Saturday and Sunday I birded Walla Walla County. Saturday morning (6/11/05) there were 2 FRANKLIN'S GULLS at the Walla Walla river mouth. Lots of birds at Iowa Beef ponds, but nothing unusual.

I went on to Dixie, Biscuit Ridge Road. Stopped at Tom Lamb's and signed his visitor's log. Missed the broad-tailed but had a great time with Tom. Never was there a better hummer host. On up the road I ran into Mike and MerryLynn Denny. We birded the ridge and returned to Tom's, where we all enjoyed the BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, as Mike reported earlier.

Later in the evening I drove up Biscuit Ridge Road and had 2 singing GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, with a good look at one. They were in the usual area, but near the road. Mike and MerryLynn had tipped me off, so I avoided that treacherous descent. At dusk I saw a GREAT GRAY OWL at about the same location. The bird was hunting; hovering/kiting a few feet from the ground.

This morning I returned to the river mouth where there were 7 FRANKLIN'S GULLS. A trip to the scummed over pond on Iowa Beef Road revealed a lone WHITE-FACED IBIS. This bird stood on the rim of the pond in full view for a good 5 minutes. Then it wandered into the pond and managed to skulk and remain hidden for the balance of my visit.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA