Hello All
Ryan Shaw and I had a fantastic day of birding today in Franklin, Adams, and
Grant Counties. We left in the dark at 5am and made our first brief stop at
Corfu Woods with 6 Lincoln's Sparrows. At County Line Ponds were 3
Semipalmated Sandpipers. We pushed on to Washtucna, where we found a few
other birders looking for recent findings. None but the Eurasian
Collared-Dove seemed to remain, which was calling persistently from a
telephone pole. Other birds at Bassett Park included a Slate-colored Fox
Sparrow; an Olive-sided, 4 Hammond's, 1 Dusky, and 1 Willow Flycatcher; 4
Townsend's Solitaires and others. Palouse Falls was next and was dead.

Lyons Ferry Park was very nice if a bit crowded. We worked through a flock
of Spizellas and juncos and came up with 4 (four) Clay-colored Sparrows, all
of which gave good views. It was slow again until we walked the causeway out
to the small island. We both picked up some movement and I called out
"Ca--er, Solitary Vireo". Another angle and we were left in awe, as the bird
was rich velvety blue on the head, contrasting completely with the green
back. It also showed a very sharp white throat and was really yellowy
underneath. Ryan was the first to recover and say it was a picture perfect
Blue-headed, and we viewed it for a further 2 minutes when we were satisfied
that was true and it disappeared.

After that excitement we birded our way north, hitting Lind Coulee, Perch
Point, and Soap Lake before heading back west, and finding nothing
unexpected. Twelve SemiSands were at Perch Point, and 9 Stilt Sandpipers
lingered at Lind Coulee.

Good Birding,
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington