Howard and Thais Armstrong joined me Monday in checking out the birds from Bingen to Trout Lake to Conboy NWR and on to Bickleton where the sun dissappeared. Highlights included 1 Acorn Woodpecker at the grannery tree just east of Balch Road. Other birds in this area were Lewis's Woodpeckers and Lesser Goldfinches. At Trout Lake we had many Evening Grosbeaks calling and all 3 Nuthatches. At Conboy NWR we found many pairs of Sandhill Cranes, and 5 Cackling Geese mixed in with the larger Canadas. Also 2 Greater White-fronted Geese and a female (Taiga) Merlin. East of Goldendale we found 2 Rough-legged Hawks. It was almost dark when we watched Mountain Bluebirds on the Dot Road south and west of Bickleton. We were hoping for any night birds, but none were heard as we dropped down to Roosevelt. Only sparrow chips and numerous frogs making tons of noise.

Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
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