Hi Tweeters
Yesterday we traveled from Spokane County on US 2 and 17 to the Leahy lek where 2 of our group saw their first Sage Grouse. There were 9 displaying males between 8:00 and 9:00 am. Our return trip was up Bridgeport Hill (no Sharp-tailed Grouse), and SR 172 where we scoped six cooperative Snow Buntings in a tree not far from the road, then back to SR 17 where there was enough open water for good looks at most of the expected wintering ducks, Pied-billed and Eared Grebes. We returned via SR 28 and back to US 2 at Davenport. On the trip we saw at least 6 Northern Shrikes and 12 Rough-legged Hawks.
Between Davenport and Rearden we saw 3 Snowy Owls right by the highway on the south side within a short distance of one another between 5:00 and 5:30 pm, the first one at Janett Rd, and the last .1 mile west of Alexander Rd. As it was getting dark we drove south on Coulee Hite Road to count the Short-eared Owls, and there were 6 visible in the growing darkness. All of these owls so close to home capped a terrific day of birding.
Norma Wendt