On this brisk, blustery, autumn day (10/30/04),
Garrett MacDonald and I followed up on some the
Spokane rarities that have been present for the last
couple of days. Although this was not a good day to
look for passerines, the high winds had little effect
on our waterfowl targets.

Despite the wind, the calls of an EVENING GROSBEAK
greeted us at our rendezvous point in Coeur D'Alene
Park (located in west Spokane). Good omen!

On Silver Lake, we quickly refound the COMMON LOON and
the pair of PACIFIC LOONs. At one point all three
birds were in the same scope view. A small contingent
of Pied-billed Grebes and a Horned Grebe patrolled the
boat docks.

>From the pump house on West Medical Lake, we observed
at least two female SURF SCOTERs, Western Grebes -2,
Ruddies, Ring-necks, etc. Previously, Jim Acton had
reported seeing six Surf Scoters from this spot on
Thursday. However, the flock of Bonaparte's Gull
that I had seen yesterday were apparently blown out by
the wind and no where to be seen today.

Philleo Lake held at least three LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHERs, an adult BALD EAGLE, and two CLARK'S
NUTCRACKERs. A large number of TUNDRA SWANs were
present too.

After Garrett returned home this afternoon, he called
me to say that he saw a BLUE JAY fly cross the street
near the junction of Maple St. and Garfield. Joyce
Alonso and Jim Acton have both recently reported
several BLUE JAYs coming into their feeders.

The year of the Blue Jay continues for us Inlanders.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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