Hi Tweets,

Yesterday 14 birders participated in a Central Basin Audubon field trip to
Douglas County and Northrup Canyon.
Foggy weather early hampered efforts, but eventually the weather cleared
while we birded the Waterville Plateau.
Several highlights were noted during our trip. Our first highlight was a
very aggressive Cooper's Hawk in Soap Lake. This bird was chasing harassing
Black-billed Magpies which scattered in fear.
Our next highlight was a very obliging Golden Eagle perched on a power
pole near Alkali Lake along SR-17. The mate of this bird perched on the
bluffs on the other side of the highway.
Our most notable sighting Occurred on the Waterville Plateau. Large flocks
of Snow Buntings were found on Heritage Road near Atkins Lake, and later
along Road L NE near the intersection of SR-172. These flocks numbered in
the hundreds, with the first flock estimated at 250 and the second at over
300. Also sighted were several small groups of Snow Buntings mixed in with
Horned Larks.
Also observed near the intersection of Road L and SR-172 was an adult
Prairie Falcon perched on a large basalt outcrop.
A over-wintering Western Grebe was observed from the North Dam Rest Area
on Banks Lake.
Bald Eagle numbers were quite low, but this was expected as Banks Lake is
almost completely frozen. A total of three adults and three immatures were
observed, with one unidentified as to age. In addition to the Bald Eagles,
two more Golden eagles perched on trees on the rim of Northrup Canyon.
Northern Shrikes were observed scattered along the entire route, with most
being adults.
As we headed home, a Great Horned Owl perched in a tree along SR-155 at
dusk. A nice end to a good day.
All together 49 species were observed with a far flying woodpecker
unidentified, either a Downy or a Hairy.

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
dschon8 at donobi.net