22 Sunday June 26 East Hope, Idaho
PIctures cannot download. Will try tomorrow!
Well yesterday may have been a “perfect day” but today was not far behind. Weather -sunny and “San Diego” weather IE: 65-75 F, although it did not reach 75 F quite. This was the day to drive up to the Kootenai NWR and see what the northern most city in Idaho has to offer in the way of wildlife. We were off before 8:15 and found the Sunday traffic at that time quite non-existent. Idaho 222W to US 95N and then north out of Sandpoint. It is rolling country between the Cabinet Range and the ranges of Eastern Washington where the Palouse land is famous for its pictorial value.
As we reached the hill coming down into the Kootenai River valley the river seemed full but not over the banks like many in the NW so far. A right turn along Riverside drive and we saw that this road along the Kootenai R. was excellent birding, with lots of flycatchers, Eastern Kingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and a sitting Bald Eagle that was pretty skittish as that big Tundra drove slowly toward it. (No picture of that one!) The park headquarters was closed on Sunday (due to federal mandates to reduce funding), but after we walked a trail to Myrtle Creek we met the Refuge manager , Diana, who kibitzed with us indicating some highlights we might see. She was on her way to Eastern WAshington for a conference on that areas wildlife and birds. (Sunday work still!)
The road around the 2,270 acre Reserve is circular (!) and abuts Myrtle Creek on the west and the Kootenai River on the west. The Refuge is surrounded by a huge dike. Most of the Refuge is small ponds that are manged the year round for water level, (now at low stage of flood for the summer hatches and fledges). Those are surrounded by grass lands and some sedge and cattails in the wetland portions. We saw a few birds but have been spoiled by Bowdoin, Medicine Lake and other Refuges. The Refuge is used by the locals frequently and we did see and talk with some of them. JIm did see once again the elusive Common Yellowthroat and that made him happy. The ducks were few but Gadwalls, Wood Duck, a family of Coots, and a “blue billed” Ruddy Duck were present. The day was sunny all day so the air was good and the light excellent.
We looked for a Dairy Queen on the way home, but we are in Northern Idaho! There were some ice cream places, but we waited until we got back to the trailer to dive into that Tillamook “Fudge” . YUM. Oh yes and tell Tamara Camp that we found her family’s bar named “Camp’s Bar and Grill” it was in Clark’s Fork. It needs a little work, Tamara.
The day ended with a walk around the campground after “chicken roll ups”. The walk did produce a new bird on the trip (NBOTT) and that was the beautiful Stellar’s Jay. It is black around the head and a sheen colored blue on the tail, and very dark otherwise. It is quiet, and moves discreetly. Ruth found it on top of a camper at first and then in a tall cedar tree. The Calliope Hummingbird was spotted as well. So as I said it was a good day and we can be thankful.
Tomorrow we cross over onto Canada where US 95 becomes Canada 95 at the Eastport (USA) and the Kingsgate (CA) port of entries. We willlet you know how the border crossing goes in Northern Idaho! See you then, eh?
No comments:
Post a Comment