Happy New Year everyone!
I had hoped to break the January record for the Spokane county big day today. I didn't really plan a solid route so I ended the day with 56 species in the county. However, it was a great day to be out and some areas were quite fun while others were completely dead. Here's the highlights:
Gray Partridge - MacFarlane Road (between Coulee Hite and Ladd roads); seen and heard at dusk
Merlin - perched on a tall fir on the northeast side of Peone Prairie
Western Screech-Owl - Madison Road (seen and heard)
Northern Pygmy-Owl - Mt.Spokane ski area - at dawn (seen and heard)
Short-eared Owl - MacFarlane Road at dusk (hard to keep track, but at least two)
Northern Saw-whet Owl - heard only on Madison Road
Chestnut-backed Chickadee - Mt.Spokane (on the road to the condos)
Canyon Wren - Deep Creek canyon
Marsh Wren - Confluence park (Little Spokane and Spokane Rivers)
American Dipper - Spokane fish hatchery
American Tree Sparrow - MacFarlane Road at dusk - in the road in my headlights
Common Redpoll - one and one only at the Mt.Spokane condos
Besides all the owls, the only truly "cool" moment was when six Ring-necked Pheasants were flying right at me on Thorpe Road. I first thought they were magpies, but as they got closer then it became much more clear. I guess I have never been head-on with a pheasant before!
Time to refresh for the Spokane CBC tomorrow!
Good birding,
Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo dot com