The WOS field trip on March 24 covered Whitcomb Island NWR, Crow Butte Park,
Six Prong Rd., Sand Ridge Rd., Bickleton, Pine Creek, Goldendale, Crofton
Prairie Pond, Glenwood, and Conboy NWR. We saw 92 species starting at
6:30am and ending at dark. 58 species in Benton Co. and 62 species in
Klickitat Co. with 3 bonus species in Yakima Co. north of Bluelight.

Highlights include by location:

Whitcomb Island with a bright colorfull sunrise---Greater White Fronted
Goose, 24 Snow Geese, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 5 American White Pelicans,
Long-billed Curlews, Tree Swallow (a tough bird in Benton), and
Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Crow Butte Park---2 male red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneye,
Pied-billed, Horned, and Western Grebes, and Caspian Terns. The park itself
was pretty dead.

Six Prong Rd. and Sandridge Rd. where the wind began to blow---2 Gray
Partridge, 2 Turkey Vultures, an adult Cooper's Hawk, Rough-legged Hawks,
Prairie Falcon, Long-billed Curlews, Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, both
Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, both Mt. and Western Bluebirds, and
American Goldfinches with no Lessers mixed in.

A quick stop at Bickleton we found a feeder with Pine Siskins and Cassin's
Finches. And at Pine Creek crossing another pair of Turkey Vultures and a
pair of Red-tailed Hawks grasping talons and spinning until they almost were
at ground level. Several Lewis's Woodpeckers were in the small oaks near
Cleveland. We worked Goldendale over for Eurasian Collared-Doves and were
just about ready to leave when we spotted one lone Eurasian Collared-Dove
sitting on the power line near a school with noisy kids playing. A few
Western Scurb-Jays were around town where they use to be tough to find
there. The best birds at Crofton Prairie Pond was an adult Peregrine Falcon
and a Northern Shrike.

The closer we got to Glenwood the clouds got heavier and we ended the day
birding in the rain. The best birds at Conboy NWR were Lesser Canada Geese,
2 Sandhill Cranes, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Ruffed Grouse heard
only. On our way down the hill after Krebs Lane we found a flock of Wild
Turkeys just before dark.

Target birds hoped for, but missed were Ferruginous Hawk and Sage
Sparrows--figured the strong wind was keeping them down under cover. Winter
still hasn't come to Bickleton, Goldendale and Glenwood. Saw a patch of
snow still lying on the ground near Conboy NWR.

We finished our day going over our lists at the famous Scottish Restaurant
more commonly known as McDonalds in Bingen.

This WOS field trip filled up quite fast with several birders left on the
waiting list and everyone that signed up, showed up 32 mins. earlier than
asked. Never seens such eager-beaver birders before in a group like that.
Thanks to those who did survive the trip for spotting birds missed by the
rest of us. I think all had a great day.

Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
360-574-2590
mailto:washingtonbirder "at" hotmail.com