RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* Mar 20, 2006
* IDWA06.03.20

- birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
Eurasian Wigeon
Peregrine Falcon
Caspian Tern
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Snowy Owl
Blue Jay
Tri-colored Blackbird

- transcript

Compiler: dumroese at moscow dot com

A second winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was located at Moses Lake, Grant Co
WA on 12 Mar. The gull was associating with a large group gulls at the Penn
Plaza Shopping Center, north of where Stratford Road crosses Parker Horn on
the NE section of Moses Lake. WA DeLorme 69, CD-6.

Mike Haldeman found a PACIFIC LOON near Sandpoint, Bonner Co WA on 6 Mar.
The bird was seen from along Sunnyside Road on Oden Bay. To get there from
the north end of Sandpoint, take ID 200 toward Montana, at milepost 35 turn
south onto Sunnyside at the Sportsman Access sign. ID DeLorme 62, BC-3
(Sunnyside heads south from Culver on the map). A better map and directions
are in A Birders' Guide to Idaho p 33-35.

On 7 Mar, the Rathdrum Prairie SNOWY OWL was seen by Matthew Beam. Look for
it north of Post Falls, Kootenai Co ID, on the west side of Greenferry Road,
a short distance north of Prairie Road near Gallop Lane.

A SNOWY OWL was seen 13 Mar a mile west of Mondovi Road along the old Sunset
Hwy in Lincoln Co WA according to Ron Dexter. WA DeLorme 87, C-8.

Another SNOWY OWL is still being seen in Adams Co WA near the Tokio exit
along I-90. WA DeLorme 71, C-6.

A second winter MEW GULL was seen by Lisa Hardy and Colleen Moulton on 9 Mar
at Blue Creek Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai Co ID. This bay is north
of I-90 opposite Wolf Lodge Bay near Exit 22. ID DeLorme 60, B-2.

On 18 Mar in western Walla Walla Co WA, Mike and MerryLynn Denny observed a
single CASPIAN TERN and a PEREGRINE FALCON on the Walla Walla River delta.
Further north, they found a second year GLAUCOUS GULL at the poop piles,
another flying over the Peninsula Habitat Management Unit, and a third
flying toward Crescent Island. An adult WESTERN GULL was on Foundation
Island west of the Peninsula HMU, and adult MEW GULLS; one on the poop piles
and one at Casey Pond. The Walla Walla River 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. The poop 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.

Single TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS popped up in Whitman and Spokane Co WA. On 14
Mar, Spokane County's first TCBL appeared along Tucker Road. Look for it
from the public road near 29907; refrain from entering private property. WA
DeLorme 88, D-2. This bird was still being seen as of 18 Mar. The Whitman Co
bird was seen by Gina Sheridan and others on 13 Mar in a cattle lot west of
Ewan. WA DeLorme 72, CD-2.

EURASIAN WIGEONS appeared throughout the region.... birds were at the Walla
Walla River delta; at Newman Lake in Spokane Co WA; SW of Cheney, Spokane Co
WA; Cougar Bay on lake Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai Co ID; Ladd Marsh WMA near
LaGrande OR.

Spring BLUE JAY records include a single bird on 12 Mar in Garfield, Whitman
Co WA according to James Storms, and 2 birds in Kellogg, Shoshone Co ID on
10 Mar by Lisa Hardy.

Good birding.
Kas