Tweeters: Saturday was an exciting birding day for Kathryn and I from
Spokane to Ephrata via I-90 and SH 17. First the unexpected and exciting
for us: We saw two TUVU (Turkey Vultures) east of Ritzville near MP
(mile post) 229 flapping along close to the ground since there was little
in the way of thermals or wind at the time. Thought they would all be
out of E. WA and the State by now! Saw 5 RLHA (Rough-legged Hawks)
hunting by hovering above the ground each time giving us many minutes to
observe them and their field marks and behavior through binocs. Very
exciting indeed!
We saw 7 RTHA (red-tailed hawks) roosting or flying from the roost. No
high soaring.
Also saw 5 AMKE (American Kestrel) perched on wires. We drove Sh 28 to
Davenport before it got too dark. We saw many magpie, Canada Geese,
coots, common goldeneye, mallards, pintails, a cormorant, a possible
flock of horned larks, 14 TRSW (trumpeter swan), and two NOHA (northern
harriers 1 male 1 female), a GBHE (great blue heron) between Soap Lake
and Odessa. The grand finale for us was to watch for what seemed like
10 minutes, the female NOHA hovering over a duck keeping it submerged
and attacking as it surfaced to the point of exhaustion (for both) it
seemed. The duck constantly changed direction under water and surfaced
to grab a gulp of air before the harrier could get to it. From our
observation it seemed that the harrier could not see the duck under water
for some reason (murky, or lighting ...it was late, towards dusk) and
therefore was never directly over the duck when it came up for air. The
harrier finally gave up and circled the pond another time before heading
away over the rangeland.
Now you know why we are the two wing nuts! What a day!
Hans & Kathryn Krauss Spokane, WA