On Monday (5/15/06), Harold & Karen Cottet, Gary
Kuiper, and I joined Mark Houston on a search for
displaying Spruce Grouse. At dawn, we mainly
concentrated our efforts on FR 550 (a rough spur road
off Rocky Creek Road) in the highlands just south of
Big Meadow Lake.

Since there were fallen trees across FR550, we
proceeded on foot through extensive larch that was
interspersed with Lodgepole Pine, Western White Pine,
and aspen. The understory consisted of bearberry,
huckleberry, and other heaths. Along the track where
there were a considerable number of snags, we were
excited to find two different pairs of THREE-TOED
WOODPECKERs (TTWO). This specie had long eluded me in
P.O. County, and it was a state lifer for the Cottets
and an ABA lifer for Gary.

The TTWOs never called, but they were gently tapping
and were fairly approachable. While the males showed
extensive white on their backs that appeared like the
dorsalis (Rocky Mt. race), the females had full ladder
backs that seemed to match the fasciatus race. The
TTWOs were on the highest part of the road where there
were large granite boulders.

Other birds in the area included Winter Wren, Western
Tanager, Townsend's Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Mt.
Chickadee, Evening Grosbeak, RB Nuthatch, juncos,
Cassin's Vireo, YR Warbler, Varied Thrush, Hermit
Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, flicker, and Red-naped
Sapsucker.

Past the tank trap (where FR550 officially ends), the
north facing slope is much denser with Western Red
Cedar, Englemann Spruce, Subalpine Fir, Western
Hemlock, and the track has numerous cross-cut ditches
for meltwater drainage. Plenty of snow drifts are
lingering in this boreal setting.

After fording a number of the cross-ditches, we paused
to listen to singing Winter Wrens and Varied Thrushes.
Suddenly, a hen SPRUCE GROUSE flushed from the edge
of the track and flew into the dense forest. Most of
us didn't obtain much of a view (or none at all), but
I could see that it was a very dark brown grouse.

On a nearby FR 560, we heard a Ruffed Grouse drumming.
Although we didn't see it display, I did see the
RUFFED GROUSE on a log before it flushed.

Later in the morning, we birded Big Meadow Lake and
saw COMMON LOON, Common Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe,
Mallared, Tree Swallow, Bald Eagle, Ring-necked Duck,
and Bufflehead. Although Barrow's Goldeneye are
supposed to breed here, we didn't see any.

After Mark departed,we drove east to Sullivan Lake.
Sullivan Lake looked as beautiful as usual, but it did
not offer many birds this time. Since it was noon and
Mill Pond was slow. I decided to liven things up with
some Harlequin Ducks. Last year, I found a pair of
Harlequins on Sullivan Creek, and I was hopeful that
they had returned. After a bit of searching, we
enjoyed viewing a pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKs. While the
female swam and dived, the male remained perched on a
rock. Meanwhile a Dipper flew down the creek.

One of my other county target birds was Western
Kingbird. Knowing that they sometimes appeared around
Cusick and that I had previously seen so many Eastern
Kingbirds around the Cusick STP, I thought this is
where I might find one. Western Kingbird is normally a
tough bird to get in the county, and I had
unsuccessfully tried to see one there for the last two
years.

As we drove along the northern perimeter fence of the
STP, I saw a bird on a wire above the electrical
substation. Even though I though it was too good to be
true, It did indeed turn out to be a WESTERN KINGBIRD.
In fact, it was the only kingbird that we saw all day
and good county lifer for me. Incidentally, Eastern
Kingbirds have not returned to our area yet.

Several Bullock's Orioles were calling from the trees
on the east side of the STP, and Cliff Swallows were
gathering river mud for their nests.
In downtown Cusick, a few Calliope Hummingbirds were
visiting feeders. It doesn't appear that Bobolinks
have returned yet.

Calispell Lake didn't have anything out of the
ordinary, but there were four WILSON'S PHALAROPEs at
the south end. A cow Moose was on the north end.
Around the low woods along Calispell Creek bridge,
there were AMERICAN REDSTART, Yellow Warbler,
MacGillivray's Warbler, Ruffed Grouse (heard
drumming), Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, and
Black-headed Grosbeak.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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