RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* as above
* Mar 28, 2006
* IDWA06.03.28

- birds mentioned

Long-tailed Duck
Mew Gull
Glaucous Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Snowy Owl

- transcript

Compiler: dumroese at moscow dot com

This report is all about GULLS and SNOWY OWLS....

On 21 Mar Mike and MerryLynn Denny found an ICELAND GULL on the "poop piles"
in western Walla Walla Co WA. Just a bit further south on the Walla Walla
River delta they also saw a single, second year GLAUCOUS GULL. 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.

Doug Schonewald reports a third-year LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the south
end of Lake Lenore, Grant Co WA on 26 Mar. The lake is along WA 17 between
Soap Lake and Coulee City. WA DeLorme 68, A-4 on the crease and 84 and 85,
D-4 and 5.

A second winter GLAUCOUS GULL was on the Snake River in Whitman Co WA on 23
Mar according to Gina Sheridan and Michael Woodruff. The bird was working
fro Blyton Landing north for a couple of miles, with the center point of
activity at milepost 21. WA DeLorme 57, D-6.

Carla Skinner reports 2 SNOWY OWLS near Post Falls, Kootenai Co ID on 21
Mar. These birds were seen just southwest of the intersection of Greens
Ferry and Prairie roads.

Lisa Hardy and Kris Buchler found either 1 or 2 second-winter MEW GULLS near
Wolf Lodge Bay on 22 Mar on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai Co ID. Wolf Lodge
Bay is at I-90 exit 22 east of Coeur d'Alene. Check your Birder's Guide to
Idaho p 51. ID DeLorme 60, B-2. Lisa also found 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS near the
North Idaho College beach in Coeur d'Alene. To get there from the
intersection of US 95 and Northwest Blvd on the south end of CdA, take
Northwest Blvd southeast about 0.5 mile and turn right onto Lincoln Way. Go
one block and turn right onto River Avenue. Follow River Avenue about 0.25
miles to Rosenberry Drive which runs along the top of the dike along the
river. See A Birders' Guide to Idaho p 50 and ID DeLorme 60, B-1.

Four SNOWY OWLS were seen on 23 Mar east of Tokio along I-90 between Cheney
and Ritzville in Adams Co WA. The birds were 0.5 mile east of milepost 233
and north of the Interstate. Gina Sheridan relocated one bird on 28 Mar. WA
DeLorme 71, C-6.

Two more SNOWY OWLS were seen between Oaksdale and Steptoe Butte in Whitman
Co WA. One bird was reported 21 Mar along Hume Road 3.7 miles south of
Oaksdale. On 26 Mar, Cindy McCormack found reports an adult SNOWY OWL along
Hume Road about 0.5 mile south of Higgins Road, and another heavily barred
bird north of Oaksdale, half way to Flaig along WA 271.

And, one more SNOWY OWL was seen about 0.5 mile east of Oehlwein Road on the
south side of US 2 between Reardon and Davenport, Lincoln Co WA on 24 Mar
according to Ron McCluskey.

Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS, one female and 3 first-year males, were on the
Clearwater River in Lewiston, Nez Perce Co ID on 22 Mar, according to Keith
Carlson and Kent Henderson. These birds were near the railroad bridge. To
get there from the north side of Lewiston, take US 12 across the river and
stay in the right lane past the first traffic light. At the second light
(18th Street), turn right and go about 1 mile to the parking lot at the
railroad bridge over the river.

Good birding.
Kas