Just wanted to report that one WHITE-FACED IBIS remained at Lake Kahlotus
yesterday, June 25, about mid-morning. It was at the west end of the lake
working the edge. A high concentration of Am. Coots and Eared Grebes was
also worthy of note.

The Blackman I. EASTERN PHOEBE was easy near the bridge this morn, June 26.
Lastly, I had a pair of FLAMMULATED OWLS (including a brief view of one of
them) near the previously-noted site up FS Rd. 9705 south of Swauk Pass.

Watching for raptors while along Rt 90 between George and Spokane June 20, I
counted 7 SWAINSON'S and a single FERRUGINOUS HAWK, among other raptors.
The FERRUGINOUS was seen about 1 mile prior to Ritzville. At Liberty Lake
Regional Park near Spokane early June 21, there were plenty of the usual
e-slope specailties, the more notable perhaps a singing VEERY, a RED-EYED
VIREO, an AM. REDSTART, several CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, GRAY CATBIRDS, and
PYGMY NUTHATCHES. A very cooperative CORDILLERAN-type WESTERN FLYCATCHER
was on territory working tall trees right above the parking area.

Notes on Cordilleran-type vocalizations: the three-part song series struck
me as different from the standard Pacific-slope in an opening two--note pair
(as opposed to a single, upslurred note), followed by the middle and last
single notes, those basically like Pacific-slope. The overall cadence of
the song struck me as a bit more leisurely than with Pacific-slope. Also of
note--behavior. The bird seemed much more willing to come into view than
most Pacific-slopes I've sought, in part due to a much more open forested
habitat, as opposed to closed-canopy ones on our side of the mts.

Despite these apparent distinctions, the Cordilleran type here gave the
standard Pacific-slope call, an upslurred single note, like the first note
of the three-part Pacific-slope song. In s.e. AZ, the Cordillerans I heard
years back had a distinctly two-note call, the second note of course
higher-pitched.

Notes on Orange-crowned Warbler at Liberty Lake: at first impression one
might think that the case for splitting would be at least as compelling for
this inland form. The song has the same quality as the westside form
lutescens, but is clearly two-parted, with the first trill clearly
higher-pitched; the general delivery comes off as more spontaneous (or
sudden) as well. Plumage differences seem very subtle but certainly no more
subtle than those separating Cordilleran-Pacific-slope Flycatchers.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
email: scottratkinson at hotmail.com
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