Saturday morning I walked down the canyon to the Columbia north of Creston in
Lincoln County. I saw and heard lots of things I hadn't yet this year. Most
notable was the LEAST FLYCATCHER doing its incessant call. Up until a week
ago at least there was also a Least Flycatcher hanging out in the Davenport
Cemetery. Jim Acton reminded me that one was in the cemetery last spring for
several weeks. Maybe we'll find a breeding pair soon, like the couple north
of Spokane at Eloika Lake a few years ago.

A CATBIRD was singing in the upper part of the canyon, notable because I
haven't encountered one in the canyon for about eight years. VEERYS were
singing through the day, certainly recent arrivals. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS
were numerous. Usually in a good year there will be one pair breeding in the
area. LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS flew about a snag high on the rim, and came down
to feed on last year's mullein plants. A pair of Ravens aggressively chased
an adult GOLDEN EAGLE out over the lake. On a high perch overlooking the
reservoir a TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE warbled its rich melodious song. I came up
on TURKEYS three times, the first time seeing a large family, and the last a
big tom popping up out of the creek ditch just in front of me in the middle
of the afternoon. An apparition like no grouse I've ever seen.

I'm wondering if some of these birds, such as a number of the Black-headed
Grosbeaks, are migrants. Considering the lateness of the season, and also
how we habitually emphasize early and first arrival dates, I think sometimes
we don't appreciate just how late some birds are in moving into a breeding
territory. Most every year a Lark Sparrow or two will sing in the farmyard
for a few days around May 10. This year one was in the yard around June 8
before moving on.

Mark Houston
Spokane/Creston, WA