Hi Tweets,

Yesterday Bob Flores and I spent the better part of a day searching the
thickets all along Frenchman Hills Road and Road 'C' SE. These areas
comprise large expanses of Russian-olive thickets interspaced with
grassland, sand dunes, and marshlands.
Several highlights were noted during the day of birding.
Our first highlight was observed on Road 'C' SE (a few miles to the west of
Potholes State Park) when a few sparrows flew across the road in front of us
and we were able to observe a SAGE SPARROW perched on a sage bush. It is
assumed that they are migrating through at this time and will not breed in
the area, but I will continue to monitor the area in hopes of locating
evidence of breeding activity. A pair of Great Horned Owls have set up
housekeeping on the north side of Frenchman Wasteway along Rd 'C' SE.
Other highlights included a single SWAMP SPARROW which was located north of
the junction of SR-262 and Frenchman Hills Road along Frenchman Wasteway.
Also present in a wide area of Frenchman Wasteway were 4 Greater Yellowlegs.
This of note due to the increasing numbers of over wintering Greater
Yellowlegs in the interior. An early (or perhaps over wintering) Great Egret
was also present at this site.
A large foraging flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers were observed near
Birder's Corner in the Russian-olives. This flock numbered nearly 70 birds,
all of the Audubon race. Spring is almost here!

Cheers

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
dschone8 at donobi.net