Subject: Columbia River, Vantage highway
Date: Feb 15 16:46:39 2004
From: Scott Downes - downess at charter.net


Did a loop from Highway 24 out of Yakima, up the Columbia to Vantage, down
Huntzinger Road and the Vantage Highway and brief tour of the kittitas
valley. Nothing really rare but a few noteworthy items.
On the river at Priest Rapids, below the dam:
Glaucous-winged Gull-adult
Barrows Goldenye-male

Priest Rapids WMA-huge flock of Wigeons that included 1 male Eurasian Wigeon
and 1 male American/Eurasian hybrid.
1 White-throated Sparrow in brambles near boat launch.

Huntzinger Road:
3 Eared Grebe, just north of Wanapum Dam, near Getty's cove
Good number of Common Loon, 16 seperate birds identified from Priest Rapids
dam to Wanapum Dam.

Looked for early spring arrivals along the vantage highway in the form of
Sage Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, or Says Phoebe. The area was still locked
in heavy winter and only ravens and raptors were present.
Among the raptors:
1 Golden Eagle
1 Prairie Falcon

Bald Eagle numbers for the day:
8 along the Columbia river (6a,2i)
11 Kittitas Valley (6a,5i)
4 Yakima Canyon (2a,2i)

Good Birding all

Scott Downes
Yakima WA