Subject: [Tweeters] Walla Walla County arrivals
Date: May 9 21:25:43 2017
From: Mike & MerryLynn - m.denny at charter.net


Hello all -

Bennington Lake area has changed dramatically in the last year - the
Corps of Engineers has destroyed habitat yet again - all in the name of
getting rid of "invasive species". All areas on both sides of the canal
have been obliterated by tractors pulling huge mowers - to destroy the
hemlock - but also took out all the snags, roses and all the great
habitat the chats, warblers, buntings and hummers nested in.

We did have 4 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS today - but not in their usual
nesting areas. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES are all around the lake - but usually
only a few nest. One Western Wood-Pewee was back and a few warblers
going through. Only one Lazuli Bunting today.

Bewick's Wrens were feeding young - this is a species that is often
missed by outsiders to our area. It is usually the first bird you hear
at the parking lot - and often the most vocal bird around the lake -
they can sound like Common Yellowthroat, Towhee and other species.

The most surprising bird today at the lake was two RED-NECKED GREBES -
rare in WWCounty - especially away from the Columbia River.

The west end of the county has been birdy as well - lots of mud has
produced shorebirds such as BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER,
MARBLED GODWIT, lots of Long-billed Dowitchers and Western Sandpipers. I
was surprised to hear two singing COMMON YELLOWTHROATS at Casey pond
yesterday - used to be rare migrant in the county but Mike found the
first nesting pair last year. Forster's Terns are back at the WWRdelta
and at 2Rivers.

Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal are in - especially at the Millet pond.

Good birding, M&ML



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