Subject: Of redpolls and warblers
Date: Jan 12 17:31:02 2002
From: Gene Lynch - vogeler at ieway.com


Nadine and I spent today re-acquainting ourselves with places we used to know and finding others we never knew, and searching for birds.
It started before dawn with a drive through rain, then fog, to Electric City in search of the Hoary Redpoll. As early as we left Spokane, we still couldn't beat several nice folks from the Seattle area to the feeders. After standing for 5 minutes or so the bird showed it's lovely self and all had very good looks and photos.
Since it was still early we decided Twisp wasn't that far away and headed for the hills. Again through some rain, more fog, and even a dusting of snow, we enjoyed the countryside. In Twisp, with the sun trying to break through, we spent a comfortable hour or so with Dave Dunn and his wife awaiting the appearance of the Yellow-throated Warbler. We had several good looks at the bird, as well as Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, House Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, and a Bald Eagle that flew into a pine tree not far away. On the way down the mountain we spotted a hybrid Canada Goose X White-fronted Goose on the Methow River just a half mile upstream from its mouth.
The last leg was to take Hwy 2 from the Columbia River back to Spokane. It was the perfect time of day. The sun was beginning to set. Just west of Wilbur the golden sun highlighted a Red-tailed Hawk in what we used to call the Rufous phase. Then the sun began to play with color, light, and shadows like a Maxfield Parrish paintbrush just before it turned the wind-swept clouds over Spokane into fire in the sky.
All together, not a bad day.

Gene and Nadine Lynch
Spokane
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