Greetings all,

Tracey Norris and I spent Saturday and part of Sunday birding areas of
Eastern Washington searching for several target species, as Tracey just
moved up here from San Antonio. In the short time we were out, we ended up
being pretty successful with some of our goal birds.

Wanapum Dam
8 Common Loons and 1 Red-throated Loon on the 15th, and finally observed the
Yellow-billed Loon on the 16th from the Grant County side of the dam. Many
Rock Wrens and Canyon Wrens were singing, and a few displaying Say's Phoebes
were seen in the area.

We encountered the subadult Snowy Owl south of Moses Lake at the
intersection of L SE and 4 SE sitting on a tire of some farm equipment on
the 15th.

Many Eared Grebes were seen along Soap and Lenore Lakes.

Several Thousand Snow Buntings were seen around the Waterville Plateau on
the 15th in the Atkins Lake vicinity, including many Horned Larks, and about
a dozen Lapland Longspurs. Several Rough-legged Hawks were seen, including
a dark morph.

On the way back down Highway 17 on sunday, near the road to Mansfield, we
encountered a Juvenile gray morph Gyrfalcon chasing a flock of geese around.
IT also sat on a telephone pole for a few minutes allowing nice views.

Thats about it, wish we actually had a full weekend to bird up there, but
alas, had to work sunday night.

Cheers and Good Birding
Ryan Shaw
Tacoma (University Place) WA
rtshaw80 at hotmail.com


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