RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* Oct 19, 2005
* IDWA05.10.19

- birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
Red-breasted Merganser
Surf Scoter
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
Slaty-back Gull (maybe)
Iceland Gull (maybe)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Thayer's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Merlin
Blue Jay
Black-throated Blue Warbler
White-throated Sparrow
Lapland Longspur

- transcript

hotline: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: 10 Oct 2005
Internet only.
Compiler: Kas.... dumroese at moscow dot com

On 15 Oct Terry Little reports a SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER at the north end of Sprague Lake in Lincoln Co WA. The next day
the bird was not relocated by Gina Sheridan, but she reports a BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, PACIFIC LOON, a dozen BONAPARTE'S GULL, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR on
the Adams Co WA end. Sprague Lake straddles the Lincoln and Adams county
line just south of I-90. WA DeLorme 71, BC-8.

On 16 Oct Andy Stepniewski observed a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in his
yard in Parker Heights, near Wapato, Yakima Co WA. The bird was still being
seen through 18 Oct. Andy says visitors are welcome. Take I-82 from Yakima
east to Exit 40. Go right 2 miles to West Parker Heights. Make a left, go
0.5 mile to Windy Point Drive. Take another left and continue up the road
0.3 mile to a row of conifers. Take a sharp right just after the trees to
the Stepniewski house, the only one on the lane.

BLUE JAYS are popping up regionwide again. Two were reported from Plummer,
Benewah Co ID on 11 Oct by Kate Rau, who also reports one at her home on the
South Hill in Spokane, Spokane Co WA. Dave Holick reports a single BLUE JAY
at his feeder on Moscow Mountain, north of Moscow, Latah Co ID, along with
STELLER'S and GRAY JAYS. John Rogers reports at least another BLUE JAY in
Dayton, Walla Walla Co WA on 16 Oct. The bird was just south of the
hospital.

At Mann Lake, Nez Perce Co ID this past week, Keith Carlson reports 2 DUNLIN
on 11 Oct, 15 BONAPARTE'S GULLS on 14 Oct, and Terry Gray reports a MERLIN,
a PRAIRIE FALCON, and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on 15 Oct. From the north end
of Lewiston, follow US 12 south into town, cross the Clearwater River on
Memorial Bridge and immediately take the first left (east) toward East
Lewiston. Turn left (east) onto East Main Street and go about a half mile to
the flashing yellow lights. Turn right (south) onto Lapwai (a.k.a. Lindsay
Creek) Road. When the road forks stay right on Lindsay Creek Road (Nez Perce
County Road 460) and follow it about 5 miles to its terminus at Grelle
Avenue. Turn left (east) onto Grelle Avenue and just past the sharp right
curve, turn left (east) onto East Powers Avenue (a.k.a. Lapwai Road).
Continue straight (east) past the grain towers to the main parking lot. ID
DeLorme 54, A-1.

On Lake Chatcolet at the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Benewah Co ID,
Charles Swift reports a female SURF SCOTER and 30 BONAPARTE'S GULLS on 16
Oct.

Good birds were found in Grant Co WA over 15 and 16 Oct. On 15 Oct Doug
Schonewald relocated the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Sun Lakes State Park,
along with 2 SURF SCOTERS earlier located by Stephan Schlick. At the Coulee
City sewage treatment plant, Doug saw several DUNLIN, and 19 BONAPARTE'S
GULLS. At Northrup Point he added 3 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. At the North
Dam Rest Area, another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen along with a juvenile
THAYER'S GULL. On 16 Oct, Doug found a PACIFIC LOON at Blue Lake, an
immature or female SURF SCOTER and a lingering STILT SANDPIPER at the north
beach on Soap Lake.

Mike Denny reports 3 lingering STILT SANDPIPERS on 17 Oct at the Walla Walla
River delta in western Walla Walla Co WA. Also there 9 DUNLIN. The delta can
be accessed 0.1 mile north of Madame Dorian Park. There's a pull-out along
US 12 at milepost 306.9 and a path to the delta. WA DeLorme 40, D-1.

Two weird gulls were reported this week.... intriguing possibilities to keep
an eye open for:

First, on 13 Oct, Mike Denny reports a possible SLATY-BACKED GULL at the
Peninsula Habitat Management Unit of McNary NWR in western Walla Walla Co,
WA along the Columbia River. This bird was an adult 4-year gull. On 15 Oct,
Doug Schonewald observed a possible first winter ICELAND GULL at the North
Dam Rest Area in Grant Co WA.

Good birding.
Kas