Subject: [Tweeters] Klickitat Co last weekend
Date: Feb 25 10:33:31 2009
From: cvadai at verizon.net - cvadai at verizon.net


Hi Tweeters,

Sending a belated report on a quick trip to the Goldendale/Conboy Lake
area this weekend. The weather was fine on Sunday: light snow early in
the morning, and almost balmy conditions in the afternoon. There were a
lot of birds of prey, but a complete lack of pine cones - probably why
all the Pine Grosbeaks/crossbills are on the west side at the moment...

Just the Highlights:
* Two WESTERN SCREECH-OWLs and a LEWIS WOODPECKER at Rock Creek Road.
This area was very quiet otherwise, other than a lot of Black-tailed
Deer and a Western Meadowlark. Only two Black-billed Magpies the entire
trip, both on Bickleton Highway.
* Several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (one dark phase) and a BARN OWL roadside
west of Goldendale.
* A NORTHERN GOSHAWK darted across the road at milepost 16 of Glendale
Road. It was chasing after a flock of robins, which were abundant along
this route. Ravens and Bald Eagles were also thick along this road in
the light snow.
* The eastern units of Conboy Lake (toward Appleton) turned up a
NORTHERN SHRIKE and COOPER'S HAWK, along with a couple of WESTERN
SCRUB-JAYs.
* At the refuge headquarters at Conboy Lake, located a SAY'S PHOEBE
while following a calling NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL in the pines immediately in
front of the parking lot. A WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER then turned up
while I was chasing the pygmy owl in the other direction - this bird was
calling loudly, and flying around high up in the mature pines behind and
to the west of the parking lot. Mountain Chickadees and Red-breasted
Nuthatches were thick here also.
* A Sharp-shinned Hawk in Toppenish rounded out the accipiter list :-)

Regards and good birding,
Christine Vadai
cvadai at verizon.net
Kirkland, WA