Spent today around Vantage and took my daughter along for a birthday present (day birding with dad) as she turns 7 tomorrow and give her a chance to add to her life list. She added 15 species that she could identify (we saw other birds like scaup that are hard for somebody so new to birding to tell apart). She started her list 1 year ago and is now at 65 species. Not too bad for about to turn 7. She has seen more birds but to add to her list, she has to pick it out of the field guide on her own. We also lucked into a few nice highlights as well:

Surf Scoter-2 immatures from Ginkgo Overlook, 1 immature and 1 female from Wanapum State Park boat launch
Long-tailed Duck-1 female south of Wanapum Dam near railroad bridge
Clark's Grebe-1 Ginkgo overlook (w/Western Grebes)
Pacific Loon-1 adult, 1 first winter bird; Wanapum Dam
Bonaparte's Gull-1 near Sentinel Bluffs (Grant Co) flying over gravel bars mid-river; both counties.

Stopped at Sorenson Pond in Ellensburg on way home (on Berry Rd off of Canyon Rd) and had about 25 minima Cackling geese and 3 immature Greater white-fronted geese among the many Canada geese. There was also a single Western grebe on the pond, this species seems a little more uncommon away from the Columbia river.

A very nice fall day.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA