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