Subject: [Tweeters] Lincoln County Ibises Continue
Date: May 24 20:41:48 2009
From: Gina Sheridan - gsherida8502 at yahoo.com



This Sunday morning (5/24/09), Jon Isacoff, Sarah de la Rue, and I were thrilled to have completely unobstructed views of five WHITE-FACED IBISES that have graced the town of Sprague for the last several days. In contrast to yesterday's dip on these birds, this time the ibises were feeding contentedly in the open.

Other birds of interest around the Sprague STP included all three species of teal, LESSER SCAUP, REDHEAD, WOOD DUCK, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 5, WILSON'S PHALAROPE - 20+, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, BLACK TERN -3, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, and an active colony of BANK SWALLOWs.

On the Adams County side of SPRAGUE LAKE, we observed BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, BLACK TERN 50+, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 12, FRANKLIN'S GULL -2 (lifer for both Jon & Sarah), OSPREY, EARED GREBE, WESTERN GREBE, and heard SORA, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and GRAY CATBIRD.

On the Lincoln County side of the lake, we heard a singing GRAY CATBIRD and saw a ROCK WREN.

We ended the morning on an overlook above Highbridge Park and Latah Creek in Spokane. It was here that Sarah enjoyed incredible views of her lifer WHITE-THROATED SWIFTs.

Yesterday's (5/23/09) recap of Colby Neuman and my trip to Lincoln County was highlighted by EVENING GROSBEAK - 8 (in Harrington Cemetery); MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (in Sprague Lake Resort, Davenport, and a homestead south of Harrington); PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER (in Harrington & Davenport cemeteries); NASHVILLE WARBLER (Sprague Lake Resort); BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Sprague Lake Resort, YELLOW WARBLER, and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.

Other birds that were in Davenport Cemetery included DUSKY & HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Davenport Cemetery, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, PINE SISKIN, CASSIN'S VIREO -2 , HERMIT THRUSH - 12+, HOUSE WREN, and WILSON'S WARBLER.

On Saturday, we dipped on the Ibis and Great-tailed Grackle (Sprague Lake Resort had wall-to-wall campers that barely allowed a blade of grass to poke through the lawn), but we did see the previously reported GREAT EGRET. In addition, we saw a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in the uplands above Cottonwood Creek; a pair of YELLOW-BREASTED CHATs in Hawk Creek Ranch; and a SWAINSON'S HAWK near Davenport.

Once again, migrant birds and gorgeous spring weather have combined to create an irresistible urge to get out and bird the great Inland Northwest.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA