Subject: [Tweeters] Southeastern Washington Birding Dec. 19 & 20
Date: Dec 21 20:22:40 2009
From: Wayne Weber - contopus at telus.net


What? You guys weren't helping out with some of the understaffed Christmas
Bird Counts in the region?

For shame! J J



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net









From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of
washingtonbirder.Knittle
Sent: December-21-09 6:13 PM
To: TWEETERS; INLAND NW BIRDERS
Subject: [Tweeters] Southeastern Washington Birding Dec. 19 & 20



Birding in Columbia County and along the Snake River last weekend neted some
good birds for anyone wanting to chase them. Tom Mansfield and I started
before daybreak near the mouth of the Tucannon River with Long-eared and
Great Horned Owls calling. It just seemed like good owling weather with the
temperature over freezing and no wind. Heading up along the Sanke River
towards Little Goose Dam we heard several Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches at
several different stops come flying off the face of the cliffs. This is a
great place to see these finches. Long-eared Owls were very vocal across
the Snake River in Whitman Co. Not much at Little Goose Dam and above it
except Bufflehead were everywhere. Common Goldeneye were seen on our way
down the river. At the Tucannon River mouth a flock of Canada Geese with 1
Cackling Goose with them. Just west of the Tucannon River mouth was a
loaded barge below the grain bins. A quick stop produced Barrow's
Goldeneyes. Diving ducks like the spilled grain at these grain loading
terminals. At the Lyons Ferry Marina were lots of Robins and a few Cedar
Waxwings feeding on the small crab apples.

Heading south of Kahlotus we checked the cliffs for Gray-crowned
Rosy-Finches and ended up finding them on the cliffs near Lower Monumental
Dam in Franklin Co. On the extreme edge of Wind Dust in small leafless
bushes were 5 Long-eared Owls of various sizes. They blend in with the
brush. Back at Lower Monumental Dam we scoped the gulls across the Snake
River and located a nice adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the way back to
Lyons Ferry we spotted a Prairie Falcon in Franklin Co.

We headed to Pomeroy and checked the southern most cemetery which had tons
of fresh owl pellets. 1 Barn Owl flew out and a very brownish looking
Sharp-shinned Hawk. The hawk must have been feeding on small birds as there
were a few piles of feathers.

Sunday morning we found the Tucannon River Valley very quiet except for
flocks of Wild Turkeys. At camp Wooten were 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1
Dipper, and not much more. A Townsend's Solitaire was sitting on the row of
Western Junipers just east of Dayton on Hwy 12. In Dayton near Guernsey &
5th were 2 Eurasian Collared-Doves, Columbia County's 4'th record. Our last
stop was seeing the Anna's Hummingbird south of Dixie in Walla Walla Co. No
Bohemain Waxwings or Blue Jays, but lots of Mt. Ash berries were seen in
Dayton.

Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
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