Subject: Yellow-billed Loon at Vantage
Date: Nov 24 15:04:02 2002
From: Scott G. Downes - downess at cwu.EDU


Tweets,
Went birding around Vantage today and the best bird by far was a juvenile YELLOW-BILLED LOON at the spillway of Wanapum dam. In addition to the regular marks of the blocky head, aricular patch, upturned lower manidible, overall brown tones, pale face. The feature that made me indicate it was a juvenile was the heavy barring on the wings of this bird. The wings were also much lighter brown that adult winter birds that I've seen. I watched it from 12:40-1:00, it was about 60-70 yards out from shore. I did take some distant photos of it, and it may be good enough for ID we shall see.

Other interesting birds to note:

5 Long-tailed Duck at the Wanapum St Park boat launch

1 adult Glaucous-winged Gull flying past the Ginkgo overlook

still good numbers of Western Grebes-15-20 noted

still good numbers of Rock Wrens about 10-15

1 Northern Shrike along Huntzinger Road

among the many Canada Geese at the Bar 14 pond here in town (ellensburg) 2 Greater-white Fronted Geese


Good Birding.

Scott Downes
downess at cwu.edu
Ellensburg WA