Subject: Fw: Pend Oreille County (Possible Plumbeous Vireo, Black-necked Stilt, Bewick's Wren, Harlequin Duck)
Date: May 27 19:53:53 2002
From: Matthew Moskwik - mpmoskwik at hotmail.com



----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Moskwik
To: inland-NW-birders at uidaho.edu ; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 10:43 AM
Subject: Pend Oreille County (Possible Plumbeous Vireo, Black-necked Stilt, Bewick's Wren, Harlequin Duck)


Inlanders and Tweeters,

Yesterday my dad (Larry Moskwik) and I birded Pend Oreille County. Below I will highlight the trip results.

Plumbeous Vireo - The bird was seen on Leclerc Creek Road in a stand of aspen trees a couple of miles north of its junction with E Fork of Leclerc Creek Road (near LPOWA on the map). When I first saw the bird, I thought it was a Least Flycatcher, because it lacked any yellow tones and had very prominent wing bars. Then the bird began singing, and I quickly realized that I was looking at a "Solitary" Vireo. Since the bird was entirely gray on the sides and belly, I realized that it did not look like a typical Cassin's Vireo. The broad wing bars were also unusual. These are the two major characteristics on the bird that made me think that it could indeed be a Plumbeous Vireo. The bird also seemed to be larger than Cassin's Vireos that I have seen, however I realize that this is a subjective call since the two species are very close in size. However, there appeared to be weak contrast between the auriculars and throat, which I believe is more typical of a Cassin's Vireo. We watched the bird for a while before it flew acrossed the road into a stand of Douglas fir, where we were unable to relocate it. The bird while calling seemed it sit in a posture more similar to a flycatcher (vertically) than that of a vireo or warbler (horizontally). While we were watching the bird, it did not move about or flick its tail or wings. Because of the unusual nature of this sighting any feedback positive or negative is welcomed, as I'm not an expert on either species.

Harlequin Duck - One pair observed on Sullivan Creek approximately 2 1/2 miles up the road from its junction with Sullivan Lake Road. The pair was just east of a interpretive sign on the road. While observing the pair, we noted a chick on a gravel bar nearby, confirming that the pair had nested there. Shouldn't the male have left already, if the female has already hatched a brood?

Bewick's Wren - One pair observed in the same location as the Plumbeous Vireo. (They are supposed to be very rare in this county, but they are probably becoming more common).

I currently have acquired a job on the Kalispel Indian Reservation to do breeding bird point counts. Over the last couple of weeks I have seen the following notable sightings.

Bewick's Wren - Two birds in two separate areas on the reservation (maybe two pairs).

Black-necked Stilt - Two weeks ago I had seen three pairs, but this week I counted six pairs. I believe that they are breeding here and will keep everyone updated as to whether I observe any young. Does anyone know who I should report this to, as they have never been recorded as breeding in this county?

Matthew Moskwik
Cheney, WA
mpmoskwik at hotmail.com