Subject: Grant and Douglas County birding
Date: Feb 29 12:05:55 2004
From: Hill - hill at cbnn.net


Took a leisurely trip through portions of Grant (SR 17) and Douglas Counties yesterday to give a few friends and introductory tour of wintering species. We followed SR 17 up to US 2, west past Atkins Lake to Heritage (Woods = L NE) Road, then north to SR 172, west to Mansfield, then north to the Foster Creek area and up to Bridgeport Bar, and finished off at the Leahy Junction area off SR 17. Sunshine filled the day, and some gravel roads were a little soft with frost and snow melt. A few highlights are listed below.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK- A juvenile was seen several times north of Leahy Junction (Leahy Cutoff Road) driving to the sage grouse lek. It perched on rocky points typical of gyrfalcon behavior.

GOLDEN EAGLE- A pair was perched high above Blue Lake, west of SR 17 where they will likely nest.

PRAIRIE FALCON- Three individuals seen: on cliffs east of Lake Lenore, along US 2 near Atkins Lake, and along SR 172 west of Mansfield.

LONG-EARED OWL- A pair has returned to a traditional Heritage Road wooded area about a mile south of SR 172. From my experience this location is subject to abandonment due to harassment, so please consider this before trying to get a second, third, or fourth look if a bird flushes.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING- A flock (total more than 100) perched in poplars along Bridgeport Hill Road just south of SR 17. They appeared to be coming from an apple orchard to the north and headed south up the canyon in small transient groups.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW- A few seen briefly at the Foster Creek Unit (sharp-tailed grouse area) along Bridgeport Hill Road. A flock of up to a dozen was in a wooded area around a small pond where Moe Road is close to the river. There were Pacific tree frogs calling there also.

SNOW BUNTING- Only two flocks (total about 50) about 500 yards apart along SR 172 east of Mansfield near the crest of the hill (Yeager Rock area in DeLorme). One flock was perched on power lines when first seen.

Central Basin Audubon Society has a field trip on Saturday that will visit several of these areas. It leaves pretty early (before 5:30 AM) from Moses Lake. Call Doug Schonewald at 766-0056 after 6:00 PM by 3/3 for details and to reserve a space.

Randy Hill
Othello