In addition to finding the Ellensburg Ross?s & Snow Geese this morning, I also found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the fishing ponds on the east side of I-82 north of Thrall Rd. It as with a flock of Canadas at the extreme southeast corner.

After my successful wild goose chase, I made a run up Parke Creek Rd., all the way to the top. This sorely tested my Suzuki 4x4, but there was no snow all the way up. At the top, I found a DUSKY GROUSE, so it was worth the trek for me. Other birds along the way included several VESPER SPARROWS, a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and some MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. Large numbers of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS as well as plentiful (but maybe more expected) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.

At the Quillomene pullout off Old Vantage Hwy, I had 2-3 SAGEBRUSH SPARROWS and a SAGE THRASHER. Somewhere in the distance, a BREWER?S SPARROW was singing.

A run down to Vantage and Huntzinger Rd. had little to offer. There were probably less than 100 Scaup, and maybe 20 COMMON GOLDNEYES. Below Wanapum Dam (which was the birdiest spot), there were a half-dozen COMMON LOONS and maybe 100+ VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, along with most of the scaup and goldeneyes.

Finally, I stopped at Aja Woodruff?s house in Cle Elum where I had a nice male ANNA?S HUMMINGBIRD at his feeders.

== Michael Hobbs
== www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== BirdMarymoor at frontier.com