Although some of the more traditional Lincoln County
hot spots were slow today, I was pleased to find one
of my target birds as well as an unexpected county
lifer. While the conditions were cool and sunny, a
strong northerly wind picked up by mid-morning.

Reardan was loaded with birds, but nothing unusual.
Spring Creek Canyon had plenty of traffic but not the
desired Lincoln County Ruffed Grouse or Pileated
Woodpecker.

As I turned toward Long Lake Dam, I heard the rather
piercing cries of an Evening Grosbeak. After a couple
of anxious minutes, I spied at least three adult male
EVENING GROSBEAKs in a deciduous tree that was full
of emergent leaf buds. The tree in question was in the
yard of the brick house immediately before one enters
the Long Lake Dam Park.

Since Evening Grosbeak is tough and erratic species
for Lincoln County, I was only too pleased to add this
species to my county life list. Other birds in the
park included Pygmy & RB Nuthatches, both kinglets,
Spotted Towhee, Red-naped Sapsucker, and three Osprey.
Below the dam, the river rapids look like they could
possibly entice a migrant Harlequin Duck.

In Davenport Cemetery, I was met with a stiff north
wind and few birds. Although Terry Little had seen Fox
& Lincoln's Sparrow the previous day, I didn't see any
sparrows or juncos this time.

Along Old Kuchs Road, I encountered a LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE, VESPER SPARROWs, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs,
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, scores of AMERICAN PIPITs, and
heard a BREWER'S SPARROW. North of the intersection of
Old Kuchs and Jahn Road, there were a pair of
LONG-BILLED CURLEWs in flight.

After driving many more miles around Swanson Lakes and
Mill Canyon, I finally saw my first SAGE THRASHER of
the year. The singing thrasher was on Seven Springs
Dairy Road.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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