The WOS fieldtrip began on the evening of July 2 at Beth Lake where we headed west and had a Flammulated Owl flying back and forth acroos the road, but would not let it's-self be seen by anyone. Poorwills were calling as they flew up and down Beaver Canyon. Arriving back at camp a calling Northern Pygmy-Owl was calling right behind the camp site just up the hillside. It may have been answering to more than one tape from two different camp sites.

July 3 many of the participants wanted to try for Clay-colored Sparrows west of Molson. Being flexible in our schedule we were rewarded with a possible nest of Clay-colored Sparrows with a female hanging close to it for long periods of time. There were no eggs or young in it yet. The nest was in the bottom of a large sage bush. Randy Hill took photos of it. Passing the small lakes near Molson noted young ducklings of both Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and Canvasback plus other more common species. Swainson's Hawks were seen along the road to Chesaw where the next day the large Chesaw Rodeo was happening. A pair of Common Loons were on the small lake just west of Beth Lake.

Birding our way east down Beaver Canyon we stopped to listen for Canyon and/or Rock Wrens. Instead we heard and then saw a Nashville Warbler and 2 large nest on the rock cliff. The lower nest was active with Golden Eagles. One of the more impressive nest sites I've seen in Washington State. Our next stop at Lee Johnson's produced a nest full of hungry Northern Three-toed Woodpeckers. A quick check for Great Gray Owls where we had just seen them weeks before provided a nice coat of dust on all cars and no owls. The dust even made it back home to Vancouver days later.

Lunch was under the hot sun at Mud Lake north of Republic where cold food wasn't cold anymore. In the heat of the mid-afternoon a stop at the McKnight's home and feeders was very welcomed with lots of birds and even a flying squirrel which was a life mammal for some. Many thanks to the McKnight's for cold water and a cool house while hummingbirds darted just outside the windows. The rest of the hot evening was birding down the Sanpoil River. A few Bobolinks, tons of Gray Catbirds, Verries and south at Bridge Creek a calling Red-eyed Vireo. Back-tracking to Republic and east to Sherman Pass and east down to Canyon Creek for camping proved lucky as the rain hit everywhere except our campground until 5 am when we always planned to start each day. This was our closest call to a wet camping experience.

Starting the day at the parking lot west of the Colville Inn overlooking the fields and sewer ponds provided our best bird of the trip when Guy McWethy heard way in the distance a calling Clay-colored Sparrow. After much searching scopes were finally able to see the Clay-colored singing from some small bushes from the southwestern part of the parking lot.

A stop at Meyers Falls produced an odd sounding Red-eyed Vireo sounding very close to a Philadelphia Vireo, but seen to prove that not all Red-eyed Vireos sound like typical Red-eyeds. Our route continued by stopping at the mouth of the Colville River and then north to Northport. Taking Boundary Road north we stopped at the traditional house with hummingbird feeders. The owner noted us and thought since it was the 4'th of July the we were launching fireworks at his house when he saw all the scopes aimed his way. He was very friendly and remembered us from past years. Scores of hummingbirds of the normal three species were fighting over the feeders with us and the owner sitting on his porch mere feet away. The last of the days route took us passed Cedar Lake, Deep Lake ( and no LeConte's Sparrow) up Smackout Pass to Big Meadow Lake. Seemed odd with very few campers there. Lincoln Sparrows and a Northern Waterthrush played hard to see.

Saturday, July 5 our route took us east down the hill to Ione then Sullivan Lake then up to Salmo Mt. Several Boreal Chickadees came into Pygmy-Owl recordings. They would not respond to their own recordings. A woodpecker believed to be a possible Northern Three-toed was heard drumming near the saddle on top, but could not be located for visual ID. Slate-colored Fox Sparrows were sing and very elusive at the trailhead/parking area. A ground squirrel thought to be an Arctic Ground Squirrel was very photogenic at the entrance to it's burrow. The ears did not extend beyond it's hair. Never had seen one of these critters before.

Heading south to Cusick - Meadow Road we found a far distant Bobolink. After everyone had strained their eyes through the scope a Bobolink popped up right behind the cars to sit in the open on the powerlines. A quick check of the Pend Oreille River at the Cuskick Boat Launching area where Osprey numbers have dropped while Double-crested Cormorant numbers have increased in the past few years. Then back down the west Valley Raod to Calispell Lake. Pygmy Nuthaches, Brown Creepers, assorted ducks, Black Terns, Yellow-headed Blackbirds were noted. Heading west on Flowery Trail a cow Moose just about jumped in front of traffic. A quick check at Little Pend Oreille NWR found all campsites taken near the Flammulated Owl spot so we ended up at Twin Lakes where we were host to very friendly mosquitoes.

Our last morning began with buzzing in our ears and after a few swats and camping gear back in the cars we headed down to the boat launch area at Twin Lakes. Along with two (2) Moose seen we saw a good sized feeding flock of Chestnut-backed, Black-capped, and Mountain Chickadees, both Kinglets, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Finally stopping at Amazon Creek along Hwy 20 we had great looks of Northern Waterthrush. One of our group saw Eurasian Collared-Doves in Colville. Our route continued through small towns of Orin, Rice to the Gifford Ferry. After much driving we again checked Bridge Creek and called in a female American Redstart. Our last couple of stops were along Silver Creek Rd. and ending up at Friendlander Meadows. There we noted Red Crossbills, an American Goldfinch, and Pine Siskins eating at a pile of horse dung. Not sure what they were actually eating (larva of insects or gleening salts). We heard a hen grouse clucking nearby, but were unable to determine in it was Dusky or Ruffed. No Least Flycatchers were seen just Dusky and one undetermined one that wagged it's tailed like a Gray, but was not ID'd. 2 hours of waiting in the ferry line at the Keller Ferry and we all headed for home and showers.





Ken KnittleVancouver WA 98665 mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Washington Birder online http://www.wabirder.com/