Hello all,
36 counters and mild weather made for a record-breaking count with 90 species (from 86 back in 1987), 1 new to the count - Yellow-headed Blackbird. 3 species were count week birds - Cackling Goose, Short-eared Owl, and Fox Sparrow. We broke records - Great Blue Heron(18), Coot(21), American Kestrel (100), Downy Woodpecker (44), Spotted Towhee (18) and Pine Grosbeak (17).
Other nice finds were Eared Grebe, Tundra Swan(7), Anna's Hummingbird, Common Redpolls (only 8 - we were expecting more) White-throated and Golden-crowned Sparrow and Evening Grosbeaks. Several flock of Bohemian Waxwings were found in different areas - always fun to see. And we matched our N. Pygmy-Owl record with 5 - 4 of those up Blue/Mill Creek.
Worst miss was Western Meadowlark - several were out looking yesterday for a cw bird with no luck. And no gulls - we have had one at Bennington the last couple weeks - maybe tomorrow.
Extremely windy and warm here today - doesn't feel like Christmas -
Happy Holidays to all - ML
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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley

"If you haven't birded, you haven't lived"