I did some weekend birding and exploring in the Southern Panhandle (I think
that’s a thing), mostly in Idaho, Lewis, and a bit of Clearwater Counties.
Highlights included a young male ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD Saturday evening near
the Lucile Post Office, on the Salmon River north of Riggins. This morning
I found both the male and a female ANNA’S at the same location. I had an
Anna’s at the opposite/north end of Lucile last December, but there are
very few other Idaho County records.

A few Myrtle and likely intergrade Yellow-rumped Warblers were with decent
numbers of Audubon’s and lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets feeding mostly on
emerging Hackberry Gull Psyllids along the Salmon River. In Riggins I had
a flock of 6 late CHIPPING SPARROWS both Saturday and Sunday. A late
OSPREY was on the Salmon just above Riggins this morning. Further up the
Salmon River Road, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was near mile 4, a young BARROW’S
GOLDENEYE was near mile 5, and a lingering Lincoln’s Sparrow was near mile
2.

This afternoon I made a final stop at the overlook above Dworshak
Dam/Bruce’s Eddy Recreation Area near Ahsahka. Just off the boat ramp were
9 SURF SCOTERS and 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, the later possibly a first for
Clearwater County. Photos in eBird:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39945162.

Good Birding,

Car Lundblad
Moscow, ID