First a quick note to Black-headed Gull seekers: the gull was present Saturday at daybreak (before 7:30) on the log boom at Coulee Playland. I had a great 'scope view of it from the motel balcony just south. It was the only gull present at that hour. Though spooked by a Red-tailed Hawk overhead, it quickly returned. About the time the Herring and Ring-billed Gulls started to arrive, though, it flew off to the South.
The hawk-owl's complete nonchalance in the presence of humans was amazing. Many thanks to the man who let me peer briefly at it through his 'scope.
For those with time and inclination, a trip up to the plateau (along the road to Almira, accessed from SR 174, just east of the intersection with SR 155) is a treat for the sheer numbers of Horned larks (I saw >1,000 before reaching Douglas Road) and Snow Buntings. Picked through about 300 buntings in search of a Lappie, but alas... Also six Gray Partridges (on Grand Coulee Hill road just past the Douglas Road intersection,) a couple of Northern Shrikes, and several Rough-legged Hawks up there.
Other great encounters notwithstanding, the highlight of the day for a finch-fan like me was a late afternoon hike up Northrup Canyon. This state park is accessed via a (signed) turnoff from SR 155 about 5 miles south of Electric City. Frustratingly invisible Gray-crowned Rosy-finches were calling intermittently from the canyon rim, but best in show goes to a flock of 15 Common Redpolls feeding in the water birches. The birches are in a brushy hollow about a quarter mile downtrail from the parking area, right past where the trail descends out of sagebrush and into serious ice. Trail and access road are EXTREMELY icy. Some dog-walking locals told me there are still quite a few eagles roosting further upcanyon, but I only saw a half-dozen or so flying by "Redpoll Holler."
Happy New Year!
jeff bryant
back in seattle
jbryant_68 at yahoo.com


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