Hello,



I just wanted to report on a blessed day in Stevens County today. It all
began early this morning on the Springdale - Hunters Rd where I encountered
several large flocks of Common Redpoll, Chestnut Backed Chickadees and a
very cooperative N Pygmy Owl. There was also a Golden Eagle perched on a
fencepost watching an open field. Hunters Campground along the Columbia
River also proved productive with a Brown Creeper among all the Nuthatches
and Chickadees. There were both Greater and Lesser Scaup along the shoreline




A little further north, the Gifford Campground also was very productive (but
not the burn area). Most of the activity was right around the entrance and
the trailer dump station. Among the many Red Crossbills were also eight Pine
Grosbeaks and a dozen or so Clark's Nutcrackers. Another Golden Eagle was
spotted up Hgway 25.



The mouth of the Colville River, seen from Colville Flats, still had a
female White Winged Scoter hanging around. Myers Fall in Kettle Falls had an
American Dipper while the Kettle Falls Campground yielded nice looks at both
Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers. The town of Kettle Falls also had several
flocks of Pine Grosbeaks (check around 10th and Juniper Streets).



Then the bird of the day: Perched on a high dead Ponderosa Pine branch and
watching the Rock Pigeons that roost on the bridge crossing the Columbia
River from Stevens to Ferry County (Hgwy 20) was an IMM PEREGRINE FALCON. I
had not ever seen a wintering Peregrine in Eastern Washington, as well, it
was a Stevens County lifer.



Nightfall found be back on McAllister Rd near Tum Tum, where I enjoyed three
N Saw Whet Owls and one WESTERN SCREECH OWL, both Stevens County lifers.



Total 58 species.



Blessings,



Terry Little,

Mead