Hello,

We spent two great days in the Othello area this past weekend checking on
the Cranes. I'm happy to report that they are in fine form and ready for
the festival. We were able to spend quite a bit of time with them in the
Scootenay Reservoir area, along Coyan Road, where there are several large
cornfields. One evening, we watched as thousands of them arrived at the
North end of the reservoir to roost for the night. We could see (and hear)
them coming for miles from the North and the West. What a sight!

Additional treats on the trip included a trio of Long Billed Curlew that
flew in giant circles over a mesa near Potholes Reservoir crying to each
other. It seemed like some sort of ritual and provided grand views of these
birds as they circled by us.

Along Frenchman Hills road we saw what we think was a Say's Phoebe and also
a pair of Cinnamon Teal in a pond at Frenchman Hills road and Dodson Road.
This pond, under the giant power towers, was also home to many turtles. On
one end of the pond there was a "turtle pile" on a rock with at least 6
turtles crowded onto a 4-turtle-rock.

Our final treat, as we were leaving the area, was a Great Horned Owl,
nesting in some scrub trees just south of Vantage.

I have posted some pictures of the Cranes and some of our other finds at:
http://www.sparkmeister.com/birdlist/birds.htm


Steve Taylor
Bellingham, WA


Fine Photography available at
http://www.sparkmeister.com