Hi Tweets,

Barb and I spent a few hours birding the Potholes Reservoir area today.
Birds of note included a single PACIFIC LOON at the Blythe WDFW Boat Launch
(between Mar Don Resort and Potholes State Park) and a nice first winter
THAYER'S GULL at the same location.
Potholes State Park had much activity. A week ago I had thought the montane
irruption had peaked, but this afternoon I was able to locate 14 Mountain
Chickadees, 5 Brown Creepers, 20+ Golden-crowned Kinglets, 4 Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, and 11 Red-breasted Nuthatches.
Also in attendance at Potholes State Park were several hundred American
Robins and 100 or so starlings. Barb and I watched enthralled as a first
year MERLIN made several passes at the starlings. The Merlin was often just
over our head as he stooped on the starlings. We could hear the wind
rushing through wings as he dove on the starlings. We did not see a kill
made, and after several tries the starlings had had enough and left for
greener pastures. The Merlin was bent and dinner starlings and Merlin
eventually flew out of sight to the south.

Cheers

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
dschone8 at donobi.net