Pre-Count Field Trip

Mike Denny led a field trip to various areas in the Christmas Bird Count Circle on December 8.  We visited Bennington Lake, the Airport, Biscuit Ridge Road, Five Points, Evans Road and several spots in Walla Walla and College Place.  The highlight of the day was a northern pygmy owl.  It was a life bird for several of the people on the trip, which always makes it a special event.  Other highlights were a large flock of common redpolls, a northern shrike, and several white sacks at the airport that we hoped were snowy owls, but weren't!  It was a good trip and nice to acquaint the group with the areas in the circle.  We even had a little snow at Five Points!  Looking forward to the Christmas Count next weekend.

Ginger

Northern Harrier With an Attitude

As we walked around Bennington Lake this morning, we noticed a red-tailed hawk sitting in the top of a pine tree.  Soon a female northern harrier started dive bombing the red-tail.  Not only was she diving at the bird, she was also screaming for it to leave.  This went on for several minutes before the red-tail took off – with the harrier in hot pursuit!  There were two northern shrikes today on our walk and two Townsend's solitaires, plus all the usual winter birds.  While on the east side of the lake we flushed about 35 California quail – that woke us up!  The lake was pretty quiet – 13 common mergansers, 5 green-winged teal, 3 mallards, 2 killdeer and a solitary ring-billed gull. There was a winter bite to the air this morning – it feels like snow!  Ginger

Evening Grosbeaks at Bennington Lake

There were over 30 evening grosbeaks in the trees above the parking lot this morning when we got to the lake for our weekly walk.  They were in the conifers and also in the Russian olives.  Robins and juncos were around in huge numbers as well as numerous song sparrows and white-crowned sparrows.  Other birds of note were 3 varied thrushes, a meadowlark, 4 Townsend's solitaires, an American pipit and a great horned owl. In addition to the usual red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and American kestrels, there was also a rough-legged hawk and a Cooper's hawk. A feeding flock of little birds along the trail near the parking lot included mountain and black-capped chickadees, ruby-crowned kinglets, Bewick's wrens, juncos and a spotted towhee.  On the water were 58 canada geese and 4 common mergansers.

It was foggy and cold, but still nice to be out enjoying the walk and the birds.  Ginger

Birding Bennington Lake in the Fog

When we arrived at the parking lot the fog was dense.  We could hear canada geese out on there someplace but couldn't find them (later we found 53 of them sitting on the mud along the canal).  On the east side of the lake we got a lesson in "bird mobbing".  There were several very upset ruby-crowned kinglets in the trees and MerryLynn's keen eyes soon found a northern saw-whet owl. What a treat!  A little further up the trail was a sharp-shinned hawk – one of two we saw today.  The second one flew across the trail right in front of us in hot pursuit of several juncos.  We saw and heard a varied thrush calling from the trees (in the fog it really was an eerie sound).  A Townsend's solitaire sat in the top of the junipers at the north end of the lake.  When we returned to the parking lot, the trees were full of cedar waxwings, robins, juncos, mountain and black-capped chickadees, ruby-crowned kinglets and a golden-crowned kinglet.  We had a total of 37 species today – a lot more than anticipated on a foggy day.  Ginger

Turkey Trot

Tom Scribner led another successful Field Trip searching for wild turkeys. Eleven diligent birders counted a total of 202 turkeys in Walla Walla and Columbia counties.  The weather changed as the day went on with a few sprinkles, a little sun but warm temperatures throughout the day.  The fall colors were spectacular! Although we dipped on owls this trip, we did see a total of 32 species.  We also saw a fox and many deer (both alive in the fields and dead by the side of the road).  It was a fun trip!  Ginger 

Birds at Bennington Lake and County List Record

What a beautiful fall day for birding – warm weather, gorgeous fall colors, and tons of birds!  We started out with a Pacific wren.  Not that unusual for the county, but not a bird we see that often at the lake.  Next we saw a great blue heron adorning a dead tree.  Killdeer, greater yellowlegs and dunlin were in the mud and buffleheads and a western grebe dotted the water (what water there is).  We found two great horned owls today – one was sitting in a cottonwood that was brilliant yellow making for a nice photo.  Flocks of pine siskins, robins, goldfinches, cedar waxwings, juncos, white-crowned sparrows and house finches seemed to be everywhere we looked.  The biggest surprise was a PURPLE FINCH sitting in the top of a bare tree – calling.  The finch put our Walla Walla County list for 2012 at 257 – a record!  In addition, it was the first time one had been reported at Bennington Lake.  A northern shrike was in the shrubs on the east side and we had all three chickadees – black-capped, mountain and chestnut-backed.  Ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets were mixed in with the chickadees.  We saw a total of 43 species today.  Days like today are what make birding so fun!  Ginger

Northern Shrike at Bennington Lake

We saw our first northern shrike of the season at the lake today on our walk.  Other birds of note were flocks of cedar waxwings, a varied thrush, common mergansers, western grebes, dunlin, a greater yellowlegs and a large mixed flock of pine siskins, mountain and black-capped chickadees, ruby-crowned and golden crowned kinglets and juncos. It was cold and little drizzly at first, but the colors are still beautiful at the lake.  The water level on the lake is VERY low.  Ginger

 

Rough-legged hawks

Rough-legged hawks are starting to show up in the Walla Walla area.  The best place to look for them is north of town.  They were spotted this weekend on Sudbury Road and on the Ayers Road just south of Clyde.  A Harlan's red-tailed hawk was also seen – another northern bird that comes down for the winter.  Ginger

Field Trip - October 20

It was a Winnie the Pooh "blustery day" for our Field Trip on Saturday.  Nine of us looked for raptors and other birds in the Lowden/Touchet area.  There were many northern harriers, kestrels, and red-tailed hawks.  It was fun watching them maneuvering in the wind. Other highlights included three long-billed dowitchers, a great horned owl and wild turkeys.  Ginger

 

Birds on the Move

There have been some great birds seen in the Walla Walla area the past week.  Be on the lookout for white-throated sparrows, golden-crowned sparrows, evening grosbeaks, Anna's hummingbirds, mountain chickadees and more.  Pygmy nuthatches have been seen in the Tri-Cities and at Lyon's Ferry, so watch for them too.  Pine siskins and red-breasted nuthatches are still being seen in unusually high numbers.  Ginger

Hawk Watch

The first Blue Mountain Audubon Field Trip of the season was held on September 22.  Twenty-two people joined Mike and MerryLynn Denny for a Hawk Watch on Bald Mountain in the Blue Mountains.  The temperature was in the 60's and the air was calm and filled with smoke.  Not the best conditions for hawk migration, but we did see 31 raptors of seven different species throughout the day—red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, American kestrel, Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, osprey and turkey vulture.  There were other interesting birds in the area too including mountain bluebirds, Townsend's solitaires, yellow-rumped warblers, Cassin's finches and a very cooperative Say's phoebe.  We saw a total of 36 species on the trip.  The mountains are dry – we need a good rain!  Ginger

 

Mountain Chickadees and More Winter Birds

I have had three people tell me about seeing mountain chickadees in their yards in the past week.  We also saw one this morning at Bennington Lake.  While this isn't a rare occurrence, it is unusual for them to be here so early in the fall.  There also seems to be an influx of red-breasted nuthatches in town.  And, if your feeders are being depleted rapidly these days, there have been a huge number of pine siskins arrive in the past two weeks.  Add a large number of returning white-crowned sparrows to the list, and it looks like our winter birds are here!  There were also two dark-eyed juncos at the lake this morning so it won't be long before they return in large numbers also.

 

There were still a few migrants at Bennington Lake this morning including a Wilson's warbler, a common yellowthroat, a couple orange-crowned warblers, several yellow-rumped warblers and a VERY late yellow-breasted chat.

 

Watch your feeders – who knows what might turn up. 

Ginger

Warblers at Bennington Lake

It was a pretty good morning for migrating warblers this morning.  We saw or heard 3 yellow-rumped warblers, 5 orange-crowned warblers, 2 Wilson's warblers and 2 Nashville warblers.  Other interesting sightings were 2 Hammond's flycatchers, 4 red-breasted nuthatches, 7 American pipits, 2 Savannah sparrows, 2 Lincoln's sparrows, one each great horned owl, greater yellowlegs, sharp-shinned hawk and Cooper's hawk.  The Wilson's plover is gone, but it brought birders from all over the Pacific Northwest to see it.  We had a total of 47 species today.  Ginger

Swainson's hawks

Swainson's hawks are starting to gather in large numbers in the Lowden/Touchet area.  Look for alfalfa fields that are being cut or have just been cut.  Mike and MerryLynn saw about 50 of them in a field near Touchet yesterday.  Ginger

Bennington Lake Wilson's Plover and Clay Colored Sparrow

The Wilson's plover is still at the lake.  We saw it this morning along the little spit in the canal.  It has now been here for nine days, and MANY people have come to see it.  There were fall birds and migrants on our walk this morning.  The white-crowned sparrows are back in good numbers.  The most unusual migrant we saw was a clay-colored sparrow.  Other migrants included Wilson's warblers, yellow-rumped warblers, a Townsend's warbler, both Hammond's and dusky flycatchers, warbling vireos, western tanagers, a Lincoln's sparrow and a red-naped sapsucker.  Summer birds still present were house wrens, chipping sparrows, western wood peewees, gray catbirds, spotted sandpipers and yellow warblers.  There were quite a few Vaux's swifts swooping down on the water as well as barn swallows, violet-green swallows and northern rough-winged swallows.  We saw 46 species today.  Ginger

Bennington Lake

Six of us walked the lake this morning.  The Wilson's plover was still present.  Its two favorite spots were near the boat ramp and in the far southeast corner of the lake.  It's amazing to watch this little bird that is SO far away from home.  Thanks again to Mike and MerryLynn for finding this very rare bird.  Migrants seen today were a Townsend's warbler, a clay-colored sparrow and an olive-sided flycatcher.  There was a secretive warbler on the south end of the lake that refused to come out where we could see it, but is was nice to speculate on what "rarity" it could be.  Next week we will return to our 8:00 walking time.  Come out and join us – who knows what migrants might show up!

Ginger

Wilson's plover

Mike and MerryLynn Denny found a Wilson's plover at Bennington Lake this morning.  As far as they know, it is the first time the species has ever been seen in Washington State. It was along the canal with several other shorebirds including two short-billed dowitchers. Several of us went out and got to watch this very rare visitor. Wow!

Shorebirds at Bennington Lake

We're beginning to get some mud at the lake and it really paid off today.  We had nine species of shorebirds: semi-palmated plover, killdeer, Wilson's snipe, red-necked phalarope, western sandpiper, least sandpiper, semi-palmated sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, Baird's sandpiper.  Not bad!  While looking at the shorebirds we heard a red-naped sapsucker drumming behind us.  We weren't able to locate it, but this is the time of year they might be found in the trees below the parking lot.  There were still lots of western wood-peewees and a few yellow warblers.  An olive-sided flycatcher and two Wilson's warblers were nice, and it's always nice to see the great horned owls (we saw two today).  Two of the group saw a Brewer's sparrow and MerryLynn heard a lesser goldfinch.  The temperatures were moderate and there was a pleasant breeze so all in all it was a great walk.  We saw or heard 50 species.  Ginger

Bennington Lake

There were birds everywhere again today.  New fledglings for the week were gray catbirds, eastern kingbirds, western kingbirds and unfortunately   cowbirds being fed by yellow warblers in three different locations.  The good news is, we didn't see any adult cowbirds today.  We are walking at 7:00 now while the weather is hot.  The birds had quieted down considerably by the time we returned to the parking lot.  46 species today.

Baby Birds at Bennington

There were baby birds everywhere we walked this morning – yellow warblers, Bullock's orioles, house wrens, black-headed grosbeaks, gray catbirds, Bewick's wrens, song sparrows and cedar waxwings.  It was nice to see so many fledgling birds. Lots and lots of swallows were flying over the lake – bank, northern rough-winged, tree, cliff and even a few  barn. One osprey was fishing. Yellow-breasted chats were still very vocal as were the western wood peewees, magpies and flickers.  We saw a pair of western tanagers along the west side trail.  In past years they have nested there, but this was the first we'd seen of them in a month or so.  Goldfinches and robins were abundant.  There was one greater yellowlegs along the south shoreline as well as several killdeer and spotted sandpipers.  We walked at 7:00 this morning, so it wasn't too hot.  It you want to enjoy the birds but avoid the heat, I would suggest going early in the morning and walking the western side of the lower trail from the parking lot.  We saw most of the species mentioned in that area.

Have fun and enjoy the birds.  Ginger

Bennington Lake today

After being rained out on Tuesday, the birds really put on a show today for us.  Nesting season is in full swing now and the sights and sounds were fantastic.  Many of the house wrens have fledged and were rustling around in the brush.  We saw three osprey, three buffleheads, two double-crested cormorants and two great blue herons on the water.  We also saw five great horned owls today – both adults and young. Several killdeer were along the dam, including one very tiny youngster.  Yellow-breasted chats were calling loudly and I got really good looks at one.  The calliope hummingbird was in its usual spot along the west side of the lower trail and there were at least three willow flycatchers along the canal. Add yellow warblers, western wood peewees, Bullock's orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, Bewick's wrens, song sparrows and black-capped chickadees to the musical chorus, and it made an orchestra of birds!

It's getting hot now, so the best time to see the birds is early morning or evening when they are the most active.  Ginger 

Oh The Birds We Saw....

Bennington Lake this morning was teeming with birds.  All the summer birds were there and they were all singing a happy song because it wasn't raining. Bullocks' orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, gray catbirds, yellow-breasted chats, western wood peewees, willow flycatchers, yellow warblers, house wrens, western tanagers – the list goes on and on.  How fun!  In addition to the usual birds we saw some unexpected visitors as well.  The southeast corner of the high trail seemed to be our best location for the unexpected.  In that area we saw a least flycatcher, a olive-sided flycatcher and two lesser goldfinches.  The rain returned shortly after we finished our walk so we were lucky to have the good weather.  It was also good to have all of our regular walkers back from their birding jaunts across the country.  Ginger

Summer birds

Many of you have sent me emails about birds you are seeing in your yards and while out walking.  Western tanagers and Wilson's warblers have been reported several places.  Lesser goldfinches have been seen both at Rooks Park and Bennington Lake.  I saw a pileated woodpecker at Rooks Park. The sights and sounds of summer birds are everywhere.   A peregrine falcon has been seen above the Whitman Hotel several times in the past two weeks.  Ospreys and Swainson's hawks are nesting.  Red-tailed hawks have chicks and great horned owl chicks have fledged.  I hope you will get out and enjoy all the wonderful summer birds.  Ginger

Black-throated gray warbler at Bennington Lake

There was a beautiful black-throated gray warbler in the willows on the west side of the trail this morning.  What a treat to see since they rarely visit Walla Walla County.  It was cool and windy for our walk, but we saw lots of great birds including a yellow-breasted chat.  There were several western tanagers, black-headed grosbeaks, Bullock's orioles, western wood peewees, lazuli buntings, western and eastern kingbirds, and warbling vireos.  House wrens and Yellow warblers were plentiful, but we also saw Wilson's warblers and heard a orange-crowned warbler.  We got good looks at a Hammond's flycatcher and the canal was full of tree swallows, cliff swallows, northern rough-winged swallows, Vaux's swifts and at least one violet-green swallow.  Seven spotted sandpipers were sitting on a log at the south end of the lake and an osprey patrolled the waters. Good birding!  Ginger

New Arrivals at Bennington Lake

Here it is May 15 and it was already so hot we looked for the shade.  The birds like the warm weather too because we had many returning species today – western wood peewee, eastern kingbird, Wilson's warbler, MacGillivray's warbler, lazuli bunting, orange-crowned warbler, Vaux's swift, Cassin's vireo and warbling vireo.  The great horned owl hole looked empty when we started our walk, but there was one chick sitting at the entrance when we left.  The black-headed grosbeaks, Bullock's orioles and western kingbirds were noisy, but not nearly as noisy as the house wrens and yellow warblers.  We still had to wade but it felt nice after the hot walk on the east side of the lake.  Especially nice, was having MerryLynn back with us today.  Her expertise adds much to our weekly walks.  Ginger

Oops!

I meant to say Pacific tree frog in my blog about the Jasper Mountain field trip.  Ginger

Jasper Mountain Field Trip

We had a picture perfect day to visit the Blue Mountains and the views from the road reminded us all of why we live here in this beautiful area of the state.  We were rewarded with birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and more.  Western bluebirds and tree swallows were setting up housekeeping at many of the boxes.  Although we heard more birds than we saw, we did get good looks at many of them.  Wildflowers dotted the roadsides with the star being the calypso orchids.  We saw nine elk, one deer, a garter snake, two Pacific tree swallows and a bear.  Butterflies included anglewings, blues, cabbage whites and more. Our leader, Mike Denny, once again shared his knowledge of the natural world with everyone to help make it a very enjoyable day.  Ginger 

Birds at Bennington Lake today

Finally, the spring birds are coming back.  Today we saw several new arrivals – Bullock's oriole, black-headed grosbeak, yellow warbler and orange-crowned warbler.  There were some interesting ducks on the water too – three red-necked grebes, a pair of ruddy ducks, 16 bufflehead and 10 coots.  Raptors included a Swainson's hawk, two ospreys, an American kestrel and two northern harriers.  The great horned owl chicks were in hole and there was a dead cottontail at the entrance.  An adult owl was heard hooting along the canal.  The water was above our shoes at Cayuse Falls, but it was a warm, sunny day so we didn't mind getting our feet wet.  Between the yellow warblers and the house wrens there was constant noise all along the trail.  We were surprised to see a Townsend's solitaire still present.  It seems a little late.  We had a total of 41 species today.  Ginger

Cold and Windy Morning

It was lousy weather for our Bennington Lake walk this morning.  We were all bundled up in our winter clothes again – not a good sign for spring migrants.  The only new returnee we saw today was a spotted sandpiper.  There was a surprise visit from a black-necked stilt.  The lake is very high with no good place for it to wade, so it flew off.  Today was a day of yellow birds – large flocks of American goldfinches and 12 western kingbirds.  Both were very noisy.  We saw and heard a few house wrens, but not as many as last week.  There were two ospreys and over 200 swallows, mostly cliff with a few tree and violet-green mixed in.  The only ducks were three mallards, six northern shovelers and four bufflehead.  Still no warblers.  Next week.....  Ginger

 

footnote* On Saturday there were yellow warblers and fox sparrows singing all along S. Fork Coppei Creek Road.

Western Kingbirds at Bennington Lake

The western kingbirds have returned to Bennington Lake.  We saw two on our walk this morning.  In addition, the house wrens are back in good numbers (they returned last week) and are singing all around the lake.  There were two ospreys successfully fishing this morning along with many fishermen.  Two great horned owl chicks watched us from the parking lot.  We didn't see mom, but I'm sure she was close by.  Waterfowl was scarce – 13 northern shovelers, one coot and one canada goose.  The water is VERY high so there weren't any shorebirds other than a pair of killdeer.  There were lots of cliff swallows and tree swallows and one northern rough-winged swallow.  A big black cloud came over as we started our walk, but it only rained briefly.  Nothing like the unbelievable lightning storm we had last night.  It's spring, so you never know what the weather will bring, but the birds are coming back, so all is well with the world!  Ginger

Hummingbirds

We have had both CALLIOPE and RUFOUS hummingbirds at our feeders this morning.  It's time to get those feeders up and enjoy these little visitors.

Ginger

Spring Migrants Field Trip

It was sunny and warm day – a perfect day for a field trip.  We found Swainson's hawks in many locations, ospreys on McDonald Road and Highway 12, black-necked stilts on Frog Hollow Road and at Tyson Ponds, American avocets, over a hundred Caspian terns and a glaucous gull at the Delta, barn swallows and a western kingbird on the Lowden/Gardena Road, an Eurasian wigeon and a great egret at Tyson Ponds, great horned owls and chicks in several locations, barn owls on Dodd Road, swarms of cliff swallows on Byrnes Road, a large flock of bank swallows on Frog Hollow, northern rough-winged swallows in several places....the list goes on.  Thanks to all of you for a fun day.  Ginger

The American Avocets have returned

On April 9, there were two American avocets at the Wallula Junction overlook and another three at the Walla Walla River Delta.  Today their numbers had increased to eight.  There also was a pair of cinnamon teal on Casey pond today.  On April 9, there were 14 black-necked stilts at Bennington Lake, but they only stuck around that day.  Returning swallows now include northern rough-winged, tree, cliff and violet-green.  The osprey have begun rebuilding their nest along Highway 12 near Lowden, and there was a pair checking out the two platforms on McDonald Road.  It won't be long before hummingbirds return, so it's time to put up the feeders.   Ginger

Bennington Lake Osprey

There were two ospreys at the lake this morning.  We watched one successfully catch a fish on three different occasions.  How fun to watch it dive straight down from high above, go completely underwater, and come back up with a fish it its talons.  I think it was more successful than the many fishermen lining the shoreline.  The lake is once again full – so full that there were rapids along the canal and the water at the "Cayuse Falls" crossing was ankle high.  There were three varieties of swallows today – tree, violet green and cliff.  Two Townsend's solitaires were still hanging around, but they won't be around much longer.  Black-capped chickadees were nest building and Bewick's wrens were loudly defending territory.  Waterfowl today included northern shoveler, mallard, green-winged teal, American wigeon and canada goose.  A greater yellowlegs made a brief appearance when I first arrived at the parking lot.  Near the parking lot was a yellow-rumped warbler in full breeding plumage.  I can hardly wait for all the warblers to arrive! Ginger

Ospreys at Bennington Lake

They are back!  There was one osprey circling the lake calling, and one sitting on a snag looking very haggard from the long trip.  There still isn't much water in the lake, but there were ducks galore today – 88 American wigeons, 7 mallards, 8 canada geese, 1 gadwall, 1 bufflehead, 1 redhead, 10 green-winged teal and 9 northern shovelers.  There were also shorebirds – 2 greater yellowlegs, 1 dunlin and 5 killdeer.  A pair of tree swallows was sitting on one of the nest boxes and there were lots of violet-green swallows.  One actually posed for us.  A Townsend's solitaire was flycatching by the bench on the east side of the lake and an adult bald eagle flew over.  The northern harrier pair put on aerial displays and were joined by a young male northern harrier and a red-tailed hawk at one point.  The elusive great horned owls were just that – not to be found today.  We saw 33 species today.  Hopefully this is the beginning of spring migration.  Ginger

Bennington Lake Swallows

Five of us put on our rain coats and walked around Bennington Lake this morning.  It didn't rain the entire time, but we were all glad we had worn protective gear.  The first bird we saw when we got to the parking lot was a Caspian Tern.  Then we started seeing swallows over the lake.  We counted 27 violet green swallows and 2 tree swallows.  There is still very little water in the lake, but we did see two double-crested cormorants, five mallards and one fly-over canada goose.  A pair of northern harriers were displaying and a great horned owl was calling as we walked down the canal.  We saw two adult owls and heard a young one crying, but didn't find the nest.  We saw 24 species total. 

March Audubon Field Trip

Mike and MerryLynn Denny led the March Field Trip to the west side of the county on March 17 in search of early migrants and wildflowers. The wind was howling but that didn't stop the group from walking around Hood Park where we found many yellow-rumped warblers, an orange-crowned warbler and a pair of black-capped chickadees setting up house in a nest box along the water.  We saw a glaucous gull on the Walla Walla River Delta and set up scopes at Wallula Grain Terminal to get a lesson in how to tell the difference between lesser and greater scaup. The highlight was hiking the rocks in Wallula Gap where we found desert buttercups, shooting stars and prairie stars, lichen and several other plants emerging from winter's cold.  Robins were everywhere, there were around 200 snow-geese and several hundred white-fronted geese on McNary NWR, and three great horned owls on nests.  All in all, it was a great trip.

 

Northern harrier behavior

At Bennington Lake this morning there were a pair of northern harriers.  The male put on quite a show with it displays – going straight up and then swooping down on the female.  But that wasn't enough for this feisty bird.  It also harassed a great horned owl and actually chased it from the far west side of the high trail to the high trail on the east side.  Very interesting behavior and fun to watch.  Spring is definitely in the air!   Ginger 

Northern Goshawk at Bennington Lake

The last bird we saw as we were walking back to the parking lot – an immature northern goshawk.  Unfortunately, only two of us were still on the trail at the time.  Other than the goshawk, the day was pretty typical for a winter walk around the lake.  There was very little water on the lake, and half of it was frozen.  We did see two common mergansers, five mallards and two northern pintails.  Bewick's wrens continued to serenade us with their spring song, and they were joined today by juncos, song sparrows and northern flickers.

 

It's that time of year when anticipation is great and discovery is still to come.  I know it won't be long before the swallows return, and then the other spring birds will be along to make it really seem like spring. Ginger

Waterfowl/Raptor Field Trip

Eighteen of us met at Harper Joy Theater this morning to spend the day looking for birds. The forecast was for rain, but fortunately we had none.  However, there is always a trade-off, and today it was wind, and then smoke.  Trying to hold on to scopes on the Columbia River proved to be a real challenge, but we still managed to find 20 species of waterfowl.  Highlights were several thousand SNOW GEESE, over 300 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and thousands of CANADA GEESE flying all over McNary NWR.  We only saw four BALD EAGLES along the route, but did find two GREAT HORNED OWLS.  We looked for raptors on the way to the river along Sudbury Road and Dry Creek Road.  There were numerous RED-TAILED HAWKS and AMERICAN KESTRELS, several NORTHERN HARRIERS, a PRAIRIE FALCON and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.  A COOPER'S HAWK at McNary Headquarters brought out raptor species count up to six.  We planned to look for more raptors on the return trip to Walla Walla, but encountered farmers in the process of burning their fields.  Needless to say, it didn't make for good birding conditions.  Our species count for the day was 40 – not bad considering the conditions. Ginger

Bennington Lake today

It was much easier birding today than last week – sunshine, balmy temperatures and not much wind.  The common mergansers continued to be the most prevalent bird – 104 of them.  The robins are coming back – we had at least 75 today and they are being reported all around the county.  Today we found the sparrow flock and MerryLynn was able to pick out a tree sparrow in with the many dark-eyed juncos, white-crowned sparrows and song sparrows.  Other birds of note were a Townsend's solitaire, a northern shrike, a merlin, two golden-crowned kinglets and two great horned owls.  We saw a total of 30 species today.  Ginger

 

A Blustery Walk Around Bennington Lake

What would make three birders want to take a walk in 30 mph plus winds?  No, the answer isn't a rare bird – it's "cabin fever".  After a week of icy/snowy weather, we saw the sun and decided to walk regardless of the wind.  The wind was howling in the parking lot and across the dam, but once across we were more protected so it wasn't so bad.  Of course, the birds didn't think it was a very good day to be out in the wind even though the sun was shining.  We only saw one bird in the tree tops – a house finch – and it was holding on for dear life.  We had to work at it, but were able to eek out 22 species.  86 common mergansers dotted the lake and 13 green-winged teal were tucked into a cove on the south side.  Juncos were abundant and five downy woodpeckers were busy on the rose galls.  One great horned owl sat in a willow on the east side of the canal. No, it wasn't the best morning to be bird watching, but it was good to be outside.  Ginger

Redpolls in Nine Mile Canyon

Mike and MerryLynn found a flock of about 250 common redpolls along Nine Mile Canyon on January 15.  They spent several hours studying them and finally found a hoary redpoll in the flock.  This is a new species for Walla Walla county – very exciting!  Ginger

Bennington Lake today

Is it spring?  We were all dressed for cold weather, and it was a beautiful day – sunny and warm (although pretty muddy).  We saw some good birds on our walk this morning including 4 tree sparrows, a bald eagle, a golden-crowned sparrow, 3 Townsend's solitaires, a great horned owl a northern shrike and a Wilson's snipe.  Total number of species was 27.  Ginger