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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Trained ears, eyes find numerous bird species at Mount Spokane


A turkey vulture perches beside the Willamette River near Eugene, Ore., in early April. Volunteers have monitored the river for years.
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
A turkey vulture perches beside the Willamette River near Eugene, Ore., in early April. Volunteers have monitored the river for years. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Tim O'Brien of Cheney devoted this morning to a hiking and driving birding forayMount Spokane. While we all enjoy seeing and hearing birds when we head to the state park, it's fascinating to see the detail and diversity trained eyes and ears pick out of the forest and meadows.

Read on for Tim's report and list of species he observed.
Today, I hiked a few trails in Mt.Spokane State Park.  I started up Trail 115 from Bear Creek Lodge and then traversed over and down Trail 110.  A great day to be out there and the birds didn't disappoint. 
 
I mainly went up there to try to find Warren Walker's Barred Owl and any unusual woodpeckers.  I didn't find the Barred Owl, but I did find Warren and Kiyomi!  They were a great help in pointing me in the right direction.  Thanks you two!
 
Here's a list from eBird of what I saw/heard on my hike:

Location: Mt. Spokane SP
Observation date: 6/6/11
Number of species: 29

Ruffed Grouse    
Turkey Vulture    
Red-naped Sapsucker    
Hairy Woodpecker    
Western Wood-Pewee    
Hammond's Flycatcher    
Cassin's Vireo    
Warbling Vireo    
Gray Jay    
Common Raven    
Black-capped Chickadee    
Chestnut-backed Chickadee    
Red-breasted Nuthatch    
Pacific Wren    
Golden-crowned Kinglet    
Swainson's Thrush    
American Robin    
Varied Thrush    
Orange-crowned Warbler    
Yellow-rumped Warbler    
Townsend's Warbler    
MacGillivray's Warbler    
Song Sparrow    
Dark-eyed Junco    
Western Tanager    
Black-headed Grosbeak    
Red Crossbill    
Pine Siskin    
Evening Grosbeak    
 
I then drove around the ski resort area and parked for lunch at the parking lot by the Summit Road gate (which is closed).  While there, I heard an unusual bird calling and finally figured it out when one came into visual that it was a Pine Grosbeak.  There were at least two up there today.  Odd time of the year for them I guess based on eBird.
 
Here's my list from the ski resort area:
 
Location: Mt. Spokane SP-Ski Resort
Observation date: 6/6/11
Number of species: 15

Vaux's Swift    
Black-chinned Hummingbird    
Rufous Hummingbird    
Red-naped Sapsucker    
Olive-sided Flycatcher    
Steller's Jay    
Common Raven    
Violet-green Swallow    
Ruby-crowned Kinglet    
American Robin    
Varied Thrush    
Yellow-rumped Warbler    
Townsend's Warbler    
Dark-eyed Junco    
Pine Grosbeak    
 
Good birding!
 
Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA


Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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