• 11 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (2 males), 
• 14 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 
• 2 SURF SCOTERS, and 
• assorted GAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS.

• BUFFLEHEADS (male and female), 
• 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, 
• 1 BRANDT's CORMORANT, 
• 2 COMMON GOLDENEYES (male andfemale), 12 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (male and female) 
• several SURF SCOTERS, and 
• both GLAUCOUS-WINGED and WESTERN GULLS.

• 30+ AMERICAN WIGEONS and the 1 EURASIAN WIGEON that has been wintering with it.

• 1 BELTED KINGFISHER (male),
• 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS (male and female),
• 1 second-year BALD EAGLE, and
• 1 HORNED GREBE from the beach. 

• 37 Black Turnstones,  2 Surfbirds,  9 Rock Sandpipers, 80 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin

• 300-400 Marbled Godwits, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel and Long-billed Dowitchers

• Most of my time was spent watching the immature Rough-legged Hawk hover flight in the field next to the road. 
• I was rewarded with a flock of 100+ American Robins working the fields and then suddenly, flying straight at me at head height.  It was actually kind of scary having them whiz by my ears with wings flapping. The culprit was an adult (male?) Peregrine Falcon that was looking for dinner and putting them all into the woods.  It was quite an experience being in the middle of that flock.  I also learned that the American Robin vocabulary is even larger than I thought. Put a 100+ American Robins in one small area being pursued by a Peregrine and the variety and sheer volume of alarm calls was quite amazing.

• Gyrfalcon, Peregrine, Merlin, and American Kestrel (now above Columbia River!) along with continuing good numbers of Rough-legged Hawks and a few Red-tailed Hawks.  The raptors seemed a bit more 'flightly' than our previous trip, early in February.  
• Lots of Horned Larks and seemingly more dispersed.  
• Also, a couple of Western Meadowlarks in the uplands.  
• Golden and White-crowned Sparrows on Lower Dot Road likely signal northward movement of these species.  Some very well feathered males amongst the White-crowned Sparrows.

• From Mann Road we saw a flock of 30-40 TRUMPETER SWANS with 1 TUNDRA SWAN, thousands of SNOW GEESE, NORTHERN HARRIER and BALD EAGLE. 
• We went to the boat launch parking lot and saw BROWN CREEPER and HAIRY WOODPECKER. 
• Then on to the HQ area where we could put up our scopes under the shelter and out of the rain. We saw BARN SWALLOWS, flying and perched, and one wet MOURNING DOVE on a wire, as well as Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks. 
• We drove back to Fir Is. Rd and a couple of miles further west we turned south into the relatively new Fir Island Reserve. We saw GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, BUFFLEHEAD, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, DUNLIN flying by, GREATER SCAUP and a SHORT-EARED OWL that we watched coursing over the fields. 
• We ate lunch inside the comfort of the Brazeale Center. By this time, the sun was out but it was VERY WINDY. 
• On the way to the west 90 we found at least three EURASIAN WIGEON in a large flock of AMERICAN WIGEON. 
• At the west 90 there were a few Northern Harrier flying, there were large flocks of mixed duck species (mostly Mallard and American Wigeon), some Dunlin flying. The wind was so strong, the worst I have experienced there, it was difficult  to hold your body and the binoculars steady. This high wind probably was the reason we did not see any raptors perched on telephone poles or wires, another first for me. 
• As we left west 90 and headed north to the small park at the end of Samish Is. whichoverlooks Samish Bay. This was on the lee side of the island . It was so pleasant  to be out of the wind that we stayed quite a while and were rewarded by RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, COMMON LOON, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS  and three grebe species - RED-NECKED, WESTERN  and HORNED, as well as other ducks already seen. 

• Spotted Towhee (2 or more), Varied Thrush
• Red winged Blackbird (many)
• Flicker
• Lincoln's Sparrow, White Crowned Sparrow, Golden Crowned Sparrow, White Throated Sparrow (2 or 3), Song Sparrow
• Downy Woodpecker
• Am. Robin
• Dark Eyed Junco, Yellow Rumped Warbler, House Finch

• Evening Grosbeak  (about 8 looking tropical in the Bigleaf Maples)
• Varied Thrush  (about 5 total)
• Wood Duck (about 4)
• Brown Creeper  (4 or so singing)
• Bald Eagle  (many)
• Red Tail (constant calling, many birds)
• Flicker (many)
• American Robin (ditto)
• Trumpeter Swans (about 15)
• Tree Swallow  (2 or 3)

• In the morning we had 40-50 EVENING GROSBEAK and a single MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE in South Cle Elum, amongst many siskins, goldfinch, black-capped chickadees, and juncos.
• After the meeting, we took a convoluted (but never out of the way) back route from Ellensburg to Cle Elum.  On US97, a quarter mile before Smithson Rd, we found a GREAT HORNED OWL on an nest in one of the large cottonwoods.
• Along Swauk Prairie Rd and W Ballard Rd, we had a total of 8 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS.  There were three pairs and two other birds whose gender we didn't scrutinize.

• Highlights at Ridgefield were a white-breasted nuthatch, ruddy ducks in breeding plummage, tree swallows, and canvasbacks.
• At Catherine Creek we observed 9 distinct Lewis' woodpeckers, though we believe there were more there that we could not observe all in one pass. They were spending a great deal of time flying in and out of the Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana) trees in the area.

• As we were leaving the West 90, I caught sight of a second year Bald Eagle circling under a Short-eared Owl. They were already about 200 feet up. Looking at the owl, I saw that it was carrying prey in its foot, most likely a vole. The eagle had also observed this prey and was chasing the owl in an attempt to pirate it.
• The owl was using a "ringing" strategy (i.e. rising up into the air) to keep away from the eagle. Even laden with its prey, the Short-ear had lighter wing-loading than the eagle and was able to keep above the larger bird. It spent most of the time both above and slightly behind the Bald Eagle where it could keep its eye on the threat.   
• We watched this interaction for several minutes wondering which bird would tire first and retain the prey. I would estimate that they got up to between 500-700 feet.
• As we watched the two birds so very far up, a falcon suddenly shot into view and made two passes at the eagle, harassing it. It was the immature brown gyr that many of you have seen at the West 90 this year. It had seen the laden owl and flown up to compete with a Bald Eagle for the prey.
• After the two passes at the eagle, the falcon easily lifted up towards the laden owl which recognized its peril immediately and dropped the mammal. The Short-ear knew it could outfly the eagle but it was no match for the gyr. I don't think I have ever seen any bird rise up so fast as a determined Gyrfalcon.
• We all watched the prey fall and saw both the eagle and the falcon dive vertically down to catch it. A Bald Eagle diving straight down is a sight to see but the gyr passed it like it was standing still, grabbed the prey and rocketed off to the west.
• I thought the interaction was over but the gyr almost made a fatal mistake. As it flew away, you could see it leaning down examining or biting at the prey in its foot. Falcons often bite their prey in the neck in flight immediately after capture. As it did so, the eagle noticed the vulnerability and dove straight towards the preoccupied falcon. The eagle had a slight height advantage and came in hard and fast.
• The gyr saw it coming and did two extremely quick dodges, evading what could have been its demise. Several falconry gyrs have been killed by Bald Eagles with a height advantage.  The falcon then set its wings and descended straight to its usual perch (the tall post) west of the 90 and ate the prey in minutes.
• In the past, we have noticed that in late winter, some gyrs on the Samish tend to switch their prey preferences from birds (primarily ducks) to rodents pirated from Northern Harriers and now Short-eared Owls. We suspect that this is a behavioral adaptation generated by piracy from Bald Eagles that arrive in high numbers on the Skagit Flats system in mid-February.
• Any falcon foolish enough to catch a large duck in front of hungry Bald Eagles will soon learn about piracy. Since falcons can't carry large dead ducks (widgeon, pintails, etc.)very far, they have no means to escape with their prey and it will be taken by the larger and stronger eagle.
• Since gyrs eat mammals in the arctic, they can adapt to voles during our winters and they catch them by observing and then and kleptoparasitising laden harriers.
• The equivalent avian prey for wintering peregrines on Samish is Dunlin, another easily carried prey species.

• OSPREY - 1 seen late in the day at the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery [Delorme pg 32 A-3]. It was sitting atop a large snag visible from the trout hatchery parking lot, but not [yet?] at the nearby Osprey nest.
• GREEN HERON - 1 walking on the netting looking down at the young fish ['smolt', right?] in the hatchery tanks at the other Cowlitz Hatchery [Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, further east along sr 12, at about Salkum (Delorme pg 46 D-4]. Strange to see a Green Heron standing on all that concrete and netting instead of blending into some natural background....
• EURASIAN WIGEON - 1 among AmWi flock on Riffe Lake. Seen from the eastern end of Riffe Lake, accessed off sr12 between Morton & Glenoma.
• GRAY JAY, RED CROSSBILL - Up near White Pass, a couple side roads were open for short stops to look for higher elevation birds. Roads were fine through the pass today, but the snow is deep up there so off-road hiking wasn't really an option.
• EVENING GROSBEAK - Several by the Mineral Lake boat launch in Mineral. Mineral is on SR 7, well north of SR 12 [Delorme pg 47, C-7]. I have a hard time ever finding Evening Grosbeak (except in S.Cle Elum), so these were a welcome sight.
• AMERICAN DIPPER - Just north of Morton, where the Tilton River comes close to SR 7. Seen from the bridge for FR70, which is closed to traffic, but walkable. [Delorme pg 47, D-6] Always fun to watch a Dipper.
• CANVASBACK(1), WESTERN GREBE (6) - Mayfield Lake, from the area around Ike Kinswa SP.

• A YELLOW-BILLED LOON was seen in Coal Harbour, Vancouver by a birder observing from the Bayshore Inn.
• Also here was a flock estimated at 7000 LESSER SCAUP.
• The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen again at Colony Farm in Port Coquitlam, near the duck pond west from Shaughnessy Street.

• Today at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were a HUTTON'S VIREO, 5 SANDHILL CRANES, 2 or 3 BARN SWALLOWS, 4 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, and a VIRGINIA RAIL. Two MUTE SWANS were seen near the Westham Island Bridge in Delta.
• 200 SNOW GEESE were seen at the Terra Nova Natural Area, Richmond (NW corner of Lulu Island).

• The GREAT GRAY OWL was reported again near the U. of B.C. campus in Vancouver. Today it was seen at the UBC Farm, on South Campus Road west of Wesbrook Mall.
• A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen at Elgin Heritage Park on Crescent Road in Surrey. 
• Also here were 31 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 5 EURASIAN WIGEON.
  

• Six YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen at Beach Grove, Delta.
• At Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta were 98 SANDERLINGS and 44 BRANT.

• The first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD  of the year for our property was a male at 7 AM on March 9th. We are at the mouth of the Gorge at a 1,200 foot elevation in western Skamania County. The bird was not seen during the rest of the day.
• My wife and I noted our first TURKEY VULTURE on March 7th at the mouth of Rock Creek in Klickitat County. We were surprised that we had not seen any others during the drive up the Columbia Gorge in perfect weather.

• The fog burned off at about nine, and the marsh wrens went nuts--these two put on quite a show, chasing each other around, one big mouthful of cattail-fuzz, and the loudest marsh-wren song I've ever heard. Like through a megaphone. 
• A young cooper's hawk swung by, perched for a bit, gave me some good views--rounded tail in flight, quite a bit of white on its tip, long head, and streaking on its breast. Its head was pretty reddish.... 
• Seven scaup (greater?) were hanging out by the dam
• Wigeons, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, green-winged teal, and a pied-billed grebe were hanging out in the east end. 
• A kingfisher made the rounds early in the morning. 
• I saw a lot of goldfinch by the ponds, and the yellow-rumped warbler was over there, too--nobody seems very bright yet. 
• The six tree swallows, however, were very cheering, bellies flashing in the sun--little chuckling acrobats. I love those guys. 
• And the singing was fabulous this morning--I even saw the ruby crown of an RC kinglet while he was doing a real Dean Martin routine. 

• Canada goose
• Mallard, Gadwall, American wigeon, Green-winged teal, Wood duck, Bufflehead, Scaup, Hooded merganser
• Coopers hawk
• Coot
• Glaucous-winged gull
• Anna's hummingbird
• Belted kingfisher, Northern flicker
• Tree swallow, Black-capped chickadee, Bushtits, Bewicks wren, Marsh wren, Ruby-crowned kinglet, Golden-crowned kinglet, Yellow-rumped warbler
• Robin, Steller's jay, American crow, Spotted towhee
• Fox sparrow, Song sparrow, Redwing blackbird, House finch, A. goldfinch

• There were lots of TREE SWALLOWS over almost all the marshes and in particular at the nest boxes behind the Twin Barns.  
• RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and MARSH WREN were particularly vocal and other mating activity was evident.
• The NORTHERN SHRIKE was back near the field past the ponds on the way to McAllister Creek and both adult BALD EAGLES were near the nest tree behind McAllister Creek. 
• There were plenty of sparrows about; FOX, SONG, GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE-CROWNED.
• There were at least 3 male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS in the woods between the Nisqually River Overlook and the Ring Dike and there was an AMERICAN BITTERN in the slough near the Ring Dike.
• I also saw the first WOOD DUCKS of the year. There were a pair in the very back of the pond behind the Visitor's Center. They were observed from the Freshwater Marsh Overlook. Great to see them back.
• There were also many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS around. Still lots of other ducks in the area, but nothing new.

• Along the fence where my first 3 SAVANNAH SPARROWS of the year! also on the fence, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW  being chased by a SONG SPARROW. 
• Mixed in with the other ducks was a EURASIAN WIGEON, a pair of WOOD DUCKS flew overhead, also firsts of the year!
• In the field in the upper NW side of the refuge was a NORTHERN SHRIKE.
• Best of all, this morning was a SAY'S PHOEBE!!! by the yellow barn.

• VG Swallow, Tree Swallow, Marsh Wren
• Rock Pigeon
• N Harrier, RT Hawk
• Starling , Robin, RW Blackbird
• Killdeer, Snipe
• N Flicker
• House Sparrow
• Scrub Jay
• GB Heron
• E Grosbeak ( in flight)
• Crow
• Coot,  A Wigeon, N Pintail, GW Teal (+1 common teal), N Shoveler, Mallard
• I have also observed a ( flock? raft?) of L. Scaup within the last two weeks.

• A lot of action today in the Great Blue Heron nest tree at Medina Park.  At least 10 herons in the tree.  Still only 3 nests.  The biggest and lowest nest apparantly has eggs on board.  I noted a heron snugged down in the nest Tuesday and today could not see her but the male arrived with a stick and she popped up to receive it.  A lot of heron pair bonding on the top nest, preening each other and rubbing necks together.  The middle nest couple seem to barely tolerate each other.  Also of note was one of the herons not on a nest, that was in the tree had a really blue skin in front of it's eye.  I was wondering if that might be part of the mate selection process to attract a mate.  
• Lots of different ducks passing through as well.  One day it was about half a dozen Gadwell, today about an equal number of Northern Shovelers.  Widgeons, Coots, Mallards, Bufflehead, Ring Neck, along with occasional Hooded Merganser seem to be the staple ducks of the ponds.
• Last Friday I am pretty sure I saw 2 different Green Herons at the ponds.  If so, maybe they will nest nearby.
  

• The Samish GYRFALCON is still in the vicinity of the West 90. My wife and I located it about noon today flying from the vicinity of some wheeling harriers and flying, desperately croaking herons. It flew to a utility pole just east of the "90", about fifty yards from us and proceeded to consume a rather large vole in record time.
• After eating lunch and shopping in Burlington we returned to the West 90 right before sunset, hoping for an encore. We located the Gyr on a low post south of the WDFG parking lot. Suddenly, it launched and made a beeline toward some flying harriers and rough-legged hawks about a half-mile away. We were amazed to see how fast it covered that distance with seemingly little effort. It neatly robbed a rough-legged hawk of another large vole, chewed on the rodent a bit while in flight, returned to the same post, and had dinner finished in less than two minutes.
• All in all, a spectacular bird in a beautiful setting. Even without the Gyr, where else can you see 20-30 raptors in a 360 degree binocular sweep?  We were wondering how this bird will fare when it heads north and has to make an honest living!

• 1 Great Egret
• 88 Tundra Swans (noted from Rest and Carty Lakes)
• 15 Wood Ducks, 1 pair of Cinnamon Teal, 9 Canvasbacks, 7 Greater Scaup (Rest Lake), 32 Ruddy Ducks
• 1 Northern Harrier, 3 Am.Kestrels
• 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker
• 4 White-breasted Nuthatches(River S Unit), 3 Brown Creepers, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow
• Very close look at a Mink on land along the southern portion of the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR bordering Rest Lake, before it swan off in a canal
• Coyote along the dike immediately west of Carty Lake
• Numerous Nutria and a single River Otter at the River S Unit
• 2 Garter Snakes at the Carty Unit
  

•  1 Great Egret
• 8 Wood Ducks
• 1 Northern Harrier, 8 Am.Kestrels, 1 Merlin
• 12 California Quail
• 1,200+ Sandhill Cranes (observed foraging in a large plowed dirt field along Dike Rd. north of Whalen Rd. and most likely gathering up for migration)
• 1 adult White-throated Sparrow (white-striped form observed amongst a small flock of Golden and
• White-crowned Sparrows along a brushy area along the Columbia River north of Whalen Rd.)

• After we crossed the pass we ran down to South Cle Elum and found a nice group of Evening Grosbeaks under great light. 
• We next ran out to Old Vantage Hiway to get to sage brush country fairly early. Along the way we saw both Western and Mountain Bluebirds (pairs). 
• From a great vantage spot on a ridge we had several Sage Sparrows singing, letting all of the group eventually see them. During this period we had a displaying Horned Lark lift off, circle around and go right overhead. 
• Down at Gingko overlook we had a pair of Say's Phoebes busy acting like they are in nest preparation stage, while some Violet-green Swallows circled overhead. 
• At Wanapum Dam we saw 5 Common Loons, each in a different stage of molt - what great comparisons. 
• A bit further south we had a singing Canyon Wren, as well as Common Goldeneyes and Greater and Lesser Scaup.

• Canada Goose, Tundra Swan
• Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck
• Ruffed Grouse
• Common Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe
• Great Blue Heron
• Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Prairie Falcon?
• American Coot
• Killdeer
• Ring-billed Gull
• Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl
• Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker
• Say's Phoebe, Northern Shrike, Steller's Jay
• Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven
• Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Canyon Wren
• Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird
• American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee
• Sage Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco
• Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird
• House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, House Sparrow

• Evening Grosbeak in South Cle Elum
• Western and Mountain Bluebird (Hidden Valley Road and various other places)
• Say's Phoebe (Hidden Valley Road, the Vantage information center and various
• other places)
• Cassin's Finch (Emerick Road/Hidden Valley)
• Northern Shrike (Ballard Road near Swauk Cemetery)
• Loggerhead Shrike, Sage Sparrow, and Chukar (Old Vantage Highway)
• Lots of Rough-legged Hawks (various places)
• Golden Eagle (Hidden Valley Road)
• Trumpeter Swans (pond at exit 106, I-90)
• Great Horned Owl on nest (US 97, 1/2 mile south of Smithson Road)--Thanks to
• Brian Bell and Michael Hobbs for directions).  Too cool, this one, little "kitty ears" poking up from the top of the nest!  :)
• Eared Grebe (Boat Ramp at Vantage)
• Canyon Wren (Huntzinger Road near the "Chukar rock" south of Wanapum Dam) singing

• "Chukar Rock" on Huntzinger Road:  N 46° 51.463', W 119° 58.066'
• Great Horned Owl nest:  send me an email if you're interested
• Sage Sparrow/Loggerhead Shrike/Chukar viewing spot on Old Vantage Highway:  N 46° 57.528', W 120° 6.398'

• 2 snow geese mixed in with Canada geese
• 6 tundra swans

• golden eagle
• 3 tricolored blackbird at Para feedlot, west of Para pond.

• 4 Great Blue Heron
• 2 Canada Goose
• 28 American Wigeon, 60 Mallard, 10 Bufflehead
• 2 Pileated Woodpecker
• 50 Northwestern Crow
• 60 Tree Swallow
• 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 1 Bewick's Wren, 8 Marsh Wren
• 10 American Robin , 40 European Starling
• 2 Song Sparrow, 2 Dark-eyed Junco, 6 Red-winged Blackbird, 4 House Finch, 2 House Sparrow

• 2 Red-Tailed Hawks, 1 Bald Eagle - Wylie Rd abt half way between Mann Rd & Fir Island Rd
• 26 American Robins (Saw lots of Robins all day everywhere, I mean LOTS!)
• 2 Canada Goose
• ~100 Mallards - Sitting in a muddy field eating
•  ~20 American Wigeons - like little islands in an ocean of Mallards, in the same field
• ~50 Bank Swallows - Mann Rd just before Wylie Rd, feeding on the wing. Several on telephone wires for very good looks.
• 2 Killdeer in the same muddy field with the Wigeons and the Mallards.
• 1 Red-Winged Blackbird
• 1 Great Blue Heron
• 11 Golden-Crowned Sparrows - Young, the gold crown just beginning to show
• 4 Lincoln's Sparrows - In hedgerows next to road in WMA area just before you reach the River parking area.

• 2 Bald Eagles - 1 Imm. Sitting in the field as you drive in back to the road. I think he'd just snagged breakfast and was sitting on it. 1 Adult on a driftwood log near water's edge on the Sound. Couldn't see this fellow from the parking lot, had to walk to end of trail.
• 3 Northern Harriers
• 6 Great Blue Herons - All near the Sound very close to water's edge
• 10 Mallards at the mouth of Brown's Slough where it enters the Sound
• ~50 Herring Gulls at the mouth of Brown's Slough on the ground, many sleeping. Plus more kept coming in and landing.
• 2 Common Goldeneye in Brown's Slough upstream from the fence line.
• 1 Lincoln's Sparrow in the hedgerow next to the parking area.
• 3 Red-Winged Blackbirds in tree tops where the grassy area opens up.

• ~70 Green-Winged Teal - On mud flat next to a slough feeding. Lower mandible in the mud, opening and closing bills as they walked. Within 50' of road so good clear view.
• 9 American Wigeons - Same spot as GWTeals, but the Wigeons not involved. Further off, separated from the GWTeals, in the deeper part of the slough and sitting on steep bank.

• 20 Northern Harriers, 2 Rough-Legged Hawks, 2 Red-Tailed Hawks
• 2 American Robins
• 1 Bald Eagle
• Did not see the Gyrfalcon.

• 6 Ring-Necked Ducks in the creek.

• We saw most of the same species the Sullivan's reported.
• We had 100+ Tundra Swans fly overhead at one time while at the Carty Unit
• Also 8-10 Trumpeter Swans at the S-unit, as well as 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and a few Long-billed Dowitchers. 
• There were a number of Western Scrub-Jays at the Carty Unit and 1 Pileated Woodpecker flew over. 
• We saw a couple of Northern Shrike at the S-unit. 
• There were some Greater Yellowlegs and Dunlin at JB Hansen. 
• We also saw a Rough-legged Hawk at the Grays Harbor Airport and on the Brady Loop.
• Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and American Kestrel were numerous throughout the trip and there were a few Northern Harrier.
  

• Steamboat Rock State Park [Grant Co.], one pair of MOBL near the beginning of the entrance rd to the park.
• Umptanum Rd/Wenas Rd [Kittitas/Yakima]- Umptanum Road is open and alive with both types of bluebirds, with pairs checking out nest boxes .
• Swauk Prairie - A few there as well, along Hidden Valley Rd.

• At 10:30 this morning I made a quick stop at the spot that had so much Gull excitement this winter.  In Renton where the cedar river flows into Lake Washington there was a grand total of nine Glaucous-winged Gulls, and I couldn't see any others out in the lake.
• A more positive sign of changing seasons was 100 Violet-green Swallows flying around the Boeing bridge a half mile up river.

• I was kayaking in Dabob Bay, off the Hood Canal, today and saw around 100 Barrows Goldeneye in a single flock, by far the largest number I've seen in one place.
• Also in the same big flock were greater scaup, surf and white winged scoters, common goldeneye, red breasted mergansers and a few common mergansers.

• WESTERN MEADOWLARK, perched at the top of a cottonwood with a few Starlings
• EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL.  The teal was at the north end of the old bridge, on the shoreline, with several other Green-wings.

• MERLIN…flying through over the boardwalks.
• PILEATED WOODPECKER…female.
• HAIRY WOODPECKER…male.
• Dozens of swallows…mostly VIOLET-GREEN and some TREE.
• VARIED THRUSH…still a few around, singing.
• The partial-albino RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, which returned in early February for the 3rd year, seemed to get “lucky” with several females.  His territory, the same as last year, is in the cattails between the two boardwalks.  He’s really a beautiful bird.
  
• The WOOD DUCKS are starting to come out of hiding, but the ranks of the other species of ducks are thinning.

• At least 4 western bluebirds actively building in the boxes. Also mountain bluebirds, mostly in flocks but some on the boxes.
• I also saw one sage thrasher. It was on top of one of the bluebird boxes - one that a pair of bluebirds were building in. The bluebirds and the trasher seemed to get along just fine.
• Meadowlarks are back too. It was sunny up there an the meadowlarks were singing for all but no one to hear but me.

• There was 1 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE seen from the Twin Barns.  
• Still some wigeon flocks of 40 some birds scattered around the refuge, I think we had 4 or 5 EURASIAN WIGEON today with at least one hybrid drake.  
• Small numbers of G/W Teal, Bufflehead, N. Pintail, Shovelers and Gadwall.  
• There were 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS along McAllister Creek near the eagle's nest.  
• One dark juvenile R/T Hawk that was probably a Harlan's out near the mouth of McAllister. 
• Loads of TREE and a few V/G SWALLOWS flying all over the place.  
• 3 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS seen along the heavy Salmonberry area of the canals after and before the Ring-Dike.  
• Some flocks of DUNLIN were about on the Reach, also a nice flock of BRANT out there. 
• YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were common today, small flocks of 5-10 birds all along the dike and along the trail to the Ring-Dike.  
• 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen from the trail out to McAllister Creek. 

• Hundreds of NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL along with thousands of MEW, THAYERS, CALIFORNIA, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS were seen at the Nanoose Estuary.
  

• Eight BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were spotted on the tide line at the bottom of Blueback Road in Nanaimo.

• TRUMPETER SWANS were spotted in Morello Pond at Nanoose Bay.
• About eighty COMMON MERGANGERS, BUFFLEHEAD, and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE were sighted at Departure Bay in Nanaimo.

• Over sixty TRUMPETER SWANS were seen flying above Diver Lake in Nanaimo.
• Over fifty TRUMPETER SWANS were flying just above the tops of the trees at Schooners Cove in Nanoose Bay.

• Twenty-four WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were spotted at Mount Washington.
• Six TRUMPETER SWANS were seen flying above Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo

• That's the feeling I got this morning when I stopped by at the golf driving range and saw this season's first savannah sparrow.  He was looking mighty fine. His plumage was bright and clean, and his yellow lores gleamed in the sunshine. He didn't have much to say for himself - hasn't settled in yet nor found a mate, you know. After all, he just got here. He'll start singing soon, I'm sure.
• Further on, on the other side of the slough, I found the season's first violet-green swallow, another long-lost friend. He was too busy to stop, though. The spring warmth had brought out a host of newly morphed mosquitoes, and the swallow had to take care of bidness. 
• The hooded merganser females were busy fishing and ignoring the males, who raised their hoods hopefully but in vain. 
• The coots got a good scare when a young bald eagle cased the joint
• Silent Cal, my favorite belted kingfisher, was moved to raise objections. 
• The yellow-rumped warblers - both myrtle and Audubon's - are coming into their full glory, and the place was simply stuffed with them. 
• Bewick's wrens were flying back and forth with wisps of plants in their bills.

• pied-billed grebe, double-crested cormorant
• great blue heron
• Canada goose (including a herd of tiny cacklers scarcely bigger than ducks)
• mallard, gadwall, green-winged teal, American wigeon, northern shoveler, ruddy duck, ring-necked duck, greater scaup, lesser scaup, bufflehead, common merganser, hooded merganser
• American coot
• killdeer
• glaucous-winged gull
• bald eagle, red-tailed hawk
• ring-necked pheasant, rock pigeon
• Anna's hummingbird
• belted kingfisher
• northern flicker (both red and yellow), downy woodpecker
• tree swallow, violet-green swallow
• Steller's jay, American crow
• bushtit, black-capped chickadee, Bewick's wren, marsh wren, ruby-crowned kinglet
• American robin, European starling
• yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon's and myrtle)
• spotted towhee
• savannah sparrow, song sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, gold-crowned sparrow
• red-winged blackbird, American goldfinch, house finch

• 3 Great Egrets (2 at the River S Unit,1 at the Carty Unit)
• 3 additional Tundra Swans at the Carty Unit
• 5 Wood Ducks at the River S Unit
• 13 Cinnamon Teal at the River S Unit
• 3 Canvasback at the River S Unit
• 36 Ruddy Ducks at Rest Lake(River S Unit)
• 1 Turkey Vulture at the River S Unit
• 1 adult dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk at the River S Unit
• 1 Peregrine Falcon at the River S Unit
• 1 Ring-necked Pheasant at the River S Unit
• 9 Wilson's Snipes at the River S Unit
• 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker in the wooded canyon above the River S Unit
• 1 Barn Swallow at the River S Unit
• 1 pair of White-breasted Nuthatches at the River S Unit

• 1 Racoon and 1 Mink at the River S Unit 

• We located the Harris' Sparrow with little effort in a bramble patch associating with a small flock of Golden and White-crowned Sparrows, which allowed good scoping views of it until it flew to a father bramble patch and could not be relocated.
• We also observed a scattered flock of 15+ California Quail at this same location, which have fairly regular at this location in past visits.
• We located a single flock of 600+ Sandhill Cranes along Dike Rd. south of Whalen Rd. that were noted foraging in a recently plowed field
• Our 4th Great Egret of the day was observed along a canal south of Caples Rd.
• Other few highlights noted from the Dike Access Rd. complex included 8 Wood Ducks,10+ Savannah Sparrows, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows and our only "Sooty" Fox Sparrow of the day.
• On our way home we observed our last species of the day, being a single Merlin along I-5 north of Maytown in Thurston Co.

• 1 Harbor Seal  in the Columbia River along Dike Rd. near Woodland

• It started Friday evening with a couple of hundred SANDHILL CRANES massing at various spots on Cameron Lake Rd. southeast of Okanogan in Ok Co.  We got many great looks at a few birds at fairly close range, and saw big flocks in flight.  We also saw CLIFF SWALLOWS along that road.
• Saturday, we began at the Leahey (sp) Jct. grouse lek, where we counted 13 male and at least 4 female GREATER SAGE-GROUSE.  There were no clouds in the sky and no wind, so we got to see and hear the lek very well.  When the sun came over the horizon, the males fairly sparkled, and we could clearly see them strut their stuff and blow up their ridiculous yellow air sacs.  It was great.
• Later this morning, we headed up Central Ferry Canyon (Douglas Co., across the river from Brewster).  There we had a male WESTERN BLUEBIRD, and at least 3 male and maybe a female BLUE GROUSE.  The grouse were booming, and we were close enough to see the yellow/orange eye crescents and the yellow/orange air sacs.  Two great grouse sightings in one day!
• We ended the day at Wilson Creek, Grant Co., where we twice observed FERUGINOUS HAWK, once on each side of the valley.  Absolutely fantastic! We're heading back there tomorrow to search for Tricolored Blackbird.

• Tree Swallows continued to be the most abundant species observed followed by lesser numbers of Violet-green Swallows. 
• We encountered a total 5 species of shorebirds from the River S Unit of which highlights included a single Lesser Yellowlegs flying with one of 9 Greater Yellowlegs we noted from this location followed by 3 Long-billed Dowitchers.
• We observed 500+ Tundra Swans flying from the north in the direction from Bachelor Island, which all came flying overhead as we drove the last portion of the River S Unit and a few of the bird flew in and landed on Rest Lake. It seems that the birds are gathering up and may begin to migrate north in upcoming weeks. Most of the Tundra Swans we observed continued to the south towards the Vancouver Lake area. 

• 1 Great Egret
  
• 3 additional Tundra Swans

• 2 Great Egrets
• 5 Wood Ducks, 13 Cinnamon Teal, 3 Canvasback, 36 Ruddy Ducks at Rest Lake
• 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 adult dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon
• 1 Ring-necked Pheasant
• 9 Wilson's Snipes
• 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker in the wooded canyon above the River S Unit
• 1 Barn Swallow, 1 pair of White-breasted Nuthatches
• 1 Racoon and 1 Mink
  

• We located the Harris' Sparrow with little effort in a bramble patch associating with a small flock of Golden and White-crowned Sparrows, which allowed good scoping views of it until it flew to a father bramble patch and could not be relocated. Perhaps this bird may continue at this location through spring and begin to change plumages.
• We also observed a scattered flock of 15+ California Quail at this same location, which have fairly regular at this location in past visits.
• We located a single flock of 600+ Sandhill Cranes along Dike Rd. south of Whalen Rd. that were noted foraging in a recently plowed field and a our 4th Great Egret of the day that was observed along a canal south of Caples Rd.
• Other few highlights noted from the Dike Access Rd. complex included 8 Wood Ducks,10+ Savannah Sparrows, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows and our only "Sooty"Fox Sparrow of the day.

• A Townsend’s Solitare and a Yellow-rumped Warbler made their appearance along the pathway.  
• Four Marbled Murrelets and over 200 Pacific Loons were seen off shore. 
• Further off shore, we spotted a huge raft of at least a thousand seabirds, containing several species including all three Scoters and both Barrow’s and Common Goldeneye.

• I got my first Swainson’s thrush of the season this afternoon at State Park Issaquah, beautiful haunting spiral sound!
• The herons are doing well on the building with maybe 5 to 6 more nests than last year;
  I counted 41 herons in the Heronry.
• Tree swallows in abundance, no willow flycatchers yet or common yellowthroats but after today’s sunshine, the dorsal tones will soon be with us.

• One of the first "good" birds I came across was a calling SORA, my first of the year. 
• On the Washougal Sewage Lagoons I found one pair of CINNAMON TEAL also first of the year migrants.
• The real surprise was when a BURROWING OWL flushed away from a carcass of a Red-tailed Hawk that appeared to have been struck by a car. The hawk had been dead for awhile but there were some freshly plucked feathers floating around the hawk. It almost seemed like the owl was scavenging on the hawk's body. I gave Sherry and Arden Hagen a call and they hurried out and we refound the bird in the same general area. This is a first sighting for the refuge and a county bird for all of the observers.
• Other species of interest seen were 2 TURKEY VULTURES and flocks of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.

• Burrowing Owls - a pair on a nest burrow along SR-17 between the junction of SR-282 and SR-28
• Long-billed Curlew - Up to six individuals along SR-17 just south of Soap Lake
• Say's Phoebe - Plentiful and observed in many locations
• Sage Thrasher - An early arriving single bird located on the Waterville Plateau near the sage grouse lek
• Greater Sage-Grouse - At least 6 birds observed on and near the Leahy Junction lek.
• Prairie Falcon - At least 4 different birds scattered across the Waterville Plateau
• Short-eared Owl - A nice specimen observed at the traditional Long-eared Owl spot along Heritage Road.
• Northern Shrike - A very nice adult bird along Heritage Road
• Steller's Jay - A lost bird located in downtown Mansfield
• Great Horned Owl - Mansfield Cemetery
• Redhead (m), Canvasback (m & f), and Tundra Swan - small pond along SR-174 in Douglas County
• Tree Swallow - A pair researching old bluebird boxes for nesting possibilities at the same pond.
• Turkey Vulture - A nice study in flight as the bird soared over us along SR-155 at close range
• Bald Eagle - Observed in several locations
• Golden Eagle - Single bird soaring over the cliffs above Blue Lake
• Chukar - West of Lake Lenore along SR-17. Offering far but good views

• White-throated Swift - Early arrivals at the Dry Falls Overview and North Dam Rest Area at Grand Coulee
• Cliff Swallow - Several birds soaring above the North Dam Rest Area at Grand Coulee

• The West 90 wigeon flock included 34 Eurasians. 
• Three Harlan's Hawks a-hunting south of there. 
• Along Bradshaw Road we stopped for a massive flock of swans, mainly Tundras. 
• At the far end of the field, Sir Duffy located a young Gyrfalcon. 
• Very soon thereafter, Steve had a Bewick's Swan not far away from us in the flock. We had excellent studies of this vagrant subspecies.

• Howdy, Keith Brady and I found the two SANDHILL CRANES this morning between the main ponds looking north from the parking lot towards the Reach (at Nisqually NWR).  We were just about to call it a morning when Keith spotted them (they could not be seen from looking at the Twin Barns lookout due to a tree in the way).  I was expecting to HEAR them, but they never called while we were there.  
• The "partial-albino" Tree Swallow seems to have taken over the box mounted on the end of the north barn (as seen from the overlook).
• E. Wigeon
• 1 Peregrine (adult in the tall fir behind hdqtrs)
• 6 Greater Yellowlegs
• 2 N. SHRIKE
• 2 Savannah Sparrow
• W/C Sparrow ("Gambelli")

• Quite a few male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, one hybrid N. FLICKER, nestbuilding BUSHTITS, a singing PURPLE FINCH, Red Crossbill calling, and a few WOOD DUCKS roaming about.  A few Y/RUMPEDS were about.
  

• SAY'S PHOEBE:   Today at Conboy NWR we watched a SAY'S PHOEBE which seemed to be working its way northward along a fence line off Kreps Lane.  A likely migrant?
• WESTERN MEADOWLARKS:  Also of note were the Western Meadowlarks now 'serenading' from the tops of shrubs, whereas the previous weekend they were doing their trademark calls from deep within the bushes.
• DUCKS NOTED: Mallard, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler and American Wigeon,
• LOTS OF: CANADA GEESE, [ Rocky Mtn. Elk >100 at dusk (maybe 200, they were everywhere!)].

• 2 Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
• 50 Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
• 4 Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
• 3 Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
• 4 Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
• 100 Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) 
• 10 Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
• 2000 dunlin (Calidris alpina) 
• 70 Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia)
• 5 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

• 29 Pacific Loon, 4 Eared Grebe 4
• 1 EUR. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (off s. Grays), 2 EURASIAN WIGEON
• 1 GLAUCOUS GULL (third-winter right along beach, about 3rd)
• 252 Tree Swallow  (the largest number I had ever seen in one place anywhere)
• 32 Violet-green Swallow
• 1 N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (my earliest ever by three days)
• 1 BARN SWALLOW (possibly two present)
• 1 Hermit Thrush (singing bird)
• 8 Orange-crowned Warbler, White-throated Sparrow 1 (almost surely same bird that overwintered)

• The birding highlight was the ROCK SANDPIPER with 22 BLACK TURNSTONES near the boat ramp at Lighthouse Marine Park. After feeding along the shoreline for a short time, the entire flock took off about 4 PM and appeared to be flying straight toward the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in BC, a known turnstone hangout.
  
• Also noteworthy were some early migrants: two separate male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS (one along Pauls Road, the other on APA Road near South Beach Road) and a singing male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in the trees near the Lily Point cemetery. A VIRGINIA RAIL was persistently giving the "tic-tic-tic-McGreer" call west of the intersection of APA Road and Tyee Drive.

• Another highlight was a group of at least 8 to 10 HARBOR PORPOISES feeding close inshore off Lighthouse Marine Park. Other mammals recorded included one HARBOR SEAL, one DOUGLAS SQUIRREL, and at least 4 COYOTES heard howling near the marina at dusk. Two choruses of PACIFIC TREE-FROGS totalling at least 15 frogs were also heard.

• 30 Common Loon, 7 Horned Grebe, 5 Red-necked Grebe, 2 Western Grebe
• 30 Double-crested Cormorant, 15 Pelagic Cormorant
• 5 Great Blue Heron
• 44 Brant in flight off Lighthouse Marine Park
• 6 Gadwall, 16 American Wigeon, 12 Mallard, 3 Green-Winged Teal, 1 Canvasback in slough west of marina, 20 Greater Scaup
• 70 Harlequin Duck --  mostly off Lily Point
• 100 Surf Scoter, 10 Black Scoter and 2 Long-tailed Duck -  Lily Point
• 10 Bufflehead, 80 Common Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Merganser
• 4 Bald Eagle  --  pair at nest in cottonwood on Simundson Dr. (E of marina), plus 1 imm. at Pauls Road and 1 at Lily Point, 1 Red-tailed Hawk
• 1 Virginia Rail calling "tic-tic-tic-McGreer" in marshy area west of Tyee Dr at APA Road
• 2 Killdeer
• 22 Black Turnstone, 40 Sanderling, and 1 Rock Sandpiper - Lighthouse Marine Park
• 4 Common Snipe
• 30 Mew Gull, 100 Glaucous-winged Gull
• 10 Common Murre, 3 Pigeon Guillemot
• 2 Rock Dove
• 2 Rufous Hummingbird
• 1 Belted Kingfisher  -  at marina    
• 40 Northwestern Crow, 2 Common Raven 
• 4 Violet-green Swallow -- 2 at Lighthouse Marine Park, 2 at Lily Point
• 4 Black-capped Chickadee, 5 Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 2 Bushtit, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Bewick's Wren, 2 Winter Wren, 2 Marsh Wren -- in marshy area near where Virginia Rail was calling
• 40 American Robin, 50 European Starling 
• 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler --  male Audubon's singing at Lily Point cemetery
• 4 Spotted Towhee
• 1 Fox Sparrow, 3 Song Sparrow, 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow
• 15 Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Brewer's Blackbird
• 2 Purple Finch, 25 House Finch, 12 Pine Siskin, 10 House Sparrow

• Several SAGE SPARROW and a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD at Jameson Lake.
• 2 flocks totalling 30-40 SNOW BUNTINGS near Atkins "Lake" (dry now) on the Waterville Plateau on March 19.
• 2 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at the Dry Falls Interpretive Center, Grant Co., March 19.
• A huge number and variety of ducks at the lake at N NE and 6th NE, a block or two west of St. Andrews on the Waterville Plateau on March 19th.
• 1 SAVANNAH SPARROW and 2 GRAY PARTRIDGE at St. Andrews (Stollard Lake).
• 1 SHORT-EARED OWL and a NORTHERN SHRIKE on Heritage Rd @ 13th on the Waterville Plateau on the 19th.  We had Northern Shrike at several locations.
• 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW at Foster Creek on the 19th.
• 1 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW along with several Violet-green and some Tree Swallows below the dam at Bridgeport.
• 1 SAGE THRASHER on Cameron Lake Rd., Okanogan Co., on March 19.  I already mentioned the Sandhill Cranes and Cliff Swallows along that road in a previous email.
• About 5 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, 2 near Stratford, the rest on Moses Lake - Stratford Rd. on the 21st.
• 1 BURROWING OWL, 2 male CINAMON TEAL, and 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS on Frenchman
• Hills Rd. @ Dodson Rd. on the 21st.
• 9 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (3 pair + 3) along Lower Crab Creek, Grant Co., on the 21st.
• Lots of SAYS PHOEBE everywhere.
• 1 TURKEY VULTURE just east of Easton on I-90 eating roadkill on the way home on the 21st.

• 1 Turkey Vulture along Brady Loop Rd.; 1 along Wenzel Slough Rd. over Vance Creek Co. Park
• 1 Osprey perched at a nestsite east of Wenzel Slough Rd. near the Schouweiler Rd. wetland
• 1 Am. Kestrel at a nestbox along Foster Rd. (Brady Loop Rd. complex) with a male observed nearby near the same location.

• 20 hooded mergansers - 4 on the north pond, 15 on shovelor pond and 1 out in Union Bay - I think this a personal best for the Fill.
• 4 lesser scaup on the main pond
• 1 ruddy duck on the main pond
• 14 common mergansers out in Union Bay
• Plenty of buffleheads charging around Union Bay.
  

• 1 western meadowlark on the west side of the central pond
• 1 savannah sparrow
• 1 red-tailed hawk flying overhead - with the usual posse of crows in pursuit.
• The crows don't seem to be congregating in the area before heading over to roost on Foster Island. Most birds were flying over the area just before it got dark - perhaps they are starting to hold territories.
  

• I got good looks at a breeding-plumage Red-necked Grebe, a few handsome Horned Grebes, and Pacific Loons (Common Loons also, tho I've seen them closely on breeding territory in northern Maine). Pelagic Cormorants were showing white breeding patches on the rump, and we got blow-away close views of Brandt's Cormorants with the white facial plumes & bright blue gular patches.

• There were many Bald Eagles (and a great view of an enormous old nest on Whidbey Island), lots of Western Grebes (I counted 127 in one raft), Rhino Auklets & Pigeon Guillemots, and lots of ducks of various species (Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Pintails, Buffleheads, etc.). Out in Rosario Strait, there were a few Harlequin Ducks. In all (counting Rock Pigeons at the dock), I tallied 32 species for the trip.  Scenery alone was worth it & we had beautiful weather yesterday!
  

• Plus, as a bonus, there were thousands of Snow Geese along Fir Island Road west of Conway (I looked carefully but couldn't find a Ross' ... interesting comparison with New Mexico (Bosque del Apache NWR), where almost any flock of SNGOs will include a few ROGOs). I recall much the same sort of thing (mixed SNGO/ROGO flocks) at the Salton Sea in California. It seems that most reports of ROGOs on Tweeters are of birds on their own. Do the two species segregate in more northerly areas and only mix when they're farther south? Or am I suffering from sampling error?
  

The Washington population of Snow Geese come from Wrangell Island, off Russia, and does not contain a Ross's Goose component. The Ross' Geese we occasionally get come from the Canadian population and are almost always seen in isolation from our wintering Snow Geese.

Brian H. Bell       Woodinville Wa       bellasoc@isomedia.com

• 22 Eared Grebe
• 3 Brandt's Cormorant
• 140+ "Black" Brant

• 3 Barrow's Goldeneye
• 140+ Dunlin
• 4 Greater Yellowlegs (Madrona Beach Rd.)
• 2 Spotted Sandpiper (Madrona Beach Rd.)
  

• 3 along Wenzel Slough Rd.
• 2 along Hwy.12 at Satsop
• 5 along Brady Loop Rd.

• MARSH WRENS singing everywhere, and one busily building a nest.
• SAVANNAH SPARROW - one singing away from a tree, of all places...
• COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - yay! I heard the wichity-wichity-wichity first, and thought I was probably imagining things. But after looking for a while, there he was, bright in his yellows&blacks. [Anyone looking soon, this was at the end of the long path - right in the field where the last bit of the trail splits into 2 parts.]
  

• TURKEY VULTURES - 6-7 floating overhead
• RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS - several, pretty much at each stop along the way.
• WOOD DUCK - one female hanging out  in the marsh along Purdy Cut-off road.
• TREE SWALLOWS, VG SWALLOWS - overhead in large numbers
• AMERICAN DIPPER - Just across the road from the Purdy Cut-off/101 intersection.

• COMMON LOON - breeding plumage almost all there
• PACIFIC LOON
• HARLEQUIN DUCKS - 2 there and another pair up at Hoodsport later

• AMERICAN DIPPERS - several along the river at regular intervals
• BLUE GROUSE - one popped up as I walked the trail.

• EURASIAN WIGEONS - 2 drakes among some AMERICAN WIGEONS hanging out.

• New spring arrivals included numerous WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at the Vaseux Lake Cliffs, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW in the fields N. of Swan Lake in Vernon, a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER along Black Sage Road, N. of Osoyoos, and a bird presumed to be a female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at 3 Gates Farm, on White Lk Road, N. of Ok Falls.
• Two PACIFIC LOONS were found on Kalamalka Lake offshore near Kekuli Bay Prov. Park.
• While birding along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, three BLUE GROUSE and three RUFFED GROUSE were stumbled upon. The Ruffeds were in the aspen grove at approx km 5, while the Blues were slightly farther up between km 8-9.
• Along Postil Lake Road, near Kelowna, an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed and a small flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in the spruce woods.
• On the night of March 27, two BOREAL OWLS were heard calling at km 28, along Shuttleworth Creek Road, E. of Okanagan Falls.
• Up to 5 male EURASIAN WIGEON are being seen at Munson's Pond in Kelowna.

• Along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, the spring's first RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS were found in the aspen groves between km 5 and 6. A RUFFED GROUSE was drumming at km 6 and a TURKEY VULTURE was soaring over the grasslands.
• At Robert Lake, 6 RUDDY DUCKS were amongst 15 other species of waterfowl. On the E. shore of the lake was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. 
• On the 23rd, a mixed flock of TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS were at Robert Lake.

• Seven COMMON MERGANSERS (5 male, 2 female) were actively fishing together over much of Turning Basin #3 (TB3) during the whole period I was out there. They appeared to be as successful
• A river otter captured a rather large flatfish of some sort. The otter was being pushed past me by the current, and was struggling to hold onto the fish. Finally, it got into an eddy near the shore and managed to beach itself, and the fish, downstream of me.
• I was just about to put the scope up when I noticed a "bump" on the west-bank power tower (north part of the catwalk railing). Sure enough, it was a PEREGRINE FALCON, which appeared to be hunkered down against the east wind. It's been over a week since I'd seen it.

• Canada Goose
• 2 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 6 Bufflehead, 3 Common Goldeneye, 7 Common Merganser
• 5 Double-crested Cormorant
• Peregrine Falcon
• 7 Mew Gull, 3 Glaucous-winged Gull
• 24 Rock Pigeon
• 7 American Crow
• Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, 2 Bewick's Wren
• 9 European Starling
• Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch (2; female carrying nesting material)

• Hiked the 3-mile Willard Springs Trail. The view from the observation deck on the north end of the trail---with Mt. Adams over the lake, was awsome. Even more awesome were the pair of extaordinarily loud large trumpeting SANDHILL CRANES there--I didn't know that cranes could bellow this loud!!!
• Zillions and zillions of CANADA GREESE  on the water---of all sizes and color variations--making quite a overwhelming racket. Lots of ducks present, though a long distance off. What I could identify was much of the same winter migrant species one would observe elsewhere in west Wash or Oreg.
• One large RUFFLED GROUSE strutted in fron of me on the road, an d an immature-plumaged ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK soared and hovered over the field.. OREGON JUNCOS;STELLERS JAYS; WHITE-BREASTED NUTTHATCHES; MARSH WREN;WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW; 1 WESTERN TANAGER; RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS; 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS---in an otherwise very quiet locale. 
• Deer tracks on the path; herds of elk in the fields south of the lake; a small snale on the path; and.....what else I  may have missed---a peaceful place the soothe the frazzled nerves.

• One OSPREY returned to the Hamm Creek nest site today (7:13am), and was on the nest platform from about 9:30am until it dove for a fish at 11:58am, returning empty-taloned to a nearby electrical pole. It attempted to catch another fish shortly thereafter, with the same negative results, and flew up to the catwalk of the west-bank power tower. After a couple of minutes, it flew downstream. 
• Meanwhile, back at Turning Basin #3 (TB3), a river otter, with a large flat fish hanging from its mouth, climbed up on the log that's attached by a rope to the pier across from my position, and proceeded to have a big lunch. That's the second time this week I've seen an otter with a large flatfish.
  
• When I hauled my scope down to the area directly across from Hamm Creek, I noticed--once again--that WESTERN GREBES were feeding in the Duwamish at that point. During this entire winter, I've not seen one WEGR at TB3, but have usually seen at least one when I went downstream 300+ meters opposite Hamm Creek. Must be something there that the grebes like, but that's not available at TB3.
  
• MEW GULLS -- 71 of them -- were packed on the small mudflat directly to the south of my position. Most had their heads tucked into their mantles, snoozing.
  

• As I prepared to leave work (3:30pm), I spotted an Osprey on the west-bank power tower, then saw something on Turning Basin #3 that made me grab my bins (I park right next to the river) -- a female HOODED MERGANSER, the first I've seen here, near the goose exclusion area across the river to the south. As I was checking her out, I looked up and saw the Osprey circling TB3, and thought "Wow! That was a quick dash from the tower." I glanced downstream and saw the first Osprey still on the tower. The SECOND OSPREY completed the circle of TB3, heading downstream, gaining altitude, and then landed within 4 feet of the first Osprey. As I left the parking lot, both birds were still there. It may be the Hamm Creek pair are both back.

• Wood Duck                     Pair in slough
• Wilson's Snipe                3 below weir
• California Gull                5 on grass fields early
• Great Horned Owl          Pair at nest
• SHORT-EARED OWL       Flushed from East Meadow - nice looks, then it settled east
• Belted Kingfisher           Only 3rd sighting so far this year
• Red-breasted Sapsucker Quick view south of mansion
• Rufous Hummingbird      First female of the year, many males
• Northern Shrike              Immature still around - south of velodrome lot
• Brown Creeper               1-2 NE of mansion.  Found a nest.  1 along ELS trail
• Winter Wren                   1 still around, heard @ east end of boardwalk
• HERMIT THRUSH             1 seen very well at south end of dog area
• Common Yellowthroat     Lots of males back, saw 5+, heard more
• Lincoln's Sparrow           Rather high count - 5 or 6 birds seen.
• Western Meadowlark      1 near compost piles
• Brown-headed Cowbird  Male seen/heard below weir

• Common Loon           1 in breeding plumage
• Horned Grebe            1 molting into breeding plumage
• Red-necked Grebe     1, pretty far out on the lake, but unmistakable

• OSPREY
• Cooper's Hawk
• Merlin
• Virginia Rail (heard.  I heard one on Monday as well)
• Orange-crowned Warbler (heard)

• American Crow with nest materials
• American Robin ditto
• Red-tailed Hawk on nests
• Bewick's Wren bringing nest materials to nest box
• Downy Woodpecker excavating hole
• Brown Creeper bringing nest materials to likely nest location
• Great Horned Owl on nest
• Bald Eagle on nest

• 01 - 1 east of I-5 south of Castle Rock
• 07 - 1 at Rock Creek, Klickitat County
• 09 - 1 near Scatter Creek Rest Stop
• 12 - 1 soaring over farmland east of Sedro-Woolley; 3 at Qualicum Bay, B.C.
• 13 - 2 moving over the south end of Bainbridge Island; 1 over the middle of Vashon Island
• 14 - 5 sharing a thermal with 2 ravens, a bald eagle, and a redtail over Puget Island, Wahkiakum County; 2 at the north end of Bainbridge; 2 above
• Hwy. 19 at Nanoose Bay, B.C.; 1 on the Vernon Commonage, B.C.
• 15 - 1 over Bainbridge Island
• 16 - 3 near the Ring-Dike area at Nisqually NWR
• 17 - 1 at the mouth of the Skokomish River, Hood Canal; 31 sitting in trees in Railroad Bridge Park, Sequim
• 18 - 1 over the Bellevue Home Depot
• 19 - 1 flying over the Mill Creek Post Office; 1 flying east southwest of Littlerock; 2 soaring over the courthouse in North Vancouver, B.C.
• 20 - 1 at the River S Unit, Ridgefield NWR; 6 near the Brady Loop Road; 15 in southern Mason County
• 21 - 13 seen from the Brady Loop Road complex; 2 at Steigerwald Lake NWR; 1 flying over Renton; 1 at Deer Lake Park, Burnaby, B.C.; 3 in trees on the Miller Peninsula; 1 over Llama Lake; 1 over central Bainbridge; 1 east of Easton feasting on roadkill
• 22 - 1 flying over Fircrest; 27 heading west in small groups over eastern Port Angeles; 14 soaring over the Old Olympic Hwy, Sequim, heading west; 1 feeding on an old coyote carcass in the Wenas Valley; 1 over the Purdy cut-off road, Mason County
• 23 - 4 overhead near Surrey, B.C.; 1 south of Omak
• 24 - reported from around Latzville and south Nanaimo, B.C. [no numbers]; 1 cruising over the Chinook Valley, Pacific County; 3 along Wenzel Slough Road; 2 at Satsop; 5 along Brady Loop Road; 1 in Richland
• 25 - 1 soaring over grasslands east of Winfield, B.C.
• 27 - 1 along Brady Loop Road; 1 over Vance Creek County Park; 1 over Sequim; (?) at Castlegar, B.C.
• 28 - 1 along the Wenzel Slough Road; 6-7 floating overhead at the mouth of the Skokomish; 1 over Charlie Wright's house; 2 at Lantzville watching grass-rakers; 2 south of Oroville; 1 east of Oliver, B.C.
• 29 - 1 at Naramata, B.C.; 6 flying over Penticton, B.C.
• 30 - 1 over June Springs Road, B.C.; 2 circling at tree top level in West Olympia
• 31 - 1 soaring over the Sechelt Airport, B.C.; 6 along Ranee Road in Pitt Meadows