Today 11 birders had an outstanding WOS field trip to Grant and Douglas counties. Aside from a few sprinkles at the start, the weather held dry from high 40's and just hit 60 near Bridgeport. On the Waterville Plateau it was 50 but the wind made it feel like the 30s. Quality ruled quantity but we managed 77 species including some nice rarities. The possible highlight of the trip was a broad daylight BADGER that posed for roadside photos several miles Northwest of Mansfield on the Waterville Plateau. They are very funny furry little guys! Complete trip list with highlights in bold is below. Though Central Ferry Canyon produced a flyover GOSHAWK and a large flock of RED CROSSBILLS, nearly all the Sage habitat and a fair share of the forested areas were burned this past August, which may have diminished bird activity somewhat. The burnt Sage was nearly devoid of any life. Banks Lake was particularly birdy with more Loons than I've ever seen. Didn't take an official count but estimate was in the ballpark or 30-40, including one PACIFIC LOON, which provided excellent close views side-by-side with 2 commons. There is also a lot of exposed shoreline which was attracting typical winter shorebirds; we didn't have time to check all of it extensively to see what other surprises might have been around.

Complete list with highlights in BOLD below.

Good birding,
Jon Isacoff, Spokane
SNOW GOOSE ? Coulee City Community Park

Cackling Goose

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greenwinged Teal

Canvasback

Redhead

Ringnecked Duck

Lesser Scaup

SURF SCOTER ? Female type in Douglas/Grant near Southwest corner of Banks

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ? 3 at Coulee City Community Park

Ruddy Duck

California Quail

Gray Partridge

PACIFIC LOON ? Excellent close views along side 2 Commons at Coulee City Community Park

Common Loon

Piedbilled Grebe

Horned Grebe

RED-NECKED GREBE ? 1 at Sun Banks Junction; 3 at Coulee City Community ParkWestern Grebe

Doublecrested Cormorant

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN ? Late straggler on Banks Lake

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

NORTHERN GOSHAWK ? Seen by 1 car in Central Ferry Canyon

Cooper's Hawk

Bald Eagle

Redtailed Hawk

Roughlegged Hawk

VIRGINA RAIL ? 4 or 5 in pond near Leahy

American Coot

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER ? Along Banks Lake shoreline

Killdeer

DUNLIN ? Around 12-15 w. Black-bellied Plover

BONAPARTE?S GULL ? Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties

Ringbilled Gull

California Gull

Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian CollaredDove

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl

LONG-EARED OWL ? Steamboat Rock

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Kestrel

MERLIN ? Attacking a Finch over the road near Electric City!

Northern Shrike

Blackbilled Magpie

American Crow

Common Raven

Horned Lark

Blackcapped Chickadee

Redbreasted Nuthatch

Marsh Wren

Bewick's Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Song Sparrow

Whitecrowned Sparrow

Darkeyed Junco

Redwinged Blackbird

BREWER?S BLACKBIRD - Late female on booms near Chief Joseph Dam

House Finch

Red Crossbill

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow



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