Subject: [Tweeters] Walla Walla county update
Date: Jan 3 17:31:08 2016
From: Mike & MerryLynn - m.denny at charter.net


Hello all,
A Red-breasted Sapsucker was also seen on January 1 - putting our total
to 115 - so broke our record! Thanks to all that reported - much
appreciated.

Mike and I headed north today - birded Eureka Flats, Lower Monumental
Dam areas. Highlight today:

HORNED LARKS - well over 6000 birds in huge flocks on Sheffler, Babcock,
LOMO Dam roads - the most we have see up there in many years. On
Sheffler road I scoped one flock and found 6 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. The
larks are in all plumages, some bright yellow, many of the "arctic race"
- no yellow at all and many "regular" larks.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - continuing at the dam along with over 500
other gull species - had to wait out a 30 min. snowstorm before we could
bird.

GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES - 2 at the cutbank on Harvey Shaw road and 2
more at the gravel pit above the dam.

WESTERN MEADOWLARKS - several large flocks of 40 birds - unusual to see
that many here in winter.

GOLDEN EAGLE - 2 adults - always a treat to see!

Rough-legged Hawks - many beautiful birds

Happy 2016 birding - and if you see birds in Walla Walla county - please
send your sightings to Ginger at vlshoe42 at gmail.com

Later, MerryLynn




--
Mike & MerryLynn Denny
Birding the Beautiful Walla Walla Valley
"If you haven't gone birding, you haven't lived"