Yakkers and Tweeters,

A group of 15 Auduboners from both west and east of the Cascades met YTC
biologist Colin Leingang at 4:45 am this morning. Colin facilitated entry on
to the installation for our group and led us east to upper Selah Creek.
There we watched, at scope distance, four or so Greater Sage-Grouse display
in the nearby shrub-steppe. We saw no females, the reason for the grouse
performing this elaborate display. It was darn cold, about 25 degrees F!

Other birds singing away from the sagelands were Horned Lark, Sage Thrasher,
and Brewer's and Vesper Sparrows.

We then started the return, stopping at a couple riparian areas. We found
Long-eared Owls at each, a target bird for a number of folks. Harriers
seemed to be displaying everywhere, performing their acrobatic rolls and
swoops, impressing all.

Here's our list:

Mallard 4
California Quail 15
Greater Sage-Grouse 5
Northern Harrier 9
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Golden Eagle 2
American Kestrel 3
Long-eared Owl 5
Northern Flicker 1
Black-billed Magpie 3
Common Raven 6
Horned Lark 3
American Robin 3
Varied Thrush 1
Sage Thrasher 6
European Starling 4
Brewer's Sparrow 10
Vesper Sparrow 20
Sage Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Western Meadowlark 15
House Finch 2

Back at the YTC entrance I led a smaller group for an "tour extension "into
the nearby Yakima Canyon. Just beyond MP 4, we walked a short track up to a
grand overlook of the canyon. Highlights here were a pair of Golden Eagles
displaying and at their nest, White Pelicans posing in the Yakima River, a
Bald Eagle on the nest, a couple Chukars, and numbers of Violet-green
Swallows flitting in the brilliant, but cool morning sunshine. Mammalwise,
we scoped six Bighorn Sheep ewes foraging on the steep slopes across the
Yakima River.

A beautiful morning!

Our list for the Yakima Canyon

Common Merganser 7
California Quail 4
Chukar 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
American White Pelican 9
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Golden Eagle 2
American Kestrel 3
Rock Pigeon 25
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 1
Black-billed Magpie 3
Common Raven 6
Violet-green Swallow 20
American Robin 4
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 2

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net