Subject: [Tweeters] Whitman County Clark's Grebe & Black-throated Sparrow
Date: May 30 22:59:47 2006
From: Gina Sheridan - gsherida8502 at yahoo.com
Today (Tuesday, 5/30/06) was a picture perfect day
both weather-wise and bird-wise. Temps ranged from
38-78, and the azure skies were dotted with puffy
white cumulus clouds.
Every place we stopped seemed to be full of birds.
While Lazuli Buntings, Black-headed Grosbeaks,
Warbling Vireos, and House Wrens were ubiquitous,
Bullock's Orioles seemed as abundant as Starlings.
Numerous Townsensd's Warblers (predominately females),
Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, several Gray
Catbirds, and Cassin's Vireos added their own musical
chorus to this grand day. Meanwhile, mammals such as
Mule Deer, Yellow-bellied Marmots, Least Chipmunks,
Coyotes, Red Squirrels, and even a Porcupine (in the
city limits of Spokane on 57th Ave.) all seemed to be
in a playful mood.
Near Revere (NW Whitman County) in the pre-dawn
period, Kim Thorburn and I saw Great Horned Owl, a
quick view of a SHORT-EARED OWL that flew low and
disappeared behind some trees, BARN OWL (we could see
it's eyes reflected in my light), pheasants, and Gray
Partridge. After sunrise, we found Red-tailed Hawk,
Swainson's Hawk, No. Harrier, BREWER'S SPARROW (big
sage west of Texas Lake), Grasshopper Sparrow, Vesper
Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrow.
After trying in vain to scope Tricolored Blackbirds in
a distant marsh, we drove back to the Knott Ranch and
had excellent views of two pairs of TRICOLORED
BLACKBIRDs that were in the corral on the north side
of the road, and the feedlot on the south side. The
Tricolors were loosely associating with Yellow-headed
Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Brewer's
Blackbirds. While watching the tricolors, we were
surprised by a brief view of a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER that
flew out of the cottonwoods.
Rock Lake had two groups of Western Grebes on it
today. A flock of seven that were fairly distant and
nearby group of three. When I scanned the closer trio,
I was thrilled to see that one of them was a CLARK'S
GREBE. As the Clark's and Westerns were often in the
same scope view, we had crippling views of this
terrific county rarity.
In a plowed field just east of Ewan, we saw three
LONG-BILLED CURLEWs patrolling the dirt plain with
California Gulls. This is the first time that I have
seen LB Curlews in this location.
When we arrived at the small quarry in Steptoe Butte,
we repeatedly became excited everytime a Rock Wren or
a Vesper Sparrow would pop up. After fifteen minutes
of false alarms and tense moments, a BLACK-THROATED
SPARROW left the quarry floor underbrush and landed on
the quarry rim. We enjoyed superb views of this
southwestern visitor.
The BT Sparrow was an ABA lifer for Kim and a state
lifer for me.
Kamiak Butte was just as lively and birdy as Steptoe
Butte had been. We quickly saw BLACK-CHINNED
HUMMINGBIRD (female), CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (female),
CASSINS' VIREO at point blank range, and heard
SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
Later, we found several chats in Wawawai Canyon. We
had particularly good looks at YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in
Wawawai County Park.
Near Wawawai Landing (Snake River) we observed a
CASPIAN TERN as it plyed the waters over the
Whitman/Garfield County line.
Today was one of those nearly perfect spring days that
makes one truly appreciate being outdoors and birding.
I ended the day with seven Whitman County lifers and
Kim picked up to ABA lifers (Tricolored Blackbird & BT
Sparrow).
Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA
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