Hi, Tweets

After sitting behind a computer and not seeing anything vulture-wise on the
days I did get out, our trip east of the mountains today yielded nine
TURKEY VULTURES in five different spots!!!! I have been reading everyone
else's reports since February, so am glad to finally have seen my own
'firsts' of the year. All were between Table Mountain (we got to mile 7
before too much snow) and Easton. Four were singles so may have been
nesting birds since there are many caves and craggy spots all through the
area.

Other sights of the day were 31 BUFFLEHEADS on Lake Easton, where we
stopped in the fog and drizzle for coffee. Not another bird on the lake or
in the air, but the buffleheads were happily displaying, chasing the
ladies, and diving. For some reason there seemed to be few passerines or,
at least, not much diversity. My bluebird trail had three empty boxes,
unusual for this time of year, although we did see both MOUNTAIN and
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and one HORNED LARK. A small nearby pond had a GADWALL
and some MALLARDS plus a pair of CANADA GEESE.

A small herd of ten ELK near SR97 was neat to see and just watched us as we
watched them. Also saw a deer later, but that was it mammalwise.

Raptors included 5 OSPREY with a new nest (to us) on a wooden crossbar of a
utility pole south of I-90 at mile marker 74 - that's just ten miles west
of the active nest (two birds today) at the Cle Elum turnoff. This new nest
had two birds also. Also saw 8 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 adult and 3 immature
BALD EAGLES, and 5 RED-TAILED HAWKS.

We were amazed at the lack of swallows at canal crossings. We went on
several primitive roads which cross the canals, all of which were lacking
in much water. These are areas where we go every year and are usually full
of swallows of several species. Absolutely none today.

There were other odds and ends, but those are the highlights of a short,
but neat day.

Cheers, Diann
___________________________
Diann MacRae
Olympic Vulture Study
22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
Bothell, WA 98021
mailto: tvulture at halcyon.com
http://www.halcyon.com/tvulture/