I will be gone from Washington for most of May and much of June, so I have been trying to cover a lot of ground before I go.  Yesterday was a marathon trip to Eastern, Washington.  Too many miles but rewarded by some great birds and decent photos.  It was extra fun because Paul Baerny was covering much of the same area on a little different schedule and we traded information during the day.  I am especially thankful to Paul for sharing his find of some LONG BILLED CURLEWS on the North Frontage Road along I-90 and East of Silica Road in Grant County.  I found 6 CURLEWS there and got some of my best photos ever.   I tried to reciprocate with details of three BURROWING OWLS I found at two different locations on the way to the Rocky Ford Fish Hatchery also in Grant County (and where I had a brief peek at a SORA) but Paul was already heading home and I think may return next week.
Other highlights were great looks at TRICOLORED, YELLOW HEADED, RED WINGED and BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS at the grain terminal just up the hill from Para Ponds, 11 first of year  OSPREYS on 8 different nests throughout the day, two first of year SWAINSON'S HAWKS near LEWANDOWSKI ROAD, 11 first of year BLACK NECKED STILTS at Kerry's Pond in Yakima County, the continuing BLUE JAY harassing a GREAT HORNED OWL at Randall Park in Yakima, and two first of year LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at Oak Creek where the gate is locked and you have to walk in - and my walk was in a mixture of falling snow and rain.  
Some photos are at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127293169 at N07/albums/72157690792029193



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