Hello all,
Yesterday morning we met Mike Clarke at the Port of Wallula where the
Tufted Duck has been - few scaup there but was a far-off RED-NECKED
GREBE - #150 for our county list. We then scoped at Port Kelley, the
"poop piles" and stopped at the Dodd road blood pond where an early
GREATER YELLOWLEGS surprised us.
The heron roost at MP300 had 10 GREAT EGRETS in addition to the many
Great Blue Herons and several BC Night-Herons.

At the Humorist/Hanson Loop intersection we stopped and watched hundreds
of SNOW GEESE to the north landing in a field. A quick stop at McNary HQ
where many Tundra Swans and Canvasbacks were the highlights. At Ice
Harbor Dam the water was high - so no resting island for the gulls. But
did spot the continuing LONG-TAILED DUCK - on the Franklin Co. side.

Then a phone message from Jason Fidorra about a SLATY-BACKED GULL off
Bateman Island in Benton County. We arrived at the marina and saw lots
of gulls resting on the roof - stopped on road above and sure enough the
Slaty-backed was there along with a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

The SLATY-BACKED GULL appears to be the same one that showed up at Lower
Monumental Dam - same plumage - nice find Jason - first record for
Benton County.

Fun birding, M&ML

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