{Dennis,

Now that you've seen Western Gulls inland for yourself, I'd like to again
raise the question (as I have in several of my trip reports to this area in
winter: are these really Western Gulls through and through? As originally a
California birder, I know well the extreme scarcity of Western Gulls
inland. Even the east end of San Francisco Bay is a very unusual
site for a Western. Away from the San Diego garbage dump (somewhat inland),
they are also very rare, indeed noteworthy. Yet they appear regular here in
winter at McNary, hundreds of river miles inland. Why the apparent
difference?

Black-crowned Night-Herons are regular at least through early winter at
Selah, Toppenish, Tri-Cities area, a few at Saddle Mountain in eastern
Washington. Arctic freezes in January thin them out. Few are noted in
January through early March.

By the way, I have volunteered in the Yakima Audubon to undertake a
"Beginning Birding Class." Would you care to share with me an outline or
handouts of your class. Your organizational genius might spare me from
reinventing the wheel. I doubt theres much competition between the two
sides of the mountains. Are you willing to help? I would really appreciate
some tips.

Andy Stepniewski