Tweets,

We had a good day in the field with 25 Yakima Auduboners and guests on a
beginning raptor class. Our route took us north from Yakima through the
Yakima River Canyon. Four Prairie Falcons (two were screaming about their
nesting cliffs) were noted on this drive, one Northern Harrier sailing
north at ridgetop level and 5 Bald Eagles. The harrier was the only
evidence I noted today of migration. I was amazed no Red-tailed Hawks were
about, not to mention kestrels or Golden Eagles, species usually seen in
this canyon. I can only surmise absolute calm conditions were keeping the
soaring raptors grounded and thus less conspicuous. Ten Bighorn Sheep
clambering about the ledges high on the towering basalt cliffs were a bonus
here.

Then we went north into the Kittitas Valley. Driving the section line roads
north and east of Ellensburg for two hours gave great views of 16 more Bald
Eagles, 3 Northern Harriers, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 33 Red-tailed Hawks, 11
Rough-legged Hawks, and 1 American Kestrel. We also had great views of a
Great Horned Owl on a nest (old Red-tailed Hawk nest?) high in a black
cottonwood north of the Old Vantage Hwy at the intersection of Caribou Road
(east of Kittitas on the way to Ginkgo State Park). The numbers of raptors
still present surprised me in this valley. I thought numbers decreased by
this time in spring.

Then we went south and east onto the Wahluke Slope Wildlife Area. Enroute,
we stopped at Sentinel Gap south of Vantage, noting an immature Bald Eagle
at river level and an adult Golden Eagle perched atop the Saddle Mountains
west side of the Columbia River. While not looking at eagles, we all had
good scope views of Common Loons in the Columbia River, several in breeding
attire and several in non-breeding or immature plumage.

On the Wahluke Slope we saw no raptors! This large area of shrub-steppe was
certainly good for dramatic views (of the Hanford Reach at the White
Bluffs), but poor for raptors. Again the calm conditions may have kept
birds of prey inconspicuous. April will surely bring life to the
shrub-steppe here. Or, maybe all it will take is some wind. We specifically
searched for Swainson's Hawks at several locust groves where they usually
nest, but saw none. Sometimes the first individuals return here by this
time in March. We did note American White Pelicans (15) and Double-crested
Cormorants (25+), 1 Sage Thrasher and several singing Sage Sparrows at the
White Bluffs overlook of the Hanford Reach.

We had a great finale along Hwy 24 in the Black Rock Valley east of Moxee.
I noted a far-off Ferruginous Hawk on a power pole-too far to appreciate
really. Luckily the bird flew to the roadside; we repositioned ourselves
with backlighting and were all treated to stunning close-up views of an
adult Ferruginous Hawk. This was at milepost 27 (27 miles east of I-82 on
Hwy 24). Also present here were 6 Northern Harriers, 5 Red-tailed and 5
Rough-legged Hawks. As dusk approached, we had great views of 7 Short-eared
Owls between mileposts 25 and 27. Finally, east of Moxee, 5 Long-eared Owls
were calling (really a moaning call) and flying about their nesting pines.
Another mammal bonus here was 51 elk seen south of Hwy 24 at milepost 27,
part of the hundreds of elk which wander west from the Hanford Sites
Fitzner-Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve some miles to the southeast.

A total of 98 diurnal raptors of nine species were seen plus 14 owls of
three species.

Bald Eagle-11 adults, 11 immatures
Northern Harrier-10
Cooper's Hawk-1
Red-tailed Hawk-41
Rough-legged Hawk-16
Ferruginous Hawk-1
Golden Eagle-1
American Kestrel-2
Prairie Falcon-4
Great Horned Owl-1
Long-eared Owl-5
Short-eared Owl-7

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA