Tweeters,

Despite a bitterly cold day (single digits to a high of about 15 F)
and varying amount of wind throughout the day we had a good count with
above average number of species, below average number of individuals,
some astounding owl counts, and a new species for the count. The owl
counts were *37* Barn Owls and *18* Long-eared Owls - both new highs
for the count. Kas Dumroese's group alone had 28 Barn Owls - found by
checking every little pine stand and barn that they could get access
to. Who knows how many Barn Owls are really in the area. Most of the
spots they checked had multiple owls in them. The Long-eared Owls were
in 2 different roosts - on the Moscow side (the "Lenville thicket")
and on the Pullman side (not sure where this one is). Kas also found
the new species for the count - a Marsh Wren - at the Moscow Sewage
Plant - possibly/probably(?) the same bird I first found there back in
October - what is it surviving on!? Our compiler Dave Hollick will
send the results out in a few weeks and I'll try to post them on the
web.

Other good birds include:

Green-winged Teal 3
American Wigeon 1
Northern Pintail (count-week) also new for the count
Bald Eagle (1 adult)
Merlin 2
R.N. Pheasant and C. Quail - very high counts probably for both
Barn Owl - *38*
Long-eared Owl - *18*
Belted Kingfisher 1
Marsh Wren
American Dipper - 1 at the Pullman Sewage Plant
Hermit Thrush
American Tree Sparrow 2 in different locations
Red-winged Blackbird - count-week

Tentative species count: 61 (all-time high is 65)

Misses:

Western Screech-Owl - tough but should be around
Blue Jay - gotta be 1 around town somewhere!
Red Crossbill - erratic
Evening Grosbeak - erratic

Thanks,
Charles.




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Charles E. Swift
charless at umich.edu
Moscow, Idaho
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