FROM: Stacy Peterson
College Place, WA
petest at wwc.edu

Howdy Y'all,

Got a few birds of interest to report. Yesterday (March 20, 1994) my
wife Laura and I were birding at McNary Wildlife Refuge in Walla Walla
County and received a tip from passing birders (Dale Litzenberger and
wife from Pasco) that someone had just seen an OLDSQUAW and TUFTED DUCK
at Wallula Junction, near the delta of the Walla Walla River. Needless
to say, we followed them to the site!

When we arrived we found Tony and Kay Graeger from Pasco already there.
The OLDSQUAW was there, but the TUFTED DUCK was not, apparently absent
for a few hours. Although I don't recall exactly who originally found
these birds, I believe Tony and someone else (Phil Bartley??) were
involved.

Milford Perrin of College Place reported to Larry McCloskey (College
Place) this morning that he had found the TUFTED DUCK around 4:00 p.m.
yesterday (March 20, 1994). Larry, my wife, and I went out today and
found it with a raft of GREATER and LESSER SCAUP. I was able to watch it
on the water for about an hour. The OLDSQUAW could not be found again.

According to Tony, this may be the first or second record for the TUFTED
DUCK in eastern Washington. Anybody have contrary information??

Directions: The site is approximately 0.7 miles west of Wallula Junction
in southwestern Walla Walla County along Hwy 730 near some large grain
elevators. A paved, unmarked road heading toward the Columbia River will
lead you from the Hwy to a railroad car a few tenths of a mile down on
the left. A dirt road just past the car will take you around a cyclone
fence and to the site where the birds were seen from.

Best of luck, and let me know if you see it!

--Stacy