This morning, my dad and I birded the east end of Sprague Lake in Lincoln
County. We started at about 6:15 at the first boat launch. At least forty
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS roamed the area and we eventually picked out a nice
juvenile GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. Other birds included 1 YELLOW WARBLER,
GRAY CATBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, HERMIT THRUSH, MARSH WREN, 2 WARBLING
VIREOS, and several RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS.

We then backtracked to the Sprague Lake Resort. By this time a wind had
picked up, and birding the trees was pretty tough. We did find a 1st-year
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the north side of the resort grounds, followed by
a couple LINCOLN'S SPARROWS in the grass. A MERLIN just about ran into me.
Before long, Patrick and Ruth Sullivan arrived, and we had the unexpected
pleasure of birding with them again.

We relocated the sparrows, and then checked the area where they had the
Blackpoll Warbler yesterday. A decent number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were
coming through, but apparently not in the same numbers as yesterday.
Several WILSON'S WARBLERS were in attendance, as were 2 SPOTTED TOWHEES. We
watched a long time for anything different, but did not relocate yesterday's
Blackpoll or any other really good goodies. Patrick had a WINTER WREN and
a HERMIT THRUSH in the willows to the north.

This is really a great spot with marvelous potential. I was told to pass
this on: remember, the entrance fee is $1.50 per if you are there LESS than
one hour, and $3.50 per person if you're there MORE than an hour (and you
are timed!). It's well worth it at this time of year.

In Sprague behind the grain elevators there was a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.

Sheep Lake didn't have anything too remarkable. A bunch of weird HOODED
MERGANSERS were still around, as were 1 HORNED GREBE and 4 EARED GREBES.
There's a lot of good mud but no shorebirds!

Michael and Roger Woodruff
Spokane, WA

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