5 folks ventured out with Randy and me to find boreal species in the very northeast of Washington State. Here is what we found.
Sep 24: Portland to Spokane
3 Common Terns on the Columbia River at Riverfront Park in The Dalles (OR), but very close to the Klickitat Co border. McNary WA (also on the Oregon side) yielded the expected Black-crowned Night-herons, but was overall pretty slow. In Washtucna we found Red-necked Phalarope at the STP, Hammond's FC, Western Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, 3 Barn Owls and a yellowish unid'ed vireo that got away (hmmm ...). When we got to Sprague Lake, the lighting was poor and it was windy, both expected: White Pelican were in both counties there, a close-up Wilson's Snipe and American Pipit at a seep were fun.
Sep 25: Along the Pend Oreille River, Bunchgrass Meadows
On this mostly rainy and cold day we birded with Terry Little. This is always so much fun!!! Terry is always a fountain of boundless knowledge! Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow at the north end of Dike Rd on the east side of the Pend Oreille River were great, a few noisy Evening Grosbeaks were calling in the back there as well. 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Merlin and several Mountain Bluebirds were at Riverbend. The weather was bad uphill, but we nevertheless saw a Dusky Grouse (!) and several Canada Jays in the soupy fog at Bunchgrass Meadows. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was calling.
Sep 26: Bunchgrass Meadows to Mt. Salmo
The weather had greatly improved overnight, so we went up (by now) sunny Bunchgrass Meadows. We found 5 Boreal Chickadee right at the pass. The drive down "only" yielded a Ruffed Grouse and a small unid'ed grouse, probably Spruce. Dipper, Peregrine Falcon and Horned Grebe were at the south end of Sullivan Lake near the Noisy Creek CG. A couple of Green Commas warming themselves up in the sun there as well. Mt. Salmo was super quiet, we were surprised by the many paintbrushes (sp?) and Pearly Everlasting still going strong. Near the top of Mt. Salmo was a male Spruce Grouse at sunset and we got drive away looks. Just when we were about to start calling for Boreal Owl, the weather unexpectedly deteriorated and it was sleeting hard. We had no luck with the owl at the about 6 stops we made.
Sep 27: Mt. Spokane, Potholes SP
We starting the morning at Selkirk Lodge at Mt. Spokane where we found many Red and 4 White-winged Crossbills (including 2 juveniles). Also a pair of Cassin's Finches and many Pine Siskin there. What a great view we had from the top on this sunny morning! 29 Horned Larks, American Pipits and Mountain Bluebirds at the summit. At Lind Coulee the only shorebird was Long-billed Dowitcher (apart from Killdeer), but over 500 Sandhill Crane were swirling overhead, but also landing.
At Potholes SP we found 2 immature Sabine's and 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, Eared Grebe, 2 Clark's Greb and many Ruddy Duck. 4 sterna terns were roosting on rocks far out from the Potholes Dam; we confirmed carpal bars only on one. So, one Common Tern for sure. We suspect the others were as well.
Fun trip, great company and amazing birds! At this time of the year you are always teetering on the edge of unbirdeable weather and nothing is guaranteed.
Stefan Schlick
Randy Hill
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