Friday April 16 ? 18 Tom Mansfield and I birded Franklin, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Cos. On 4-16-10 along the Palouse Falls Road we had a Vesper Sparrow and 1 lone Sage Thrasher-not even close to any Sage Brush, and White-throated Swifts were flying around the falls.
At Lyons Ferry Pond was 1 Cinnamon Teal, a tough bird for Columbia Co. as are most ducks. A Peregrine Falcon flew over while checking for sparrows at the Tucannon WMA (Wildlife Management Area) a mile up stream from the mouth of the Tucannon River. Up Little Goose Dam Rd. were 2 Cooper?s Hawks. As we came to the Snake River we found a large raft of ducks-(again rare for Columbia Co.) floating in the Snake River. The assortment included mainly Northern Shovelers, and American Wigeon, with 1 Ruddy Duck and a few other ducks. We found several rafts of Shovelers with other duck species at Almota and Alpowa Creek mouth the following day. As far as the road goes east of Little Goose Dam was 1 Eared Grebe.
A stop at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park produced 2 White-throated Sparrows behind the restrooms in the camping area. Nov. 8, 1993 there were 4 of them here at the same campground almost in the same bush. Thanks for Gary Bletsch for re-discovering them and Rick and Tina Taylor for the update. A Wilson?s Snipe winnowed near the pond and pasture south of the rest area. Evening Grosbeaks were hanging around the caretakers house.
East of Pomeroy along Fairgrounds Road there is a small wetlands in a horse corral which had 3 Wilson?s Snipe in it on Friday. Anyone birding Garfield Co. might want to check this wet spot for possible shorebirds. Going east on Hwy 12 before you get to Alpowa Creek Rd. there are several man-made cow ponds. We had 2 large Chukars coming to drink here and a couple of Mallards. Up Alpowa Creek Rd. we had 1 Belted Kingfisher, very tough in Garfield Co. and the stream is very small.
Beginning near dawn at Swallow?s Park in Clarkston we had 1 American White Pelican. At Chief Looking Glass Park, in Asotin were 4 Greater White-fronted Geese and 6 Snow Geese. Thanks for Keith Carlson for keeping us informed of these geese. Not far up Asotin Creek we noted a house with feeders and saw 1 Lesser Goldfinch and heard others. Thanks to Gina Sheridan and Jon Isacoff for finding them there.
At Savage Ponds were Cinnamon Teal and a Yellow-rumped Warbler flycatchering off a barbed-wire fence. At Anatone along Hwy 129 was a Great Horned Owl nest with 2 young of different sizes. At Fields Spring State Park we had 2 Red-naped Sapsuckers respond to our trying for Williamson?s along the northern entrance to the park. We finally did get Williamson?s Sapsucker at the back of the campground. Other species in the park were: Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers, Gray Jays, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Cassin?s Finch.
After birding the morning in Asotin Co. we headed to Lower Granite Dam in Garfield Co. We saw Eared Grebes, and 1 ad. Bald Eagle. At Almota were Ruddy Ducks hanging on the back side of a large raft of ducks. 4 American White Pelicans rested on a small rocky island below the dam. Ping Gulch Rd. leading to Rice Bar had a pair of Swainson?s Hawks near an old grange. At Central Ferry along Deadman was 1 Greater Yellowlegs seen a week before by Tim O?Brien and was the first record for Garfield Co.?a quality bird. 1 Caspian Tern and 1 Belted Kingfisher also was at Central Ferry (Garfield Co).


Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com
Washington Birder online
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