Hi Tweets,

Saturday I led a WOS field trip to areas of Douglas and Grant Counties.

Nine participants enjoyed the best that the Columbia Basin has to offer in
weather and birds for late March.

The following highlights were enjoyed by the entire group.

Burrowing Owls - a pair on a nest burrow along SR-17 between the junction of
SR-282 and SR-28

Long-billed Curlew - Up to six individuals along SR-17 just south of Soap
Lake

Say's Phoebe - Plentiful and observed in many locations

Sage Thrasher - An early arriving single bird located on the Waterville
Plateau near the sage grouse lek

Greater Sage-Grouse - At least 6 birds observed on and near the Leahy
Junction lek.

Prairie Falcon - At least 4 different birds scattered across the Waterville
Plateau

Short-eared Owl - A nice specimen observed at the traditional Long-eared Owl
spot along Heritage Road.

Northern Shrike - A very nice adult bird along Heritage Road

Steller's Jay - A lost bird located in downtown Mansfield

Great Horned Owl - Mansfield Cemetery

Redhead (m), Canvasback (m & f), and Tundra Swan - small pond along SR-174
in Douglas County

Tree Swallow - A pair researching old bluebird boxes for nesting
possibilities at the same pond.

Turkey Vulture - A nice study in flight as the bird soared over us along
SR-155 at close range

Bald Eagle - Observed in several locations

Golden Eagle - Single bird soaring over the cliffs above Blue Lake

Chukar - West of Lake Lenore along SR-17. Offering far but good views

The following birds were located by some of the group.

White-throated Swift - Early arrivals at the Dry Falls Overview and North
Dam Rest Area at Grand Coulee

'Slate-colored' Junco - A single bird located in downtown Mansfield

Snow Bunting - Flushed from the side of the road along SR-172 just east of
Mansfield

Cliff Swallow - Several birds soaring above the North Dam Rest Area at Grand
Coulee

A great trip with many nice birds and really great company to share them
with.

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
dschone8 at donobi.net