Today, I made the trek down into Franklin County and back. I saw a lot of Red-tailed Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks on poles in 3 different counties.

On the Adams County side of Sprague Lake by the old stock pens there was an adult Bald Eagle watching over the lake. Waterfowl were numerous and a few hunters about. No swans or white geese today. However, there was a male and female pair of Hooded Mergansers.

Southwest of Sprague Lake on Klein Road, I found an immature Golden Eagle with a couple Common Ravens in a field. The young eagle allowed great looks.

At Basset Park in Washtucna, I found a Varied Thrush and a Spotted Towhee. Not to mention 13 Wild Turkeys as well.

Crossing over into Franklin County, I drove up Copp Road and found a little wetland that held a Marsh Wren, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. It was a busy place!

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting the small town of Connell until today and was greeted by vast numbers of Eurasian Collared Doves. Around the grain silos, there were at least 50 of these doves. A few Mourning Doves were around town as well.

At Scootenay Reservoir, there was another good assortment of waterfowl and hunters. American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal were busily working the mudflats of the far western end of the reservoir. With them were a few shorebirds that included Killdeer, Dunlin, and Long-billed Dowitchers.

On Moulton Road, headed back northeast, I found two Northern Shrikes.

Back in Adams County, two Prairie Falcons were not too far apart along Benge-Ritzville Road. One was very brown versus the other being paler and smaller.

All in all it was a good day! Good birding!

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