Reports came in from Dave Goeke and others that more SANDHILL CRANES arrived today in the Othello area. Dave reported more than 1000 cranes at Scooteney Reservoir (10 miles south of Othello) around noon today. Other reports to the west and north of Othello had flocks in the 100s. There will be lots more for the Sandhill Crane Festival in 2 1/2 weeks.

Sunday Doug Schonewald led a field trip around the Potholes area that turned up a few species of interest. Moses Lake had a couple of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE mixed in with thousands of Canada and Cackling Geese. A single LINCOLN'S SPARROW was in the Frenchman Wasteway area Russian-olives near Dodson Road. At Potholes State Park at least three TREE SWALLOWS were actively foraging. We managed to relocate at least 7 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and 1 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE in the tall poplars and pines, several RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and both kinglets.

Randy Hill
Othello
hill at smwireless.net