Hello,

On Friday, I enjoyed spending the day in northern Pend Oreille County with
Tom Mansfield, Ken and Fanter Lane. My primary purpose was to scout Mt
Salmo and Harvey Creek Rd for an upcoming WOS field trip in two weeks. It
tuned out to be a great day.

We began the morning at Sullivan Lake which was not very birdy: Hooded and
Common Mergansers, a Red necked and a Horned Grebe. Making our way up
Sullivan Creek, we found an American Dipper and many Varied Thruhes, Gypsy
Meadows hosted the typical Chestnut backed Chickadees, Golden crowned and
Ruby crowned Kinglets along with large flocks of Pine Siskins and Red
Crossbills.

At Salmo Pass, we added an AMERICAN THREE TOED WOODPECKER and our first
PINE GROSBEAK. On spur 270 we had Gray and Steller's Jays, more Red
Crossbills, Mountain Bluebirds, and Savannah Sparrows -- a little strange
seeing Savannah's Sparrows sitting in Spruce Trees at 6,200. There was
another PINE GROSBEAK waiting for us near the summit.

After missing one of our target species, the Boreal Chickadee (which I have
seen four times this year on Salmo), we decided at noon to make a quick
trip to Bunchgrass Meadows. It was a productive side trip. At the pass
(about mp 10), we quickly found 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES. Soon after, we found
at least four more. Heading back down Harvey Creek road, Tom saw a grouse
quickly cross the road. Making our way to the spot, we quickly found THREE
SPRUCE GROUSE right next to the car, a hen with two young males. Spruce
Grouse are never easy (at least for me) and always fun. Back in the car and
heading down Harvey Crreek Rd, and still enjoying the encounter with the
grouse, Fanter's sharp eye soon finds another SPRUCE GROUSE on the edge of
the road right in front of us. Tom and Fanter get out to take some
pictures, only to have the bird walk nearly right up to them. This
beautiful male Sprucie finally made its way off into the bushes, so I got
out for a better look. After a few minutes I lost the location of the
grouse, only to have it reappear right at my feet on the road. Yes, I
really love Spruce Grouse.

Making our way back to Salmo for some late afternoon and evening birding,
we soon found another gorgeous singing male PINE GROSBEAK. We also did
finally find a couple of BOREAL CHICKADEES up the 270 summit road. Right at
dusk, we found a late Hermit Thrush that picked at bugs in our headlights.
After dark, had responses from at least three BOREAL OWLS. What made the
night particularly entertaining was that we had a N Saw Whet Owl (maybe 2)
respond with the Boreals which really seemed to upset the Boreals, making
them very vocal.

This morning at Eloika Lake, back in Spokane County, with one those mixed
fall flocks that are fun to run into, I found a tan striped WHITE THROATED
SPARROW. Evening Grosbeaks were present as well.

Blessings
Terry Little
Mead, Wa