I did a little birding in Eastern Washington yesterday and stopped at
Birders Corner. For those not familiar with it, it is located at the corner
of Dodson - and Frenchman Hills Road in Grant County (see Opperman page
356). The water in the pond there is extremely low and the surrounding
wetlands are drying out with cattle grazing. This appears to be private
land and maybe the rancher is draining it?
This is one of the Washington Birding Trail Hotspots and usually there are
a lot and a good variety of birds found there. Yesterday all I saw were 6
Black-necked stilts, a pair of Buffleheads and a lone female Green-winged
Teal flying in. Also a very small number of Red-winged Blackbirds were
present. In addition a male Northern Harrier was hunting towards Dodson
Road. It would be a shame if this productive birding area would become a
cow pasture!

Of note is the closure of Frenchman Hills Road at I Road SW when coming
from the west on 7 SW and one mile west of Dodson Road. The detour will
take you north on dusty I SW , a gravel road - tp 4 SW (paved) east to
Dodson Road.

Good Birding!

Hans


*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
thefedderns at gmail.com