Upon recieving a tip from Patrick Sullivan that a Red-throated Loon was
in the spillway area of Wanapum, decided to head down there this
morning. The loon was present as was the Yellow-billed and Pacific. Also
present was a Long-tailed Duck and a new Glacous-winged Gull. The bird
this morning was a third winter bird, the bird that I had been seeing
was an adult.
I believe this is a first county record for Kittitas County, though one
I've been looking for. Red-throated Loon was actually what I was
searching for my county big year when I came accross that weird Common
Loon.

A couple of thoughts on the loons down there, while this loon is odd. I
saw several showing white this morning and depending which loon you're
looking at could mistake different points for traits on an Arctic, i.e.
the Pacific, posture of the Red-throated etc.. Another oddity, was that
I saw one Common with only a flank patch, no white sides, just a flare
on the flanks, yet was clearly a typical common except this mark. Just
some thoughts. On my way home had a nice adult Rough-legged Hawk kiting
directly over I-90 as I passed underneath, a nice diversion to traffic.

Good Birding all.

Scott Downes
downess at cwu.edu
Ellensburg WA