Since we could not resist the brilliant sunshine on a
late winter's day, Jon Isacoff, his father-in-law
Douglas, and I ventured out to Lincoln County for a
half day of birding on Tuesday (2/19/08). Despite the
sun, a cold breeze from the northeast and the foot to
two feet of snow on the West Plains, provided ample
proof that winter is still in charge. Temps ranged
from the mid-twenties to the upper thirties.

Although I have included Jon's Ebird extract below, I
wanted to highlight some of our sightings.

While searching in vain for the reported Snowy Owl on
Morrison/Detour Road, we ran into Jim Acton, Ron
Dexter, and the Haywoods. All of us had to be
contented with Horned Larks, Ravens, and Gray
Partidges.

Working the northern canyons on the county, we tried
Hawk Creek. Some of the better birds here were
STELLER'S JAYs, HOODED MERGANSER, AME. WIGEON, and
surprisingly early pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs.

At Hawk Creek Falls, we found our target DIPPER.
Meanwhile, a BEWICK'S WREN was singing up the slope.

Seven Bays yielded a single HERRING GULL, BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE, and plenty of COMMON GOLDENEYEs.

After being snowbound so long this winter, it was a
treat to simply drive around and bird again.

West Plains/Airway Heights

California Quail 15
Bald Eagle 1 (Latah Creek)
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Rough-legged Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 1
Rock Pigeon 2
American Crow 1
American Robin 3
Red-winged Blackbird 1

Location: LC-Lincoln County
Observation date: 2/19/08
Number of species: 29

Canada Goose 2
American Wigeon 8
Mallard 1
Bufflehead 1
Common Goldeneye 20
Barrow's Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 3
Gray Partridge 31
Horned Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk 13
Rough-legged Hawk 3
American Coot 10
Herring Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 10
Northern Shrike 1
Steller's Jay 4
Black-billed Magpie 12
Common Raven 10
Horned Lark 200
Violet-green Swallow 2
Pygmy Nuthatch 2
Bewick's Wren 1
American Dipper 1
American Robin 1
European Starling 2
Dark-eyed Junco 9
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Sparrow 4

Total Species: 34

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA


____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for last minute shopping deals?
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping