Today, I followed-up on two reports of birds in Stevens county that would be life birds for me. The roads this morning were interesting with snow, ice, and slush all over.

First, I checked the burned area along West End Rd., approximately 13 miles west of Wellpinit for White-headed Woodpecker. I first scanned the area from Terry Little's well marked pullout along the road with no success. I could hear birds downslope so I drove further down the road to a dirt road that accessed the downslope area. This is where Michael Woodruff, Garret MacDonald, and Gina Sheridan had a female White-headed Woodpecker a few days ago. I walked one part of the burn close to the main road with no luck. Then I drove further into the area and stopped just past the intersection where one of the dirt roads goes down to the shore of Lake Roosevelt. I immediately heard tapping in the trees above me where I stopped and found the female White-headed Woodpecker. Then I heard what I thought was the female call, but then I saw the male in an adjacent tree. I enjoyed the pair of woodpeckers for awhile. I then checked for other woodpeckers and
found the following all in the same burn: Downy, Hairy, Flicker, and Pileated. 5 species of woodpecker all the same spot. I would not be surprised if Black-backed was found here with all the burned trees.

Then, I was off to the northeast to the Chewelah valley to see if I could find the Harris's Sparrows that Tim Durnell reported. I reached the intersection of Farm to Market Rd. and Heine Rd. and drove Heine to just behind the barns there (with 2 big blue silos). I started pishing and birds starting popping out of the low brush. Song Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, one White-crowned Sparrow, and two Harris's Sparrows! Nice birds that stayed in view for me for awhile.

One the way out and back, I found two separate flocks of Gray Partridge. One of twelve birds along Hallet Rd. in western Spokane county. And the other in eastern Lincoln Co. along Alexander Road with about 20 birds. When I returned home, I found dense fog and most of the snow gone. The roads were totally clear.

To borrow the phrase, it was a good day! Thank you to Terry, Michael, and Tim for helping me find these two lifers!

Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo dot com