Birded Lincoln Co. for a few hours. Reardan had about 25 Tundra Swans and the usual assortment of ducks and geese. Next on to Mill Canyon. 2 subadult SURF SCOTERS persist from last week. While there a large flock of about 500 geese came in from over the bluff on the Stevens side, including about 5 CACKLING GEESE. Among the various Goldeneye were 2 female BARROW'S. The highlight bird was a PACIFIC LOON associating with 2 COMMON LOONS. Also seen were a nice pair of adult GOLDEN EAGLES, a couple of EVENING GROSBEAKS, and more RED CROSSBILLS than I've ever seen. There were 2 mega-flocks, one of about 120-150 and one of about 75, as well as several "normal" sized flocks. There were at least two types, the more common Ponderosa type and the type associated with Doug Fir that has a clickier flight call (forgot the numbers). A PRAIRIE FALCON was on Level Road a few miles North of Davenport.

Duck (Cormona) Lake west of Harrington was covered nearly top to bottom with estimated 10,000 geese, including at least 500 MINIMA CACKLING GEESE, the most I've ever seen in Eastern WA. There may well have been up to a1,000, it was impossible to count them mixed among the Canadas. Also with the flock were 55 SNOW GEESE and 1 ROSS'S GOOSE (highlight), and 2 TUNDRA SWANS. A male/female pair of PRAIRIE FALCONS were flying around and it was fun to see the very notable difference in size between them. Oh, and also were 3 late KILLDEER and 3 DUNLIN. And a SHRIKE. Duck Lake is a pretty birdy place for a small lake out in the middle of Sage and wheat fields.

With the addition of Ross' Goose, the Lincoln County (WA) year list is up to 240 species which is believed to be the all-time record. You can see the full updated list at:

http://www.spokaneaudubon.org/Default.aspx?pageId=880860

Good birding,
Jon Isacoff, Spokane