Subject: [Tweeters] Wilsons Warbler@Lyons Ferry & more....
Date: Dec 4 20:35:18 2004
From: mike denny - m.denny at charter.net


Hello all,
Our day started out with a Merlin along Sudbury Road north of Walla Walla chasing an Am. Goldfinch and repeatedly missing after 12+ dives, there may have been a depth perception issue with this falcon. Located an adult Prairie Falcon at Clyde, WW Co.. Also located an adult Northern Shrike and a lone sub-adult Bald Eagle 5 miles south of Lyons Ferry in WW Co.. Found an Am.Tree Sparrow 4 mi. south of Lyons Ferry in the shelter belt east of Lyons Ferry Rd.. At Lyons Ferry was a Tundra Swan that took off to the southeast then out over the Snake River into Columbia Co.and back to the north and out of sight. Also watched an Am. White Pelican land at the mouth of the Palouse River on the Whitman Co. side and join a flock of Canada Geese in a siesta on the Whitman Co. shoreline. 4 Common Redpolls appeared as flyovers.Then MerryLynn discovered a very vocal chipping adult female Wilson's Warbler near the old Lyons Ferry barge anchored near the north end of the park. This is a very late date for this species in Southeastern Washington.
Below Little Goose Dam were many gulls ( 150+ Californias), cormorants, and a single Pacific Loon that started out on the Whitman County side of the Snake River, then when we stopped back in after birding above the dam the Loon was in Columbia County (this is a new county bird to both counties!). On the cliffs between the dam and Texas Rapids were 15 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches ( Hepburns race) and 3 Canyon Wrens. On the drive home from Starbuck we spotted 4 Great Horned Owls and 1 Barn Owl.
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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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