Quick Synopsis of the highlights of my LOOONG weekend trip to NE WA:
Lots of other birds seen, these are only the highlights ;)

Grant County -
Soap Lake ? one lone SNOW GOOSE with the CANADA GEESSE.

Lake Lenore ? one CANVASBACK, 2 TRUMPETER SWANS, and one GREATER WHITE-FRONT GOOSE

Swawilla Basin (Ferry County) ?
GOLDEN EAGLE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, at least 6 COMMON LOON, 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, one RUFFED GROUSE
West of Kettle Falls ? MERLIN

South of Gifford, Stevens Co ?
3 CANVASBACK, HOODED MERGANSER, 150 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, one RUFF GROUSE that stood on the centerline of the road until I stopped right in front of it!
Two Rivers Confluence park ? 2 RED CROSSBILL, BOHEMAIN WAXWING (heard only), one 2nd-year GLAUCOUS GULL, 2 HERRING GULL.

Fort Spokane, Lincoln, Co ?
GLAUCOUS GULL and HERRING GULLS flew across the river for me!
Davenport cemetery ? 10 RED CROSSBILL
Mill Creek ? 2 TOWNSEND?S SOLITAIRE, CLARK?S NUTCRACKER (Heard), GOLDEN EAGLE

Davenport, near corner Old Sunset Highway and highway 25 north, Monday Feb 18 ?
FALCON SPECIES ? Except for the pale breast, I thought this was a PRAIRIE. But I did not get a good look at it as I wiped past at 50 MPH. I got the impression of a light breast, darker back. Head was not really contrasty with the neck and breast. Build was more like a Prairie than a Gyr. But the light breast is causing some doubt. But it WAS facing into the sunlight. Any thoughts?

Creston ? PRAIRIE FALCON just east of the grain elevators (good looks this time)

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs and NORTHERN SHRIKE scattered a lot of places.

Weather ranged from sunny and warm, to 3 inches of powder snow in Republic, to rain, to sleet to snow, and back to nice warm weather. Had river fog alternating with low clouds up in the flats.

My jinx with Pine Grosbeak and Northern pygmy-owl continues, despite looking in all the right places. No winter finches all weekend. No Grosbeaks.

Was a good weekend, lots of driving (about 900 miles), had to work hard for the birds. Melting gravel roads were messy! I have a coating of mud up to the windows on my 4Runner! ;)

I can recommend the B&B in Davenport. Nice rooms, price includes a nice breakfast!

Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com