Monday evening Barb & I took a short drive around the county looking for
migrating shorebirds. We found almost none.

This morning I took another drive since it appeared the bird numbers in
other parts of the state were picking up. I checked Soap Lake, Lake Lenore,
and several areas of Potholes Reservoir. Peeps were located at every stop.

Most of the birds were not unusual, being comprised primarily of Western
Sandpiper with a few Least Sandpiper mixed in. Here are the results of our
search.

Ephrata Lake:
Killdeer - 9
Western Sandpiper - 1
Lesser Yellowlegs - 2
Greater Yellowlegs - 1

Soap Lake (south end):
Killdeer - 16
Western Sandpiper - 46
Least Sandpiper - 14
Baird's Sandpiper - 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1
American Avocet - 3

Soap Lake (north end):
Killdeer - 7
Western Sandpiper - 16
Least Sandpiper - 2
American Avocet - 3

Lake Lenore (south end):
Killdeer - 11
Black-necked Stilt - 5 (4A & 1J)
Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1
Least Sandpiper - 2
Western Sandpiper - 8
Wilson's Phalarope - 1

Lake Lenore (long point in center):
Killdeer - 5
American Avocet - 7 (4A & 3J)
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1

Lind Coulee (Potholes Reservoir):
Killdeer - 11
Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Western Sandpiper - 3

Potholes Reservoir (accessed from Rd 6 SE):
Killdeer - 5
Black-necked Stilt - 3
Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Greater Yellowlegs - 1
Least Sandpiper - 1
Western Sandpiper - 29

Doug & Barb Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA