This afternoon, my wife and I headed out to follow up on Jim Acton's Snowy Owl report southeast of Davenport. As we approached the previously reported location, we easily found the Snowy Owl on top of an utility pole. It posed nicely for a couple quick photos.

Moving on, we headed for the Spring Creek cemetery (north on Hwy 231 out of Reardon) to search the trees for small owls. We flushed a Great Horned Owl out of the one the trees there and ended our search with seeing that bird.

Lastly, it was getting dark so with the recent report of active Short-eared Owls in the southwest part of Spokane County, I had to try the fields along Coulee Hite Road and MacFarlane Road on the West Plains. We scanned the fields with no luck, but then stepped out of the truck to listen and instantly could hear at least two Short-eared Owls. Luckily, one buzzed over our heads while we were listening. Also, it was interesting to hear Horned Larks singing as it was getting dark. There were also two groups of low-flying birds that could have been either Pheasants or Partridges, but it was too dark to tell. Another Great Horned Owl could be heard hooting in the distance here, too.

It was a great afternoon!

A photo of the Snowy Owl can been seen at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/red_knot/

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