Despite having some misgivings about slow birding
conditions, I decided to try a bit of afternoon
birding in northeastern Lincoln County. Joyce Alonso
joined me on this small venture.

When we began birded in Spring Creek Canyon (north of
Reardan), we were initially greeted by complete
silence and zero birds. As we patiently walked through
the canyon and gave Pygmy owl calls, we began to
wonder if there were any birds present. Finally, a
Song Sparrow popped up and a small flock of Red
Crossbills flew over. A CLARK'S NUTCRACKER flew up on
the ridgeline and then silently retreated.

Suddenly, we seemed to be inundated by flying WILD
TURKEYs (Lincoln Co. lifer for me). We saw at least
twenty turkeys in this canyon.

A large lone accipitor loomed overhead. The immature
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Lincoln Co. lifer) disappeared as
quickly as it had arrived.

As were probed a bit eastward along the muddy Spring
Creek Grange Road, we crested a large hill and noted a
small cemetery that was lined with large Blue Spruce
trees all along it's perimeter. Since the road became
impassable up ahead, we turned around and headed back
down the hill. Joyce spotted a dead bird in the field
and asked me to stop. As we examined the dead bird, we
were quite surprised to see that it was a LONG-EARED
OWL. The owl had neck and back damage that seemed to
indicate that a Great Horned Owl had recently killed
it.

After we decided to look for more owls in the
cemetery, we saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE singing from the
top of the tallest tree in the cemetery. MOUNTAIN
CHICKADEEs, RB NUTHATCHES, and Juncos were active in
the thick spruce boughs. We then flushed one GREAT
HORNED OWL.

Finally, our diligent searching payed off. As I
scanned upward from some white wash on the ground, I
spied a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL peering at me. This was
my third Lincoln Co. lifer for the day.

After Joyce took a couple of pictures of the owl ,and
we left the adorable little fellow to his winter
roost. This was one short but sweet birding trip!

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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