Hi Tweets,

Saturday 7 members of the Central Basin Audubon embarked on a field trip to
the Waterville Plateau and Northern Grant County areas.
All in all it was a very good day with 62 species and several highlights
recorded.
After a 5:00 AM departure our first stop was on the Waterville Plateau
where we observed 4 Greater Sage-Grouse on their lek. During the drive in
and out we also observed 2 other Greater Sage-Grouse which flushed from the
roadside.
In Bridgeport 20+ lingering Bohemian Waxwings were observed as was a single
Steller's Jay.
At Wells WMA (Bridgeport Bar) the group located 5 American Tree Sparrows
and a single American White Pelican.
Along Mathieson Road several flocks of Horned Larks included Snow Buntings.
Snow Buntings were also seen along SR-172, near the Mansfield Airfield, and
along Heritage Road.
The Mansfield Cemetery produced the customary pair of Great Horned Owls.
Also present was a Northern Goshawk which stooped at the owls, perched in a
grove of trees nearby, and then was driven off by mobbing ravens
At Heritage Road a single Long-eared Owl was located in the thicket a mile
off of SR-172.
At Lake Lenore a Peregrine Falcon offered everyone great views as it soared
above the lake and highway. Barrow's Goldeneye were plentiful on the lake,
and Chukar called from the hills until the Peregrine showed up, then the
fell silent.
a Prairie Falcon perched along SR-17 between Soap Lake and the junction of
SR-282 and offered great views.
A final stop at the north end of Moses Lake produced 72 Dunlin.

All in all a fine day

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
dschone8 at donobi.net