Tweets,

Ellen and I spent a couple hours birding Bingen Pond today. Despite
periods of rain and wind, we saw lots of birds and thoroughly enjoyed
exploring the area. First, we walked around Bingen Pond, then went out to
the small park at the point. We encountered 48 species here. In a mixed
species sparrow flock at the southwest corner of the pond (100' east of
steel power pole set in water), we had nice views of an immature Harris's
Sparrow. Six Lesser Goldfinches were also in the brambles and weedy growth
at this spot. Here's our list from Bingen Pond and the nearby point:

Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 2
Tundra Swan - 6
Canada Goose - 15
Green-winged Teal - 5
Mallard - 20
Northern Pintail - 4
Gadwall - 10
American Wigeon - 70
Ring-necked Duck - 35
Greater Scaup - 20
Lesser Scaup - 60
Bufflehead - 1
Common Merganser - 4
Bald Eagle - 3 immatures soaring over Burdoin Mountain
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Golden Eagle - 1 adult soaring, as above
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 1
American Coot - 5
Ring-billed Gull - 1
Glaucous-winged Gull - 2
Rock Dove - 10
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 4
Western Scrub-Jay - 2
American Crow - 3
Common Raven - 5, soaring ovwer Burdoin Mountain
Black-capped Chickadee - 7
Bewick's Wren - 1, singing
Marsh Wren - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
American Robin - 2
European Starling - 400
Spotted Towhee - 1
Fox Sparrow - 4
Song Sparrow - 30
Golden-crowned Sparrow - 50
White-crowned Sparrow - 35
Harris's Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 75
Red-winged Blackbird - 20
Brewer's Blackbird - 50
House Finch - 20
Lesser Goldfinch - 6
American Goldfinch - 20
House Sparrow - 20

East of the two tunnels on the eastern outskirts of Lyle, we hiked the Lyle
Cherry Orchard Trail. Birds were far fewer, but the hike and scenery were
impressive. Here
we noted:

Bald Eagle - 11, 9 immatures, 2 adults. Playing in the wind!
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Common Raven - 6
Black-capped Chickadee - 5
Canyon Wren - 1, singing away
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net