This is a little delayed, but I wanted to send a message out that participants in the Yakima County migration count set an impressive county record of 195 species on May 7! There were 9 teams covering the county. This beats the old county record of 191 species.

Notable species included:

pacific loon and clark's grebe on Preist Rapids lake, both notable birds for May on the Columbia
16 species of shoebird tallied, including 2 photographed semi-palmated sandpipers
8 species of woodpecker on Bethel Ridge rd-including singles of both three-toed and black-backed
an early Ash-throated flycatcher in the Wenas area
a white-throated sparrow on the Yakima training center

Also a Eurasian wigeon seen at Toppenish NWR the day after the count

Notable misses:
black-crowned night-heron
California gull
black-chinned hummingbird
gray jay
loggerhead shrike
grasshopper sparrow
red crossbill

An exceptional total for a county in a single day. This speaks to the impressive diversity of habitats that Yakima county has to offer.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA