Hello again,
The evening of 10/8 we drove up to Soap Lake and found 46 SURF SCOTERS, 7 Bonaparte's Gulls and a few ducks and geese. This alkali lake had no shorebirds nor any prints along the shore.
Yesterday we checked all the lakes from Conconully north to the border - the ONLY shorebirds we found were on Spectacle Lake where there were 50 Killdeer and 3 snipe - but nothing else although there was lots of habitat. The sumac was flaming red and really brightened up all the hillsides (and the mountaintops were white) - made for a gorgeous drive up there. Palmer Lake had a dozen Common Loons and Herring Gulls. At the north end were lots of Western Grebes with 1 Clark's Grebe. Osoyoos Lake had 6 Bonaparte's Gulls, couple Common Loons and some grebes including 1 Red-necked. Were hoping for Sabine's Gulls but no luck. Just south of Oroville in a marsh were several more Killdeer and snipe. This morning we took Cameron Lake Road and again checked all the lakes (and puddles) - finally found 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on an unamed lake. On Duley Lake was another SURF SCOTER and 50 Northern Pintails. There were many bluebirds of both species and flocks of American Pipits and Horned Larks. Didn't hear any Longspurs. Had Sandhill Cranes flyover and 6 in a cornfield. Had a couple Northern Shrike and several Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks.
At Chief Joseph Dam and west were Am. White Pelicans - on both sides of the river.
All the hunters were setting up camps ready for this coming weekend - don't want to be up there then!
Later, M&M

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley

"If you haven't birded, you haven't lived"