On a very cold (43-48 degrees), rainy, Saturday (6/09/12), I led a WOS Conference field trip with six intrepid participants (i.e. Tom Mansfield, Jim Danzenbaker, Blair Bernson, Knut Hansen, John Hebert, and David Batchelder) to southern Pend Oreille County. Despite the adverse conditions, we still managed to tally 123 species.

Some of the highlights included a SORA crossing the highway that cuts through Jared Marsh, a WESTERN KINGBIRD on the south end of Calispell Lake, a cooperative NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, two battling male AMERICAN REDSTARTs that appeared like two spinning tropical butterflies, and a PEREGRINE FALCON over Calispell Lake. ?We managed to see the full suite of P.O. County warblers, ten species of flycatchers (including a LEAST FLYCATCHER that Michael Hobbs group had found on the previous day), CASSINS' FINCH, and a RUFFED GROUSE. ?In the town of Cusick, we saw EVENING GROSBEAKs and a pair of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERs.

The best species of the field trip was undoubtedly BLACK SWIFT. On Westside Calispell Road, we stopped to find a singing WILSON'S WARBLER, and were soon gazing overhead at a flock of VAUX'S SWIFTs. ?Suddenly, there was cry of "Black Swift!", and we were treated to a spectacle of a mixed flock of feeding Vaux's and Black Swifts. At one point, a Vaux's Swift chased a Black Swift around.

On Sunday (6/10/12), Tom Mansfield, Jim Dazenbaker, and I shot down to Rosalia (Whitman County), and successfully twitched the obliging EASTERN PHOEBE. It was yet another cold, cloudy, windy day with temps in the 40's. ?En route to Steptoe Butte, we saw a GRAY PARTRIDGE just outside of Oaksdale. Near the summit of Steptoe Butte, there was a pair of BLACK-THROATED SPARROWs and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

On Tuesday (6/12/12), Jon Isacoff and I birded Mill Canyon in Lincoln County. Despite, cloudy conditions with light intermittent showers, bird activity was quite high. ?The canyon was full of CEDAR WAXWINGS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, VEERYs, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, PYGMY NUTHATCH, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, SPOTTED TOWHEES, CHIPPING SPARROWs, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, W. WOOD PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, N. FLICKERs, OSPREY, COOPER'S HAWK, LAZULI BUNTING, CASSIN'S FINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, YELLOW WARBLER, MaCGILLIVRAY'S WABLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, RUFFED GROUSE, ROCK WREN, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, WESTERN TANAGER, PINE SISKIN, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, and TURKEY VULTURE. There was even ?GOLDEN EAGLE carrying nesting material. However, we dipped on Pileated Woodpecker, which was one of our ?primary target birds

With low cloud deck intact, we decided that weather conditions could be optimal for re-finding Black Swift at Avista Park/Long Lake Dam. Terry Little's field trip had reported seeing Black Swift there several days ago.?

?As we drove over the causeway across Audubon Lake at Reardan, we flushed a VIRGINIA RAIL. Our next stop at the Long Lake Dam Overlook failed to produce any swift activity. Next, we parked ourselves in Avista Park, sat on the ground, and scanned the leaden skies with or bins. After a few minutes, we began seeing WHITE-THROATED SWIFTs. Later, a lone VAUX'S SWIFT joined the mix of WT Swifts and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs. Finally, I picked up a BLACK SWIFT high up on the Lincoln County side of the river and we watched it track over to the Stevens County side. After watching the Black Swift for over five minutes, a second Black Swift briefly joined it. ?There was burst of excitement when a White-throated Swift dived after on the Black Swifts.

Our final stop of the day was on the West Plains of Spokane County. After dipping on Stroup Road, we picked up a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on the Chase Road/Ladd Road site. This Clay-colored Sparrow landed on a fence line only about five meters away from us. It was great way to end up a fine day of birding.

Yours in Spokane,

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA