you to some
feeders on the right in the trees. Bring some seed for the feeders.
Washington DeLorme 39, C-6.

Craig and Judy report the Tri-Cities CBC on December 19 also yielded
PACIFIC LOON, MEW GULL, and 2 EURASIAN WIGEONS, but I have no info on
exact locations. There are also a couple of LONG-EARED OWLS in that
area.

Two OLDSQUAW were reported from the Grant Coulee, Grant County,
Washington CBC on December 20. Call Jerry and Sandy Converse for
details -- 509-633-0205.

The Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho CBC on December 20 came up
with several good birds, including a MEW GULL, 36 SNOW BUNTINGS, a
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 2 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS, and a single BLUE JAY.

The Moscow/Pullman CBC on December 19 also yielded some good birds,
including a HERMIT THRUSH, 37 BARN OWLS, including the counts first
MARSH WREN and the first NORTHERN PINTAIL. Also found were
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES and two communal roosts of LONG-EARED OWLS,
each with 16 birds.

I have dates for a few regional Christmas Bird Counts:

Two Rivers (Columbia and Walla Walla Rivers), Jan 3, Mike Denny,
509-529-0080. Lewiston (first year), Jan 3, Charles Swift,
208-883-0553 <charless at umich.edu>

Good birding.