Yesterday, Jon Isacoff and I braved the snow and rain for a trip out to the Grand Coulee area. The roads were slick in the morning, but as temps rose throughout the day we left the snow in the Davenport area and then hit light rain near Coulee City. Most of the day was dry though.

Along Highway 2, going both ways to and from the Grand Coulee area we encountered several Rough-legged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel, and one Prairie Falcon.

We viewed the south end of Banks Lake from the Douglas county boat launch which only produced Common Goldeneye and a Northern Harrier. Then from the Grant county side, there were a good amount of birds in the water that included two Common Loons, several Horned Grebes, two Western Grebes, Hooded Mergansers, Greater Scaup, and a couple Herring Gulls.

Proceeding north on Highway 155 towards Steamboat Rock, we observed two Bald Eagles, two more Northern Harriers, a big group of about 50 Common Mergansers, and one Northern Shrike.

In and around Steamboat Rock State Park, we checked the copse of trees that usually holds Long-eared Owl and found one with several Robins in the same trees. Lots of waterfowl were present here with Coots outnumbering everything else. Although, there were good numbers of American Wigeon and Gadwall present here too. About 10 Double-crested Comorants were out in the water by the ducks. A few hunters were cruising the grassy fields, but alas the Ring-necked Pheasants were all in the park.

Near Northrup Point, we stopped alongside the highway and spotted a lone Downy Woodpecker working a tree. More Coots and Wigeon were present in the water by Northrup Point.

On the booms behind Grand Coulee Dam, there were 3 species of gulls present including 15 Herring Gulls, 10 Ring-billed Gulls, and 2 Thayer's Gulls. Spring Canyon Park was gull-less.

We then climbed up out of Grand Coulee on the road that heads toward Almira. Along Old Coulee Road in Lincoln county, we stopped first for a small group of 5 birds along the roadside that turned out to be Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. Then as we were gawking at the finches, the fields came alive with a big mixed flock of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings. The Snow Buntings were flying over often giving their rattle-type call preceded by a high pitch note that left us wondering if there was a Longspur present. This flock numbered about 75 Snow Buntings with the same amount of Horned Larks. We could not locate a Longspur though. We compared calls of the two and it seems they are very, very similar.

Crossing back into Grant county, along Douglas Road we found a smaller flock of 30 Snow Buntings mixed with more Horned Larks. Also, in the same area we found another Prairie Falcon.

The Lincoln/Grant county highlands just southeast of Grand Coulee look very good for the same birds everyone hits the Waterville Plateau for. I for one will be going back this winter to check!

Good birding,

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