Took advantage of a wonderful weather day to head to Vantage and help add
some data for the GBBC. Stopped along the Vantage Highway in several places
and SAGE SPARROWS are back on territory in full force. In 4 stops, I netted
13 singing males. Also present was a single female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD at a
box.

The other significant highlights came from the Ginkgo overlook. A nice
PACIFIC LOON was out in mid-river. also most surprising was a very striking
CLARK'S GREBE amongst 5 WESTERN GREBE. I don't know that I've ever seen a
Clark's on the Columbia in mid-winter, a very noteworthy siting, but the
white extending above the eye and the pale flanks were very obvious on this
bird (actually first spotted an "odd grebe" with the bins before confirming
the ID with scope views). Large Scaup flocks all along Huntzinger rd. but
nothing super rare, other than a few REDHEADS and 3 CANVASBACK. There were
also 2 CANYON WRENS and several ROCK WRENS along Huntzinger rd.

Spent the afternoon in the Yakima River Canyon had 1 soaring GOLDEN EAGLE
and spent the late afternoon hearing numerous flocks of CHUKAR calling from
the talus slopes. All in all not a bad day.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA