I checked the ponds along Cheney-Spangle Rd again this evening (8/22/07,
Spokane County). Shorebirds were similar to yesterday's.

Red-necked Phalarope - 4
Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Solitary Sandpiper - 5
Lesser Yellowlegs - 26
Least Sandpiper - 2
Killdeer - 5

I also birded Philleo Lake, and tallied 54 species in an hour. At the
southwest end, a nice group of at least 8 BREWER'S SPARROWS (some clearly
juveniles) were near CHIPPING SPARROWS for excellent comparisons. Other
migrants on land included an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, several HOUSE WRENS, a
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and a WILSON'S WARBLER.

There's beginning to be a little shorebird habitat on the lake. I saw 4
LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS in addition to 1 SPOTTED
SANDPIPER and 5 KILLDEER. Ducks were spread across the whole lake, mostly
AMERICAN COOT, GADWALL, and RUDDY DUCK, but with plenty of CINNAMON TEAL,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, and MALLARD, and a few NORTHERN SHOVELER. 3
WESTERN GREBES were a surprise this early in the season. An adult BALD
EAGLE had the birds flying at one point.

Pelicans and Cormorants were layering the far shore at the middle of the
lake. I counted 206 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and 330 DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS. A juvenile RED-NECKED GREBE was the first for the year toward
the north end. MOURNING DOVES have formed large flocks through the area,
and I noticed one with about 200 birds along the road.

It's that time of year when you don't ever know what to expect!

Michael Woodruff
Spokane, WA

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