Yesterday Kevin Black, Harold and Karen Cottet, Gina Sheridan, and for a time Greg Falco, (and I) birded Bassett Park. Empids. in force; Warblers and Sparrows low volume high quality. To cut to the chase: highlights were:

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH - expertly spotted high up by Kevin
AMERICAN REDSTART - subadult male
RED-EYED VIREO - possibly two birds
LEAST FLYCATCHER - possibly two, one adult and one first-fall

There were many dozens of empids. and pewees flycatching. I could only ID about half, but at least one or more of all six WA empids. were confirmed - Willow, Least, Hammond's, Dusky, Gray, Pac-slope, as well as Pewee (abundant), several Olive-sided's, and a couple of Phoebe's, making for a 9-flycatcher day, 3-vireo day. Other Warblers included Yellow, Wilson's, and MacGillvray's. I think Greg had some Yellow-rumped's before the rest of us arrived. Just one Lincoln's Sparrow and a very skulky GRAY CATBIRD that Gina was able to see fly. No mega-rarities but hey, that's why they're mega. Still very satisfying day out.

Good birding,
Jon Isacoff, Spokane