Tom Mansfield and I started out at Ice Harbor Dam Sat. morning. A Herring Gull and White Pelicans were noted there, not much else. Wind Dust Park didn't have much either. The small park in Kahlotus did have Varied Thrush in eating small crab apples. East of Kahlotus Lake, but before the turn off to Lyons Ferry we stopped for a cool looking Rough-legged Hawk. When the hawk flew it stirred up a small group of Gray Partridge which is tough for Franklin Co.

Behind schedule we zoomed to Steptoe Butte. While coming down the butte we backed up for a possible Rock Wren which never showed, but while out looking we used the I-Pod and a very high flying (single bird) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch came shooting straight for the I-Pod. It hung around until we finally left. Nearby was 1 Snow Bunting at the edge of the pavement and grassy edge.

Kamiak Butte had all three nuthatches and a Winter Wren. Central Ferry had a lone female Surf Scoter along Lower Dendman Rd. in Garfield Co. a county first.

Sunday morning along Pataha Creek amoung the Ponderosa Pines we had a flock of Wild Turkeys, a Northern Pygmy-Owl and in Pomeroy near the park was a Varied Thrush.

At Two Rivers Park in south Kennewick we found a Harris's Sparrow. Later we joined Nancy at the Yakima River Delta and had a Peregrine Falcon, Least Sandpipers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, and Dunlin. 2 Eared Grebes were south of the marina. At the southern end of Columbia Park was a Brown Creeper and White-fronted Goose imm. Late in the afternoon Tom and I hit western Benton Co. and had 1 Prairie Falcon along with Rough-legged Hawk.

Monday morning Nancy, Tom and I headed down to McNary Dam where the adult and imm. Black-legged Kittiwake were seen on both sides of the state line. Later Bateman Island produced Tundra Swans, Lincoln and Golden-crowned Sparrow before we had to head west for home.

Those who haven't birded at this time of year in se Washington are missing lots of quality birds. There's plenty of elbow room and great places to bird. It was a great trip.
Ken KnittleVancouver WA 98665 mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Washington Birder online http://www.wabirder.com/