- RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* October 14, 2002
* IDWA0210.14

- birds mentioned

Great Egret
Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
RED PHALAROPE
Tri-colored Blackbird
Purple Finch

- transcript

hotline: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: October 14, 2002
Phone: (208) 882-6195
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Kas Dumroese - dumroese at iglide dot net

This is Kas Dumroese with the Northern Idaho / Eastern Washington /
Northeastern Oregon bird hotline for Sunday 14 October (2002). This hotline,
sponsored by Palouse Audubon, is usually updated every Monday evening.
Transcripts of this RBA and membership info are available on-line at
http://www.palouseaudubon.org

Leave a message anytime during this recording by pressing 2 and then #.
Please give me good directions, your fellow birdwatchers will appreciate it.

On 6 Oct Charles Swift reported 5 SURF SCOTERS at Spring Valley Reservoir in
Latah Co ID. Since then, SURF SCOTERS have been reported region-wide in big
numbers. On 8 Oct Dave Beaudette reported 13 birds on the Columbia River at
Wenatchee, Chelan Co WA. On 9 Oct Bryan Jamison and Keith Carlson reported
11 birds at Mann Lake, Nez Perce Co ID. That same day, Bob Flores found 48
SURF SCOTERS on Potholes Reservoir near Moses Lake, Grant Co WA. Jane
Westervelt reports a "pile" of birds at Mann Lake on 12 Oct. Scott Downes
found 17 more on the Columbia River above Wanapum Dam near Vantage, Kittitas
Co WA on 12 Oct and Bob Flores found 12 more on the Columbia further
downriver. That same day a single bird was on Page Pond in Shoshone Co ID
according to Lisa Hardy. Three more were on the south end of Soap Lake
according to Bob Flores on 12 Oct, but Marv Breece found 10 later that day
at the same spot. That same day, Matthew Moskwik found 8 birds on Sullivan
Lake in Pend Oreille Co WA. Three females were on the Genesee, Latah Co ID,
sewage ponds on 13 Oct according to Terry and Christine Grey. Kerry Turley
found one on Buchanan Lake in Yakima, Yakima Co WA on 13 Oct and added 5
more at Toppenish Wildlife Refuge. Six more SURF SCOTERS were at Swallows
Park in Clarkston, Asotin Co WA on 13 Oct according to Al Winter. Dennis
Rockwell found 21 birds on the Columbia River near Two Rivers County Park
near Kennewick, Benton Co WA.... I think that adds up to 161 birds plus a
few more if Jane's "pile" from Mann Lake has more than the 11 reported there
earlier.

Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS were at the south end of Soap Lake, Grant Co WA, on
12 Oct according to Doug Schonewald. The birds were just beyond the buoys.
Later that day, Bob Flores and Marv Breece found up to 3 WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS at the same spot. And even better, Marv reports a RED PHALAROPE was
swimming near the south end of the lake by the gazebo.

On 8 Oct at Wenatchee Confluence State Park, Dave Beaudette found an
immature BRANT with a few Canada Geese at the soccer fields, which are north
of the east end of the campground. From US 2 at Wenatchee, eastbound or
westbound, follow signs to the state park. WA DeLorme 67, A-6.

Three SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS are persisting at the McCain Potato Ponds just
north of Othello, Adams Co WA. First spotted on Oct 3 by Tom Aversa and Bob
Flores, the birds were still being seen as of 13 Oct. The pond they are
frequenting is off limits to bird watchers-duck hunters have paid to hunt
the pond. Respect private property. Fortunately, you can look into the pond
from a vantage point without trespassing or disturbing the duck hunters.
>From Othello, head north about 2 miles and then stay left onto McManoman
Road. As you head down the hill, on the left will be a potato shed just
before you cross the wetland that McManoman splits (aka Para Ponds). To the
left of the shed is a gate and a road on top of the dike. Walk south on the
road to where it rises in elevation. From here you can look right into the
large alkali pond the birds are using. It's the last one along the fence and
road. With a scope there should be NO problem with ID. Also, Bob reports
that he saw the birds in the Para Ponds where they were viewable from
McManoman Rd. They were roosting with a group of dowitchers on a small point
of land that juts out into the open water. This is found on the east end of
the pond directly across from a large stand of bulrush. WA DeLorme AB-7. At
this same location, a flock of 1200 blackbirds is also present; Bob Flores
found 2 TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS in the flock on 12 Oct.

One to three more SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS were at Lind Coulee near Potholes
Reservoir near Moses Lake, Grant Co WA according to Doug Schonewald and Bob
Flores. To get there, head south from Moses Lake on WA 17 to Route 262 (aka
7 SE on WA DeLorme). Head west on 262 to road M SE. Turn north onto M SE.
Just over the bridge, turn right into a pullout area and scan the mudflats.
Bob Flores found one on again on the 9 Oct, but couldn't find any on 11 Oct.
WA DeLorme 53, A-7 near the top of the page.

Besides the SURF SCOTERS reported earlier, Scott Downes also reports a male
EURASIAN WIGEON and an enormous congregation of waterfowl (45,000 to 50,000
birds) on the Columbia River near Vantage, Kittitas Co WA on 12 Oct.

A female PURPLE FINCH is visiting the feeder of Larry Moskwik near Elk,
Spokane Co WA. If you'd like to see the bird seen 12 and 13 Oct, give Larry
a call at 509.292.8168.

A GREAT EGRET was at Mann Lake, Nez Perce Co ID on 9 Oct according to Bryan
Jameson and Keith Carlson.

A male EURASIAN WIGEON was on Migrane Lake in Columbia NWR, Grant Co WA on 9
Oct according to Bob Flores.

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