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2005 Bonner County Big Year

2006 Bonner County Big Year

2007 BONNER COUNTY BIRDING BIG YEAR

Compiled by Lisa Hardy

Bonner County in Idaho's Panhandle hosts a wide range of habitats, from alpine landscapes above 6000' in the Selkirks and Cabinets, to Idaho's deepest lake, Pend Oreille. With no regular reporters from the county, a respectable 175 species were noted for the 2005 Big Year. Bonner County has the potential to turn up a similar number of species (~200) as its neighbor to the south, Kootenai County, if it were as heavily birded. Sandpoint, on Lake Pend Oreille's northwest shore, has hosted a disproportionate number of state rarities, in part due to location, but also due to the skills of expert birder Earl Chapin.  Robert Bond,  expert birder and summer resident at Priest Lake,  has also added several rare species to the list.

 If you visit Bonner County this year, check the list below and see if you can add to it, or beat any already posted dates. Send your reports to Lisa Hardy 682-4808 or basalt@earthlink.net.

BONNER COUNTY BIRD LIST

Compiled by Shirley Sturts

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

common = 106

Uncommon = 39

scarce = 47

rare = 40

accidental = 33

Bonner County Total (seen since 1950) = 265

Historical record only ( h ) (pre-1950) =  3

OCCURANCE CATEGORIES

( c ) COMMON: Found every year, often seasonal, in many areas, in high to moderate numbers and some searching in appropriate areas may be required.

( u ) UNCOMMON: Found every year, often seasonal, in limited areas, in small numbers, and may require repeated search attempts in more specific areas.

( s ) SCARCE: Found most years, but difficult. Either very specialized and local in distribution; difficult to distinguish from similar, more common species; or only passes through briefly on migration.

( r ) RARE: Not seen every year, mostly irregular, some periodic.

( # ) ACCIDENTAL: Just a few total sightings with a low expectation of being found in the future.

Total Seen 192 as of December 31

1

Species

Date

Location

Observer

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 SWAN, GEESE, DUCKS

 

 

 

 

4

Greater White-Fronted Goose ( r )

 

 

 

5

Snow goose ( s )

6-May

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

6

Ross's Goose ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

7

Brant ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.5

Cackling Goose ( s )

10-Mar

Sagle

Earl & Bev Chapin, Carol Cressey

8

Canada Goose ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

9

Trumpeter Swan ( s )

4-Mar

Denton Slough

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

10

Tundra Swan ( c )

1-Jan

Lake Pend Oreille

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

11

Wood Duck ( c )

7-Mar

Dover

Earl & Bev Chapin, Barry Kendall

12

Gadwall ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

13

Eurasian Wigeon ( s )

15-Mar

Pack river flats

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

14

American Wigeon ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

15

Mallard ( c )

2-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

16

Blue-winged Teal ( u )

24-May

Priest River WMA

Paul Sieracki

 

 

17

Cinnamon Teal ( c )

 

 

 

 

 

18

Northern Shoveler ( c )

15-Sep

Denton Slough

Terry Little

 

 

19

Northern Pintail ( c )

3-Feb

Pend Oreille River

Terry & Christine Gray

 

20

Green-winged Teal ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

21

Common Teal (Eurasian race of the Green-winged teal (#)

 

22

Canvasback ( u )

3-Jan

Bottle Bay

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

23

Redhead ( c )

3-Jan

Bottle Bay

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

24

Ring-necked Duck ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

25

Greater Scaup ( s )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

26

Lesser Scaup ( u )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

27

Harlequin Duck ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

28

Surf Scoter ( r )

6-Oct

Sandpoint City Beach

Harry Krueger

 

 

29

White-winged Scoter ( r )

6-Oct

Sandpoint City Beach

Harry Krueger

 

 

30

Black Scoter ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

31

Long-tailed Duck ( r )

18-Mar

Pend Oreille Lake

Earl & Bev Chapin & others

 

32

Bufflehead ( c )

2-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

33

Common Goldeneye ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

34

Barrow's Goldeneye ( s )

3-Jan

Garfield Bay

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

35

Hooded Merganser ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

36

Common Merganser ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

37

Red-breasted Merganser ( r )

6-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

38

Ruddy Duck ( u )

15-Sep

Denton Slough

Terry Little

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEY

 

 

 

41

Ring-necked Pheasant ( r )

13-Mar

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

42

Ruffed Grouse ( c )

3-Jan

Bottle Bay

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

43

Spruce Grouse ( s )

14-Aug

Roosevelt Cedar Grove

Paul Sieracki

 

 

44

White-tailed Ptarmigan ( r )

 

 

 

 

45

Dusky Grouse ( s )

 

 

 

 

 

46

Wild Turkey ( c )

3-Jan

Bottle Bay

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

NEW WORLD QUAIL

 

 

 

 

49

California Quail ( c )

3-Jan

Gamble Lake

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

50

Northern Bobwhite

1-Jul

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

50.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51

LOONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

52

Red-Throated Loon ( # )

14-Apr

Lake Pend Oreille

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

53

Pacific Loon ( s )

1-Mar

Lake Pend Oreille

Gina Sheridan, Bart Whelton

 

54

Common Loon ( c )

1-Jan

Lake Pend Oreille

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

55

Yellow-billed Loon ( # )

27-Feb

Lake Pend Oreille

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57

GREBES

 

 

 

 

 

 

58

Pied-billed Grebe ( c )

4-Jan

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

59

Horned Grebe ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

60

Red-necked Grebe ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

61

Eared Grebe ( r )

11-Jan

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

62

Western Grebe ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

63

Clark's Grebe ( r )

15-Apr

Lake Pend Oreille

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

65

PELICANS

 

 

 

 

 

66

American White Pelican ( s )

 

 

 

 

67

Double-crested Cormorant( u )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

69

HERONS, BITTERNS

 

 

 

 

70

American Bittern ( r )

3-Jun

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

71

Great Blue Heron ( c )

1-Jan

Oden Bay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

72

Great Egret ( r )

25-Aug

Morton Slough area

Carol Albanese

 

 

73

Cattle Egret ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

74

Black-crowned Night-Heron (r)

 

*

 

 

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

76

IBISES

 

 

 

 

 

 

77

White-faced Ibis ( h -1909 )

 

 

 

 

78

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

79

NEW WORLD VULTURES

 

 

 

 

80

Turkey Vulture ( u )

31-Mar

LaClede

Paul Sieracki

 

 

81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

82

 HAWKS, KITES, EAGLES

 

 

 

 

83

Osprey ( c )

31-Mar

Dover

Paul Sieracki

 

 

84

Bald Eagle ( c )

1-Jan

Cocolalla

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

85

Northern Harrier ( c )

22-Sep

Clark Fork WMA

Terry Little

 

 

86

Sharp-shinned Hawk ( u )

13-Jan

Kootenai

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

87

Cooper's Hawk ( u )

14-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

88

Northern Goshawk ( s )

 

 

 

 

89

Swainson's Hawk ( s )

 

 

 

 

90

Red-tailed Hawk ( c )

1-Jan

Silverwood

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

91

 ----Harlan's Hawk ( s )

 

 

 

 

92

Rough-legged Hawk ( c )

11-Jan

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

93

Golden Eagle ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

95

FALCONS

 

 

 

 

 

96

American Kestrel ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

97

Merlin ( u )

1-Jan

Ponderay

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

98

Peregrine Falcon ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100

RAILS, COOTS

 

 

 

 

 

101

Virginia Rail ( s )

3-Jun

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

102

Sora ( u )

3-Jun

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

103

American Coot ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

104

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

105

CRANES

 

 

 

 

 

 

106

Sandhill Crane ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

108

PLOVERS

 

 

 

 

 

109

Black-bellied Plover ( r )

8-Sep

Sandpoint City Beach

Terry Little

 

 

110

American Golden-Plover ( r )

 

 

 

 

111

Snowy  Plover ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

112

Killdeer ( c )

22-Feb

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

113

Semipalmated Plover

15-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Bob Farr, Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

114

STILTS, AVOCETS

 

 

 

 

 

115

Black-necked Stilt ( # )

21-Apr

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

116

American Avocet ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

117

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

118

SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES

 

 

 

 

119

Greater Yellowlegs ( s )

16-Apr

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

120

Lesser Yellowlegs ( s )

 

 

 

 

121

Solitary Sandpiper ( s )

 

 

 

 

122

Willet ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

123

Spotted Sandpiper ( c )

6-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

124

Upland Sandpiper ( # )

 

 

 

 

125

Whimbrel ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

126

Long-billed Curlew ( r )

 

 

 

 

127

Marbled Godwit ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

128

Sanderling ( s )

 

 

 

 

 

129

Semipalmated Sandpiper ( s )

13-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

130

Western Sandpiper ( s )

9-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

131

Least Sandpiper ( s )

25-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

132

Baird's Sandpiper ( s )

3-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

133

Pectoral Sandpiper ( s )

 

 

 

 

134

Dunlin ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

135

Short-billed Dowitcher ( r )

 

 

 

 

136

Long-billed Dowitcher ( s )

 

 

 

 

137

Wilson's Snipe ( c )

8-Apr

Albeni Falls Dam

Paul Sieracki

 

 

138

Wilson's Phalarope ( s)

15-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

138.5

Red-necked Phalarope ( r )

6-Sep

Pend Oreille Lake

Dan Audet

 

 

139

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

140

GULLS, TERNS

 

 

 

 

 

141

Pomarine Jaeger ( # )

 

 

 

 

142

Parasitic Jaeger ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

143

Long-tailed Jaeger  ( # )

1-Sep

Pend Oreille Lake

Dan Audet

 

 

144

Franklin's Gull ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

145

Little Gull ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

146

Bonaparte's Gull ( u )

26-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

147

Mew Gull ( r )

18-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

148

Ring-billed Gull ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint City Beach

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

149

California Gull ( c )

13-Jan

Sunnyside

Mike Haldeman

 

 

150

Herring Gull ( u )

1-Jan

Lake Pend Oreille

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

151

Thayer's Gull ( s )

15-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

x

 

 

152

Slaty-backed Gull ( # )

 

 

 

 

153

Glaucous-winged Gull ( r )

 

 

 

 

154

Glaucous Gull ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

155

Sabine's Gull ( # )

18-Aug

Sandpoint City Beach

Bob & Terri Farr

 

 

156

Black-legged Kittywake ( # )

 

 

 

 

157

Caspian Tern ( s )

 

 

 

 

 

158

Common Tern ( s )

1-Sep

Sandpoint City Beach

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

159

Forster's Tern ( s )

21-Sep

Clark Fork WMA

Terry Little

 

 

160

Least Tern ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

161

Black Tern ( c )

3-Jun

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

162

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

163

PIGEONS, DOVES

 

 

 

 

 

164

Rock Pigeon ( c )

1-Jan

Kootenai

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

165

Band-tailed Pigeon ( r )

 

 

 

 

166

Passenger Pigeon (h-1860) - extinct

 

 

 

167

Mourning Dove ( c )

2-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

169

TYPICAL OWLS

 

 

 

 

 

170

Western Screech Owl ( s )

17-Mar

Sagle

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

171

Great Horned Owl ( u )

 

 

 

 

172

Snowy Owl ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

173

Northern Hawk Owl ( r )

 

 

 

 

174

Northern Pygmy-Owl ( u )

4-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

175

Barred Owl ( s )

17-Mar

Sagle

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

176

Great Gray Owl ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

177

Long-eared Owl ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

178

Short-eared Owl ( s )

 

 

 

 

 

179

Northern Saw-whet Owl ( s )

 

 

 

 

180

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

181

GOATSUCKERS

 

 

 

 

 

182

Common Nighthawk ( c )

28-Jul

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

183

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

184

SWIFTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

185

Black Swift ( s )

 

 

 

 

 

186

Vaux's Swift ( u )

21-Apr

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

187

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

188

HUMMINGBIRDS

 

 

 

 

 

189

Black-chinned Hummingbird( c )

21-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

190

Anna's Hummingbird ( # )

 

 

 

 

191

Calliope Hummingbird ( c )

24-Apr

Round Lake area

Lisa Provolt

 

 

192

Rufous Hummingbird ( c )

24-Apr

Round Lake, Sandpoint

Lisa Provolt, Stephen Augustine

 

193

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

194

KINGFISHERS

 

 

 

 

 

195

Belted Kingfisher ( c )

2-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

197

WOODPECKERS

 

 

 

 

 

198

Lewis's Woodpecker ( r )

 

 

 

 

199

Red-Headed Woodpecker ( # )

 

 

 

 

200

Red-naped Sapsucker ( c )

8-Apr

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

201

Downy Woodpecker ( c )

2-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

202

Hairy Woodpecker ( c )

2-Jan

Round Lake area

Lisa Provolt

 

 

203

White-headed Woodpecker ( r )

 

 

 

 

204

Am. Three-toed Woodpecker ( s )

 

 

 

205

Black-backed Woodpecker ( s )

12-Jun

Round Lake State Park

Paul Sieracki

 

 

206

Northern Flicker ( c )

2-Jan

Round Lake, Sandpoint

Lisa Provolt, Earl & Bev Chapin

 

207

Pileated Woodpecker ( u )

1-Jan

Kootenai

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

209

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

 

 

 

 

210

Olive-sided Flycatcher ( u )

14-Aug

Roosevelt Cedar Grove

Paul Sieracki

 

 

211

Western Wood-Pewee ( c )

20-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

212

Willow Flycatcher ( c )

24-May

Priest River WMA

Paul Sieracki

 

 

213

Least Flycatcher ( s )

3-Jun

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

214

Hammond's Flycatcher ( c )

7-May

Coolin

Robert Bond

 

 

215

Dusky Flycatcher ( u )

6-May

Riley Creek

Paul Sieracki

 

 

216

Cordilleran / Pacific-slope Flycatcher   (Western Flycatcher) (c)

20-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

217

Eastern Phoebe ( # )

14-Aug

Coolin

Robert Bond

 

 

218

Say's Phoebe ( r )

 

 

 

 

 

219

Western Kingbird ( u )

 

 

 

 

220

Eastern Kingbird ( c )

24-May

Priest River WMA

Paul Sieracki

 

 

221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

222

SHRIKES

 

 

 

 

 

 

223

Northern Shrike ( u )

1-Jan

Sandpoint

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

224

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

225

VIREOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

226

Cassin's Vireo ( c )

4-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

227

Warbling Vireo ( c )

6-May

Riley Creek

Paul Sieracki

 

 

228

Red-eyed Vireo ( u )

28-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

230

CORVIDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

231

Gray Jay ( u )

3-Jan

Gamble Lake

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

232

Steller's Jay ( c )

3-Jan

Gamble Lake

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

233

Blue Jay ( s )

13-Jan

Kootenai

Dee Hall, Earl & Bev Chapin

 

234

Western Scrub-Jay ( # )

 

 

 

 

235

Clark's Nutcracker ( u )

11-Jan

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

236

Black-billed Magpie ( c )

2-Jan

Round Lake area

Lisa Provolt

 

 

237

American Crow ( c )

1-Jan

Sandpoint, Priest River

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn, Paul Sieracki

238

Common Raven ( c )

1-Jan

Cocolalla

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

240

LARKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

241

Horned Lark ( s )

8-Sep

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

242

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

243

SWALLOWS

 

 

 

 

 

244

Tree Swallow ( c )

13-Mar

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

245

Violet-green Swallow ( c )

13-Mar

Hoodoo Valley

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

246

N. Rough-winged Swallow ( c )

18-Apr

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

247

Bank Swallow ( u )

 

 

 

 

 

248

Cliff Swallow ( c )

30-Jun

Snow Creek

Terry Little

 

 

249

Barn Swallow ( c )

30-Jun

Snow Creek

Terry Little

 

 

250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

251

CHICKADEES

 

 

 

 

 

252

Black-capped Chickadee ( c )

1-Jan

Kaniksu Shores

Gina Sheridan, Kim Thorburn

 

253

Mountain Chickadee ( c )

8-Apr

Albeni Falls Dam

Paul Sieracki

 

 

254

Chestnut-b Chickadee ( c )

2-Jan

Fry Creek

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

255

Boreal Chickadee ( s )

 

 

 

 

256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

257

NUTHATCHES

 

 

 

 

 

258

Red-breasted Nuthatch ( c )

2-Jan

Sandpoint

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

259

White-breasted Nuthatch ( s )

 

 

 

 

260

Pygmy Nuthatch ( c )

16-Feb

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

261

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

262

CREEPERS

 

 

 

 

 

263

Brown Creeper( c )

7-Jan

Round Lake area

Lisa Provolt

 

 

264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

265

WRENS

 

 

 

 

 

 

266

Rock Wren ( s )

13-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

267

Canyon Wren ( # )

 

 

 

 

 

268

House Wren ( c )

7-May

Priest River

Paul Sieracki

 

 

269

Winter Wren ( c )

4-Jan

Sunnyside

Earl & Bev Chapin

 

 

270

Marsh Wren ( u )

21-May

Priest River WMA

Paul Sieracki

 

 

271

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

272

DIPPERS