Yesterday (8/24/06), Matthew Moskwik, Gary Kuiper, and
I ventured back up to Pend Oreille County in the hopes
of finding some eastern rarities. Although birding was
generally slow, we still managed to turn a few good
birds.

Even though road construction delays altered our
original plans, we picked out a couple of BLACK SWIFTs
(county lifer for us) amongst the Vaux's Swifts and VG
Swallow flocks over Metaline Falls. On Noisy Creek, we
observed another large flock of VAUX'S SWIFTs, and saw
yet another BLACK SWIFT.

At the Mill Pond CG, we saw RED-EYED VIREO, SWAINSON'S
THRUSH, C. YELLOWTHROAT, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER,
SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER. River Bend
Estates produced both yellowlegs, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER,
and a LEAST SANDPIPER. From the river view on the
FLYING GOOSE RANCH, we could see WHITE PELICANs,
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERs, COOPER'S HAWK, BALD EAGLE, OSPREY,
GRAY CATBIRD, and EASTERN KINGBIRD.

In the late afternoon, we were thrilled to find a pair
of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERs on the north end of
Calispell Lake. Apparently, this is the first county
record for this overdue species. In addition, a
responsive NORTHERN PYGMY OWL kept us entertained.

Last Sunday (8/20/06), Kim Thorburn, Justyn Stahl, and
I enjoyed the good birding on Doug Schonewald's field
trip. After we parted company with Doug, we found some
other interesting birds. These included a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT at Rocky Ford Creek (Grant County), an
adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK (west of Odessa on Hwy 28),
PRAIRIE FALCON on Schuster Road (west of Swanson
Lakes- Lincoln Co.), several SAGE THRASHERs around
Swanson Lakes), GREAT EGRET on Swanson Lakes (Lincoln
Co. lifer for me), LB DOWITCHERS, RN PHALAPOPES, LEAST
& WESTERN SANDPIPERS on Swanson Lakes.
On this day, Justyn picked up five ABA lifers, Kim one
ABA lifer, and I added 4 Grant County lifers and one
Lincoln lifer.


Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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