On November 1st, a Spokane Audubon field trip
journeyed out into the Columbian Basin. Temperatures
ranged from the teens to near 40 degrees with a thin
overcast.

We ended the day with 71 species which included some
sought after winter visitors. Despite the cold
weather, most of the lakes were free of ice.

Some of our trip highlights included Tundra Swans on
Reardan Marsh, Brook's Lake, and Lake Lenore; Winter
Wren in Davenport Cemetery, four Northern Shrikes
scattered along the route in both Lincoln & Grant
Counties; Peregrine Falcon west of Wilson Creek;
Merlin in Soap Lake; classic looking light phase
Rough-Legged Hawk west of Odessa; Dunlin around Soap
Lake (East Beach) & along Lake Lenore; Long-Billed
Dowitchers along Lake Lenore; Barrow's Goldeneye on
Lake Lenore & the marina in Coulee City; Eared &
Horned Grebes on Soap Lake & Coulee City; a
cooperative Canyon Wren worked the basaltic roadside
cliffs north of Soap Lake; a Bald Eagle & Bonaparte's
Gulls on Sun Lake; SNOW BUNTINGS on the grassy plateau
on Hwy 28 south of Harrington; 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
on Sun Lake before you reach the campground; and
Wilson's Snipe Virginia Rail (heard), and 2 AMERICAN
TREE SPARROWS on Dry Falls Lake. Good numbers of
American Kestrel and Red-Tailed Hawk were noted too.

Aside from the nice views of the White-Winged Scoters,
the group really enjoyed crippling views of the Tree
Sparrow as it fed in the gravel parking lot of Dry
Falls Lake. The Tree Sparrow appeared to be cloaked in
a fluffy, buff colored coat that draped over its
predominantly gray undersides. Of course, the black
stick pin on its breast and the reddish cap helped to
complete this elegant looking sparrow's ensemble.

The only mammal sighting of the day was a rather
remarkable one. As we were watching the Bald Eagle
perched a on butte across Sun Lake, a BOBCAT strolled
out of the Water Birches and crossed the road.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA



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