Looking for Bluebirds and Phoebes around Sprague today I found neither. But, in the flooded fields behind the Sewage Lagoons were 1 adult YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (about 3 weeks early locally) and 4 or 5 male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. Several years ago MaryFrances Mathis found Tricolored's in nearby flooded fields in the same weather and water conditions, makes one wonder if there is a nearby colony, or if they drift over from Texas Lake?

Among the 300 or so Ring-billed Gulls getting ready to nest on Harker Island (Adams side of Sprague Lake) was a MEW GULL. Other birds included a 1st year FERRUGINOUS HAWK by the Adams boat launch working the phone poles - definitely a different bird from the one that's been hanging out in the same area the past 2 winters. Many Canvasbacks and thousands of Lesser Scaup all about the lake, which is 100% ice-free. Photos of the blackbirds and Mew Gull posted on Flickr.

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