RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* February 21, 2005
* IDWA05.02.021

- birds mentioned

Long-tailed Duck
Harlequin Duck
Tufted Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Eurasian Collared Dove
CAPE MAY WARBLER
Tricolored Blackbird
Harris's Sparrow

- transcript

hotline: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: 21 February 2005
Internet only.
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Kas.... dumroese at moscow dot com

This is the northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon bird
hotline. Transcripts of this RBA and Palouse Audubon membership info are
available on-line at http://www.palouseaudubon.org

A CAPE MAY WARLBER is coming to a feeder in the East Spokane Valley, Spokane
Co WA. Identified on 5 Feb my Cindy McCormick, the bird has been
photographed (http://www.pbase.com/clinton62) and seen by several observers.
The owners have strict visitation protocols. For specifics, contact Cindy
McCormick at 509.448.3825 or email at "cbirds at comcast dot net."

On 13 Feb Doug Schonewald found a male TUFTED DUCK at Perch Point, Potholes
Reservoir, Grant Co WA. It was seen the next day but not after that.
Potholes Reservoir is southeast of Moses Lake. From I-90 in Moses Lake, take
exit 179. Turn south on WA 17 and go about 1 mile, then turn right onto Road
M SE. Drive about 6 or 6.5 miles and turn right onto Road 6 SE. Go west
about 3 miles. Here the road goes up a steep hill and turns sharply right
amongst a village of trailer houses. Just past this sharp right, turn left
onto an unimproved dirt road toward Potholes Reservoir. Continue on to the
gravel pit (aka Perch Point or Medicare Beach). Right on the bottom of WA
DeLorme 69, 6 and 7 or right at the top of page 53, 6 and 7.

A pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS were also seen in WA near Vantage, Kittitas Co.
Patrick and Ruth Sullivan saw them on 19 Feb, along with a 1st winter
plumaged GLAUCOUS GULL along Huntzinger Road south of Wanapum State Park
along the Columbia River. On 20 Feb, Denny Granstrand found a male TUFTED
DUCK in the same locale, along with a male HARLEQUIN DUCK. WA DeLorme 52,
A-1.

Idaho had 2 reports of LONG-TAILED DUCKS. On 19 Feb Lisa Hardy reports a
pair of LTDU at Hayden Lake, visible from the road halfway between
Honeysuckle Beach and Tobler marina. From I-90 in CdA, go north on US 95
toward Sandpoint. Pass the Silver Lake Mall and Prairie Avenue. At the
second right past Prairie Avenue (US 95 milepost 434.3), turn east on
Honeysuckle (Texaco on the corner) and proceed through the light on
Government Way. Honeysuckle stops when it hits 4th Street and 4th becomes
Honeysuckle to the left. Take the left toward Honeysuckle Beach. Just before
the beach, turn right on South Hayden Lake Drive and note your mileage. This
road has other turnouts, is narrow, and busy, so be careful. Also stay out
of the way of the locals. ID DeLorme 60, AB-1.5 and A Birders Guide to Idaho
p 43-45.

Also on the 19th, Dave Holick reports the 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Lewiston,
Nez Perce Co, ID were still on the Clearwater River near the grain terminal.
This area can be viewed from the top of the levee along the US 12 bypass.
Park in the easternmost parking lot along the bypass. Also in Lewiston on 19
Feb was a HARRIS'S SPARROW, according to Terry Gray. It was at Lewiston
sewage treatment plant in North Lewiston. To get there, turn west on 3rd
Avenue North off of US 12 north of bridge over the Clearwater River. Go 0.7
mile to 6th Avenue North. At 6th Avenue turn west and go 1 block to 12th
Street. Turn right onto 12th and follow it as it curves back to the
treatment plant.

On 18 Feb Craig and Judy Corder found a female HARLEQUIN DUCK at McNary
Park, below McNary Dam, Umatilla, Umatilla Co, OR. Check either WA DeLorme
29, A-6 or OR DeLorme 85, A-7. The Corders also report a others have seen a
couple of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES in Pilot Rock, south of Pendleton, along
Douglas Street.

Denny Granstrand found a THAYER'S GULL at the north end of Banks Lake at
Electric City, Grant Co, WA on 18 Feb. WA DeLorme 85, A-8.

Dave Beaudette reports a first winter THAYER'S GULL at the south end of
Confluence State Park in Wenatchee, Chelan Co WA on 19 Feb.

On 21 Feb Bob Flores found 69 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in a flock of 5500
generic blackbirds at Para Ponds, northwest of Othello, Adams Co WA. From
Othello go north on Broadway (west end of town extending north from WA 24)
past the processing and storage facilities. When the road crosses the RR
tracks it becomes McManamon Road. Continue across the canal and down the
hill past the two potato sheds. The Para Ponds are just beyond on both sides
of the road. WA DeLorme 53, B-7.

A single EURASIAN WIGEON was on Sheep Lake in northwestern Whitman Co WA on
19 Feb according to Tom and Diane Weber. Sheep Lake is along WA 23 about a
mile south of the Lincoln Co line. WA DeLorme 72, C-1.

Good birding!
Kas