RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* October 17, 2004
* IDWA04.10.17

- birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
Red-throated Loon
Eurasian Wigeon
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Western Gull
Parasitic Jaeger
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Blue Jay
Palm Warbler
Purple Finch
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow

- transcript

hotline: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: 17 October 2004
Phone: 208.882.6195
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Kas.... dumroese at moscow dot com

This is the Northern Idaho / Eastern Washington / Northeastern Oregon bird
hotline for Sunday 17 October (2004). 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 the recording by pressing 2 and then #.
Please give me good directions, your fellow birdwatchers will appreciate it.

I didn't receive any reports this past week about the SCISSOR-TAILED
FLYCATCHER near Moses Lake International Airport, Grant Co WA.

CACKLING GEESE were reported region-wide this past week.

A second winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, first seen 8 Oct at Sun Lakes
State Park in Grant Co WA by Doug Schonewald was seen by many observers
through at least 14 Oct. Look for it at the southeast end of the park near
the primitive boat launch and swim area. Also there on 11 Oct was a PURPLE
FINCH according to Dave Beaudette. Several birders report CACKLING GEESE
there too. The park is 7 miles southwest of Coulee City. WA DeLorme 85, D-5.

The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER first seen 3 Oct on the east beach of Soap Lake,
Grant Co WA was still being seen through 16 Oct. Also there this past week
were a LONG-TAILED DUCK, 1 to 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 2 AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVERS, and 3 to 20 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. Thanks to Doug Schonewald,
Dave Beaudette, and Gina Sheridan for the reports. WA DeLorme 69, A-5.

Dave Beaudette reports several good birds from the Wenatchee, Chelan Co WA
area. At the Wenatchee Confluence State Park, a PALM WARBLER was present 7
Oct at the Horan Natural Area and a SWAMP SPARROW from 7-9 Oct. Nearby on 17
Oct was a RED-THROATED LOON on the Columbia River at East Wenatchee, Douglas
Co. The loon was just south of the 19th Street entrance to the Loop Trail
and was seen from the meadow just south of the Porters Pond Natural Area. WA
DeLorme 67, A-6.

An adult WESTERN GULL was at the south end of Alkali Lake, Grant Co WA on 14
Oct according to Bob Flores. He found it from the turn-off from the highway
just past the turn-off to the parking lot on the south end of the lake.
Alkali Lake is north of Soap Lake along WA 17. WA DeLorme 85, D-5.

At least 15 SURF SCOTERS and at least 15 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen 13
Oct on Lake Pend Oreille off the city beach in Sandpoint, Bonner Co ID by
Earl Chapin. A PACIFIC LOON was present on 12 Oct. ID DeLorme 62, B-2.

Mark Houston found 8 SURF SCOTERS on Twin Lakes, west of Inchelium, Ferry Co
WA on the Colville Indian Reservation on 16 Oct. Also there was an adult,
light phase PARASITIC JAEGER. WA DeLorme 103, B-7.

Nancy LaFramboise reports a LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Hood Park in
northwestern Walla Walla Co WA on 17 Oct. Hood Park is located at the jct of
US 12 and WA 124, just southeast of Pasco. WA DeLorme 39, C-8.

Two or three SWAMP SPARROWS and a first winter WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were
at Big Twin Lake Campground near Winthrop, Okanogan Co WA on 10 Oct
according to Michael Woodruff. The swamps were in the marsh and the
white-throated near the host house. WA DeLorme 99, A-7.

A sub-adult HARRIS'S SPARROW and 2 sub-adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at
Lyons Ferry Park in Franklin Co WA on 16 Oct according to Mike and MerryLynn
Denny. Lyons Ferry is right in the corner of Franklin, Whitman, Columbia and
Walla Walla counties. Access via WA 261. WA DeLorme 55, D-6.5.

A lone EURASIAN WIGEON was at West Pond (the big pond next to the railroad
bridge over the Clearwater River) along the levee in Lewiston, Nez Perce Co
ID early in the week of 10 Oct according to Terry Gray.

At least one NORTHERN HAWK-OWL and a few BOREAL CHICKADEES were seen again
on Mt Salmo in extreme northeast Pend Oreille Co WA. First seen in late Sep,
the birds were seen again on 9 and 10 Oct by Clinton Hedges and 14 Oct by
Gina Sheridan. To get there, take the road up Sullivan Creek just north of
Sullivan Lake. In 18 miles at Salmo Pass take the road to the left which
goes a couple miles to the top. WA DeLorme 119, A-8.

BLUE JAY sightings. One bird each unless noted. New for this week unless
noted. Burgdorf, Valley Co ID, 7 Oct according to Ed Stonick. Orofino,
Clearwater Co ID, 11 Oct, June Cleveland. South Hill of Spokane WA for past
month according to Michael Woodruff. Gina Sheridan reports one from around
Cook and 60th Avenue, South Hill, Spokane, 15 Oct. Nancy Miller saw a second
jay at her feeder in Viola, Latah Co ID, 11 and 12 Oct. Two persisting on
Pioneer Hill, Pullman, Whitman Co WA according to Diane Weber; perhaps the
same birds reported by Brent Wenger. Julie Clark, Craig Mountain, Nez Perce
Co ID reports her flock went from 2 birds to 4. Nancy Mertz, Pine Street,
Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai Co ID on 9 Sep and 12 Oct. St Maries, Benewah Co ID,
13 Oct by Dave Spicer. Grangeville, Idaho Co ID, 3 birds this past week
according to Terry Gray. Paradise Ridge, Latah Co ID, 16 Oct by Kas
Dumroese. Three near Silver Lake, Spokane Co WA, 16 Oct by Dee Sutherlin. A
flock of 9 were an Hanan and South Fifth streets in Dayton, Columbia Co WA,
16 Oct according to Mike and MerryLynn Denny.

As of 15 Oct, Harry Krueger reports there were 89 BLUE JAYS reported in
Idaho this fall, from 53 separate locations spanning the state and its
varied habitats.

If you see any of these birds or have questions about the report, give me a
call at 208.883.0943 but don't expect me to return calls long distance.

Good birding!
Kas