After finding the SWAMP SPARROW in Moscow, birding was again superb at Mann
Lake east of Lewiston, this morning. I had several encounters with the
PALM WARBLER, ranging from the area before the settling ponds to well
beyond the model airplane area. It is usually near the Yellow-rumped
flock, but sometimes off by itself nearby. It forages low, very often on
the ground, and it really seems to like the areas of dense short (~1 foot)
willow saplings close to the lake shore. The DUSKY FLYCATCHER continues,
but still being very inconspicuous and difficult to see. I had at least
one SWAMP SPARROW, an American Tree Sparrow, an extremely late SAVANNAH
SPARROW, one DUNLIN, and a Peregrine Falcon. I finally tore myself away
from all those great birds, but as I pulled out of Mann Lake onto the
entrance road, a flock of juncos with one obvious sparrow flew across the
road in front of me. I stopped to investigate and immediately saw a nice
HARRIS’S SPARROW.

New and somewhat better photos of the Palm Warbler and some of the other
rarities are in my eBird checklist (
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40864407).

Hell’s Gate State Park had lots of birds but I didn’t see the Mockingbird
or anything particularly unusual.

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID