Hello all,
Electric City did not disappoint this last weekend - at least 18 PINE GROSBEAKS including 3 males were at the Mountain Ash tree behind 33 Sunset Drive (residents very friendly and knew the birds - said they had a Blue Jay several years ago). Also at feeders in the area were COMMON REDPOLLS, CASSINS FINCH and 1 very pink House Finch - head pinkish white and body darker pink and brown - tried for pics but it was very skittish. While driving streets on the northeast side of town we came across 8 WILD TURKEYS in a brushy gully - a real surprise. At dusk in snow and fog we called out one NORTHERN PYGMY OWL in Northrup Canyon. Potholes Res. has open water out beyond the ice with Bald Eagles everywhere keeping the geese and ducks on the move. Very few gulls but had one GLAUCOUS GULL on the ice - Mike chummed but only attracted 2 Ring-billed Gulls - a few Herring Gulls were out foraging at eagle kills. At Sentinal Bluffs I found 1 FOX SPARROW in with Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhee and Hermit Thrushes. At Priest Rapids WMA end of rd 26 we found at least 9 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS - and many towhees and Wcrowns. Going in to Priest Rapids dam there were two MARSH WRENS in the swampy area. The river had the usual ducks and a few Common Loons. Both days we had Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks scattered everywhere and a few Northern Shrike. One Great Horned Owl was sitting in Electric City - just above a busy street. Just across the county line into Lincoln Co. we tried for Saw-whet Owl - found evidence in a little cemetery by the river but could not find the bird.
We stayed at Mardon Resort in a cabin - very nice!
Back home, ML
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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley

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