Hi Tweets,

Following a fine Owls by Day fieldtrip with Mike and Merry Lynn Denny, and some late-winter birding around the Tri-Cities, Barbara and I made a trip up Rattlesnake Mountain in Benton County north of Prosser on the way back to Seattle yesterday (2/18). We found late winter turning to early spring and the snow cover incomplete, allowing the winter flocks of Horned Larks to scatter. Most of the scores of Horned Larks we saw were singles or pairs. On the way down the mountain on Rotha Road we stopped to watch a singing Sage Sparrow perched up on a big sage bush, and heard another Sage Sparrow answer. The Horned Larks were singing, too, in or near the sage, perhaps already setting up housekeeping in the sunny but chilly weather. Rotha Road is best driven in a high-clearance vehicle near the top until it dries out though the lower part and the other roads on the mountain were in good condition. We also spotted a half-dozen Rough-legged Hawks and a lone Say's Phoebe on the mountain,

The abandoned homestead at the end of Sharp Road described in the ABA Guide is now inaccessible by auto -- Sharp Road is no longer maintained and is blocked at the intersection with Case Road. A sign at the barrier from the Benton County authorities warns that penalties for treaspassing in Benton County are severe. Access is still allowed by foot from the DFW handicapped parking lot on Case Rd. We found the trail and estimated an approximate 2 mile round-trip, which we left for other visitors to Rattlesnake Mountain.

Good birding!

Paul Webster
Seattle
paul.websterATcomcast.net