Earlier this week observed on Northern Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal (male) at Colville STP. Bird is size/shape of Shover with a bold white crescent on cheek typical of BW Teal. The body is nearly uniformly rufous, lacking white breast and gray back of Shoveler. Neat bird!

Today had a lovely morning birding Calispell Lake with Blair Bernson and George Pagos. Due a late start and limited time, we netted "only" 75 species, focusing on local specialities. Highlights including "crippling" views of NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH singing persistently on a stump; AMERICAN REDSTART at several locations, and RED-EYED VIREOS everywhere (well about 6 or 7 singing birds), including one bird that posed for photos on a snag. Also had fantastic looks at a number of Sapsuckers, 3 Hummingbirds species, Catbirds, Flycatchers (Pewee, Hammond's, Dusky, Willow, Eastern Kingbird), and drop dead views of Bobolinks. Loudly singing Virginia Rails and Soras, many Black Terns about. No mega-rarities but fantastic viewing of high quality breeding birds.

Good birding,
Jon Isacoff, Spokane

Jonathan B. Isacoff
Chair, Environmental Studies
Associate Professor, Political Science
Gonzaga University, Box 52
Spokane, WA 99258-0052
isacoff at gonzaga.edu