Out at Conboy last Saturday to check on the Bluebirds (Western) and Sandhill
Cranes. Returning to the headquarters area from the hike to the viewing
platform, late in the day, we heard but did not see what we took to be a
shorebird(s). The call was a high range strident whistled call of
whee-whee-whee-whee-whee-whee-whee. This call was about 7 notes long and
about 2 notes per second and seemed to drop erer-so-slightly on the last
note. The number of the individual call notes were not consistent.
Sometimes the call was only 5 notes long.

Last night (Monday) in going through Paulson's "Shorebirds of the Pacific
Northwest" -- found where this is the described call of the WIMBREL. A bit
early for eastern Washington according to the bar chart in Opperman's ABA
book "A Birder's Guide to Washington". Guess should have spent more time
looking for the bird(s), but we were rushed as there were a few roads to
drive before dark.

Other Notable Vocalists:
[] - SANDHILL CRANE pairs (Wow!)
[] - WESTERN MEADOWLARKs (everywhere)
[] - WESTERN BLUEBIRDs ( 'chur' heard long before viewed)

A few, very skimpy snowpatches (plowed) in roadwside ditches - to be gone in
a day or two. Clear, short-sleeve warmth, and little wind, great for
hearing bird vocalizations (even for someone somewhat impaired by Army
service and pile-driving experience). Water levels from snowmelt were very
low. Very few ducks noted, although Canada Geese were abundant. Large
herds of elk out in the fields as dusk approached, materializing from where?
Four SWANs (sp.) were visible way out from the observation area at the
headquarters.

Birding in Klickitat County
__ oOo _______________ oOo __
John Allinger
Hockinson, Clark County, Washington
-- (Southwest Washington)
Elevation: 500 feet / 160 meters
Latitude: _45_45_N
Longitude: _122_30_W
< nhojregnilla at hotmail.com >