Hi Tweets ?
This past 4th of July weekend, I headed over into the northeast corner of the state to do some birding in Ferry, Stevens & Pend Oreille counties. I met up with Tom Mansfield, MaryFrances Mathis and Phyllis Moss for birding on Friday and part of Saturday, and spent the rest of the time birding around on my own.

Overall it was a great trip, with nice weather and plenty of highlight species.

A short list would include:

ANNA?S HUMMINGBIRD ? one 1st yr male at Amazon Creek Marsh (Stevens) on 7/5. Well seen & heard, and quite a ways out of range.

AMERICAN REDSTART & NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH ? Amazon Creek Marsh (Stevens), 7/5. I joked as we drove up that we?d be able to ?tick? these two target species in 5 minutes ? little did I know the joke proved true! Great looks at several waterthrush and 1 male Redstart.

AM. 3-TOED WOODPECKER ? Bunchgrass Meadows (Pend Oreille), 7/4. We started the 4th by driving up to Bunchgrass Meadows, only to be nearly defeated by the quantity of mosquitoes that barely seemed deterred by our bug spray. Before giving up on Spruce Grouse & Boreal Chickadee hopes, we came across one 3-Toed along FR1935 along the meadow?s edge.

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE ? Colville (Stevens) on 7/4. Along 8th St., a couple blocks east of Wal-Mart as reported by others.

BOBOLINK ? 1 in Ferry County (7/3) at mp 127 along SR21 in the Sanpoil Valley, many in Pend Oreille north of Cusick (7/4). The others also had Bobolink in Stevens Co just outside Colville on 7/5 along Spanish Prairie Rd.

BLACK TERN ? 2 fluttering over Calispell Lake (Pend Oreille), 7/4

RUFFED GROUSE ? several spots along Sanpoil Valley, Silver Creek Rd, and East Sanpoil River Rd. (7/3 & 7/5)

CALIFORNIA QUAIL ? Cusick fairgrounds (seen by the others), 7/4. A tough species for Pend Oreille Co.

SORA ? seen in a marsh along the highway just outside Ione (Pend Oreille) 7/4, heard in Ferry Co in the marsh north of the SR 21 x McMann Creek intersection (7/3 & 7/5). Also heard VIRGINIA RAIL at the same stop in Pend Oreille, and saw one in Stevens Co at White Mud Lake (7/5).

WILSON?S PHALAROPE ? At the Republic water treatment ponds on 7/3 (Ferry).

COMMON POORWILL ? Silver Creek Rd (Ferry) , between mp 3 & 6 coming from the west. Heard on 7/3, seen on 7/5.

My best bird of the trip was one that I can?t count because I never saw it ? I finally heard my first FLAMMULATED OWLS at my campsite on 7/5 up Silver Creek Rd. I played my I-Pod and brought in 1-3 of them. They hooted to me for over an hour, often from trees right next to me. Alas, my binoc & flashlight could never bring one into view. Nevertheless, it was great to finally have confirmation that a nemesis species does indeed exist!

The ?regular? birds around were great as well ? Veery & Gray Catbirds were everywhere, Dusky & Hammond?s Flycatchers made regular appearances, Nashville Warblers popped up to join the more common Yellow & MacGillivrays?. Nighthawks overhead in spite of the fireworks every night.. I think we came up with 130+ species for the weekend.

Mammal highlights included a Moose near Bunchgrass Meadows on the 4th, and 2 different Black Bear sightings in Ferry Co [SR 21 and Silver Creek Rd].

Most all the places mentioned above are in the ABA guide, but if you?d like any specific directions feel free to contact me.

All in all, a great weekend in the northeast corner.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA