On this pleasant spring day (4/07/06), I met with Ron
Dexter on the Peone Prairie Wetlands (northeastern
Spokane County). Ron has been instrumental in securing
much of this fabulous habitat through county
conservation futures, Ducks Unlimited, etc. Due to his
efforts, this vital natural legacy will be preserved
for posterity.

On the grassy borders and meadows of the wetland,
WESTERN MEADOWLARK, SAVANNAH SPARROW, RING-NECKED
PHEASANT, and SAY'S PHOEBE were in full spring voice.
A stand of pines contained both a RED-TAILED HAWK nest
and several GREAT BLUE HERON nests. Several Red-tailed
Hawks, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs, and an immature BALD
EAGLE soared overhead

>From the marsh itself, YELLOW-HEADED & RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS, MARSH WRENs, CANADA GEESE, and PIED-BILLED
GREBEs were building nests. Plenty of AMERICAN COOTs,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, COMMON
GOLDENEYE, MALLARD, PIED-BILLED GREBEs NORTHERN
PINTAIL, and NORTHERN SHOVELERs were present too.
NORTHERN FLICKER, BELTED KINGFISHER, SONG SPARROW,
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, RING-BILLED GULLS, and CALIFORNIA
QUAIL provided some added variety.

Since I was already in Spokane Valley, I headed on out
to Liberty Lake Regional Park. From the
playground/beach area, I picked out a distant COMMON
LOON, HORNED GREBE-4 (at least one in full gaudy
breeding plumage), RING-BILLED GULL, AMERICAN WIGEON,
LESSER SCAUP, and COMMON MERGANSER.

While I searched for the Great-tailed Grackle in the
neighborhood and golf course on the corner of
Valleyway & Molter, I saw my first OSPREY of the year.
Unexpectedly, I saw a lone BOHEMIAN WAXWING perched
on the top of a tree on the northwest corner of the
golf course.

After sifting through some BREWER'S BLACKBIRDs, I
heard the grackle calling from a very large Blue
Spruce. Finally, the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE flew across
the road.

It was certainly an interesting experience to see a
Bohemian Waxwing and Great-tailed Grackle in the same
place and time.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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