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March 26, 2005 Scott Downes led a trip exploring the shrub-steppe starting in eastern Kittitas County, heading east through Vantage and on to the Othello area in Grant County Seven of us enjoyed a fairly productive day in the field despite threatening weather. We managed to escape with 77 species and only some sprinkles, a snow flurry on the Vantage Highway and some colder than average temperatures. Some of the highlights included: Vantage Highway-- Great looks at Sage Sparrow and Sage Thrasher both at MP 20 and beacon ridge road; 1 Brewer's Sparrow-first of the season, heard and briefly seen at MP 20; Great-horned Owl on nest in the rock outcropping in the coulee; Pair of Loggerhead Shrike across the road from the owl nest; 1 distant Pacific Loon--seen north of the Ginkgo overlook; 1 Townsend's Solitaire, Ginkgo trailhead parking lot Wanapum Dam State Park-- 2 Long-tailed Duck; 1 Tree Sparrow; 1 CASSIAR Dark-eyed Junco Around Othello a few highlights for the group...Great looks at 75-80 Tri-colored Blackbirds in the feedlot above the Para Ponds At the Para ponds 1 American Avocet We finished the day overlooking the spectacle of cranes and geese along Corfu road. A quick estimate in the fields yielded at least 900 Sandhill Cranes and several thousand Canada Geese. Also along this stretch was a juv. Northern Shrike. Was nice to be able to get both species of Shrike in a day. All told, a great day with great people. Scott Downes, Yakima WA |
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Washington Ornithological Society. 12345 Lake City Way NE, #215. Seattle, WA 98125. Information@WOS.org
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