Yakkers,

Today (30 December), an immature plumaged Yellow-billed Loon was discovered
by Denny Granstrand while we (Denny, Andy & Ellen Stepniewski, and Jay
Desgrosellier) were on the Yakima County shores of Priest Rapids Lake ~ 1.0
mile south of the Kittitas County line in eastern Washington. This is the
third sighting of this species for Yakima County, the other two observations
have been from this site, also. We had excellent views for about 15 minutes,
then the bird lifted off and flew north upriver.

Earlier in the day we had a Pacific Loon along with a male Red-breasted
Merganser below Priest Rapids Dam, again in Yakima County.

It was a surprisingly nice winters day (~ +3 C), with only slight breezes,
enough to bring out afew midge swarms (?), though there were patches of snow
about. At Borden Springs and again near Priest Rapids Dam, we had good views
of single Loggerhead Shrikes.

At dusk, we were captivated by the sight of three Beavers loafing just off
the northwestern corner of Priest Rapids Lake. One slapped its tail in
alarm, a surprisingly loud slap, in response to Denny slamming the vehicle
door shut. I jokingly remarked schoolchildren being reprimanded would likely
find a "Beaver Paddle" punishment very harsh, indeed.

Birds observed:

Pacific Loon - 1
Common Loon - 15
Yellow-billed Loon - 1
Pied-billed Grebe - 35+
Horned Grebe - 20
Red-necked Grebe - 1
Eared Grebe - 1
Western Grebe - 1
American White Pelican - 11
Double-crested Cormorant - 5
Great Blue Heron - 1
Canada Goose - 200
Gadwall - 50
American Wigeon - 250
Mallard - 500+
Northern Pintail - 2
Green-winged Teal - 100+
Canvasback - 300+
Redhead - 200+
Ring-necked Duck - 75
Greater Scaup - 40
Lesser Scaup - 30
Bufflehead - 20
Common Goldeneye - 25, , mostly below dam on flowing waters
Barrow's Goldeneye - 8, below dam on flowing waters
Hooded Merganser - 1 male
Common Merganser - 2
Red-breasted Merganser - 2
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 3
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
American Kestrel - 1
Prairie Falcon - 1+
California Quail - 3+
Virginia Rail - 1
American Coot - 7,500+
Killdeer - 1
Herring Gull - 15
Glaucous-winged Gull - 10
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker - 5
Loggerhead Shrike - 2
Black-billed Magpie - 10
Common Raven - 5
Horned Lark - 5
Rock Wren - 3
Canyon Wren - 4
Marsh Wren - 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 5, appearing to reside in tall Big Sagebrush (with
a few scraggly Coyote Willows nearby); seen both morning and afternoon)
American Robin - 15
European Starling - 25+
Spotted Towhee - 1
Song Sparrow - 20+
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-crowned Sparrow - 50+
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored ) Junco - 1
Dark-eyed (Oregon ) Junco - 50+
Red-winged Blackbird - 30
Western Meadowlark - 2
House Finch - 25
American Goldfinch - 35+

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net