Hello All,
Yesterday(26 Feb.) under a clear warm sun MerryLynn and I along with two guests birded and photoed our way through the Lower Columbia Basin. Birds of note were..........

Merlin.........1adult columbarius race on a kill beside Lyon Ferry Rd. Watched for 20+ min.

Ferruginous Hawk.........1pair over nest site along Lyons Ferry Rd. First of the year for us.

Long-eared Owl..............1 ad. along Lyons Ferry Rd.

Mountain Chickadees.....5 birds in a flock at Lyons Ferry Park

Varied Thrush..........1 bird at Lyons Ferry Park

Red-breasted Nuthatch.....1 bird at Lyons Ferry Park

NOTE: Palouse Falls S.P. has had 40% of all the trees cut down! What management! So much for this outstanding vagrant trap. While looking down near the base of this beautiful falls MerryLynn spotted an adult River Otter!

Great Horned Owl.............1 ad. near the Trainer Ranch along SR 261

Northern Saw-whet Owl........6 birds on roosts in Kahlotus.

Brown Creeper....................2 birds at Wind Dust Park

Mountain Chickadee............2 birds at Wind Dust Park

Varied Thrush......................1 bird at Wind Dust Park

Long-eared Owl....................11 birds at Wind Dust Park

Northern Saw-whet Owl..........1 bird at Wind Dust Park

We had a great day out in the field with Paul and Phil. We also bested our Saw-whet Owl record by one for a day in the field along the Snake River. The Montane species invasion persists here in the Lower Basin with 7 Mountain Chickadees observed in southern Franklin County. Thats it.
Later Mike






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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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