Subject: Waterville Plateau on January 12
Date: Jan 20 19:41:23 1997
From: steppie at wolfenet.com - steppie at wolfenet.com


Arctic cold with temperatures close to zero F and a norterly breeze were
with Ike Eisenhart and myself all day on the Waterville Plateau in Douglas
County. Not only was it cold, but the awesome snowstorms which began in late
November and continuing through the New Years had left the entire region
buried deep in the white stuff. The snowpack was close to three feet deep,
and even deeper where drifted.

Bird numbers and diversity, as expected, were lower than usual. On the
plateau itself, the paucity of Horned Larks was notable. A day afield on the
plateau in January usually sees thousands of larks about - today there were
less than 200! I attribute this to the extreme snowpack, which has rendered
the entire plateau a sea of snow, with only rare patches of tall grass or
wheat sticking above the crusty surface. Also, the "Snowbirds" which are
usually fairly common in winter here were also virtually absent - we noted
but two Snow Buntings which flushed from steep, rocky shoulders of Hwy 2
east of Moses Coulee.

Raptors definitely stole the show today. Our first raptor on the plateau was
an immature Northern Goshawk seen dashing low over the snow, then alighting
on a fence post, affording a good view. Rough-legged Hawks were the most
numerous raptor present, as expected, but in fewer numbers than usual(6).
Two adult Golden Eagles were seen near a deer carcass in Moses Coulee; these
were a magnificent sight to watch as they sailed along the vertical basalt
walls of the coulee set against a brilliant blue arctic sky.

In the northwestern sector of the plateau - west of Mansfield - were two
dark brown, heavily streaked immature Gyrfalcons. These birds appeared
slightly different and were noted seven miles apart. The possibility only
one bird was present cannot be discounted, given the powers of flight
Gyrfalcons are famous for.

I suspect both birds were in areas where Gray Partridges were a likely prey
item for these grand raptors. Indeed, it seems plausible a simple (and
man-made) food chain has been created on the Waterville Plateau for Gyrs:
wheat or crested wheatgrass provides sustenance for partridge or quail,
which in turn are taken by Gyrfalcons. Another item probably taken might be
Rock Doves, again the two grasses mentioned form the basis for another
simple chain. Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse, though still present as relict
populations, may only be minor components of the falcons (and other raptors)
diets, due to their tiny numbers.

One Prairie Falcon was seen, a little unexpected, given the severity of the
conditions. I couldn't imagine the handful of larks on the plateau would be
enough to support this falcon.

A new area we explored was Dezelman Road which ascends to the plateau from
the western outskirts of Bridgeport. This riparian flanked creek climbs very
steeply to the Waterville Plateau. The riparian vegetation is evidently
varied, with abundant water birch and various fruiting shrubs. Here and
there were small groves of ponderosa pine. Nine Pine Grosbeaks were the
highlight here, always an exciting bird in Washington. Two Sharp-shinned and
one Cooper's Hawk were seen here. Also noteworthy was a lone Clark's
Nutcracker and several Pygmy Nuthatches. Oddly absent in these pines were
Mountain Chickadee and Red-breasted Nuthatches. A paucity of seeds in the
pines might account for their absence.Mountain Chickadees, nuthatches and
Clark's Nutcrackers have all staged an exodus away from the mountains in the
late summer and fall of 1996 along the eastern slopes of the Cascade
Mountains. The lone Mountain Chickadee observed today was in the Lamoine
Road pine grove northwest of Withrow, an introduced row of pines on the plateau.

Mallard -2, West Foster Creek
Sharp-shinned Hawk-2, Dezelman Rd.
Cooper's Hawk-1, Dezelman Rd.
Northern Goshawk-1, plateau
Red-tailed Hawk-2, one on West Foster Crrek, one on Dezelman Rd.
Rough-legged Hawk-6, plateau only
Golden Eagle-2, Moses Coulee
Gyrfalcon-2, one on outskirts of Mansfield, one 7 miles west of town
Prairie Falcon-1, east of Mansfield
Gray Partridge-8 at Withrow grain tower, seven in yard plantings
Ring-necked Pheasant-1, West Foster Creek
California Quail-25 in Withrow, 85 on Dezelman Rd.
Rock Dove-60, plateau
Mourning Dove-2, yard, feeder?
Great Horned Owl-3, West Foster Creek
Downy Woodpecker-1, West Foster Creek
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker-2, Dezelman Rd.
Horned Lark-180+ Plateau only - very low numbers.
Steller's Jay-2, Dezelman Rd.
Clark's Nutcracker-1, Dezelman Rd.
Black-billed Magpie-11, six on plateau, five on Dezelman Rd.
Common Raven-25, plateau only
Black-capped Chickadee-4, Dezelman Rd.
Mountain Chickadee-1, Lamoine Rd pine grove
Pygmy Nuthatch-2, Dezelman Rd.
Northern Shrike-2, one each on plateau and West Foster Creek
European Starling-25, 20 on plateau, five on Dezelman Rd.
[Am. Tree Sparrow-2], found by Steve Pink and Jim Flynn on West Foster Creek
same day
Song Sparrow-2, Dezelman Rd.
White-crowned Sparrow-2, Dezelman Rd.
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco-15, five on plateau, 10 on Dezelman Rd.
Snow Bunting-2, plateau
Pine Grosbeak-9, Dezelman Rd.
House Finch-30, feeders on Dezelman Rd.
House Sparrow-200+ Plateau grain elevators and towns

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA