A great weekend of birding between Lyle and the Balch-Lyle Cemetery (about 2
miles west northwest of Lyle).

Just south of the Cemetery, on what I believe is the Balch Lake fresh water
turtle refuge, I saw 2 Canada Geese and a Sandhill Crane. This is the first
Sandhill Crane I have seen in the Lyle area, although I have seen them due
north at the Conboy Wildlife Refuge, and I understand they are south in the
forest meadows of Wasco County, in both cases about 20 miles from Lyle.

In addition, the Lewis Woodpecker population seems to be surging and it's
range expanding. They are reliably seen in the oak tree at the intersection
of the Old Highway (County Road 1230) and Sauter Road (Balch-Lyle Cemetry
Road). Now I am seeing many of them regularly this year a mile and half to
the east, where I also saw a pair of Acorn Woodpeckers.


Bob Hansen
Salem, OR and Lyle, WA
bhansen at teleport.com