Subject: [Tweeters] Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Othello
Date: Sep 27 17:58:43 2007
From: Hill - hill at smwireless.net


This afternoon there was a juv. SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER among about a dozen Pectoral Sandpipers at the potato waste ponds NW of Othello. There might be more than one but I never had more than one in view at a time. Nice rufous crown, white supercilium and bright buffy unstreaked breast. Several Pecs were deceivingly buffy with various angles of the sun playing tricks. Also a basic Black-bellied Plover, still 5 avocets, some Western and Least Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, LB Dowitchers, Killdeer and lots of gulls (RB and CA). A flock of about 25 Bonaparte's Gulls at Migraine Lake on Columbia NWR, and at the wooded area at SR 26 and Corfu Road a Golden-Crowned Sparrow among loads of White-crowns, and a single CASSIN'S FINCH among House Finches.

A reminder that the potato ponds (behind the Para ponds along McManamon Road) are private property with NO TRESPASSING posted. There has been a general acceptance of birders walking in with scopes if parked out of the way right off McManamon Road (not blocking any vehicle access) before waterfowl season which begins in 2 weeks. There is no guarantee that this access will continue so please be on your best behavior if deciding to enter the area. All birds were at the western pond and best viewed during the AM for best light.

Randy Hill
Othello