Hi Toppenish CBC participants,

Post count, beginning at 4:30, all counters are most welcome to warm up at
Andy and Ellen's with soup provided by Ellen, - bread too. Let her know if
you'd like to bring another item for dinner. The usual blow-by-blow tally
follows.

Andy and Ellen
P.S. Reminder if it's snowy, hang a right just over the canal and wrap
around the warehouse and climb the gentler east grade to the house.

Chirp,

Ah, fondly recalling recent sightings BS...Before Snow, that is!

Along the trail at Sportsman State Park "island", I paused upon hearing
some gentle tapping.  Reminiscent of a Downey probing for chow  on
a tree's bark last Sunday.

Visual scans failed to turn up anything for several minutes, so I  whipped
out my iPod and dialed up Downey Woodpecker.  In seconds, a  black
and white woodpecker pounced upon a downward thrust  barren sprig
about 20 feet up and ten meters away from me.  I'm pretty sure  that
LeBron James could have taken two steps and slammed him (spot of
red on back of head) back into a near-by cavity.

Even with the briefest look with my bins, it was clear that this  woody
was not packing a stubby jail-house shank.  Nope, this dude  was
wielding more of a Shakespearean rapier.  Through 1998, Hairy
Woodpeckers were somewhat sporadic on the Yakima Christmas
Bird Count.

Over on Gun Club Road (at the first home east of the orchard at 41st
Street), I had to U-turn to investigate a couple of large, light  colored
doves.  Turned out, there were four Eurasian Collared Doves  hanging
with a dozen or so Mourning Doves.

Last, and least if judging by size alone, a solitary Pine Siskin  joined
the Goldfinches attacking my nyjer sock feeder on this snowy day.
The first Siskin I've had here in months.  I figured it was just a  matter
of time before one or two broke away from the Robinson's Nile Valley
feeder collage.

Later,
Rich
Befuddled Birder by 3700 Bonnie  Boone



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Yakkers,

I stopped by the arboretum this afternoon to scrape the snow off the
feeding areas.  After I spread some seed, many birds came in to
eat.  Among the juncos, House Sparrows, House Finches, White-crowned
Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees and
Sooty Fox Sparrows, was one Red Fox Sparrow.  This is a subspecies of
Fox Sparrow that breeds all across Canada and winters primarily
throughout the eastern United States.

Like Harris's Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows, a few Red Fox
Sparrows migrate into the Pacific States to winter instead of heading east.

Mike Roper photographed a Red Fox Sparrow in his yard last
January.  Here is a link to his photo in the January Calliope Crier:

http://www.yakimaaudubon.org/documents/Jan09Criercolor.pdf

This was my first sighting of this subspecies of Fox Sparrow in
Washington.  Rumors circulate every so often that Fox Sparrows might
be split into three or four separate species.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

Hi Yakkers,

I stopped by the arboretum this afternoon to scrape the snow off the
feeding areas.  After I spread some seed, many birds came in to
eat.  Among the juncos, House Sparrows, House Finches, White-crowned
Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees and
Sooty Fox Sparrows, was one Red Fox Sparrow.  This is a subspecies of
Fox Sparrow that breeds all across Canada and winters primarily
throughout the eastern United States.

Like Harris's Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows, a few Red Fox
Sparrows migrate into the Pacific States to winter instead of heading east.

Mike Roper photographed a Red Fox Sparrow in his yard last
January.  Here is a link to his photo in the January Calliope Crier:

http://www.yakimaaudubon.org/documents/Jan09Criercolor.pdf

This was my first sighting of this subspecies of Fox Sparrow in
Washington.  Rumors circulate every so often that Fox Sparrows might
be split into three or four separate species.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

Yakkers,

It snowed through the night and has started up again but an Anna's Hummer
was just at our feeder! This, too, after five nights of Zero or below Zero
temps last week. Ellen kept a heat lamp on the feeder through the arctic
cold spell...this hummer no doubt owes her a heap of thanks. Other neat
birds in the yard today include a Hermit Thrush (feeding on Virginia Creeper
berries), 30 or so Cedar Waxwings (feeding on Western Juniper berries),
Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, and
Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Hi Yakkers,

I went back to Buena Pond this morning hoping to get photos of the
leucistic Lesser Scaup I saw yesterday.  It was across the open
section of the pond when I drove up but flew before I got out of my
truck.  There was one Red-necked Grebe along with two Pied-billed
Grebes on the pond as well.

Just north of Toppenish a flock of Canada Geese and one Snow Goose flew over.

At the cemetery on W. Wapato Road, I didn't find any owls and only a
few old pellets.  There was a flock of about 70 Cedar Waxwings.  I
searched hard but didn't see any Bohemian Waxwings.  The waxwings
were eating berries from one of the western juniper trees in the
cemetery.  Many of them fed on berries that had fallen on the ground,
something I hadn't seen before.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

Hi Yakkers,

Amongst the many Canada Geese at the Yakima Area Arboretum yesterday
were two Cackling Geese of the minima subspecies.  Very small size
and stubby bills help tell them from other Cackling Goose
subspecies.  The minimas are also darker on the breast, though these
two were immatures, so they weren't quite as dark as adults would be.

Photos are in the new photos folder on my website.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

HiYakkers,

The Buena Pond, as well as much of the standing water in the valley,
is frozen except for the northeast corner.  There was the oddest
looking female Lesser Scaup there this morning.  The body and wings
were dirty cream color, the neck and head were pale brown and the
white at the base of the bill was as is typical.  Unfortunately, I
didn't have a camera with me.

Yesterday at E. Nob Hill Blvd. and 17th St., the Prairie Falcon Scott
Ray reported several weeks ago was chasing a flock of Rock
Pigeons.  It was unsuccessful.  It landed on a chimney of a building
on the north side of the street, then flew away.  Interesting to see
a Prairie Falcon in town.  There is a good food source for it,
though.  It was very pale and on the breast, so it is probably an adult bird.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

I'm still trying for six...

Northern Harrier - imm male or female
Red-tail - two
Kestrel - male (our Bob keeping tabs on his territory)
Sharpie - sitting for hours on the brush pile down front
Cooper's Hawk - a quick  fly in and out in the elm tree

Sue
Sawyer, WA

We have a Merlin who's becoming a real regular in the neighborhood. Today he
made a dash directly over my head chasing one of my feeder birds. I thought
he had left but the next time I looked he was back in the same tree. If it
wasn't 15 degrees out I'd consider digiscoping. Here's a heavily cropped
photo taken with my 400mm lens.

http://www.pbase.com/mroper/image/120194469

This morning on the way to work at the cowiche wastewater plant, I passed a
great horned owl sitting along side summitview on the flats before cowiche. I
turned around and drove back, parked my car, then walked up to within 4 feet of
him, and took a photo. Another car pulled up and spooked him a bit. He simply
jumped up about three feet and flew into the orchard. It was full daylight, and
he may have been struck by a car, but looked ok as glided off through the
orchard.

At the cowiche wastewater plant, hundreds of robins have been gathering on our
power lines, bushes, and trees at about 3:30 in the afternoon. By about 4, they
start flying off towards Tieton. Very cool.

joe from tampico

We were doing some Christmas shopping yesterday and Cindy and I saw a flock of
roughly 40 Cedar Waxwings sitting in the ornamental pear (fruits look like crab
apples) trees in front of Petsmart in Uninon Gap.  We got really close to them
as they fed on the fruits but try as we might, we couldn't make out any Bohemian
Waxwings.

A nice flock of waxwings is a great way to brighten up a day of Christmas
shopping.

Also, in October, I forgot to report that we found a dead Wilson's Snipe laying
on the sidewalk between Borders and Old Navy in Union Gap.  It was in perfect
condition and wasn't even laying next to a window, but at the foot of the brick
wall of the the building.  Pretty unusual, and my son (he's five), got a kick
out of the the birds huge beak.

Jeff Kozma

Yakima (Terrace Heights)

Thanks Denny for taking the lead in resurrecting the Toppenish CBC. It does look
like there may be sufficient interest to make a good go of the event.

Thanks again and we look forward to great count.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie@...

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Denny Granstrand
   To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:37 PM
   Subject: [BirdYak] Toppenish CBC is officially UNCANCELLED!



   Hi Yakkers,

   The Toppenish Christmas Bird Count will be held as scheduled on Dec.
   20. We are doing a little re-grouping and re-organizing but plan to
   have a fun day as usual.

   If you are interested in helping with the count, please e-mail
   me. We will be meeting at the Branding Iron Restaurant along Hwy 97
   in Toppenish at 7:00 a.m. for a no-host breakfast. You don't have to
   eat breakfast but you have to be at the restaurant by 7:20 to get put
   with a group for the day of birding.

   If you don't e-mail me, it will be more difficult to plan for the count.

   Denny Granstrand
   Southwest of the Yakima Airport
   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
   * Denny Granstrand *
   * Yakima, WA *
   * dgranstrand@... *
   * Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
   http://granstrand.net/gallery/





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yakkers - Wednesday morning, a Merlin zoomed over my backyard at Mach
1, in hot pursuit of some unfortunate House Finch, I think.  It all
happened so fast that I guess it was a Merlin, but I didn't get more
than a flashing view.

Then about 10:00 am yesterday I thought I heard some Evening
Grosbeaks calling to the west of our house on 18th Avenue in Yakima.
The calls were distant, but I'm fairly confident I was hearing the
'peak' and 'grrt' of some Evening Grosbeaks a couple of blocks to the
west.  I drove up to the area around 20th Avenue and MacLaren Avenue
(a block and a half south of Tieton Ave.), stopped the car's engine,
and listened, but didn't hear the birds again of course.

Then as I left this area, I saw a Townsend's Solitaire atop a tree in
the backyard of the house at 914 South 19th Avenue.  This is on the
west side of 19th Avenue, about 1/2 block north of Bonnie Doone.  I
wonder if this bird will stay in the neighborhood until our 12-19
Yakima Christmas bird count?  [If I were him/her, I'd fly south
immediately.]

Stan Isley
18th Ave. Yakima

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Denny & Yakkers - Stan & I will join you for the count on the
20th.  See you at the Branding Iron Restaurant for breakfast.  Lori &
Stan

On Dec 10, 2009, at 6:37 PM, Denny Granstrand wrote:

> Hi Yakkers,
>
> The Toppenish Christmas Bird Count will be held as scheduled on Dec.
> 20. We are doing a little re-grouping and re-organizing but plan to
> have a fun day as usual.
>
> If you are interested in helping with the count, please e-mail
> me. We will be meeting at the Branding Iron Restaurant along Hwy 97
> in Toppenish at 7:00 a.m. for a no-host breakfast. You don't have to
> eat breakfast but you have to be at the restaurant by 7:20 to get put
> with a group for the day of birding.
>
> If you don't e-mail me, it will be more difficult to plan for the
> count.
>
> Denny Granstrand
> Southwest of the Yakima Airport
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> * Denny Granstrand *
> * Yakima, WA *
> * dgranstrand@... *
> * Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
> http://granstrand.net/gallery/
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Yakkers,

The Toppenish Christmas Bird Count will be held as scheduled on Dec.
20.  We are doing a little re-grouping and re-organizing but plan to
have a fun day as usual.

If you are interested in helping with the count, please e-mail
me.  We will be meeting at the Branding Iron Restaurant along Hwy 97
in Toppenish at 7:00 a.m. for a no-host breakfast.  You don't have to
eat breakfast but you have to be at the restaurant by 7:20 to get put
with a group for the day of birding.

If you don't e-mail me, it will be more difficult to plan for the count.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima Airport
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

If anyone wants a later count, the TriCities Count is being held on Saturday,
January 2.  There's a great tally and potluck dinner following the count.  There
are 3 starting locations:  Richland at Howard Amon Park, Pasco at the Boat
Launch in Chiawana Park, and in Kennewick at the Nature Trail in Columbia Park. 
Details http://lcbas.org/CBC.htm or call Dana (compiler) at 545-0627 - Dana will
connect interested folks with the count leaders and make sure that counters are
evenly distributed.

Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland

If people still want to do a CBC on Sunday, Lyle is doing theirs. I will plan on
doing Lyle and if somebody is interested probably could arrange some carpooling.
I know Bob Hansen was looking for volunteers.
Hopefully we can all get together again in 2010. Thanks Andy for keeping the
count going and pushing all of us each year to get out.

Scott Downes


   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Andy Stepniewski
   To: Elizabeth Bohn ; Kerry Turley ; Jan Gano ; Andy and Ellen Stepniewski ;
Vera Backstrom ; Bob and Leslie Wahl ; Richard Repp ; Larry Robinson ; Denny
Granstrand ; Dan Kinney ; Bill Drenguis ; Debi Brown ; Michael Martin ; angela
Begosh ; John Hebert ; BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 7:04 PM
   Subject: [BirdYak] Toppenish CBC is cancelled



   Well everyone, I think this is year we say "there ain't enough of us to do
   it." I think because so many of us are asked to do two counts in a weekend
   (Yakima on Saturday, Toppenish on Sunday), plus our demographics, the year
   has finally come when we cannot pull it off effectively.

   Regretfully, I cancel the Toppenish Christmas Bird Count for 2009.

   A twenty-six year run isn't bad, is it?

   Thanks for all your support,

   Andy Stepniewski
   steppie@...






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Well everyone, I think this is year we say "there ain't enough of us to do
it." I think because so many of us are asked to do two counts in a weekend
(Yakima on Saturday, Toppenish on Sunday), plus our demographics, the year
has finally come when we cannot pull it off effectively.

Regretfully, I cancel the Toppenish Christmas Bird Count for 2009.

A twenty-six year run isn't bad, is it?

Thanks for all your support,

Andy Stepniewski
steppie@...

Chirp,

Three of us showed for this morning's YVAS walk along the Poppoff
Trail.  Five degree temps may have culled the herd!

All the ponds are frozen save for a dab of open water at the far
north end of the Treatment/Spray field pond,  A Double-crested
Cormorant popped out of the water there to sit on the bank, fan
its wings, and soak up the warm sun.

The river banks were also frozen a couple feet out and floating
ice dominated half of the river's surface.  Flocks of geese flew
hither to yond, apparently looking for a spot to splash down.

A three thrush trip with at least seven Varied Thrush heard or
seen.  Yellow-rumped Warblers seemed to be particularly fond
of the icy shoulders of the river, hot-footing across the ice or
sallying out from low perches very close to ground zero (which
may have been close to the temperature.)

The Sparrow Patch South was relatively quiet and it was a bit
too crisp to leisurely linger in one spot.  A lowlight at the  Patch
was the lone House Sparrow, a male, ticked on the trip.

Next walk will be Dec 30...again with a 9:00 am starting time.
Cold obviously doesn't stop us, unless coupled with wind chill.
Driving rain, sleet or blowing snow will curb us also.  When it
warmed up (to a balmy 18 degrees), it was gorgeous out there;
both Adams and Rainier where crystal clear, glowing as bright
as one of Vanna White's white molars.


Location:     Poppoff Trail
Observation date:   12/9/09
Notes:     5 degrees (warming to 19 at  noon), sunny, calm
walked to mp 6 pond access, checked Yak River east of  gravel end
of Poppoff Trail and south of main parking lot
Number of species:   38

Canada Goose     332
Wood Duck   4
American Wigeon     1
Mallard   29
Ring-necked Duck     1
Bufflehead   3
Common Goldeneye     3
Hooded  Merganser     4
Common Merganser      6
California Quail     12
Double-crested Cormorant   1
Great Blue Heron     1
Bald Eagle   1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Red-tailed  Hawk     2
American Kestrel      1
Killdeer     1
Rock Pigeon     5
Belted  Kingfisher     2
Downy Woodpecker      4
Northern Flicker     27
Black-billed Magpie   2
Common Raven     2
Black-capped  Chickadee     3
Bewick's Wren      8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Hermit Thrush   2
American Robin     35
Varied Thrush   7
European Starling     100
Yellow-rumped  Warbler     14
Spotted Towhee     2
Song  Sparrow     7
White-crowned Sparrow      35
Golden-crowned Sparrow     2
Dark-eyed Junco   17
House Finch     6
House Sparrow   1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Later,
Rich
Poppoff Pauper
Onion Gulch,  WA



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I saw a Merlin this morning perched in a maple tree near the
intersection of Maple and Hillcrest in Terrace Heights.  Cute little
guy/gal.  Maybe the same one see at Mike Roper's home.

Jeff Kozma

Terrace Heights


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Seasonal Highlights

The Western Screech Owl is back roosting in a large cavity in a cottonwood
tree in the natural area of the Yakima Area Arboretum.  To spot the owl walk
along the Greenway Trail through the Arboretum's natural area heading north.
Looking to your left spot the green flagging tape.  Stop and look in a
northwesterly direction through the grove of cottonwood trees towards a
large cottonwood about 150 feet away.  You will see a large cavity about 30
feet up in the tree and a small owl roosting there.  This little owl is
considered a birding highlight for 2009 by the Yakima Valley Audubon
Society.

Bird watching is always a favorite activity during the winter months.  The
Yakima Valley Audubon Society has started up their feeding station in the
Arboretum's brush pile near the northeast corner of the grounds.  Look for
the hale bales along the dirt trail.  Bring a bird book, camera, and
binoculars and see if you can find the dozen or so birds that frequent the
area.

The Audubon Society has begun a new feeding station on the Greenway Trail.
Park in the Union Gap Greenway parking lot and walk along the paved trail to
the north until you get to the concrete 1/4 mile marker.
___________________________________

Look for the Arboretum's 90-foot Norway Spruce Christmas Tree lit the entire
month of December.

Look also for festive holiday decorations in the Jewett Interpretive Center.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

THE 2009 YAKIMA VALLEY CHRISTMAS COUNT
by Denny Granstrand

Please mark December 19th on your calendar now for our 36th Annual Yakima
Valley Christmas Count. This nation-wide census of birds in specific 15-mile
diameter circles is now undertaken annually by more than 50,000 birders. And
you don't have to be an expert to participate-just be willing to help by
looking, listening or tallying. It's great fun and challenging too, to
canvas your designated area.

To participate, call me at 453-2500, or e-mail me at DGRANSTRAND@...

  for more information. We will meet at 7:00 a.m. Saturday December 19 at
IHOP in Union Gap (Valley Mall Blvd just west of Exit 36). We will then
depart for a full day of birding. Meet again with the traditional re-cap and
Pizza Potluck at  Debie and Ron Brown's home on Konnowac Pass at 5:00 p.m.


THE 2009 TOPPENISH NWR CHRISTMAS COUNT
by Andy Stepniewski

Coming a day after the Yakima Count is the 27th Annual Toppenish Christmas
Bird Count. We will meet December 20 at 7:00 a.m. at the Branding Iron
Restaurant in Toppenish (junction of US-97 & SR-22). The rules are the same
as for the Yakima Count: observers are assigned to a team to cover a
specific portion of a 15-mile diameter circle in the Lower Valley. If you're
interested, please call me at 877-6639 or e-mail me at STEPPIE@...

Interest and enthusism are key requirements. We will train you! Following
the count, at 4:30 to 5:00 p.m., we meet at Andy and Ellen's house in Parker
Heights to go through the tally, warm up with a bowl of soup and hot (and
cold!) drinks and recount the day's experiences.

We also need new observers! Even if you are a beginner, please Andy at the
above number.

Friendly competition between the two counts has become a tradition. In 2009,
which count will win?

This was a good weekend to be a feederwatcher.  My House Finch flock has
grown to 110 birds...probably more.  I counted 110 at one time but there
were many flying in and out all day.  I had 3 White-crowned Sparrows
show up and 15 California Quail...rare winter visitors in my yard.  Also
had 2 different Sharp-shinned Hawks patrolling the yard, one adult bird
with blood red eyes, the other a first year bird in juvenile plumage.
Also had a male American Kestrel make a run at the birds in the yard.
Kestrels seem to only appear in my yard as bird hunters when the temps
drop very low.

Jeff Kozma

Yakima (Terrace Heights)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Denny and Yakkers,

I was a bit surprised that you didn't find any ice.  Yesterday  afternoon
I stole a glance at big Elton Pond north of Selah and noted a skiff  of
ice covering perhaps half of the surface.  Today at the Terrace  Heights
Cemetery, the pond was 80% frozen. Friday, the Sarg Hubbard Marsh
was also sporting iced over areas.  Open water might be scarce  by
the time the CBCs arrive.

Later,
Rich
Befuddled Birder by 3700 Bonnie  Boone


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Yakkers,

After the wind blew so hard all through the night, I decided to check
all of the freeway ponds near Yakima to see if anything interesting
had been blown over the mountains.  I was hoping to find something
really rare, like an Ancient Murrelet.  This was also the start of
getting my body used to the cold weather to get ready for the
Christmas Bird Counts, which are Dec. 19 for the Yakima count and
Dec. 20 for the Toppenish count.

The cold day also reminded me of going birding with Andy on Nov. 10,
1985.  That November was really cold.  On Nov. 9, there was a hard
wind and snow all night.  I can't remember what the temperature was
but it was easliy as cold as it was today and the wind was
stronger.  We stopped along I-82 to check out the ducks on the pond
south (or east) of Exit 44.  Paddling away from us next to a
Canvasback was a female Black Scoter, which is the only one ever seen
in Yakima County.  We congratulated ourselves on perservering through
the storm to find this rare bird.

Well, today did not produce any rarities.  Here is what I saw:

Myron Lake:
Mallard   7
Ring-necked Duck   3
Common Goldeneye   2
Pied-billed Grebe   1

Lake Aspen:
Canada Goose    50
Barrow's Goldeneye   3 (both were males)
Common Merganser   26
Pied-billed Grebe   1
Great Blue Heron   2 (on the shore, of course)

Berglund Lake:
Canada Goose   12
Mallard   22
Ring-necked Duck   2

Rotary Lake:
Double-crested Cormorant   1

Sarg Hubbard, all ponds:
Canada Goose   350 (+/-)
Cackling Goose   8
Mallard   15
American Wigeon   35
American Coot   8

I-82 Milepost 48 ponds:
Canada Goose   18
Mallard   2

I-82 MP 44 Pond (south, or east, of the Donald exit):
Pied-billed Grebe   3

I didn't make it to East Selah because of chores waiting for me at
home.  Maybe that was where the rare birds were.

It was cold and windy.  I was feeling pretty tough until I got to
Sarg Hubbard Park.  There was a 5-K fun run today.  I was standing on
the west side of the pond with the floating stage when over 100
runners stormed past me.    They were all crazier than I was today!

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport and beyond


*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

We've had what appears to have been 2 Merlins in the neighborhood in the
last couple days. A dark one and what looked like a very light adult male.
The light one made a pretty impressive run at one of our feeder birds and
still missed. I think the target bird bailed out into our arborvitae.



Mike Roper

N 41st St.

Terrace Heights



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yakkers - we also saw a Merlin from our backyard yesterday afternoon
- perched at the top of a Douglas Fir between 18th and 19th Ave near
McClaren.  Stan has seen the Merlin perched in several of the other
tall conifers in the area - but this was my first view of the
neighborhood Merlin this season.

Stan & Sally were looking out our kitchen window this morning and a
Kestrel zoomed in to snag a House Sparrow - I managed to get there in
time to see the Kestrel on the ground and then fly off with her
breakfast.  The yard is pretty quiet in the aftermath.

On Thursday, Stan also saw a "Slate-colored" Junco mixed in with
"Oregon" Juncos in our back yard.

Lori & Stan Isley
18th Ave.  Yakima

Hi Yakkers,

I came home yesterday for lunch and saw a Merlin on the power pole in
our backyard.  I got photos of it, which I have put in the new photos
folder on my website.

It stayed on the power pole for at least half an hour, then it flew
our over the pasture to the south of our house.  Within a couple of
minutes, an American Kestrel flew over the yard heading east.  The
Merlin suddenly was following it.  The kestrel landed on the south
end of the peak of the roof of the house to the east of our's and the
Merlin landed on the north end, about 40 feet from the kestrel.  They
stayed there for about five minutes, then went on with their business.

Denny Granstrand
Southwest of the Yakima airport
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
                   * Denny Granstrand *
                       * Yakima, WA *
              * dgranstrand@... *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
             http://granstrand.net/gallery/

Hi Yakkers--Mr. Bill was on Quilomene Ridge last Saturday chukar hunting(I had
to work but I'm not bitter) and watched a small flock of gray-crowned rosy
finches feeding on the road ahead of him. The weather was nasty, which seems to
bring the little winter birds down to the ground. (Quilomene Ridge--on WDF&W
land-- is east of Ellensburg and not suitable for anything but 4x4 and brave
hearts this time of year).

  Today we jeeped out to the Brushy (just north of the Quilomene--still on WDF&W
ground). On the way down we saw 4 Clark's nutcrackers in a patch of Ponderosa
pines, and an immature Golden Eagle. We stopped at an old homestead (the "red
barn"-- which has been gone for decades) where there are still traces of a
foundation and an old apple orchard. While we enjoyed the solitude, a flock of
what sounded like (and I assumed to be) goldfinches landed in one of the apple
trees. As they didn't sound quite right, I put the binos on them, and was
thrilled to see seven Common Redpolls. There were males and females, the males
still quite bright with their rosy breasts,dark faces and red foreheads. An
irruptive year?

We've been seeing a lot of immature golden eagles this fall, and several adult
and immature bald eagles are still around.

Deborah on the Brick Mill Rd north of Kittitas