Correction: At the North Potholes, we had 40
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES not Red-necked Grebes.

Gina

--- Gina Sheridan <gsherida8502 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 22:25:41 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Gina Sheridan <gsherida8502 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Weekend Shorebirding
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
> On Saturday (8/13/05), Garrett MacDonald and I
> concentrated on shorebirds in Lincoln and Grant
> Counties. After the passage of a cold front on the
> previous afternoon, the morning was quite cool with
> a
> northeasterly breeze. In the afternoon, sunny warm
> conditions prevailed.
>
> On Reardan Audubon Lake, we were greeted by a
> calling
> SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER within a flock of six
> LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERs. Meanwhile, an adult VIRGINIA
> RAIL nonchalantly strolled out into full view for
> us.
>
> Shorebirds included Least, Western, Baird's, and
> Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black-necked Stilts,
> Spotted,
> Lesser & Greater Yellowlegs, Snipe, and Semipalmated
> Plovers.
>
> When we arrived at Sun Lakes State Park, we observed
> a
> PEREGRINE FALCON making desultory dives at pigeons
> and
> Barn Swallows. While a family of EASTERN KINGBIRDS
> were chattering away, a family of WESTERN WOOD
> PEWEES
> took turns chasing bugs in the dappled shade of the
> campground near the marina.
>
> Some of the early passerine migrants that we found
> in
> the park included OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND'S
> WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and WILSON'S
> WARBLER.
> Since there were more people present than birds, we
> continued southward.
>
> On Alkali Lake, we found one loafing RED-NECKED
> GREBE.
> Since Doug Schonewald provided a more updated report
> on Perch Point and Soap Lake, I won't recount the
> shorebirds again. However, we did see a migrant
> TOWNSEND'S WARBLER fly into the sagebrush on the
> bluff
> overlooking Lind Coulee, a pair of Says' Phoebes on
> East Beach, and a Turkey Vulture at the south side
> of
> Soap Lake's city limits.
>
> Although we couldn't dig up any Grasshopper Sparrows
> on road CNE, we did find VESPER SPARROW, ROCK WREN,
> and an immature BURROWING OWL.
>
> As usual, North Potholes Reserve did not turn any
> Bushtits for us. However, there were over 40
> RED-NECKED GREBES and a few WILSON'S PHALAROPES
> present.
>
> Near the dike road, we saw an adult PEREGRINE FALCON
> dining on a freshly killed male Mallard. At one
> point,
> the falcon removed the head and set it aside, Mmmm,
> mmm, good eating!
>
> Today (8/14/05), I followed up on Jim Acton's report
> of some good shorebirds down on Philleo Lake
> (Spokane
> County). As a result, I picked up three Spokane
> county
> lifers (SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, and
> RED-NECKED PHALAROPE). Of course there many of the
> usual suspects there too such as LEAST SANDPIPER,
> BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, both
> Yellowlegs.
> The shorebird flock was concentrated at the far
> northern end of the lake.
>
> Gina Sheridan
> Spokane, WA
>
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