FULL: Southern Pend Oreille County with Jon Isacoff

When:
June 5, 2021 @ 6:00 am – 4:00 pm
2021-06-05T06:00:00-07:00
2021-06-05T16:00:00-07:00
Contact:
Jon Isacoff

Meet at Yokes Parking lot in Mead, Washington at 6 am. Trip is limited to 12 vaccinated participants and is now full.

From Mead, we will drive approximately 45 minutes to famous Calispell Lake, the top eBird hotspot in Northeastern WA. This shallow lake is encircled by 10 miles of excellent birdable roads, which can produce over 90 species in a morning under ideal conditions. An incredible 17 species of ducks breed at Calispell Lake as well as all nine of the regular Eastern WA breeding warblers. Specialty birds found at Calispell Lake include: Black Swift (rare), Black Tern, American Bittern, Least Flycatcher, Bobolink, Northern Waterthrush, and American Redstart. Washington’s 12th record of Eastern Phoebe was recorded at Calispell Lake in 2013.

From Calispell lake, we will proceed a short distance to Cusick Wetlands, Kalispell Reservation Dike Road, and Flying Goose Ranch, covering both banks of the Pend Oreille River. These are great spots to pick up any breeding specialties missed at Calispell Lake and to look for surprises. Though not to be expected, various rarities have shown up at these locations in the past, including Black Swift, Sabine’s Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Washington’s 5th record of Alder Flycatcher in 2018. The Kalispell Reservation is also the only regular breeding location for Lewis’s Woodpecker in Pend Oreille County.

Participants should be prepared with a full tank of gas, lunch, water and snacks. Also check the forecast and dress accordingly; the weather can be highly variable in this area, even in June, ranging from sunny and high 70s to snow/hail showers and 30s. A scope is highly recommended if available. We will follow CDC Phase 3 regulations, which include masks required indoors and in cars, windows cracked, and 6’ distance in other conditions. 

For questions or to sign up, please contact Jon Isacoff at isacoff@gonzaga.edu.

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