Hi Tweeters & Inland NW ers-

I decided to take advantage of the clear weather to sneak over for a
long weekend in Columbia, Garfield & Asotin counties this past
weekend. Nice way to end one year and start another.


Friday - Dec 31 - Columbia County - I'd been working on a columbia co
big year in 2010, so it was enjoyable to get one last look at
Columbia before 2011. The cold day started with a BARN OWL fly-by on
SR 12 between Dayton & the Starbuck turnoff. My big addition to my
year list was AMERCAN COOT at the mouth of the Tuccanon - took until
Dec 31 to see it for the year. Not much else around on the water --
Buffleheads, Mallards, Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks & Common
Goldeneyes. There was a Northern Shrike around the mouth of the Tuc
as well. A GREAT HORNED OWL was hanging out in the trees at Texas
Rapids HMU along Little Goose Dam Rd. The normal gulls at the dam
were all that was present [California, Herring & Ring-billed]. In
Starbuck, I wandered around hoping for winter finches - no luck, but
did see the first of several VARIED THRUSH of the day.

I spent the afternoon wandering around Dayton, hoping for winter
visitors like Bohemian Waxwings -- no luck on those, but there were
plenty of Pine Siskins, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finch & House
Sparrows.Sotted EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE towards the south end of town
too. Finally, while out at the cemetery, a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS
flew overhead from the nearby fields. Checking my lists, I was
pleasantly surprised to learn that they were a county first for
Columbia Co.


Saturday Jan 1 -Garfield/Asotin Co. Headed out early, hoping to see
Garfield owls to start the new year. And succeeded, First bird of
2011 - BARN OWL along SR 12 before the 127 turnoff. Then, heading
towards Central Ferry on SR 127, I came across 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS
flying around with each other near mp 7. Finally, before dawn struck,
I saw a GREAT HORNED OWL to make it a 3 owl start for the year.

At Central Ferry, near the Grain Terminal, an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
was the highlight, mixed in among the big flocks of Juncos,
White-crowned Sparrows & House Sparrows. Then, while looking at the
water from the bridge, I had a MERLIN come by and perch next to my
car.

I took the slightly icey drive out to Lower Granite Dam next - GRAY
PARTRIDGE on the road were a fun year bird to see, but not much else
was around, down by the dam or en route. I poked around Pomeroy for a
good long while, hoping for Waxwings or such, but had no luck. Did
see EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE though.

Ended the day over in Asotin Co. - I tried first for the Pacific
Loon that's been around near the bridge north of Swallows Park -- I
thought I had it when I spotted a loon across the way in Idaho waters
-- but after watching for a while, I realized I was looking at a
COMMON LOON-- later it came over quite close to confirm it -- An
EARED GREBE under the bridge and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK circling over
head were my other highlights.

Sunday Jan 2 - Started w/ more birding in Asotin then headed back
west -First, I heaed up Peola Rd before dawn hoping for Short-eared
Owl - no luck on the owls , but once it was light the road was
rewarding - One or two PRAIRIE FALCON(S) [one or two], several
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, N Harriers, Am.Kestrels and all manner of
variation on Red-taileds were all perched along the route.. Heading
back into Clarkston, I stopped by the golf course on SR 12 to look at
the marina gulls and had 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES fly out from the
tree - EUCD trifecta for the weekend!

Next, I took a long drive down Snake River Rd way south in Asotin
-- and turned up almost nothing at all -- was hoping for Peregrine or
Rosy-finch on the cliffs, and/or maybe gulls on the water -- no luck.

Coming back through Clarkston, I stopped again at Swallows Park - and
this time, there were TWO loons present, swimming next to each other
-- One COMMON LOON, and one PACIFIC LOON. Nice comparison to have
them next to each other.

Coming back west, I stopped again in Dayton in Columbia County - no
luck again on Bohemian Waxwings. Then I stopped at Lewis & Clark, and
this time went into the closed camping side, north of SR 12 -- And I
wish I'd gone on the 31st, because I turned up 2 WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS - a bird I missed last year in Columbia for the big year,
despite at least one being reported from this spot.

All in all, a great end/start to the year.

Good 2011 birding,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA