On 22 April there were 5 American Avocets on Crab Creek, 22 avocets and 1 stilt
on the Hwy 26 saline ponds west of Othello. On 24 April there were 22 avocets
and 11 stilts on the Walla Walla River Delta as well as 25 Dunlin. I believe
the shorebird movement on the eastside is about normal...the 1st week of May
should see abunch of stuff come in.
By the way theres 2 marked Trumpeter Swans on the Columbia NWR in the ne sector
- reached by taking the gravel road south from the ne end of O'Sullivan Dam.
Apparently Summer Lake birds.
The exciting event at the Walla Walla River Delta was 75 Caspian Terns - three
or so pairs were busy mating with the male perched right on lady loves back,
her beak agape writhing kinda like. Each "event" seemed to last eternity...2
minutes before the male tripped and fell off. Got to practise that mount!

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato, WA