Grasshopper Sparrows were absent in the late afternoon in Columbia NWR and
may have something in common with what Andy Stepniewski mentioned although
Patrick Sullivan and myself found lots of them southeast of Benge in
southeast Adams Co. This is higher elevation and on the edge of the Palouse
which gets more rainfall then western Adams Co. Also at Sandhills Co. Park
in Adams Co. we had Sage Thrashers, Sage, Lark, Bewer's, and Vesper Sparrows
and Lazuli Buntings. Just northeast of these sand dunes we found
Grasshopper Sparrows. This Park is south of Hwy. 26 east of Othello.

At Washtucna we found a Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Violet-green
Swallow, Rock Wren, and a Barn Owl with a Pintail on the sewer pond. East
of Washtucna along the Palouse River we were looking for Kingfishers, but no
luck as they are tough in Adams Co. There is some great streamside habitat
along this stretch of the river for passerines which we will have to check
in fall migration.Total species seen in Adams Co. was 81 with half of the
day spent looking for Tricolored Blackbirds and Ibis with no luck. Near the
headquarters of Columbia NWR were some faded Red-winged Blackbirds. We had
4 species of owls---Barn, Great-horned, Burrowing, and Short-eared. Not too
bad of a day despite missing the Tricoloreds and Ibis.

Ken Knittle
Gold Bar, Wa.