On Saturday (3/11/06), Cindy McCormack, Theresa
Mathis, and I journeyed down to the LC Valley.
Overall, the weather was cool and sunny with temps
ranging from 20 degrees to the mid forties.

While our birding was largely concentrated in Asotin
and Whitman counties, we did briefly cross paths with
Charles Swift at the Port of Lewiston, and with the
Canyon Audubon group near Clarkston. Aside from the
birds, our mammal list for the day included porcupine,
beaver, Mule & White-tailed Deer, Fox Squirrel, and
coyotes.

After seeing a couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs in route,
our first stop was at Steptoe Butte. Although we
flushed a LONG-EARED OWL a couple of times, the bird
never gave us much of a view. However, this bird was
still an overdue Whitman County lifer for me. While we
searched for the LE Owl, we stumbled on to VARIED
THRUSH - 3, HERMIT THRUSH -1, BEWICK'S WREN, and a
snoozing porcupine.

On southward, we picked up an adult Bald Eagle in
Colfax. Later in the morning, we searched Asotin Creek
Canyon, and had great views of a pair of GOLDEN
EAGLES, a GREAT HORNED OWL, COOPER'S HAWK, AMERICAN
KESTREL, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEEs, SAY'S PHOEBEs - 10, and heard CANYON WRENs
in several spots.

On our first pass of Clarkston Cliffs (on Hwy 12 west
of town), we spied a BARN OWL sitting in it's nest
hole and a COOPER'S HAWK. Across the river on the
Whitman County shoreline, we saw three COMMON
MERGANSERs.

Chief Timothy State Park produced an unidentified
accipitor, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET-3, HORNED GREBE-6,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER-4, and a bountiful supply of
Dark-eyed Juncos (including a couple of Slate-colored
Juncos) and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs.

On our second pass of the Clarkston Cliffs, the Canyon
Audubon group had a female PEREGRINE FALCON in the
scope. While we enjoyed marvelous views of this
magnificent raptor, her mate soared over the ridgeline
on the opposite side of the river. As a result, this
pair of peregrines delivered me a county lifer for
both Asotin and Whitman County!

Although we checked in with folks who have hosted an
Anna's Hummingbird this winter, the bird had not been
seen today. Unfortunately, this hummer may have left
the area.

While dusk settled in, we took the river route up to
Wawawai Campground. While a MARSH WREN scolded us from
the cattails, a beaver glided across the pond.
Proceeding up the canyon, we saw and heard several
GREAT HORNED OWLs.

Perhaps our best bird of the day was also the last one
seen. In our ascent up Wawawai Canyon, we saw a small
owl perched on the guard rail. It turned out that the
bird in question, was a charming little WESTERN
SCREECH OWL that remained sitting for a couple of
minutes. Not only was this an ABA life bird for
Theresa as well as a Whitman County lifer for both
Cindy and I, but it was the perfect grande finale for
our delightful trip.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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