- RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* January 5, 2001
* IDWA001.5

- birds mentioned

Yellow-billed Loon
Pacific Loon
Eurasian Wigeon
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Western Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Long-eared Owl
Snowy Owl
Blue Jay
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Rusty Blackbird
Snow Bunting

- transcript

hotline: northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon
Date: January 5, 2001
Phone: (208) 882-6195
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Charles Swift - charless at moscow.com

On the Two Rivers Christmas Bird Count on Dec 31 in western Walla Walla Co
WA, observers hit the mother load of good birds, including an adult LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, 2 ad MEW GULLS, 1 ad GLAUCOUS GULL, 1 ad WESTERN GULL,
and a THAYER'S GULL. The best time to see the gulls is from about 3 pm on at
the Walla Walla River Delta when the birds come into roost. Also at the
delta were 85 DUNLIN. The Walla Walla River Delta can be accessed from US 12
just north of the junction of US 12 and US 730. There's a pull-out along US
12 at milepost 306.9 and a path to the delta. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

Just across from the delta is Madame Doriane State Park. On Dec 31 a single
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was present there. Madame Dorian Park is just north
of the junction of US 12 and US 730, on the east side of the highway along
North Shore Road. WA DeLorme 40, D-1. And on the south side of the Walla
Walla River and delta, at the Northwest Grain Growers silos, were a couple
of HARRIS'S SPARROWS. Look for the big grain dump on the back side of the
facility. There are hundreds of sparrows there including the Harris's. And
just beyond the dump in the marshy area are 4 VIRGINIA RAILS.

Just north of the Walla Walla River Delta at the Iowa Dodd beef slaughter
plant were a couple of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 14 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in
the huge blackbird flock on Dec 31. The plant is along Dodd-Iowa Beef Road,
which is at US 12 milepost 301.5 about 5.5 miles north of the jct of US 12
and US 730. WA DeLorme 40, CD-1.

At Two Rivers County Park east of Kennewick, Benton Co WA is a single
EURASIAN WIGEON. Also near the mouth of the Snake River is a single PACIFIC
LOON and an adult female PEREGRINE FALCON. Two Rivers is located along the
Columbia River east of Kennewick. From WA 397 head east on Finley Road 1.5
miles to the parking area. WA DeLorme 39, C-8.

Thanks to Mike and MerryLynn Denny for the updates on the western Walla
Walla Co birds.

A male LONG-TAILED DUCK (aka OLDSQUAW) was seen Dec 30 on the Columbia River
in Kennewick, Benton Co WA on the Christmas Bird Count at Columbia Park. The
bird, along with a MEW GULL, were seen today, Jan 5, by Mike and MerryLynn
Denny. To get there, take WA 395 from Pasco and head southwest across the
Columbia River. Take the first exit after crossing the bridge which heads
toward Richland. Then take the first exit into Columbia Park; follow the
road to the river and then turn left heading upriver. Drive about 2 miles
to a Kiwanis sign which is where the bird was mostly seen.

A YELLOW-BILLED LOON is on Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Wallowa Co OR. It was
first seen on Dec 17, and at least through Jan 1 according to Craig and Judy
Corder, particularly on the southern end of the lake. OR DeLorme 87, C-7.5.

A communal roost of LONG-EARED OWLS is persisting near Viola, Latah Co ID
according to Gary and Suzanne Qualman. In the hawthorn in their yard, they
now have about 12 birds. If you've never seen a Long-eared, this is a great
chance. Call Gary or Suzanne at 208.858.2131 for directions. ID DeLorme 58,
B-1. If you want to see Long-eareds in Washington, there's a communal roost
in Walla Walla. Call Mike Denny at 509-529-0080 for details.

A SNOWY OWL was seen in the usual area east of Moses Lake, Grant Co WA on
Dec 18 by Randy Hill. The bird is probably still in the same area. To get
there, take I-90 exit 179 and go north past the mini-mart etc. 0.2 mile,
then turn right (east) and go 1 mile to road L NE. Turn left (north) onto L
NE and start looking on both sides of the road for the next two miles. Check
the tops of irrigation equipment. The vicinity near Nelson Road seems best.
Take Nelson east 0.5 mile for more opportunities. WA DeLorme 69, CD-6.5.

Two male RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at a feeder in Harrison, Kootenai Co ID on
Jan 1 according to Stephen Lindsay. The birds were alternating between some
feeders and an adjacent thicket at the Osprey Inn. The feeders can be seen
from ID 97 as it leaves Harrison to the north. There is a turnout across
from the feeders that affords an excellent viewing position. ID DeLorme 60,
BC-1.5.

A flock of 25 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found in trees along WA 24 at
milemarker 62.5 in Grant Co WA, on Jan 2 by Bob Flores. This is about 4
miles west of the county line. WA DeLorme 53, BC-5.

A flock of 120 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen by Herb and Jan Severtson in Kootenai
Co ID on Jan 1. To get to where the birds were, head north from Coeur d'
Alene on US 95 to Athol and turn west onto ID 54. Go about 2 miles and turn
north onto Clagstone Road. Head north on Clagstone about 2.5 miles. The
birds were on powerlines adjacent to an open field. T53N R3W Sec. 6 (north
west corner of section 6). ID DeLorme 60, A-1.5 near the top of the page.

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS have finally shown up in Latah Co ID. Judy Tackett
found a bird near the intersection of Flannigan Creek and Davis roads east
of Viola on Jan 1. Dave Holick also had one in his yard on the south side of
Moscow Mountain on Dec 31. To see if Dave's is still around, call him at
208.882.5556.

A total of 86 species were tallied on the Lewiston ID / Clarkston WA
Christmas Bird Count on the 30th. Most notable were a single BLUE JAY, 1
HARRIS'S SPARROW, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON, and 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. The
Blue Jay was at Swallows Park along the Snake River on the south edge of
Clarkston, Asotin Co., WA. From Clarkston, head south on WA 129. WA
DeLorme 43, AB-8. The Harris's was along the road that parallels US 95 south
of Spalding, Nez Perce Co ID. The road begins just opposite the southern
entrance to Spalding Park. Heading south, pass the construction and at the
abandon trailer on the west side of the road, scan the weedy / brushy area.
ID DeLorme 54, A-1. The Prairie Falcon was at the top of Central Grade
between Lewiston and Genesee, Nez Perce Co sitting on the high-tension
powerline poles, just north of the BPA power substation. ID DeLorme 58, C-1
and 54, A-1. And the night-herons were at Kiwanis Park. To get to Kiwanis
from the north end of Lewiston, follow US 12 across the Clearwater River and
then stay right past the first traffic light. At the next light, which is
18th Street, turn right and follow the bypass until it ends at Snake River
Avenue. Turn right onto Snake River. The first parking area on the right is
Kiwanis Park. ID DeLorme 54, A-1.

And to our visitors from California, the hawk-owl has apparently not been
seen since Thanksgiving, despite several good forays.

If you have any questions about birds on the report, call me before 9 pm at
208.883.0943. If you see any of the birds mentioned in this report, be sure
to let me know.

Good birding,

Kas

****************************************************
Charles E. Swift
charless at moscow.com
Moscow, Idaho



****************************************************
Charles E. Swift
charless at moscow.com
Moscow, Idaho