Subject: [Tweeters] Pend Oreille Co. Thayer's Gull
Date: Feb 7 19:56:58 2012
From: Jonathan B. Isacoff - isacoff at gonzaga.edu



> Today, Gina Sheridan, my parents visiting from NY, and I ventured up to Southern PO County to see if we could relocate the great gulls reported by Terry Little last week. We dipped on the Herring and Glaucous and we found only 1 gull all day but it was a good one: an adult THAYER'S GULL. The Gull was on the bank of the river observed from the North end of Calispell HQ Dike Road. Also along that road was a tremendous flock of 200-300 COMMON REDPOLLS. Interestingly, the flock left the typical habitat in the brushy area and trees near the road and flew to feed in an open long-grass field. One particular bird came in to the iPod for point blank looks at less than 10 feet but we were frustrated as the rest of the huge flock disappeared into the long grass, making it impossible for us to scope for a Hoary. There was another curious REDPOLL along River Road between Cusick and Usk as well as a small flock at the Manressa Grotto Boat Launch. Along River Road were a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and 2 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES. A 3rd Collared Dove was on a wire near Cusick High School. They have obviously taken up residence in the area. As Terry reported last week, there were an uncountable number of waterfowl on the river: hard to say but somewhere between 10,000 and 50,000. We easily relocated the 2 TRUMPETER SWANS with Tundras near Cusick. Temperatures reached a balmy 38 degrees and visibility was nearly infinite.
>
> Good birding, Jon
>
> Jonathan B. Isacoff
> Chair, Environmental Studies
> Associate Professor, Political Science
> Gonzaga University, Box 52
> Spokane, WA 99258-0052
> isacoff at gonzaga.edu