Hello.

Thirteen hardly souls participated in the WOS Field Trip to Pend Oreille
County. We were greeted with 20 degree temps as we headed up Harvey Creek
Rd early Friday morning. Birding was slow in the early morning, but we did
manage a couple of nice sightings of N Pygmy Owls, one very cooperative. As
the day began to warm, the birding did as well. Varied Thrush, Red
Crossbills, and Steller's Jays and other expected species began to appear.
The best birds found in the Bunchgrass Meadows area were the nine BOREAL
CHiCKADEES that provided wonderful views and were lifers for many. We also
had three AMERICAN THREE TOED WOODPECKERS, one that seemed to want to steal
the spotlight from the chickadees.

At about noon, we made our way to Sullivan Lake where we found 3 American
Dippers in Harvey Creek and Common Mergansers, Bald Eagle, Pied billed and
Red necked Grebe. Along Sullivan Creek, we found more Varied Thrush,
Swainson's Thrush, and a Ruffed Grouse.

We spent Friday afternoon birding the summit region of Mt Salmo. Again, the
mountain birding turned slow, but we were able to locate another pair of
BOREAL CHICKADEES right at the pass. FS Rd 270 to the summit hosted a
GOLDEN CROWNED SPARROW, 2 PINE GROSBEAKS, GRAY JAYS, and a beautiful male
DUSKY GROUSE that allowed many photo ops and close up views by everyone.
After dark, we were treated to a heard only response from one BOREAL OWL.

On Saturday, we began our day at Eloka Lake in Spokane County. We found two
Long billed Dowitchers feeding on an island. Other species seen were Wood
Ducks, Bald Eagles, Double crested Cormorant, Red Crossbills, Evening
Grosbeaks, and a MERLIN being chased by a Red tailed hawk.

We traveled back into Pend Oreille County and made a quick inspection of
the Allen Kirkpatrick Rd loop. finding California Quail, Western Bluebirds,
Savannah and White crowned Sparrows.

Our next stop was at Calispell Lake. Calispell Creek was quiet, but we did
find a Sharp shinned Hawk and a Belted Kingfisher. Not too much on the lake
itself, but the Ponderosa Pine forest on the north side of the lake was
pretty good. We all enjoyed having Red breasted, White breasted and Pygmy
Nuthatches and Black capped and Mountain Chickadees all in the same tree at
once. Brown Creepers were nearby as well. White breasted and Pygmys are not
common in Pend Oreille.

At McKenzie Slough, we found a flock of 12 Long billed Dowitchers. AMERICAN
PIPITS flew overhead.

Crossing the Pend Oreille River, we birded the Kalispell Indian
Reservation. Birding again was slow, but the scenery along the river was so
beautiful and the weather so nice, no one seemed to mind. We found more
AMERICAN PIPITS, a Bald Eagle, and a Western Grebe. Riverbend added more
Long billed Dowitchers and Pectoral Sandpipers to the list.

It was two fun days f birding and an opportunity to meet some new birding
friends.

Terry Little
Mead, Wa