Today (1/25/06), Craig & Judy Coder, and I birded Mt.
Spokane. Although there was considerable fog in the
lower elevations, the higher elevations were nice and
sunny. In contrast to last year, there is a impressive
amount of snow on the mountain.

In the first Snow Park, we saw quite a few RED
CROSSBILLs, and a few CASSIN'S FINCHS. However, the
real bird bonanza was waiting for us at the Snowblaze
Condos. When you enter this complex take the right
turn that dips down to a lower saddle. At the easten
end the parking lot, the bare larches and poplars were
loaded with birds.

After noting BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs, STELLER'S JAYs,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHS, PINE SISKINS, CASSIN'S FINCHs,
a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, and EVENING GROSBEAKs, we began
scanning through the large numbers of RED CROSSBILLs.
In a tall larch, I saw our first WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL (a female) in with several Red Crossbills.
Later, we saw a male WW CROSSBILL (that was still in
grapefruit colored, first year plumage) in the top of
a fir tree.

On the other side of the condos, Craig call our
attention to a single GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH
(Hepburn's race) that was calmly perched in the top of
small spruce tree. After we rechecked the first
snowpark, we returned and saw the pair of WW
CROSSBILLs together in a poplar tree at the edge of
the condo parking lot. Later, the male WW Crossbill
joined a large flock of Red Crossbills that were
working on a bare patch of tarmac where the snow had
recently melted.

At the base of the mountain, we saw CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEE on Elliot Road. On Holcomb Road, we saw WILD
TURKEYs, and a single MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE with a large
flock of Black-caps.

On Peone Prairie, we observed a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and a few CACKLING GEESE in with a
sizable flock of CANADA GEESE. Within the goose flock,
there was a large white colored goose out there that
appeared to be leutistic Canada.

It turned out to be was great day of birding on the
mountain. Hopefully, others will get a chance to see
some of these great boreal specialties.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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