-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* March 20, 1998
* IDWA9803.20

-birds mentioned

Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Dunlin
Sandhill Crane
Blue Jay
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
spring arrivals
and a Mike Denny mystery gull

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon
Date: March 20, 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.

Four TRUMPETER SWANS are still at Turnbull NWR, just south of
Cheney, Spokane Co., WA, according to Cindy McCormack. Take the
Cheney-Plaza Road south about 4 miles from Cheney to the refuge.
WA DeLorme 72, A-4.

Two BLUE JAYS were at the feeder of Jerry Converse in Coulee City,
Grant Co., WA this morning, March 20. Coulee City is on WA
DeLorme 85, CD-6. A BLUE JAY also continues to be present in north
Moscow.

There are two reports of EURASIAN WIGEON in WA. Cindy
McCormack saw one today, March 20, in the ponds just north of
Reardon, Lincoln Co., WA. Reardon is along US 2. The ponds are just
north of town along WA 231, and Cindy saw the bird on the pond on
the west side of 231. WA DeLorme 88, C-1.

The other EURASIAN WIGEON is on the Walla Walla River Delta in
western Walla Walla Co., WA. Mike and MerryLynn Denny saw the
bird on March 19. Also at the delta were 131 DUNLIN, and 65+
GREEN-WINGED TEAL. The delta is along US 12, just north of the
junction of US 12 and US 730. There's a nice pull-out on the west
side of US 12 milepost 306.9 where you can access the delta. WA
DeLorme 40, D-1.

Just across the road from the delta, at Madame Dorian Park, I saw 4
HARRIS'S SPARROWS and one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW on
March 13. The Denny's report the Harris's and two White-throated's
were there on March 19. The park is at US 12 milepost 307. Look for
the sparrows along the two-track that heads down toward the river
and the old bridge. There's also a weird, partially white-throated Dark-
eyed Junco there too. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

Twenty YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were on the Wallula poop
piles, about 4 miles north of Madame Dorian Park along US 12 on
March 19, according to the Denny's. There's a nice pull-out at US 12
milepost 303. While there, you might want to find Mike Denny's weird
gull. It has the mantle of a California Gull, the size of a California
Gull, the greenish yellow legs of a California Gull, but it has pure white
scapulars and primaries, like the wing tips were dipped in bleach. WA
DeLorme 40, D-1.

A flock of 400 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were also along US
12 in western Walla Walla Co., WA on March 17. Mike and MerryLynn
saw them near US 12 milepost 300. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

A single, singing SWAMP SPARROW was along the causeway to Crow
Butte State Park in extreme southwestern Benton Co., WA on March
19, according to Mike Denny. Access Crow Butte and the causeway
from WA 14. WA DeLorme 28, B-2.

SANDHILL CRANES are abundant north of Scootenay Reservoir in
northern Franklin Co., WA. A thousand or so birds were along Coyan
Road just north of the dam and west of WA 17 on March 15,
according to Diane Weber, and the Denny's report the same on March
17. The reservoir is about 10 miles southeast of Othello, Adams Co.,
WA. The Denny's also saw another 1000 or so Sandhill's at the
Othello sewage ponds, which are on the west side of Othello. WA
DeLorme 53, B&C-8

Many folks called in spring sightings, including reports of SAY'S
PHOEBE, WESTERN and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOWS, WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS, LONG-BILLED CURLEWS,
and large flocks of BREWER'S and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

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

Good birding.