Subject: [Tweeters] northern Grant Co, Ferry County, Lincoln County birding
Date: May 17 08:31:39 2010
From: washingtonbirder.Knittle Knittle - washingtonbirder at hotmail.com





May 14-16 Tom Mansfield and I did a loop starting at Soap Lake, Northrup Canyon, Swawilla Basin, Republic, Twin Lakes, Kettle Falls, parts of Lincoln County and ending at Sprague Lake. We had some birds of note beginning at the south end of Soap Lake where Avocets and Black-necked Stilts were feeding and 2 Least Sandpipers. The water was high here and also at Lake Lenore where our only Loggerhead Shrike was spotted. Next we stopped at Northrup Canyon, which is south of Electric City. Birds we had here and walking a short way down into the taller trees are Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, Black-chinned and Calliope Hummingbirds, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, and most surprising was a Golden-crowned Sparrow.
>From northern Grant County we headed across the Columbia River and straight for Swawilla Basin in southern Ferry County. In the biggest sage we had Brewer?s Sparrows. Lark Sparrows were also present along the road and we checked the Columbia River by driving down Hideout Ranch Road where we found a Dunlin and a Bonaparte?s Gull, the Dunlin being a county first for Ferry County and probably long overdue. Chukars called from the steep rocky hillsides. And while driving out of Swawilla Basin towards Keller and Hwy 21 we had a Least Flycatcher on a very dry hillside on the edge of sagebrush. Didn?t seem normal habitat for a Least. Mud Lake north of Republic yielded one Red-necked Phalarope.
Saturday morning we found a nice assortment of birds along Bridge Creek Rd. Our first of the year Olive-sided Flycatcher was where it was suppose to be right on top of the highest tree. Townsend?s Warblers and Hammond?s Flycatchers were calling and Gray Jays were imitating and chasing a Northern Pygmy-Owl through the forest. At Twin Lakes were both Western and Red-necked Grebes. At Round Lake a little further east was a beautiful pair of Common Loons, hopefully planning to breed. At the Gifford ferry on the Stevens County side of the Columbia was one Caspian Tern. North and back in Ferry County heading west on Hwy 20 a Northern Goshawk made several circles over us while it gained altitude. Not sure if it was migrating or try to become a Buteo. In Sherman Creek above the fish hatchery was a Dipper.
Sunday morning we stopped at Readan and saw 3 Franklin?s Gulls on the ponds then we headed for Harker Canyon which was alive with birds. Near the top of the draw was a Gray Flycatcher and Nashville Warbler. A Veery blasted us with his/her scold sounding call note. We headed next to Mill Canyon where Yellow-breasted Chat, Bullock?s Oriole and White-headed Woodpecker we noted.
On our way home we checked the Sprague sewer ponds and found a nice flock of Wilson?s Phalaropes. In Adams County end of Sprague Lake were Black Terns, 1 American White Pelican and a few Lesser Scaup. We scoped for the Tufted Duck, but did not see it.
We found the hot afternoons tough to find birds in, but all three mornings were great. Water levels were next to dry at many spots (Kettle River campground, Lake Roosevelt, Old Kucks Road-to name a few) and high at other places (Mud Lake, Twin Lakes, Readan Ponds, Sprague Lake). Shorebirds were absent at most places we checked due in part of water levels. Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen everywhere, more than normal.

Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com
Washington Birder online
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