-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* March 19, 1999
* IDWA9903.19

-birds mentioned

Clark's Grebe
Dunlin
Eurasian Wigeon
Oldsquaw
Harlequin Duck
Western Screech-owl
Long-eared Owl
Prairie Falcon
Tri-colored Blackbird
Harris's Sparrow
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch
Snow Bunting

-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: March 19, 1999 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.

After last weeks drought, we're making up for it this week....

A single female OLDSQUAW was on the Columbia River near Vantage,
Kittitas County, Washington on March 14 according to Janet Ray. She
reports the bird was near the boat launch at Wanapum State Park, but
you should probably look for the bird anywhere between the I-90 bridge
and Wanapum Dam. WA DeLorme 52, A-1.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was in the Cataldo, Kootenai County, Idaho
area on March 14 according to Stephen Lindsay. The bird was in the
pond near the intersection of Canyon Road and Hardy Loop Road. From
Coeur d'Alene, follow I-90 east to exit 34. Go north to the T
intersection and then turn right onto Canyon Road. Follow Canyon
about 2 miles and just before Canyon heads over the causeway, turn
left onto Hardy Loop Road. See "A Birder's Guide to Idaho" p. 53 and
ID DeLorme 60, B-3. Another Idaho EURASIAN WIGEON was at West Pond in
Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho on March 18 according to Deb
Beutler. Take US 12 into Lewiston across the Clearwater River. Stay
right past the first traffic light and at the next light, which is
18th, stay right on the US 12 bypass. Go one mile to the pond. ID
DeLorme 54, A-1.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at Blaylock (sp?) Pond west of College
Place, Walla Walla County, Washington on March 13. The bird was seen
by Mike and MerryLynn Denny and John Gatchet. Follow US 12 into
College Place, take the Wallula Hwy exit. Head south of Huffy Road to
Blaylock (sp?) Drive. Go west 0.5 mile on Blaylock to the pond. WA
DeLorme 41, D-5.5. The Dennys and John report another EURASIAN WIGEON
at the Walla Walla River delta in western Walla Walla County that same
day. Also on the delta were 9 DUNLIN and a PRAIRIE FALCON. The delta
is just north of the jct of US 12 and US 730. Park in the pull-out
opposite Madame Dorianne (sp?) park and walk down to the delta. Also
around the delta were 2 CLARK'S GREBES, 2800 GREATER SCAUP, 1300
LESSER SCAUP, and 150 CANVASBACK.

At Big Flat Wildlife Management Area east of Pasco, Walla Walla
County, Washington on March 13, the Dennys and Mr. Gatchet saw 3
HARRIS'S SPARROWS, 4 LONG-EARED OWLS, 3 BARN OWLS, 3 GREAT HORNED
OWLS, a flock of 45-50 TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS in a big flock of mixed
blackbirds, and a mere 30,000 or so AMERICAN ROBINS. To get to Big
Flat, head east from Pasco on the Pasco-Kahlotus Road to Herman Road.
Follow Herman Road south to Big Flat. WA DeLorme 40, B-2. If you
want more info, call Mike Denny at 509-529-0080.

A HARLEQUIN DUCK in eclipse plumage was seen in Coeur d'Alene,
Kootenai County, Idaho on March 14 by Theresa Potts and again on the
15 by Shirley Sturts and Stephen Lindsay. The bird was on the Spokane
River along the dike road near North Idaho College. From the jct of
US 95, Northwest Blvd, and the Spokane River, head east on Northwest
Blvd toward the city center. Go about 0.25 mile and turn right onto
Lincoln Way. Go one block and turn right onto River Avenue. Go about
0.25 mile until River Avenue ends on Rosenberry Drive which follows
along the top of the dike. The duck was right at the start of
Rosenberry. See "A Birder's Guide to Idaho" p. 50 and ID Delorme 60,
B-1.

Although the Northern Saw-whet Owl that resided in Hells Gate State
Park in Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho has apparently departed, its
roosting spot was occupied by a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL this past weekend,
according to Rick Welle. However, Deb Beutler didn't find any owls in
the park on the 18th.

A flock of 25 SNOW BUNTINGS were across from the old school at Flora,
Wallowa County, OR on March 13 according to Carole Vande Voorde. Flora
is along OR 3 about 8 miles south of the Washington border. OR
DeLorme 87, A-7.

A flock of 200 or so GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES were in Diablo (aka
Devils) Canyon south of Kahlotus, Franklin County, Washington on March
13 according to the Denny's and John Gatchet. Follow Washington 263
south from Kahlotus toward Lower Monumental Dam. There's one striking
rosy finch with white wings and tail. WA DeLorme 54, C-4.

If you have any questions, give me a call 208/883-0943.

Good birding.