-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* March 27, 1998
* IDWA9803.27

-birds mentioned

Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Greater White-fronted Goose
Sandhill Crane
Dunlin
Caspian Tern
Glaucous Gull
Red-shouldered Hawk
Northern Mockingbird
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow


-transcript

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

Three TRUMPETER SWANS are still at Turnbull NWR, just south of
Cheney, Spokane Co., WA, according to Dick Johnson. Take the
Cheney-Plaza Road south about 4 miles from Cheney to the refuge.
Look in the first pond south of Winslow Pool. WA DeLorme 72, A-4.

Fifteen male EURASIAN WIGEONS (EUWI) were reported this past
week.

Starting in WA: Jan Reynolds saw one on Calispell Lake, Pend Oreille
Co., WA on March 22. She observed it from the road that encircles the
lake. WA DeLorme 105, B-6.

Last week Cindy McCormack found a single bird in the ponds north of
Reardon, Lincoln Co., WA. Folks looking for that bird found a few
more. Jeff Wisman saw one on the west pond and three on the east
pond on March 21. Dick Johnson found two there on March 22. Dave
Bodett added a DUNLIN at the locale. Reardon is along US 2. The
ponds are just north of town along WA 231. A good vantage for the
west pond can be had from the north end of Lake Street, which is
about two blocks west of WA 231. WA DeLorme 88, C-1.

Dave Bodett reports 2 more EUWI were on the east side of Atkins Lake
in Douglas Co., WA on March 21. Atkins Lake is just north of US 2
about 8 miles west of Coulee City. Also there were over 300
TUNDRA SWANS. WA DeLorme 85, CD-4.5.

Dave spied another EUWI in a plowed field at the south end of
Steamboat Rock State Park in Grant Co., WA on March 21. The park
is in Banks Lake southwest of Electric City. Also on Banks Lake, Dave
reports he saw a single adult GLAUCOUS GULL from the north dam at
Electric City on March 21. WA DeLorme 85, B-7.

On March 21, Craig Corder and Judy Stevens saw an amazing 5 EUWI
at Whitcom Island, Benton Co., WA, in a huge flock of American
Wigeons. The Whitcom Island wildlife area is in the Columbia River,
accessed by WA 14 in the southwest corner of Benton Co. WA
DeLorme 28, AB-2.

On the Idaho side, Shirley Sturts saw a single EUWI in Mica Bay, on
the west side of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai Co., ID on March 17.
Mica Bay can be accessed by turning east onto Putnam Road at US 95
milepost 421.4, about 8 miles south of Coeur d'Alene. Stay right at
the first Y and then take the first left to the lake. ID DeLorme 60, B-1.

Another lone drake was just north of Cave Lake in Kootenai Co., ID on
March 15, according to the Comries. Cave Lake can be accessed at
milepost 106.7 off ID 3, north of St. Maries. Follow the signs for
Medimont and Rainy Hill. Also there were GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE. ID DeLorme 60, BC-2.

308 DUNLIN were on the Walla Walla River Delta in western Walla
Walla Co., WA on March 24, according to Mike and MerryLynn Denny.
Although the flock dwindled to 150 on March 27, two CASPIAN
TERNS were present, the earliest date yet for the county. 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, the
Denny's are still seeing 4 HARRIS'S SPARROWS and 2 WHITE-
THROATED SPARROWS as of March 24. 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. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was on the Wallula poop piles, about 4
miles north of Madame Dorian Park along US 12 on March 27
according to the Denny's. There's a nice pull-out at US 12 milepost
303. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

Both the Denny's and Dick Johnson report large numbers of GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE along US 12 in this general area, especially
near US 12 milepost 300. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

Two more HARRIS'S SPARROWS and a HERMIT THRUSH were seen
in Grant Co., WA on March 21 by Dave Bodett. To get to the birds,
take WA 28 from Quincy to Ephrata. At milepost 40.6, park in the
pullout on the south side of the highway. Look for the birds in the
thicket in the wildlife area south of the parking area. WA DeLorme 68,
BC-3. 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.

Cindy McCormack report 120 or so Sandhill's in the fields along
Waukon Road, 2.7 miles south of Waukon and just north of the
intersection with Drumheller Road on March 23. This is right on the
Lincoln Co., Spokane Co., WA line. WA DeLorme 88, D-2 and 72, A-2
right at the top of the page.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD and the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK were
seen near Richland, Benton Co., WA on March 22 by Ruth Sullivan.
The Mocker was along the Yakima River about 4 miles northwest of
Richland. Take WA 240 west from Richland to Grosscup Road.
Follow Grosscup to Yakima River Road. Turn right on Yakima River
and follow it to the first opening on the river. Although the Red-
shouldered had been in this general area, Ruth found the hawk further
upriver, near Horn Rapids Dam, which is just off WA 240. WA
DeLorme 39, B-5.

A pair of AMERICAN DIPPERS are apparently nesting in River Front
Park in downtown Spokane, WA according to Jeff Wisman. Isn't that
fun?

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

Good birding.