Tweeters,



9 AM: Checked out the area above Wanapum Dam from the boat launch on the
east side of the Columbia River. The LONG-TAILED DUCKS were not present,
although GREBES (could not tell if EARED or HORNED), COMMON LOON, and
BUFFLEHHEAD were there. Below dam were COMMON LOON and COMMON GOLENEYE.
Further upstream was a large flotilla of AVERAGE SKAUP (that means I did not
take the time to determine if they were LESSER or GREATER). Near Ephrata
were WESTERN MEADOWLARK and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Hwy 17 on the way to
Mansfield had more ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, both dark and light morphs, and lots
of HORNED LARK.



1 PM: Northwest of Mansfield farmstead north of the intersection of Road B
with 15, I scanned the trees on the east side for a long time. Turning
around I spotted the NORTHERN HAWK OWL in the top of the tall tree on the
west side of the road. He suddenly dropped down in my direction, landing on
the snow, then flew to the top of the nearest roadside power pole with a
gray rodent in his beak, which he dined on for a few minutes. Next he flew
high into a tree at the farmstead on the east side of the road, where he
was when I left. This bird has no shyness.



4 PM: At Pearrygin Lake SP I hiked into the West entrance and heard and
saw BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES. Further in , beyond the office I found two
trees with about 30 PINE GROSBEAKS. They were eating the plentiful seeds in
the ash tree, and dropping down to drink melt water under a picnic table.



Thanks to Ryan Merrill for noting the presence of the Pine Grosbeaks, and to
Meredith for good directions and updates on the Hawk Owl, as well as all
other tweeters who posted on these locations recently. The Northern Hawk
Owl and Pine Grosbeak are life birds.



Oddly, Prairie Falcon and Sage Sparrow, both of which would also be life
birds, continue to elude me. Any advice is appreciated.



Marvin S. Hoekstra

Sammamish, WA

marvin dot hoekstra at verizon dot net