Hi Tweets,

There were 2 Barn Swallows over the Yakima River at the Horn Rapids weir in
Benton County this morning. A single Glaucous-winged Gull and a half dozen
DC Cormorants also. I wonder how the Barn Swallows managed to survive the
low temperatures eastern WA experienced at the end of last week. Yakima had
at least two nights at 6 degrees. Perhaps these birds have slipped east
across the Cascades from coastal WA or BC since then.

My work this week took me to all of the counties in eastern Washington,
except Klickitat. In fact I was in 10 counties today, and not able to stop
for much birding! During all those miles, I encountered only a single
Rough-legged Hawk. The bird was 20 miles southwest of Ritzville. Red-tails
numbers seem normal to me.

There was a single juvenile American Golden Plover at the Road M bridge over
Lind Coulee on 11/12.

Four American White Pelicans along the Columbia in Grant County at Vernita
Bridge seemed unusual to me. As I watched them, an immature Peregrine
Falcon approached the river from behind me, dove down to water level,
crossed the river and spooked several dabbling ducks at the last second.
None of the ducks took flight, but instead dived in a panicky, white froth.
The falcon then landed on a nearby post to preen.


Scott

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" Scott Ray "
" Moxee, WA "
" scray at wolfenet.com "
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