> On a quick morning run to Sprague this morning lots of things around. On the Lincoln side of the lake were all 3 Merganser species, including 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. On the Adams side was the FERRUGINOUS HAWK that apparently has spent the last year plus there and is now in beautiful full adult plumage. Feeding with a large flock of House Finches was COMMON REDPOLL, generally much tougher to find in Adams than in Lincoln County. A large flock (20+) of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS was near the entrance to the Adams Co. WDFW boat launch and another single bird was seen later between Sprague and Fishtrap.
>
> Some locally late lingering birds included NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, RUDDY DUCK, and an WESTERN MEADOWLARK. A GREAT-HORNED OWL was in Sprague Cemetery. Rounding out the 3 Buteo species were 23 Red-tailed and 14 Rough-legged Hawks between Cow Lake Road and Fishtrap, a fairly high number and fun to see.
>
> Interesting: no grebes or loons of any type observed. Guess they thought the lake would be frozen by now.
>
> Photos of the RB Merganser, Ferruginous Hawk, and Redpoll are on Flickr.
>
> Good birding,
> Jon Isacoff, Spokane
>
> Jonathan B. Isacoff
> Chair, Environmental Studies
> Associate Professor, Political Science
> Gonzaga University, Box 52
> Spokane, WA 99258-0052
> isacoff at gonzaga.edu