Subject: Birding the Palouse
Date: May 2 13:58:21 1999
From: Larry & Jacque Goodhew - lgoodhew at clearwater.net


We spent a wet, cold day birding the back roads of the Palouse from
Spokane to Walla Walla. Near Phileo Lake in Spokane County, DeLorme
page 73, A5, we found over 200 AMERICAN PIPITS, on the lake were at
least 16 WHITE PELICANS, and several Double-crested Cormorants and
many American Coots. In a small pond just north of the lake all three
species of Teal were present, Cinnamon, Blue-winged and Green-winged.
Just south of the lake 2 Gray Partridge ran across the road.
Always a great treat to see Gray Partridge.
At Kahlotus Lake, DeLorme page 54, C4, it was mostly Coots. Saw
one Lesser Scaup, one Canvasback, two Gadwal and a pair of Cinnamon
Teal. There were also hundreds of Cliff Swallows flying over the
lake. And our first Western Kingbird was found at the west end of the
lake. We saw another in northern Walla Walla County.
There was a Common Loon at the upper end of Lower Monumental Dam,
hope it doesn't get sucked down the turbine!
The hawk count seemed down, 2 Osprey, about 10 or 12 Red-tailed
Hawks, 2 Northern Harriers and a number of American Kestrel.
Blackbirds seemed in fair numbers, most Yellow-heads were in
bunchs rather than on territory. It seems migration is just a bit
late. White-crowned Sparrows are in large number all through the
area. We saw one Spotted Towhee, but no Warblers or other sparrows.
Saw 3 Killdeer, a few Mourning Doves and 3 Say's Phoebes.
Larry & Jacque Goodhew from Walla Walla