What fabulous weather and great birds birding over
to Othello before joining Michale Hobbs and Matt
Bartels and the WOS gang for the Yakima trip.
Thanks to Tweeters with leads to Owls in Othello.
Option one on Steele Road found a burrow but no
owls. Option two on Lemaster found a burrow very
close to road with three owls two of which brought
rodent kills back to share. Other good birds on
Day One (went via Lower Crab Creek) included Black
Necked Stilts, American Avocets, adult Swainson's
Hawk, Golden Eagle, Great Egret (at intersection
of Hwy 24 and Hwy 26 west of Othello), many ducks,
a holding area with easily 600 Canada and Cackling
Geese, and a Western Kingbird.

Michael posted on the WOS trip - but a few
comments: Michael and Matt Bartels were great and
I am in awe of their knowledge, eyesight and ears
and they are just great guys. Everyone on the
trip was a pleasure to be with. The weather was
beyond spectacular. The early morning flooded
field visit with morning light coming up behind us
and MANY birds was a wonderful way to start the
day. Matt's finding the Barn Owl defies belief
and the finally cooperative Sora was a real
treat. Ft. Simcoe was great for MANY Lewis's
Woodpeckers and the Tule Road visit for sage
species was slow but productive with work. The
raptors and wrens and swallows and swifts along
Hwy 12 were enhanced by the great scenery and our
side trip across the cable bride at Milepost 182.5
added great birds including the most probable
Western Wood Pewee and Gray Flycatcher. Finally
the visit to Bethel Ridge was fantastic with my
first Three Toed (Black Backed) woodpeckers in
more that 30 years despite numerous attempts and
unsurpassable views of a male Williamson Sapsucker.

Altogether I had 105 species for the two days
including 30 FOY. And did I mention the weather...

Posted some photos at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103072475474183849815/EasternWABirdsApril212012?authkey=Gv1sRgCPvJ28rd-ue2hQE#