When Theresa Mathis reported seeing a Tricolored
Blackbird in her yard yesterday, I didn't realize that
she lived just inside the Spokane County line.
Although this species has been on the radar for new
county prospects, it had not previously been recorded
for our county.

This morning (3/15/06), Craig & Judy Corder, Jim
Acton, and I began the blackbird vigil on Tucker
Prairie. While sorting through marginal Red-winged
Blackbird candidates, we observed more birds flying
into the Mathis's yard. Suddenly, a glorious male
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD landed near the top of an
elderberry bush near the road.

As we viewed the bird for the next half an hour, we
could see the bird's snowy-white median wing coverts
and occasionally it's deep red epaulets. Overall, the
tricolored appeared sleeker in body shape than the
nearby redwings, and the overall color was glossy
black without any rusty spots. Since many of the
redwings were belting out their spring song, the
tricolored felt obliged to utter some hoarse croaking
sounds as musical accompaniment.

Congrats to Theresa for this outstanding new Spokane
County record! If birders wish to visit this site, her
address is 29907 Tucker Road. Her home is within site
of the Lincoln County line (DL: Pg. 88, D-2). Please
stay on the road (you can easily scope the trees,
shrubs, and feeders that the bird will perch in from
the road), and do not enter the driveway or property.

Other birds on Tucker Prairie included WESTERN
MEADOWLARK, SAY'S PHOEBE, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
Medical Lake host a couple of CALIFORNIA GULLS as well
as the usual Ring-bills.

In Turnbull NWR, I saw the pair of TRUMPETER SWANS,
and a singing MARSH WREN on the Pine Lake Loop
Trail). Although the male is probably the introduced
bird from many years ago, his new
girlfriend is from out of town and is most definitely
a countable bird.

Other recent arrivals included WESTERN BLUEBIRD and
HOODED MERGANSER.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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