Hello Tweets,

I birded on the 17th-19th of September mainly in Klickitat and Yakima Cos.,
with owling done in Skamania Co. on the 17th-18th(9pm-2am)along FR 23,
north of Trout Lake in Klickitat Co. The weather all three days was
pleasant, to abnormally warm temperatures during daylight hours. The main
purpose of the trip was to participate on the fall migration count in
Klickitat Co. with Ken Knittle, who joined me on the 18th, as we birded the
Maryhill-Dallesport areas, with a total of 71 species in our area. Birding
was very slow during the day, possibly due to warm weather, and NO major
cold fronts or systems in our area to drive birds down from northern or
higher elevation areas. A total of 130 species were observed on the entire
migration count, with possibly some additions to be added by a single
party.

On the 17th to early on the 18th I owled along FR 23, which starts in Lewis
Co., passing mainly through Skamania Co.(W of Mt.Adams), then ending in NW
Klickitat Co. at Trout Lake. A total of 6 owls were heard/and or seen, all
in Skamania Co.from near Adams Fork CG to north of Council Lake, reaching
an approxiamate elevation of near 5000' at the highest point along the
road, before dropping into Klickitat Co.
The following species were encountered:

2 SPOTTED OWLS(heard near Adams Fork CG)
1 BARRED OWL
1 GREAT HORNED OWL(seen)
5 N.SAW-WHET OWLS
1 N.PYGMY OWL
1 LONG-EARED OWL(*rare, but probably a migrant)

At Trout Lake two additional W.SCREECH OWLS were heard and seen along Trout
Creek at 3am, before driving to Maryhill SP, where I met Ken Knittle at
5am, where we would bird and persue areas within our route. The best
species where mainly at Horsethief Lake SP and Dallesport:

1 RED-EYED VIREO,1 PURPLE FINCH,and 1 female BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at
Horsethief Lake SP
1 RING-NECKED DUCK(migrant)
1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET(migrant)
1 RED-NECKED GREBE along the Columbia River, W of Murdock
1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at Dallesport
1 FOX SPARROW at Maryhill Museum
10 LESSER GOLDFINCHES, E of Maryhill

On the 19th I birded Wenas Lake on my way home, after leaving Ken near
Toppenish NWR, and observed 1 AM.GOLDEN PLOVER, with 12 Killdeer. The lake
is quite low, as is normal for this time of year, so shorebirds should be
looked for at this site and a few other "good" shorebird locations in
Yakima Co, such as Grandview STP, and Toppenish NWR, among possibly others.
The plover was a rare find, but possibly to be expected in the fall, as
other E WA shorebird locations. Other birds encountered here included:

1 MERLIN
4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS
3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS
8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL

Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net