The WOS field trip April 5, 2008 started out in sw Benton County and ended up in Klickitat County. Highlights are listed below under areas covered. The wind was a major competitor and cost us some sage birds.

Benton County

Whitcomb NWR
30 Snow Geese
Cackling Geese
White Pelicans
Tree, Violet-green, Rough-winged, and Cliff Swallows
Rock Wren
Cedar Waxwings

Crow Butte Park
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Wilson's Snipe
Great Horned Owl on nest
Golden-crowned Kinglet-tough in Benton-we found them in the camping area

Klickitat County

Alder Creek mouth
Osprey

Six Prong Road
Long-billed Curlews fly over the hill missed by some
Say's Phoebe
Townsend's Solitaire

Sand Ridge Road
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bickleton
1 pair Purple Finches
several Cassin's Finches

Pine Creek
Brown Creeper
Spotted Towhee

Goldendale and east
Cooper's Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Western Scrub-Jay

We ended the day at Mary Hill, but could not locate any Lesser Goldfinches. A Rock Wren was singing east of town along the railroad tracks.

As always we saw bluebirds scattered everywhere.

The canyon leading north and east of Sand Ridge Rd. as always is very intriging. Makes one wonder how many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers show up there.



Ken KnittleVancouver WA 98665 mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Washington Birder online http://www.wabirder.com/