On Wednesday (3/30/05), Harold and Karen Cottet, and I
took advantage of a mostly sunny day to check some
prime spots in Spokane and Whitman Counties. Despite
occasional snow showers and and breezy periods, we
managed to tally some 62 species for the day.

On the north end of Philleo Lake (west of Spangle ; DL
pg 73, A5), we saw one adult SNOW GOOSE, 1-CACKLING
GOOSE (county lifer), Canada Geese, Tundra Swans,
Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, C. Goldeneye, and Ruddy
Ducks. On the southern end of the lake, we found a
remarkable 5-EURASIAN WIGEON (3 males & 2 females;
county lifer) within a large contingent of American
Wigeon that were feeding in the muddy shallows. An
impressive flock of No. Pintail with some scattered
Green-winged Teal anchored the southern terminus of
the lake. Unfortunately, we could not find any
Eurasian (Common) Teal in that flock.

Although we didn't find anything unusual in Turnbull
NWR, we did enjoy seeing several Western Bluebirds,
and a couple of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. We noted our
season's first TURKEY VULTURE soaring over the
entrance road too.

In extreme northwestern Whitman County, we detected
scattered swans on the eastern portion of Crooked Knee
Lake. There were several Tundra Swans and a pair of
TRUMPETER SWANs (county lifer) present here.

On Sheep Lake, the pair of EURASIAN WIGEON are still
present at the north end of the lake. One GREATER
YELLOWLEGS and 3-DUNLIN (county lifer) were welcome
sights. Two of the Dunlin were in basic plumage and
one was in alternate plumage.

On Drumheller Road (DL Pg. 72, A2) in Spokane County,
we saw a pair of stately SANDHILL CRANES. At least 8 -
BARROWS GOLDENEYEs were on Granite Lake (between Four
Lakes and Silver Lake).

Mammals of the day, included Yellow-bellied Marmot
near Sprague Lake, Red Squirrels in Turnbull NWR, 20
Mule Deer and a pair of Columbia Ground Squirrels
along W. Medical Lake. There marmot and the ground
squirrels are the first ones that I have seen this
season.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA



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