Matt Dufort and I had a great few days in Eastern Washington where we
encountered a number of interesting birds. On Thursday November 15th
we started out with a BOHEMIAN WAXWING at Vantage. While scoping the
waters we found a PACIFIC LOON (below the Wanapum Dam), a RED-NECKED
GREBE, 3 SURF SCOTERS, 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS,
and a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Grant Co side below Wanapum Dam). At
Wanapum State Park there was a late BARN SWALLOW and a SLATE-COLORED
JUNCO, as well as a half-white American Robin.

Continuing south along the east side of the river we scoped three more
scoters above the Priest Rapids Dam - 1 Surf, 1 WW & 1 Surf/WW. There
were also 135 Redheads, all but ten of which were in a single
homogeneous flock. Down near the Tricities along the highway at the
Horn Rapids ORV Park/Landfill there was a young THAYER'S GULL, and at
McNary NWR an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was spotted at dusk before
breaking into song.

The next day at Ice Harbor Dam there were two adult MEW GULLs and an
adult THAYER'S GULL - both on both sides of the river - as well as
several Barrow's Goldeneye. Back at McNary NWR a single Great Egret
flew in and a Black-crowned Night-Heron was along the edge.

On Dodd Road a Merlin was perched along the road. An interesting
bright 'eastern' Song Sparrow of some type was along the dirt road
going south along with 150+ mostly White-crowned Sparrows. A bit
further down in a flock of 2000+ blackbirds
(1200Brewers,800RW,10cowbirds) there was a female RUSTY BLACKBIRD that
gave great prolonged views. At the poop piles there was a young
THAYER'S GULL, an adult MEW GULL, and a female YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD. In a quick drive through Touchet 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES
were on a telephone pole.

We ended the day at Little Goose Dam where there were 2 more MEW
GULLS, making five for the day, this time an adult and first-year. A
couple Great Horned Owls were flying around and hooting as it got
dark. Later while owling at 5220 feet elevation along FR40 south of
Pomeroy we heard a skiew call several times - either a Northern
Saw-whet or Boreal Owl. Unfortunately we never saw the bird.

On Saturday at Central Ferry we had another SLATE-COLORED JUNCO, and
on the Whitman Co side a RED-NECKED GREBE and a flock of 200 House
Sparrows. Farther east at Rice Bar an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was very
cooperative allowing great views - at least until I took out the
camera... On the nearby roads a young GOLDEN EAGLE was perched in a
snag and a single flock of 250 House Finches was nearby.

Good Birding,
Ryan Merrill
Kirkland, WA