Hi Tweeters . . .

Here are the results of the "hooky Thursday" trip to Ellensburg . . . . up
into Douglas County (Dry Falls, Mansville area, Bridgeport area. Nathan
Coutsoubos took me up on the opportunity to ride shotgun. Always better to
have more than two eyes on board, especially when two of them are supposed
to be looking at the road (at least part of the time). We got 43 species, 2
lifers for me, 3 lifers for Nathan. Conditions were generally in the low
30's, overcast, and usually a tad too windy. We dipped on a few key targets
(Bohemian Waxing, Lapland Longspur, Rosy Finch, Chukar), but it was
definitely a better day spent birding than working.

List is alphabetical with notes of interest here and there.

American Coot
American Crow
American Kestrel
American Robin
American Widgeon
Bald Eagle
Black-billed Magpie
Black-capped Chickadee
Brewer's Blackbird
Bufflehead
California Quail
Canada Goose

** Canvasback -- In addition to the normally colored ones seen later in
the day, we were also long-range scoping down on the Columbia from high up
on the road to Vantage State Park. We were highly intrigued by the
strangely *lighter* rusty red colored heads of a few. As we took turns
taking a look and scratching our heads about the whole thing, a hunter then
waded out and dragged up his string of decoys. Too funny.

Common Goldeneye
Common Loon
Common Merganser
Common Raven
Common Redpoll -- 2 miles west of Vantage on Vantage Hwy. Lifer for Nathan.
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Gadwal
Gray Partridge -- 8 seen in yard about 2 miles west of Ellensburg airport on
Hungry Junction Road. Lifer for Nathan and Ned.
Great Blue Heron
Horned Lark -- hundreds in various flocks on either side of Rt. 17 south of
Sims Corner, many bright yellow. Excellent show.
House Sparrow
Lesser Scaup
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Pied-billed Grebe
Purple Finch (probably House as well at some point)
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Duck
Rock Dove
Rough-legged Hawk
Ruddy Duck
Snow Bunting -- Peppered in with the Horned Lark flocks. Lifer for Nathan
and Ned.
Song Sparrow
Varied Thrush
White-crowned Sparrow

We also probably saw a few Western Meadowlark at Bridgeport Bar, but light
was fading at that point, and they flew before we got a good look. They had
that Starling shape we were generally ignoring by that point, but as they
flew, they appeared much lighter in color.

================================
Ned McGarry
Kirkland, WA
nmcgarry at gte.net