Tweets,
This is to report on the findings of the SAS FT that I lead today over to
lower crab creek and the Moses Lake area. It was a good owl day as we had 3
species: 2-3 LONG-EARED OWLS along crab creek, a imm. SNOWY OWL at its usual
place just north of Nelson Rd. near Moses Lake and a GREAT-HORNED OWL late in
the afternoon in a FWS habitat plot about 2 miles east of the snowy. Winter
finches were non-existant, only finch we got were HOUSE FINCHES.
The most notable was a exchange we had overviewing the lakes just north of
the Lower Crab creek RD. This is overlooking the Nunally Lake Chain. A CANYON
WREN flew to within 15 feet of the group before lighting in the rocks at our
feet and then flying off. This is the best and closest look at CANYON WREN
that I have ever had in all of the years I have been birding. What a joy to
have people see the warm back colors of the bird and the throat area with
only a binocular (didn't even need a binoc to see the back when it flew in).
On the lake itself was a COMMON LOON, the first time I have ever seen a loon
on any of the crab creek lakes.

Scott Downes
sgd24 at aol.com
Seattle WA