After the New Years Day melt and the 4" snowfall that night we have returned
to a colder and icier condition. I ventured east this morning on Hatton
Road to Hatton, then on SR 26 to SR 21, north to Lind, and back to Othello
via Lind-Hatton Road and Herman Road. I did not find large numbers of
Horned Larks but enough for satisfaction. At least three flocks included
SNOW BUNTINGS. The first were near MP 67 (about 5 miles past the rest area)
where at least 2 were mixed in with about 50 HOLA. At Longmeier Road I
counted at least 8; that flock also included at least 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS
among about 150 HOLA. The third group at Gillis Road (a mile north of SR
26) along SR 21 included at least 3 SNBU among 30 HOLA. Not much through
Lind, but Herman Road had light and dark Rough-legged Hawks, a dark HARLAN'S
HAWK, a PRAIRIE FALCON, and a SHORT-EARED OWL. The Para cattle feeding area
along McManamon Road had the usual huge flock of starlings, pigeons, and
blackbirds including plenty of both YELLOW-HEADED and TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS.



Randy Hill

Othello