Marv Breece and I chased Merlins in late Jan. in se Washington and were sucessful so we decided to try for Merlins in Mason and Kittitas Cos. as that is the only 2 counties I have never seen Merlins in. The trip was on and off for most of last week and then Friday night decided to make a go of it.



Mason County high-lites seen between 7 am and 2 pm between rain showers are:

Skokomish Valley Road near a Christmas tree farm was 1 American Kestrel, previously seen along this road the week before. Shelton along the bay produced 1 Peregrine Falcon

Potlatch St Park and Skokomish River mouth is usually good birding and although nothing rare it produced Red Crossbills, Brant, Canvasbacks, Red-throated, Pacific, and Common Loons, Pigeon Guillemot, 5 Eared Grebes along with Red-necked, Horned, and Western Grebes. Schafer State Park we had our first of the year Turkey Vulture. Kennedy Creek we scanned over quickly and noted only Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin. We could not find a Merlin in Mason Co.



Sunday in Kittitas we woke to frosty temps with clear skies in Cle Elum. Birds noted was a Townsend's Solitaire, Evening Grosbeaks, a bright yellow-rumped Red Crossbill, and 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove the furthest west I had seen them in Kittitas Co. Ponds around Ellensburg had Tundra Swans in them. Also while driving through Ellensburg near the college we had a nice looking Merlin. This leaves only Mason Co. for me to try and find a Merlin in.



Heading down to Vantage area we had Violet-green Swallows, Say's Phoebes, a Bald Eagle sitting on a nest possibly on eggs, and Chukars. Near Quilomene Wildlife Area we had great looks of Mountain Bluebirds and a Sage Sparrow.



Both days produced 59 species. On the way home I noted 900+ white-cheeked Geese in the ponds just after I got onto I-82 after following the Yakima River Canyon south. We looked hard for geese in Kittitas Co., but didn't realized they are just 33 miles south. Not sure what is holding them in Yakima Co. and not moving north into Kittitas Co.



Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com
Washington Birder online
http://www.wabirder.com/