Idaho & Western Montana 
David Trochlell 
M uch of the Region received an un- 
usual bounty of rain during the first 
three weeks of June, and, at least for 
western Montana, this period was also no- 
table for unseasonably cool temperatures. 
July was closer to the norm in many of the 
drier valleys but remained somewhat cooler 
and wetter than usual in parts of Montana. 
Abbreviation: Camas (Camas N.W.R., Jejfer- 
son, ID), Latilong (area encompassed by one 
degree latitude and one degree longitude used 
in mapping bird distribution in both Idaho 
and Montana). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH OWLS 
An out-of-range Harlequin Duck photo- 
graphed in Beartrap Canyon, Madison, MT 25- 
26 Jun (EH) provided the first report in Lati- 
long 38 in 34 years. Especially rare in summer 
was a Long-tailed Duck in Bonner, ID 11 Jun 
(tWT). Red-breasted Mergansers are also un- 
expected in summer; nevertheless, a flock of 6 
was found in Madison, MT 10 Jun, as was a 
single 25-28 Jun (EH). A count of 5 Common 
Loons at Ennis L., MT 26 Jun (EH, JP) repre- 
sented the largest summer-period tally there in 
memory. Although now nearly annual in Mon- 
tana, a Great Egret near Townsend 9 Jun (BS) 
was interesting, as they are still scarce in w. 
valleys. A Green Heron in Lake 9 Jun (RJ) 
made only about the 5th report for w. Mon- 
tana. Black-crowned Night-Herons, rare and 
local in Montana, reportedly nested in the 
Warm Springs area in Jul (GS), A Glossy Ibis, 
now annual in e. Idaho, was documented at 
Market L., Jefferson 2 Jun (tCW). Of special 
note was a Merlin nest discovered in Thomp- 
son Falls, MT 5 Jul OG); there are few verified 
breeding records in the Region. 
One of the outstanding discoveries of the 
season was a vocal Yellow Rail in Glacier N.P., 
MT 19 Jun (SG); it furnished only the 2nd 
record for w. Montana. Despite the recent 
range expansion of Black-necked Stilts in 
Montana, a flock of 30 seen s. of Stevensville 
3 Jul OR) likely represented a record high 
count for w. Montana. Idaho reported out-of- 
range Franklin’s Gulls at Lewiston 1 Jun and 
in Bonner 11 Jun (SS). A quintet of Caspian 
Terns documented at Thompson Falls, MT 21 
Jun QG) brought in a local first record. Per- 
haps a returning visitor, a White-winged 
Dove near Gardiner, MT 5-10 Jul (TO) was 
thought to be the same bird that visited the 
area in early May. Representing the flrst local 
record in 22 years was a Burrowing Owl near 
Three Forks, MT 26-30 Jun (EH,JP). 
PASSERINES 
Two Alder Flycatchers documented sw. of 
Kalispell 11 Jun (DC) added to a growing 
number of earlyjun reports from w. Montana. 
A wayward Northern Mockingbird was a sen- 
sational find near Missoula 15-16 Jul (TT). At 
least 2 Sprague’s Pipits were discovered 
singing near Harrison, MT 19 Jun (BM), pro- 
viding the hrst circumstantial evidence of 
breeding in sw. Montana, if not the entire Re- 
gion. At least 9 singing Tennessee Warblers 
reported in Glacier N.R, MT in Jun (SG) rep- 
resented a record breeding season count 
there. Another Tennessee Warbler spotted 
near Bozeman, MT 7 Jun QP) was a good find, 
as the species is not reported there annually. 
The eastern warbler vagrant list included a 
Chestnut-sided Warbler in Boise, ID 6-7 Jun 
(TJB), single male Magnolia Warblers in Ca- 
mas 4 Jun (tew) and Hailey, ID 18 Jun (ph. 
JC, tKC), and Ovenbirds at Camas 4 Jun 
(teW), in Missoula, MT 28 Jun (DC), and in 
Glacier N.R, MT 3 Jul (SG). 
A Summer Tanager, furnishing only the 
4th record for Montana, was photographed in 
the Centennial Valley 17 Jun (RG). If accept- 
ed, a Scarlet Tanager at Camas 1 Jun QC) 
would represent Idaho’s 3rd record. Clay-col- 
ored Sparrows photographed with nestlings 
near Moscow 6 Jul (ph. TG) will provide a 
first verified breeding record in Idaho, pend- 
ing acceptance. Bird surveys turned up 2-3 
singing Baird’s Sparrows near Harrison, MT 
18-20 Jun (BM), and another was discovered 
s. of Ennis, MT 2 Jul (BC, GM). The species 
was previously unrecorded anywhere in sw. 
Montana. Rare Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were 
documented in Clayton, ID 1 Jun (ph., tPH), 
Gardiner, MT 6 Jun (DS), and near Hailey, ID 
15-17 Jun QC). A pair of Blue Grosbeaks, not 
annual in Idaho, made a celebrated find in 
Twin Falls 1 Jun-19Jul (ZW). Providing a first 
record for Latilong 16 was a Bobolink at the 
Chester Wetlands, Fremont. ID 18 Jul (DCl). 
An exciting flrst for Montana and the Region 
was a well-documented Eastern Meadowlark 
s. of Ennis 18 Jun-early Jul (BC, GM). A 
Great-tailed Grackle discovered in Butte 7 
Jun (KA) brought in Montana’s 2nd record. 
Idaho’s only reported Great-tailed Grackle 
was a single bird in Meridian 12 Jun (RM). 
Contributors (subregional editors in bold- 
face): Kathy Andrich,John Battalio, Kathleen 
Cameron, Jay Carlisle, Dan Casey, Darren 
Clark (DCl), Bo Crees, Randy Gazda, Steve 
Gniadek, Terry Gray Jim Greaves, Ed Harper, 
Phil Helsley Ron Jenkins, Garrett MacDon- 
ald, Beth Madden, Robert Mortensen, Tonya 
Opperman, John Parker, Jeremy Roberts, 
Doug Smith, Bob Starks, Shirley Sturts, Gary 
Swant, Ward Tollbom, Terry Toppins, Chuck 
Trost, Zeke Watkins, Cliff Weisse, Poo 
Wright-Pulliam. (© 
David Trochlell, 2409 East N Avenue 
la Grande, Oregon 97850, (dtrochlell@verizon.net) 
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VOlUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 4 
629 
