Count was held on the 14th - our 52nd. One of our warmest count days
ever with temp 48 to 54, sunshine in the morning then rain after 2:45.
We had a Milberts Tortoiseshell Butterfly up Blue Creek - definitely our
first ever on a CBC.

Found an average 85 species plus two count week birds - but 2 FIRST for
our count - a TURKEY VULTURE and a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER.

HARRIS'S SPARROW, AMERICAN PIPIT, and AMERICAN GOSHAWK were uncommon finds.

Broke a couple records - 24 Common Goldeneye beating our previous 13 and
94 Red-breasted Nuthatch beating 56 back in 1994.

CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY - our first were 3 in 2022, only one last year but
a total of 6 were found this year - this species is now regular in
Burbank, Touchet, College Place, Walla Walla and Prescott.

Ruddy Duck and Pied-billed Grebe - only our 3rd ever.

VERY LOW numbers of Robins and Varied Thrush - despite abundant apple
and berry crop.

Enjoy all those Christmas Bird Counts - Mike & MerryLynn Denny

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