On Sunday at the conclusion of the very successful WOS
field trip to Lincoln, Adams, Whitman and Garfield
Counties, those that survived to the end stopped at
the Walla Walla River delta. The mut flats were about
1/3 exposed and a 75 degree westerly breeze kept
things pleasant.

Ken Knittle was the official guide, and he will
probably post some more details about the trip on
Tweeters.

Within a few minutes of our(Ken Knittle, Marv Breece,
Kraig Kemper, Howard Armstrong, and me) arrival at the
delta someone had spotted a sleeping godwit several
hundred hards out on the mud. While that bird was
being studied, Marv or Kraig spotted the first of four
WHIMBRELS. Soon after, we confirmed the Godwit as a
MARBLED GODWIT. And while that was happening, I
spotted a WILLET feeding by itself. The willet flew
several hundred feet, providing wonderful view of it's
diagnostic wing pattern.

This was an amazing few minutes.

There were also three SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS, a migrant rarely seen in WA
in the spring.


Scott R a y
Yakima, WA