When Garrett MacDonald and I headed out this morning
(Tuesday, 3/28/06), the temperature was 40 with light
scattered rain showers. However, the afternoon turned
gloriously sunny and the temps reached into the upper
50's. For an early spring day, this was a wonderfully
successful birding trip.

Our first stop was at Philleo Lake in Spokane County.
Although waterfowl numbers were considerably down, we
did see LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK (SCYB*), PIED-BILLED
GREBE (SCYB*), COMMON GOLDENEYE, RING-NECKED DUCK,
GREAT BLUE HERON, TREE SWALLOWs, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
(nearby). About a mile west of Philleo (on Cheney
Spangle Road), we had NORTHERN SHOVELER (SCYB*),
AMERICAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, and CANVASBACK.

As we headed toward the county line on Wells Road, we
saw dueling male GRAY PARTRIDGEs chasing each other
across the road. Numerous pheasants were evident
through out our route, and we noted NORTHERN SHRIKES
in all three trip counties (Whitman, Spokane, and
Adams).

Although we could not refind the immature Snowy Owl
that was reported north of Oaksdale, we did see the
more reliable, adult SNOWY OWL 3.5 miles south of
Oaksdale on Hume Road. This snowy has apparently been
present in this area for over two weeks, and it was a
Whitman County lifer for us.

Another Whitman County lifer for us was pair of WOOD
DUCKs on Rock Lake. At Revere, I called in a
cooperative CANYON WREN.

As we checked the Adams County side of Sprague Lake,
we detected a mixed flock of CANADA GEESE and SNOW
GEESE feeding in a field near the shoreline. Besides
the twelve SNOW GEESE, there were a pair of cute
ROSS'S GEESE for comparison sake. Both of these white
geese species were Adams County lifers for us and the
Ross's was a state lifer for Garrett. This location is
on Danekas Road, two miles south of the Lincoln
County line (DL: Pg 71, B8).

On Danekas Road about a mile and half east of Tokio,
we saw a SNOWY OWL on the north side of I-90. Several
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs were nearby too.

Back in Spokane County, we saw a CANYON WREN (SCYB*)
on Martin Road, a somewhat ratty looking GOLDEN EAGLE
(SCYB*) and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS (SCYB*) on Pine
Springs Road. The County Line Lake on Drummheller Road
held four SANDHILL CRANEs (SCYB*), GREATER YELLOWLEGS
(SCYB*), WILSON'S SNIPE, TUNDRA SWANs, and an AMERICAN
PIPIT (SCYB*). On our return leg, we saw a TURKEY
VULTURE (SCYB*) circling over Tyler.

Mammals of the day included Mule Deer, Yellow-Pine
Chipmunk, Least Chipmunk, Columbian Ground Squirrel,
and Yellow-bellied Marmot. It was truly a marvelous
day of birding.

*SCYB = Spokane County Year Bird for Gina

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

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