Hello,



Here are the highlights from spending a beautiful day in Stevens and Ferry
Counties.



At about 8:30 this morning, with the help of a local resident, I found the
SNOWY OWL on Valley Westside Rd southwest of Colville. After watching the
snowy for a while I began to scan the surrounding raptor infested field
which soon turned up a distant SHORT EARED OWLS. Two owls, two county
lifers. Not a bad start. Also along one of the side roads was a very close
and vocal Pileated Woodpecker.



Moving on, I found the PEREGRINE FALCON perched on the corner of Hwy 395 and
Boise Rd (at the Columbia River Bridge). Barrow's Goldeneyes and other
common divers were near the mouth of the Colville River.



Crossing into Ferry County, I visited Haag Campground where I found all
three nuthatches, Red Crossbills, and a Townsend's Solitaire. Birding along
Sherman Creek (Hwy 20) proved to be pretty slow (thus the title "birdless
Ferry County"), but when I reached Sherman Pass I found a flock of my target
bird, 8 COMMON REDPOLLS (right at the "Sherman Pass Elevation 5575" sign).
An AMERICAN THREE TOED WOODPECKER allowed a brief look nearby along with a
couple of Gray Jays. Also a Northern Pygmy Owl almost hit my car while
driving along.



Back in Stevens County, there was a Merlin in Chewelah and the PRAIRIE
FALCON allowed some nice looks as it sat on a power pole on Heine Rd. A
Sharp shinned Hawk and several Northern Shrikes were seen along Newton Rd.



That's about it.

Terry Little

Mead, Wa