-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* March 6, 1998
* IDWA9803.06

-birds mentioned

Eurasian Wigeon
Tufted Duck
Trumpeter Swan
Ross's Goose
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Geese
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mew Gull
Dunlin
Red-shouldered Hawk
Long-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Blue Jay
Bewick's Wren
American Tree Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon
Date: March 6, 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 Washington RED-SHOULDERED HAWK first seen January 31 along
the Yakima River in west Richland, Benton Co., WA by Tony Greager,
was seen on March 1 by Ruth Sullivan. From I-182 in Richland, take
WA 240 toward Vantage. Near the Richland landfill, turn left (south)
on Grosscup. Look for the bird at the corner of Grosscup and Snively
Roads. It's perching in trees along the river and can be seen from the
bridges. WA DeLorme 39, B-6, T10N, R27E, Sec. 30.

Two Idaho RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen March 1. The most
consistent bird is at Lake Lowell (aka Deer Flat NWR) near Nampa,
Canyon Co., ID. It's persisting near Schaffer's Access on the
southeast end of the reservoir. This is probably the same bird that was
there last October and November. From Nampa, take 12th Avenue
South to Burke Lane, head west on Burke to Tio Lane, and south on
Tio to Schaffer's. ID DeLorme 34, C2, and if you've got A Birder's
Guide to Idaho, check page 162.

The two ROSS'S GEESE, in a flock of 300 SNOW GEESE on the
Umatilla NWR, Whitcom Island Unit in southwestern Benton Co., WA
on February 21 were seen again on March 1 by Ruth Sullivan. Craig
Corder and Judy Stevens report the flock feeds on the island until
about 10 am, then fly south to the Columbia River. Take WA 14 to
the entrance to the island. To get down to the river once on the island,
take the first right and the next left toward a pumping station. Check
at the pump for a couple of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS. Ruth also
reports an EURASIAN WIGEON and 2 TRUMPETER SWANS here as
well. WA DeLorme 28, B-2.5.

Lots of good birds are along the Columbia River corridor in western
Walla Walla Co., WA. Three HARRIS'S SPARROWS and 1 WHITE-
THROATED SPARROW were at Madame Doriane (sp?) Park in western
Walla Walla Co., WA, on March 1 according to Ruth Sullivan, and
today, March 6, by Mike and MerryLynn Denny. The park is just north
of the junction of US 12 and US 730, at about US 12 milepost 307.
Both species have been seen with consistency all winter the Harris's
numbers fluctuating from 1-6. Look for the sparrows along the little
dirt road, which is just beyond the bathrooms, and runs west along the
Walla Walla River.

Just across the road at the Walla Walla River delta, the Denny's report
200+ DUNLIN, 2 sub-adult GLAUCOUS GULLS, an adult MEW GULL,
and a PEREGRINE FALCON. Just north of the park along US12 at the
Wallula poop piles, on March 1, were 2 THAYER'S GULLS, 1
GLAUCOUS GULL, and 4 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, according to
Ruth Sullivan. Just a little further north at milepost 300 at McNary
NWR, in the pond on the east side of the road, the Denny's saw 250+
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE today, March 6. On the pond on
the west side was a COMMON LOON. At the end of Humorist Road
which heads east off US 12 at McNary, the Denny's had 11 TUNDRA
SWANS today, March 6. Continuing north along US 12, where it
intersects WA 124, is Hood Park. Today there was a single male
EURASIAN WIGEON, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, an ORANGE-
CROWNED WARLBER, and a HERMIT THRUSH at the park, according
to the Dennys. If you'd like more information on finding the saw-whet,
call Mike at 509-529-0080. WA DeLorme 40, CD-1, and 39, C-8.

Nine LONG-EARED OWLS, 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, two carcasses of
BARN OWLS, and 2 immature HARRIS'S SPARROWS were all at the
WMA at the north end of Rice Road in Walla Walla Co., WA on
February 28, according to the Denny's. Rice Road is east of Fishhook
Park on the south side of the Snake River, off WA 124. For better
directions, call Mike at 509-529-0080.

BLUE JAYS are still in and around Moscow, Latah Co., Idaho. Dave
Wenny reports one last week near the UI Arboretum in southwest
Moscow. This bird has been around all winter. Look for it west of US
95, south of Taylor, north of Palouse River Drive, and east of the
arboretum, especially around Borah, Ridge, and Chinook. Tom Besser
still has 3 to 5 BLUE JAYS visiting his feeder at the base of Moscow
Mountain, just north of Moscow. Give him a call if you want to go a-
looking: 208-882-6254. Charles Swift reports seeing 4 BLUE JAYS,
presumably the same as those at Besser's along Saddle Ridge Road at
its intersection with Joyce Road. Saddle Ridge goes up and over the
west end of Moscow Mountain.

If you need any information about the sightings, give me a call at
208-883-0943.

Good birding.