RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* Aug 30, 2006
* IDWA06.08.30

- birds mentioned

Short-billed Dowitcher
Marbled Godwit
Green Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Owl
Eurasian Collared-Dove

- transcript

Compiler: dumroese at moscow dot com

Carla Joyal reports a GREEN HERON was in a pond at Good Samaritan Village in
the Spokane Valley, Spokane Co WA on 10 Aug. The bird persisted through 20
Aug according to Michael Woodruff, and may still be present. Take the
Sullivan exit south from I-90 about 0.5 mile, and turn left (east) on
Sprague Ave. In less than 1 mile, turn right (south) on Tschirley Road. Go
about 0.5 mile south to where the road "L's" into 8th. Follow the road right
on 8th (west) and park at the first parking lot on the right (~100yds). Walk
across the road and explore the pond immediately south of the road by the
paved trail that goes around the whole thing.

A female SNOWY OWL was seen and photographed 26 and 29 Aug in Boundary Co ID
by Michael Woodruff. The bird was located 50 yards west of US 2 at mile
marker 505 (there is a sign along the highway that reads "Boundary County
Fair"). This location is a few miles south of Bonner's Ferry. She was
sitting on the top of a large barn.

On 13 Aug Barb and Doug Schonewald found a single GREAT EGRET at Perch Point
on Potholes Reservoir in Grant Co WA. Perch Point and Potholes Reservoir are
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 record 8 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in Bassett Park in Washtucna, Adams
Co WA on 18 Aug according to Bob Flores. Washtucna is along WA 260 just
south of WA 26. You can sniff out the park in the center of this small town.
WA DeLorme 55, BC-6.

A MARBLED GODWIT and a single SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were among the more
common shorebirds at Tyson Ponds in western Walla Walla Co WA on 20 Aug
according to Mike and MerryLynn Denny. These ponds are found down the
Dodd-Iowa Beef Road, which is at US 12 milepost 301.5 about 5.5 miles north
of the jct of US 12 and US 730. Follow Dodd-Iowa east about 0.5 miles past
the slaughter house, the road goes down a little hill and then back up. At
the top, turn right onto a gravel road that used to be a railroad grade.
Follow it to settling ponds. WA DeLorme 40, CD-1.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS also showed up in a couple of other places: 1 was at
Mann Lake east of the Lewiston Orchards, Nez Perce Co ID on 12 Aug according
to Terry Gray. Gina Sheridan reports 2 birds along Calispell Lake in Pend
Oreille Co WA on 24 Aug.

This is the last northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
RBA.

Thanks for your providing your sightings and your encouraging support.

Good birding.

Kas