Hello Tweets,

My mother and I just arrived back from a 2-day exciting trip to the
Waterville Plateau and vicinity, where a total of 76 species were noted and
the weather was rewarding with just mostly cloudy to sunny skies and minor
wind in open areas. Our adventure started out at the Wanupum Dam on the
21st, where my mother saw her first GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES, where a
flock of 80 were photographed at very close range near the south side of
the dam. 3 Chukar and 1 Rock Wren were also present at this location. We
observed 1 SNOWY OWL along L NE between 3rd and Nelson near Moses Lake.
Further north we observed 1 PRAIRIE FALCON and a GOLDEN EAGLE at Lk.
Lenore, and 3 R.B. MERGANSERS at Blue Lk. When we got into Douglas Co., we
checked Atkins Lk., where 200+ Tundra Swans and other waterfowl were noted.
We checked along Bridgeport Hill Rd. for the Sharp-tailed Grouse, but were
unsuccessful. We ran into Dan Stephens, who was leading a field trip in
Douglas Co. at the time, so we followed the group of 16 to a pair of
LONG-EARED OWLS near Mansfield. We broke off from the group, after watching
the owls, as we wanted to continue north, where we ended the day in the
forrested area on Central Ferry Canyon Rd. near Bridgeport. I managed to
see 12 COMMON REDPOLLS in an alder grove at the base of the forrested area,
where they had been seen earlier on Dan's field trip. As it began to get
dark quickly, 2 N. SAW-WHET OWLS called repeatedly, and up to 3 birds and 2
G.H. Owls were heard through the night.

Today we birded the forrested area for further examination, and noted
fairly good numbers of PYGMY NUTHATCHES, 1 C.REDPOLL, Red Crossbills,1 C.
NUTCRACKER, and 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, and 1 SNOW BUNTING above this area in
open fields. Heading back towards Bridgeport, we saw a flock of 25 BOHEMIAN
WAXWINGS at the base of C. Ferry Cyn. Rd. We met up with Jerry Converse and
his wife at 10 am near the Leahy Jct., where up to 3 male SAGE GROUSE, were
observed performing on a probable lek.We all went back to the L.E. OWL site
and observed 4 birds, which were photograhed. We continued south, where 1
EUR. WIGEON and 1 PRAIRIE FALCON were noted near St. Andrews. My mother and
I continued on our way home, but stopped at Lk. Lenore, where my mother
observed and photographed a flock of 50 G.C. Rosy Finches at close range
again! A fnal stop near Wanupum Dam produced NO Rosy Finches, but 2 Chukar!


Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net