Subject: [Tweeters] morning in North Spokane
Date: Sep 29 15:04:40 2011
From: Terry Little - terry at crossoverchurch.info


Hello,



I decided to take an early morning drive to the top of Mt Spokane to see
what might be moving near the summit. The mountain really was not too birdy,
however, I did have two flyover LAPLAND LONGSPURS near the snowmobile
parking lot. Also, at this location I had a cow moose with two calves walk
right beside me. A few minutes later, here came a young bull moose that
walked right up to my car and stared at me in the window. Finally, he slowly
moved on. Moose don't particularly bother me, but this boy was in my space.
Also up near the top were a few Am Pipits and Mt Bluebirds, Red Crossbills,
Cassin's Finches, and Evening Grosbeaks.



Holcomb Rd hosted more Mt Bluebirds with a few westerns mixed in. There was
also a mixed flock of sparrows that included juncos, white crowned,
chipping, Lincoln's, and Song.



The best bird of the morning was seen while I was looking over the Peone
Wetland from the Roskelly property. Nothing great at the wetland itself;
only a few more ducks and geese showing up. Then I saw two Red tails soaring
over the prairie and off in the distance a kettle of about 15 Turkey
Vultures (seems a little late to me for the wetland). When I looked back at
the Red tails, I noticed a third buteo had joined them, a much smaller hawk.
>From my days in Texas, I knew immediately it what it was and sure enough,
when it banked an exposed its underside, it was an adult BROAD WINGED HAWK.
It was circling at a pretty good pace, so in a minute or so, it had sailed
off to the south. Interesting, a few minutes later, both a Sharp shinned and
a Cooper's Hawk came spiraling through as well. A Spokane County lifer and a
nice morning.



Blessings

Terry Little

Mead, Wa