RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* January 3, 2005
* IDWA05.01.03

- birds mentioned

Trumpeter Swan
Long-tailed Duck
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Snowy Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Lesser Goldfinch
Harris's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow

- transcript

hotline: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: 3 January 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 first year ICELAND GULL was spotted 31 Dec on the Walula "poop" piles
along US 12 in western Walla Walla Co WA by Bob Flores and Steve and Kaycee
Mlodinow. Also there was an adult GLAUCOUS GULL and 7 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS.
On 1 Jan, Mike and MerryLynn found an adult THAYER'S GULL but not the
Iceland. The piles are about 4 miles north of the jct of US 12 and US 730
along US 12. There's a nice pull-out at US 12 milepost 303. WA DeLorme 40,
D-1.

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported on Lake Coeur d'Alene,
Kootenai Co ID by Roland Craft and Lisa Hardy on 2 Jan. They saw the bird on
the Coeur d'Alene River delta, viewed from the Harrison marina, on the east
side of the lake. Harrison is on the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene along
ID 97. ID DeLorme 60, C-1.

Moses Lake, Grant Co WA SNOWY OWLS. One or two were observed between 30 Dec
and 1 Jan. Look for them around Road 4 and 5 SE and Road K and L. Take WA 17
south from Moses Lake. WA DeLorme 69, D-6. Also in the area were some other
good birds. Randy Hill spotted a MERLIN along Road 6 east of Road K on the
30th. Randy also reports 5 TRUMPETER SWANS further south and closer to WA
26, in a field west of Road D SE at Road 14.8 SE, NW of Royal Lake. On the
31st Doug Schonewald found an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and a HARRIS'S SPARROW
along Road K.5 SE. Check the end of the brush row where the cattails start
for the tree sparrow. Check the poplars near the Russian-olive thicket for
the Harris's. WA DeLorme 53, 6.5 right at the top of the page.

A SNOWY OWL flew across US 2 between Reardan and Davenport WA on 1 Jan
according to Ron McCluskey. He was just east of Bennett Road. WA DeLorme 87,
C-8.

The female LONG-TAILED DUCK on Hayden Lake, north of Coeur d'Alene in
Kootenai Co ID was still there on 28 Dec according to Michael and Roger
Woodruff. To get there 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.

Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS are at the Port of Lewiston, Nez Perce Co ID on 2
Jan. These birds are on the Clearwater River near terminal #2, visible with
a scope from the south levee accessed via US 12.

At Spalding Park, east of Lewiston, Nez Perce Co ID, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
is on the usual winter roost in the blue spruce trees near the river. Also,
during the CBC on 2 Jan, a flock of 20 or so LESSER GOLDFINCHES was present.
More than 70 Lesser Goldfinches were found on the count. This species has
increased from an extreme rarity two years ago to a seemingly common
inhabitant in the valley. To get to Spalding Park, head east from Lewiston
on US 95 toward Lapwai. Just after crossing the river, turn left into the
Nez Perce historical site and immediately turn right, heading down hill
toward the picnic area. At the stop sign, turn left and follow the road over
the bridge to the grove of trees / cemetery / picnic area. ID DeLorme 54,
A-1.5.

CATTLE EGRETS, 3 to 4, are persisting in NW Walla Walla Co WA. Three were
seen 28 Dec along Lake Road in Burbank Heights, north of McNary NWR HQ and
north off WA 124 by Mike and MerryLynn Denny. The Denny's saw them again on
1 Jan. WA DeLorme 40, C-1.

Good birding!
Kas