Hi Yakkers,

I was experimenting with a new method for attaching my camera to my spotting
scope today and took a photo of a Northern Flicker.  When I loaded it into
my computer, I realized it was a hybrid flicker.  Northern Flickers come in
two flavors - the Red-shafted (RSFL) in the western U.S. and the
Yellow-shafted (YSFL) in the eastern U.S. and much of Canada.  Where the
ranges of the two meet they hybridize.

This flicker has characteristics of both on its head.  It was the red malar
mark of the RSFL and a red mark on the back of its head like the YSFL.  The
two have distinct patterns of gray and brown on their heads and that is
mixed up, too.  Those of you who are registered with Yahoo can view the
photo on the BirdYak website:

         http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BirdYak/

Click on "photos" on the left side of the screen, then hit "next 15" at the
bottom.  Compare the photo to the drawings in your field guide.

Since I was just experimenting with my camera setup, I didn't really look
closely at the flicker to try to notice what color the "shafts" were.

Denny
* * * * * * * * * * *
*  Denny Granstrand  *
*       Yakima, WA     *
* osprey@... *
* * * * * * * * * * *

Four of us visited the McNary Refuge Sunday afternoon (while Nancy LaF and
company was spotting the lesser black-backed gull), and we recorded the
following:

100's of Canadian Geese, pintails, shovelers, mallards

Many wood ducks, yellow rumped warblers, cedar waxwings

a few (five?) Ruddy Ducks, Greater White Fronted Geese, and Northern Flickers

a drake and two hens: Long-tailed Duck (Formerly Oldsquaw)

One lone Trumpeter Swan

Happy birding, Nancy Darby  ritzyteach@...



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

This afternoon I found a Ferruginous Hawk in the section of land bounded by
Coombs, Mieras, Postma Roads and Prairie Lane.  It was easy to pick out with
it's huge size and clear dihedraled soaring.  It reminds one of a small
Golden Eagle.  This section of land is home to a huge colony of Piute Ground
Squirrels, and they are nearing maximum activity.  Not surprisingly, these
squirrels are active much earlier than normal this year.  I saw my first one
of the year on January 16.  I understand that Ferrugies make this genus of
squirrel a major part of their diet.  And with their huge gape, they are
able to swallow, whole, smaller individuals of this squirrel.

Watch out for numerous Red-taileds and at least one adult Golden Eagle and a
female Prairie Falcon which are also hanging out around here.

I ran into Rich near the end of Mieras Road.  Did you find the Ferrugie,
Rich?
""""""""""""""""""""""
" Scott Ray          "
" Moxee, WA          "
" scray@... "
""""""""""""""""""""""




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

Scott,

Nice account of this regal bird, Scott. This beautiful raptor is becoming
rare throughout its range and now only 5,000 pairs are thought to survive.
Fifteen years ago, I knew of at least five pairs in Yakima County, today I
know of none. Several hang on just to the east along Rattlesnake Ridge in
Benton County, site of the proposed wind project. If that project is built,
I would predict the hawks would vanish. Wind power or Ferruginous Hawks?

This hawk is attracted to the bountiful supply of prey that is available in
the remnant patch of shrub-steppe northeast of Moxee early in spring. In a
few weeks as Scott notes, the squirrels seem to become less conspicuous and
the hawk will probably move on.

By the way, the Paiute Ground Squirrel is also a vanishing species, as are
other ground squirrels (except for the California, arecent immigrant).
Prairie dogs east of the Rockies, and both Black-tailed and White-tailed
Jackrabbits are in serious decline. Loss of these mammals is undoubtedly
contributing to the steady decline of Ferruginous Hawks.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie@...

Greetings,

Confession time:  I haven't birded in Yakima County much at all.  Am
thinking of wending my way over Snoq Pass Sunday, and would welcome
ideas/routes that would give a YakCo newcomer a feel for the lay of the
land.  I know that's kind of ambitious for a short day-trip.  My plan is to
go to the Wanapum Dam area first and scope out whatever's there, then look
for Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, then head over your way oh, noonish, maybe a
little before, who knows.  What could I do/where could I go in 3-4 hours??
Am interested in starting to learn the county's usual birding spots rather
than in looking for specific species at this point, altho if there's
something really cool that hasn't been posted to Tweeters, would love to
hear about it.  Any suggestions really appreciated!

Thanks,

Mary Klein
Seattle WA
CelloBird@...


PS - I have Andy's book and plan to do some perusing of it tomorrow.

Chirp,

I enjoyed a nice midmorning walk on the Greenway this morning with a
buddy...the wind kept most birds at bay.  Caught sight of Melinda ahead of
us.  She had her glasses up a couple of times and must have entirely absorbed
the birds as we didn't find nary a trace.  Our best birds were one adult and
one immature soaring Bald Eagles.  Noteworthy by absence, was our complete
dip on Great Blue Herons although we walked from Sherman Park to the area
near the Rotary Lake parking lot and back.  I speculated that duties at the
nest created the void.

As I had to drop off a school project for my granddaughter in Terrace
Heights, I decided to buck the wind and try my luck at Sportsman Park.  The
new five dollar parking fee is in effect there as it is at most state parks
now...Fort Simcoe is one of the few parks that does not require a fee, I
understand.  At the first intersection, I had to wave my receipt at one
ranger to proceed and later I noticed a second ranger checking my parked
vehicle to ensure the receipt was displayed on the dashboard.

I spent close to three hours wandering (limping actually) around the park and
it struck me that today was one of the few times that no one came to feed the
ducks at the pond.  It will be interesting to see if the fee will impact the
size of the Mallard flock at the park.  Today, there were 40+ Wood Ducks in
the park and a slightly larger contingent of Mallards.  I swung through the
mobile home park on Gun Club Road (Sun Country Estates?) and found 30+ Wood
Ducks there along the canal near #107 where Norm and Connie have fed them for
a number of years.  Mallards outnumbered the woodies here also.

I barely totaled 20 species at the park.  My efforts to locate birds were
matched by a Sharp-shinned Hawk that seemed to shadow me.  The best efforts
of one seemed to negate the strategy of the other.  Yellow-rumped Warblers
were abundant near water today...a total of 30 to 40 would probably be pretty
conservative though I'm not sure I want to wear that label.  At the present
time, a bird in hand might be worth both Bushes.

Late in my visit, I did turn up several Varied Thrush.  The highlight turned
out to be a Northern Flicker.  Denny's recent post inspired me to visit the
photo section of BirdYak.  I followed protocol and after entering my Yahoo!
ID and my personal password and giving the secret handshake and passing the
obligatory retina scan, I was able to view his photo of
Red-shafted/Yellow-shafted intergrade.  The red nape crescent in his photo
made me wonder if I have been paying enough attention to the flickers that I
encounter.  I vowed to pay a little more attention.

Well, today was slow enough to delight me when a flicker came into view on
the grass in perfect light across a small creek.  Bingo!  A red nape
crescent.  For those who have been as lax as I, the Red-shafted Flicker (our
most common flicker ... the one occurring west of the Rockies) does not have
this mark.  Next up was the malar.  Denny's was clearly red but this bird's
was black...almost.  It seemed to be framed with a hint of purple, especially
on the upper portion.  Could this be a pure east of the Rockies
Yellow-shafted Flicker?

I did note that a light brown wash was prominent above the eye but it did not
seem to extend to the crown.  Unfortunately, I failed to examine the overall
face color to determine if it was gray (Red-shafted) or brown
(Yellow-shafted).  In my eagerness to get to the shaft color, I dipped on the
auricular and throat color.  Fatal error?

The flicker was content to drill the sod...for ants, I presume.  It hopped
from location to location never giving me the in flight look I was hoping
for.  Honing in on the wings, I was able to scope a slit of color on the
folded right wing primaries.  Now any five year old preschooler can
differentiate between a yellow crayon and a red one, but I wasn't up to the
challenge.  And I realize that the Red-shafted has wing linings that might be
better described as salmon or orange but this slit of color had me in
perpetual flip/flop.

By this time, I had eyeballed the creek separating us a half dozen times.  It
was time for bold action to push the envelope on birding etiquette.  Faced
with a charging water buffalo splaying across the creek, this flicker would
cease hopping and take flight.  I hoisted my scope and...limped 50 yards back
to the bridge to circle closer.  With the water hazard now out of play, the
scope came off my shoulder once again.  The flicker timed his lift off
perfectly catching me in transition.  By the time I spread the tripods feet
and raised my bins he was across the creek and buried in foliage.  Shafted
again!  My naked eye impression was orange...probably another intergrade
bird.  My consolation was that I was near my truck.

After my Terrace Heights stop, I decided to try Mieras Road for raptors.
Just after the end of the pavement I observed five raptors apparently
interacting over the fields to the south.  The gusty winds contributed to
quite an arial show.  No longer limited to their normal flap and soar
routine, these birds seemed to be showing off by flying sideways or folding
their wings a bit to ride the wind achieving remarkable speeds before banking
sharply and doing nifty gravity defying stall outs and hanging motionless
above the ground.  Several times, a pair would dive and rise together...one a
foot or so above the other.  I'm guessing a lot of this was pair bonding but
it sure looked like fun and games.  Though giving a Harrier like appearance
at times, I'm was pretty sure that they were all Red-tails.  The fact that
there were five of them in the area all involved in goofy flight patterns
struck me as a little odd.

Continuing east in hopes of chancing on Gray Partridge, I bumped into Scott.
When he told me of seeing a Ferruginous Hawk along Coombs Rd, I started
feeling as giddy as an oil exec sniffin ANWR caribou dung!  We're talking
life bird here!  I spent a little time looking and encountered a couple hawks
that appeared to have light heads and bodies on poles along Postma Rd east of
Coombs but they were too distant to ID with my bins and too edgy to hold
still when I stopped to drag out my scope.  Two turned out to be light
Red-tails the other was too fast on the getaway.  Scot is right about the
area supporting a high density of hawks right now.  Hope to get back out
there tomorrow.

But us poor retirees have to watch our nickels.  The price of gas and these
new fees may make a backyard birder out of me.  I feel a down home blues
jingle coming on.

Now it costs five dollar to chase after a lousy flicker!
True, I saved a bit on my car license sticker.

Oh, Mr. Eyman, what have you done to me!
I used to get all my flickers for free!


Can't even go to the park without a fee!
Birds in my future, now expensive to see!

Oh, Mr. Eyman, what have you done to me!
I used to get all my flickers for free!

Later,
Rich (now actually, five dollar poorer)




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

Hi Mary,

Right now the best places to bird in Yakima County are the Toppenish NWR and
Fort Simcoe.  Because of the driving times, I would suggest you do them on
one day and include Wanapum Dam in a trip on another day.  The Gray-crowned
Rosy-Finches are found late in the afternoon, either on the cliffs along
Huntzinger Road south from Vantage on the west side of the Columbia River or
possibly in the Yakima Canyon between Yakima and Ellensburg along Highway
821.  They are difficult to find.  Those who do find them are quite lucky.

To get the the Toppenish NWR, drive south from Toppenish on Highway 97.
There is a very long straight stretch out of Toppenish.  Just before the
highway curves to the right and goes uphill onto Toppenish Ridge, you will
see a sign on the right for the refuge.  Turn right there, keep to the right
on the gravel road and stop at the parking area for the observation deck.
Many species of ducks and frequently lots of Canada Geese are on the ponds
to the north.  There is a gravel trail to the west from the observation
deck.  Along that trail recently was an American Tree Sparrow.

If the gate to the refuge headquarters is open, drive on the gravel road and
park at the headquarters building.  If the gate is locked, you have to walk.
There is a resident pair of Great horned Owls in the trees around the
refuge.  There should be lots of passerines there, also.  Walk north from
the trees and scan the ponds to the north.  A Eurasian Wigeon was seen there
recently.

Drive back to the paved road - Pumphouse Road - and turn right.  Go west to
Old Goldendale Road and turn right, it is about 6 miles.  The fields to the
west of the road should be flooded now and are worth scanning.  Marsh Wrens
should be in the rushes along the road.  This area will be very good in a
month when the stilts and avocets show up.

Continue north to Marion Drain Road and turn left.  It is gravel.  If you
would rather not drive on a gravel road for 6 or 8 miles, return to
Pumphouse Road and turn right.  Check for birds as you drive on either road.
In about 6 miles you will find Lateral C.  From Marion Drain Rd. turn left
or from Pumphouse turn right.  Toppenish Creek crosses the road about 1.4
mile north of Pumphouse.  Stop there and see if there is anything in the trees.

Go north to Marion Drain Road and go west about two miles to South Harrah
Road.  It goes south for a ways, turns west and then south again.  Stop
occasionally and walk around.  At the west end where the road turns south,
stop there and walk up the path to the north.  South Harrah Road should be
flooded now at its south end.  The water isn't deep and the road is firm, so
you should be able to drive through it.  If you would rather not, turn
around and go back to Marion Drain Road.

Continue north on S. Harrah Road to Fort Road.  Turn left and go west.
After 15 miles or so you come to White Swan.  Follow signs to Fort Simcoe,
another 6 miles or so.  Fort Simcoe is an old fort from about 1856-59.
There is an amazing number of Lewis's Woodpeckers there along with a few
Western Scrub Jays, which showed up there last fall and have stayed.  There
should be lots of other birds there, also.

Have fun and don't get lost.

Denny



At 10:26 PM 2/28/2003 -0800, you wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>Confession time:  I haven't birded in Yakima County much at all.  Am
>thinking of wending my way over Snoq Pass Sunday, and would welcome
>ideas/routes that would give a YakCo newcomer a feel for the lay of the
>land.  I know that's kind of ambitious for a short day-trip.  My plan is to
>go to the Wanapum Dam area first and scope out whatever's there, then look
>for Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, then head over your way oh, noonish, maybe a
>little before, who knows.  What could I do/where could I go in 3-4 hours??
>Am interested in starting to learn the county's usual birding spots rather
>than in looking for specific species at this point, altho if there's
>something really cool that hasn't been posted to Tweeters, would love to
>hear about it.  Any suggestions really appreciated!
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mary Klein
>Seattle WA
>CelloBird@...
>
>
>PS - I have Andy's book and plan to do some perusing of it tomorrow.
>
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
* * * * * * * * * * *
*  Denny Granstrand  *
*       Yakima, WA     *
* osprey@... *
* * * * * * * * * * *

Greetings--
Heard a canyon wren in Cowiche Canyon yesterday.  I'm sure a determined
birder could see it if they staked out the spot just downstream of Bridge
#8 where the bypass trail takes off.  That bird lives there.  This place is
also relatively sheltered from the wind.

Also saw a bunch of magpies flocked together in the sagebrush, and I
wondered if they were working on a carcass.  I didn't go look.

At home, the flickers are drumming on the neighbor's power pole, and the
front yard is full of interesting holes that they have dug with their
beaks.  Sometimes I see them hunting.  I wonder what they are looking for?
I can't feature ants, as the ground is really compacted.  Do they eat
earthworms?

We still have a lovely morning chorus of varied thrushes at our house.

Happy Spring,
Deb

Tipulid larvae?

Deb Davis & Ken Bevis wrote:

>At home, the flickers are drumming on the neighbor's power pole, and the
>front yard is full of interesting holes that they have dug with their
>beaks.  Sometimes I see them hunting.  I wonder what they are looking for?
>I can't feature ants, as the ground is really compacted.  Do they eat
>earthworms?
>
>
>

Scott. Thanks for the report.
Hearing your account brought back a few nice memories of my times with
Ferrugs. A couple of years ago while working in New Mexico I was lucky
enough to get to have many encounters with this species. Though my
primary job was finding and monitoring Mountain Plover breeding and
migration areas in Northern and Western New Mexico, one of my secondary
jobs was to help locate nest locations of Ferrugionous hawks.
Always one of the best clues was areas of large prairie dog towns. One
of my fondest memories was that while working up near the Colorado
border on Mountain Plovers I was scanning a prairie dog town for
evidence of plovers presence (they also like these areas). To that date
I had not see any evidence of Ferrugs in the area, so wasn't really
expecting them. Suddenly all the prairie dogs ran for cover and I looked
up to see not 1 but 2 ferruginous and it was a mixed pair of both color
morphs! Truly a great sight.
While I'm not as familar with ground squirrel status in this area, I do
know that the prairie dog populations in the rockies are monitored quite
closely, because these areas impact quite a number of species. Not only
due the provide food for the raptors, including ferruginous, but the
colonies and short grass also provide homes to such species as burrowing
owls and mountain plovers, both species that are being monitored
carefully.
Since returning from New Mexico back to Washington, I have often
wondered what the chances might be if people watched such colonies
closely for March and April when plovers are migrating, there might be a
chance of picking up a stray mountain plover sighting that came off
course a bit but found suitable habitat in one of these areas for a
stop-over.
Another reason to keep ones eyes peeled to such areas.
Again thanks for the report scott.

Scott downes
downess@...
Ellensburg WA

When I was a kid we used to call the ground squirrels, sage rats and grey
diggers. Grey diggers for the larger ones and sage rats for the smaller
ones. Recently I've been thinking the grey diggers are actually
california ground squirrels and sage rats are townsend's ground
squirrels. Now Scott Ray is saying one is called a Piute Ground Squirrel.
Am I all wet in my classification?

At any rate if you find a large group of sage rats the raptors will be
around. A couple years ago I spent some time in orchard at the base of
Rattlesnake Ridge that was overrun with sage rats. In just a few minutes
I counted at least 20 redtails, a few swainsons hawks and a prairie
falcon packing one of the squirrels in the direction of the Yakima
Canyon. When I was a kid I was lucky enough to see a prairie falcon take
a sage rat. The falcon came from a ways off, dropped to just above ground
level but stayed at high speed. It was all over in a flash and the
squirrel didn't even see the falcon coming. It's no wonder prairie
falcons nesting cycle coincides with  the time sage rats are out and
about. The falcon made it look faster and easier than going through a
fast food drive through.
Mike Roper

Hi Yakkers,

This came over Tweeters today.  It sounds like an interesting experiment.

Denny


>Subject: A hummingbird experiment

>The folks at Operation Ruby-throat have come up with an
>experiment about attracting hummingbirds...
>
>http://www.rubythroat.org/FakeFeeder2003.html
>
>--
>Mike Patterson
>Astoria, OR
>celata@...
>
>A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
>hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
>that amazes those with ears who hear not.
>
>                                               -Neltje Blanchan
>
>http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html
>
* * * * * * * * * * *
*  Denny Granstrand  *
*       Yakima, WA     *
* osprey@... *
* * * * * * * * * * *

Mike,

Here is the 2002 nomenclature for the critters were talking about. (Richard
Johnson at WSU and Dennis Paulson at UPS both concur on this taxonomy).

California Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus beecheyi. Grassy fields, oak groves
and valleys from Ellensburg southward on lower east side of Cascades, also
locally along Columbia and Cowlitz rivers west of Cascades. Usually near
rocky areas. Entered state in about 1912 from south.

Based upon the latest studies (somewhat controversial, based on chromosomal
karotypes) on our local
ground squirrels, the Townsend's is now described thus:

Townsend's Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus townsendii. Grassland and
shrub-steppe from Kittitas County south, north of the Columbia River and
south of the Yakima River (go figure! Includes Moxee). Active for a few
months in early
spring. Becoming rare and local, due to conversion of habitat to
agriculture.

Piute Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus mollis nancyae. Shrub-steppe north of
Yakima River and west of Columbia River (southern Yakima and Benton
Counties), not overlapping with preceding
species.  Active for a few months in early spring. Now rare and local, due
to conversion of habitat to agriculture.

Out in the Columbia Basin east of the Columbia River is

Washington Ground Squirrel. Spermophilious washingtoni.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie@...




----- Original Message -----
From: Michael J Roper <ropermj@...>
To: <birdyak@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 12:10 PM
Subject: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


> When I was a kid we used to call the ground squirrels, sage rats and grey
> diggers. Grey diggers for the larger ones and sage rats for the smaller
> ones. Recently I've been thinking the grey diggers are actually
> california ground squirrels and sage rats are townsend's ground
> squirrels. Now Scott Ray is saying one is called a Piute Ground Squirrel.
> Am I all wet in my classification?
>
> At any rate if you find a large group of sage rats the raptors will be
> around. A couple years ago I spent some time in orchard at the base of
> Rattlesnake Ridge that was overrun with sage rats. In just a few minutes
> I counted at least 20 redtails, a few swainsons hawks and a prairie
> falcon packing one of the squirrels in the direction of the Yakima
> Canyon. When I was a kid I was lucky enough to see a prairie falcon take
> a sage rat. The falcon came from a ways off, dropped to just above ground
> level but stayed at high speed. It was all over in a flash and the
> squirrel didn't even see the falcon coming. It's no wonder prairie
> falcons nesting cycle coincides with  the time sage rats are out and
> about. The falcon made it look faster and easier than going through a
> fast food drive through.
> Mike Roper
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

Andy,

So these animals are Townsend's.  Thank you for clearing up this question.
I had been confused by the same range explanation, as found on the Burke
Museum Mammal web site, and still do not think the wording makes sense.

This is because Moxee is not north of the Columbia River AND south of the
Yakima River.  It seems to me that the only area south of Kittitas County
that would fit the Townsend's range description given by Johnson and Paulson
would be Benton and Klickitat Co's between the Yakima River and Oregon.  I
wonder if mammalogists have actually looked at the animals out here. The
Burke Museum mammal web site needs clarification on this range description
if they are indeed Townsend's.

Oh, well.

Scott


""""""""""""""""""""""
" Scott Ray          "
" Moxee, WA          "
" scray@... "
""""""""""""""""""""""

   -----Original Message-----
   From: Andy Stepniewski [mailto:steppie@...]
   Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 3:33 PM
   To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: Re: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


   Mike,

   Here is the 2002 nomenclature for the critters were talking about.
(Richard
   Johnson at WSU and Dennis Paulson at UPS both concur on this taxonomy).

   California Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus beecheyi. Grassy fields, oak
groves
   and valleys from Ellensburg southward on lower east side of Cascades, also
   locally along Columbia and Cowlitz rivers west of Cascades. Usually near
   rocky areas. Entered state in about 1912 from south.

   Based upon the latest studies (somewhat controversial, based on
chromosomal
   karotypes) on our local
   ground squirrels, the Townsend's is now described thus:

   Townsend's Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus townsendii. Grassland and
   shrub-steppe from Kittitas County south, north of the Columbia River and
   south of the Yakima River (go figure! Includes Moxee). Active for a few
   months in early
   spring. Becoming rare and local, due to conversion of habitat to
   agriculture.

   Piute Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus mollis nancyae. Shrub-steppe north of
   Yakima River and west of Columbia River (southern Yakima and Benton
   Counties), not overlapping with preceding
   species.  Active for a few months in early spring. Now rare and local, due
   to conversion of habitat to agriculture.

   Out in the Columbia Basin east of the Columbia River is

   Washington Ground Squirrel. Spermophilious washingtoni.

   Andy Stepniewski
   Wapato WA
   steppie@...




   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Michael J Roper <ropermj@...>
   To: <birdyak@yahoogroups.com>
   Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 12:10 PM
   Subject: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


   > When I was a kid we used to call the ground squirrels, sage rats and
grey
   > diggers. Grey diggers for the larger ones and sage rats for the smaller
   > ones. Recently I've been thinking the grey diggers are actually
   > california ground squirrels and sage rats are townsend's ground
   > squirrels. Now Scott Ray is saying one is called a Piute Ground
Squirrel.
   > Am I all wet in my classification?
   >
   > At any rate if you find a large group of sage rats the raptors will be
   > around. A couple years ago I spent some time in orchard at the base of
   > Rattlesnake Ridge that was overrun with sage rats. In just a few minutes
   > I counted at least 20 redtails, a few swainsons hawks and a prairie
   > falcon packing one of the squirrels in the direction of the Yakima
   > Canyon. When I was a kid I was lucky enough to see a prairie falcon take
   > a sage rat. The falcon came from a ways off, dropped to just above
ground
   > level but stayed at high speed. It was all over in a flash and the
   > squirrel didn't even see the falcon coming. It's no wonder prairie
   > falcons nesting cycle coincides with  the time sage rats are out and
   > about. The falcon made it look faster and easier than going through a
   > fast food drive through.
   > Mike Roper
   >
   > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   > birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
   >
   >
   >
   > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I should have included that part of Yakima County south of the Yakima River
and north of Klickitat County.  :)

""""""""""""""""""""""
" Scott Ray          "
" Moxee, WA          "
" scray@... "
""""""""""""""""""""""

   -----Original Message-----
   From: Scott R [mailto:scray@...]
   Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 5:23 PM
   To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: RE: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


   Andy,

   So these animals are Townsend's.  Thank you for clearing up this question.
   I had been confused by the same range explanation, as found on the Burke
   Museum Mammal web site, and still do not think the wording makes sense.

   This is because Moxee is not north of the Columbia River AND south of the
   Yakima River.  It seems to me that the only area south of Kittitas County
   that would fit the Townsend's range description given by Johnson and
Paulson
   would be Benton and Klickitat Co's between the Yakima River and Oregon.  I
   wonder if mammalogists have actually looked at the animals out here. The
   Burke Museum mammal web site needs clarification on this range description
   if they are indeed Townsend's.

   Oh, well.

   Scott


   """"""""""""""""""""""
   " Scott Ray          "
   " Moxee, WA          "
   " scray@... "
   """"""""""""""""""""""

     -----Original Message-----
     From: Andy Stepniewski [mailto:steppie@...]
     Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 3:33 PM
     To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
     Subject: Re: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


     Mike,

     Here is the 2002 nomenclature for the critters were talking about.
   (Richard
     Johnson at WSU and Dennis Paulson at UPS both concur on this taxonomy).

     California Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus beecheyi. Grassy fields, oak
   groves
     and valleys from Ellensburg southward on lower east side of Cascades,
also
     locally along Columbia and Cowlitz rivers west of Cascades. Usually near
     rocky areas. Entered state in about 1912 from south.

     Based upon the latest studies (somewhat controversial, based on
   chromosomal
     karotypes) on our local
     ground squirrels, the Townsend's is now described thus:

     Townsend's Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus townsendii. Grassland and
     shrub-steppe from Kittitas County south, north of the Columbia River and
     south of the Yakima River (go figure! Includes Moxee). Active for a few
     months in early
     spring. Becoming rare and local, due to conversion of habitat to
     agriculture.

     Piute Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus mollis nancyae. Shrub-steppe north
of
     Yakima River and west of Columbia River (southern Yakima and Benton
     Counties), not overlapping with preceding
     species.  Active for a few months in early spring. Now rare and local,
due
     to conversion of habitat to agriculture.

     Out in the Columbia Basin east of the Columbia River is

     Washington Ground Squirrel. Spermophilious washingtoni.

     Andy Stepniewski
     Wapato WA
     steppie@...




     ----- Original Message -----
     From: Michael J Roper <ropermj@...>
     To: <birdyak@yahoogroups.com>
     Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 12:10 PM
     Subject: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


     > When I was a kid we used to call the ground squirrels, sage rats and
   grey
     > diggers. Grey diggers for the larger ones and sage rats for the
smaller
     > ones. Recently I've been thinking the grey diggers are actually
     > california ground squirrels and sage rats are townsend's ground
     > squirrels. Now Scott Ray is saying one is called a Piute Ground
   Squirrel.
     > Am I all wet in my classification?
     >
     > At any rate if you find a large group of sage rats the raptors will be
     > around. A couple years ago I spent some time in orchard at the base of
     > Rattlesnake Ridge that was overrun with sage rats. In just a few
minutes
     > I counted at least 20 redtails, a few swainsons hawks and a prairie
     > falcon packing one of the squirrels in the direction of the Yakima
     > Canyon. When I was a kid I was lucky enough to see a prairie falcon
take
     > a sage rat. The falcon came from a ways off, dropped to just above
   ground
     > level but stayed at high speed. It was all over in a flash and the
     > squirrel didn't even see the falcon coming. It's no wonder prairie
     > falcons nesting cycle coincides with  the time sage rats are out and
     > about. The falcon made it look faster and easier than going through a
     > fast food drive through.
     > Mike Roper
     >
     > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     > birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
     >
     >
     >
     > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
   http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
     >



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


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

Scott,

Scott,

Your right, it does not include Moxee, but the rest of the passage is
correct...I think, that makes Moxee critters Piutes.
Mammalogists have done a lot of work on these squirrels, the literature
seems pretty expansive. The problem may be the taxonomy is in flux due to
continuing research. Maybe the splitters are warring with the lumpers?

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: Scott R <scray@...>
To: <BirdYak@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 5:22 PM
Subject: RE: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors


> Andy,
>
> So these animals are Townsend's.  Thank you for clearing up this question.
> I had been confused by the same range explanation, as found on the Burke
> Museum Mammal web site, and still do not think the wording makes sense.
>
> This is because Moxee is not north of the Columbia River AND south of the
> Yakima River.  It seems to me that the only area south of Kittitas County
> that would fit the Townsend's range description given by Johnson and
Paulson
> would be Benton and Klickitat Co's between the Yakima River and Oregon.  I
> wonder if mammalogists have actually looked at the animals out here. The
> Burke Museum mammal web site needs clarification on this range description
> if they are indeed Townsend's.
>
> Oh, well.
>
> Scott
>
>
> """"""""""""""""""""""
> " Scott Ray          "
> " Moxee, WA          "
> " scray@... "
> """"""""""""""""""""""
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: Andy Stepniewski [mailto:steppie@...]
>   Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 3:33 PM
>   To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: Re: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors
>
>
>   Mike,
>
>   Here is the 2002 nomenclature for the critters were talking about.
> (Richard
>   Johnson at WSU and Dennis Paulson at UPS both concur on this taxonomy).
>
>   California Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus beecheyi. Grassy fields, oak
> groves
>   and valleys from Ellensburg southward on lower east side of Cascades,
also
>   locally along Columbia and Cowlitz rivers west of Cascades. Usually near
>   rocky areas. Entered state in about 1912 from south.
>
>   Based upon the latest studies (somewhat controversial, based on
> chromosomal
>   karotypes) on our local
>   ground squirrels, the Townsend's is now described thus:
>
>   Townsend's Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus townsendii. Grassland and
>   shrub-steppe from Kittitas County south, north of the Columbia River and
>   south of the Yakima River (go figure! Includes Moxee). Active for a few
>   months in early
>   spring. Becoming rare and local, due to conversion of habitat to
>   agriculture.
>
>   Piute Ground Squirrel. Spermophilus mollis nancyae. Shrub-steppe north
of
>   Yakima River and west of Columbia River (southern Yakima and Benton
>   Counties), not overlapping with preceding
>   species.  Active for a few months in early spring. Now rare and local,
due
>   to conversion of habitat to agriculture.
>
>   Out in the Columbia Basin east of the Columbia River is
>
>   Washington Ground Squirrel. Spermophilious washingtoni.
>
>   Andy Stepniewski
>   Wapato WA
>   steppie@...
>
>
>
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Michael J Roper <ropermj@...>
>   To: <birdyak@yahoogroups.com>
>   Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 12:10 PM
>   Subject: [BirdYak] Ground Squirrels and Raptors
>
>
>   > When I was a kid we used to call the ground squirrels, sage rats and
> grey
>   > diggers. Grey diggers for the larger ones and sage rats for the
smaller
>   > ones. Recently I've been thinking the grey diggers are actually
>   > california ground squirrels and sage rats are townsend's ground
>   > squirrels. Now Scott Ray is saying one is called a Piute Ground
> Squirrel.
>   > Am I all wet in my classification?
>   >
>   > At any rate if you find a large group of sage rats the raptors will be
>   > around. A couple years ago I spent some time in orchard at the base of
>   > Rattlesnake Ridge that was overrun with sage rats. In just a few
minutes
>   > I counted at least 20 redtails, a few swainsons hawks and a prairie
>   > falcon packing one of the squirrels in the direction of the Yakima
>   > Canyon. When I was a kid I was lucky enough to see a prairie falcon
take
>   > a sage rat. The falcon came from a ways off, dropped to just above
> ground
>   > level but stayed at high speed. It was all over in a flash and the
>   > squirrel didn't even see the falcon coming. It's no wonder prairie
>   > falcons nesting cycle coincides with  the time sage rats are out and
>   > about. The falcon made it look faster and easier than going through a
>   > fast food drive through.
>   > Mike Roper
>   >
>   > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>   > birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>   >
>
>
>
>         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>               ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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>
>
>
>   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

Chirp,

From 10:30 to 2:00 today, I was lurking in the area Scott described as the
boundaries likely to produce the Ferruginous Hawk.  Light colored raptors got
my heart beating quickly several times but each raptor that I was able to
lock on turned out to be light Red-tailed Hawks.  A couple of times, I had
four Red-tails in flight with another perched.

The vortex of activity seemed to be located due south of the modern large
brown house with cathedral type ceilings set behind a young, but producing
apple orchard full of starlings and robins located on Mieras Rd.  The area
south of this house, when viewed from Coombs Rd, held a large yellow metal
building with a large bright yellow (CAT?) backhoe nearby.  Soaring raptors
seemed to favor this spot and others perched in the area just south of it.

A large raptor that first caught my eye very low in the vicinity of the brown
house turned out to be an adult Bald Eagle.  Or very near adult...it had a
dark smudging terminal tail band but the head was bright white with a yellow
bill.  It circled in the area slowly drifting towards the ridge on YTC but
then returned to the vortex area and dropped lower.  It did a rollover to
discourage one of the two Red-tails in the area that made a couple of dives
at it.

In the cleared area halfway down Coombs Road, I observed several of the
ground squirrels very close to the edge of the road.  Several were also seen
scampering along the edge of the orchard along Postma Road just east of
Coombs.  A couple of upturned apple bins seemed to be a common draw.

I checked the eNature.com website but it did not have a picture of the Paiute
Ground Squirrel that Andy mentioned.  The photo of a Uinta Ground Squirrel
(range no closer than E. Idaho) matched my impression better than the photos
of the Townsend's and California Ground Squirrels.  Is there a photo or
illustration of the Paiute available on the net?  Also Mike mentioned the
Gray Digger...the folks out in Cowiche seem to refer to a much larger mammal
with a long and very bushy tail than any of the squirrels that are being
mentioned here when they discuss their favorite "pest"...the Gray Digger.

Later,
Rich


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

Rich,

The California Ground Squirrel (also called Beechey Ground Squirrel) is the
animal with a bushy tail. It looks more like a tree-living squirrel than a
ground squirrel and prefers rocky hillsides near the Ponderosa-shrub/steppe
boundary south to the Columbia River in WA.  I believe that northern Yakima
County, in the Wenas, or southern Kittitas County is the northern extent of
this species' range. Believe it or not, even with its long bushy tail, it is
in the same genus as the short-tailed Townsend's and Piute Ground Squirrels,
Spermophilus.

I would encourage Yakkers to take a look at the Burke Museum Mammalogy web
site.  It is filled with useful mammal information for the amateur
naturalist.  It has a few of problems that need to be ironed out including
two entries for Golden-mantled GS.  The western animal, Spermophilus
saturatus, an apparently newly split species, is now called Cascade
Golden-mantled GS.


Scott


""""""""""""""""""""""
" Scott Ray          "
" Moxee, WA          "
" scray@... "
""""""""""""""""""""""
-----Original Message-----
From: Rich712@... [mailto:Rich712@...]
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 10:47 PM
To: birdyak@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BirdYak] 3 hours in East Valley


Chirp,

From 10:30 to 2:00 today, I was lurking in the area Scott described as the
boundaries likely to produce the Ferruginous Hawk.  Light colored raptors
got
my heart beating quickly several times but each raptor that I was able to
lock on turned out to be light Red-tailed Hawks.  A couple of times, I had
four Red-tails in flight with another perched.

The vortex of activity seemed to be located due south of the modern large
brown house with cathedral type ceilings set behind a young, but producing
apple orchard full of starlings and robins located on Mieras Rd.  The area
south of this house, when viewed from Coombs Rd, held a large yellow metal
building with a large bright yellow (CAT?) backhoe nearby.  Soaring raptors
seemed to favor this spot and others perched in the area just south of it.

A large raptor that first caught my eye very low in the vicinity of the
brown
house turned out to be an adult Bald Eagle.  Or very near adult...it had a
dark smudging terminal tail band but the head was bright white with a yellow
bill.  It circled in the area slowly drifting towards the ridge on YTC but
then returned to the vortex area and dropped lower.  It did a rollover to
discourage one of the two Red-tails in the area that made a couple of dives
at it.

In the cleared area halfway down Coombs Road, I observed several of the
ground squirrels very close to the edge of the road.  Several were also seen
scampering along the edge of the orchard along Postma Road just east of
Coombs.  A couple of upturned apple bins seemed to be a common draw.

I checked the eNature.com website but it did not have a picture of the
Paiute
Ground Squirrel that Andy mentioned.  The photo of a Uinta Ground Squirrel
(range no closer than E. Idaho) matched my impression better than the photos
of the Townsend's and California Ground Squirrels.  Is there a photo or
illustration of the Paiute available on the net?  Also Mike mentioned the
Gray Digger...the folks out in Cowiche seem to refer to a much larger mammal
with a long and very bushy tail than any of the squirrels that are being
mentioned here when they discuss their favorite "pest"...the Gray Digger.

Later,
Rich


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


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Oh, wow, Denny, this is great!!!  Now, if only the weather would
cooperate...  Will be sure to plan my trip around this e-mail.

Thanks a lot,
Mary

Mary Klein
Seattle WA
CelloBird@...

PS - see you at the next WOS board meeting...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Denny Granstrand [mailto:osprey@...]
> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 8:37 AM
> To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [BirdYak] RFI: Ideas for an Introductory Yakima
> County Trip
>
>
> Hi Mary,
>
> Right now the best places to bird in Yakima County are the
> Toppenish NWR and Fort Simcoe.

Scott,

Thanks for the info on the Burke Museum web site.  A little disappointed that
they did not have a picture of the Piute Ground Squirrel and the poor quality
of the California (Beechey) Ground Squirrel.

I consider myself somewhat of a fumbler and bumbler as a birder but I'm even
worse with the rest of the natural world.  However, the little critters I
observed (and even scoped once) struck me as being a somewhat even light
brown above and a few shades lighter underneath.  The Piute is described as
being gray.  I may have to go back for another look...I was surprised at how
obvious/active they were along the road shoulder.

In regard to the Gray Diggers that were mentioned many times by customers in
the Cowiche area where they were notorious garden/flower pests as well as the
object of target shooters up Cowiche Mill Road, I may have confused
references in conversations with the mammal I later observed in the
oak/riparian area of Cowiche Creek.  The California Ground Squirrel is listed
as brown with whitish flecking.  The mammal I observed many times along the
creek was gray...the Western Gray Squirrel photo at Burke is a good match by
my memory.

I do remember one particular conversation with a customer who built a home on
the shrub-steppe type of hillside habitat above Livengood Road (northwest of
the Naches Heights area).  He was troubled with "Gray Diggers" devouring all
of his ornamental plantings.  I have a faint memory of observing the same
mammal seen along the creek in this far drier treeless habitat.  Could
Western Gray Squirrels exist in both habitats?

On a birding note, I thought that it was odd that a Bald Eagle seemed to have
a common interest in the same area that Red-tails were consistently soaring
above.  The eagle stayed in the area for at least 45 minutes.  It may have
been perched just prior to my first detection but it circled continually
after that.  Any chance carrion or a pond (I tend to link Baldies with water
or calving) existing in that unseen area below the brown house?

I never observed any of the raptors with prey.  The Red-tails made several
dives.  Trees, hills or other obstructions hid the outcome of all but two of
the dives.  On both of those, the hawk landed on apparently bare (both
observations over 200 yards away) ground and appeared dismayed...jerking
their heads around as if looking for a misplaced object.

Later,
Rich


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

Yakkers,

Ellen and I watched raptors in the Konnowac Pass area today (9 March) and
noted the following on a hike up the gravel road to the top of Elephant
Mountain:

We heard and saw a number of "Piute" Ground Squirrels, surprising because of
the afternoon hour (2 pm). As the afternoon wore on, these critters  we
didn't hear these critters anymore.

Northern Harrier - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 4 appeared birds resident in the area plus one dark phase
individual migrating northwest along Rattlesnake Ridge.
American Kestrel - 2
Prairie Falcon - 1, seen twice
Horned Lark - 4, some "skylarking"
Common Raven - 3
Westerrn Meadowlark - 3

Not a big species list, but 850 feet for elevation gain!

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie@...

http://www.unisolv.com/images/bird.htm

Despite the occasional efforts of cold and dreary weather trying
to hang on, there are a few signs of spring arriving up here above
Yakima.

I've had a pair of KILLDEER  flying around all of the open
fields, calling continuously, morning and night; and, for the last few
days, I've heard the melodies of MEADOWLARKS, a welcome sound.

Down on Wide Hollow Road, I've seen a RED TAILED HAWK sitting in
one of it's two nests, so, I guess it has made it's choice for this spring.

Joyce Lucas
Yakima, Wa.
ajbirds@...


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

Chirp,

Gassed up at Costco today.  Cost me 16 bucks...for half a tank.  Prices go up
so fast, I can't empty the tank for fear of what the price per gallon will be
in two days.  401K dropped like a rock while gas skyrockets...my budget is
stretched further than the truth at a lair's convention.

To ease my blood pressure, I decided to take a walk on the Poppoff Trail.  It
was close to the pump anyway.

Although it was a lovely day, I was evidently there at the wrong time.  Birds
were pretty scarce at midday.  It looked like my first bird would be my best
bird.  That was the swallow that flew above the parking lot pond and then
drifted out of sight over the river.  Although excited about my first swallow
of the season, I was more than a little dismayed with the ID process.  With
poor lighting (the sun got in my eye coach), I was only able to eliminate
Barn Swallow.  Likely a Tree or Violet-green, but I'll never know for sure.

Going into the final turn back to the parking lot, a Bald Eagle, American
Kestrel, Downy Woodpecker trifecta finally pushed me over the 20 species
barrier for the day.  And a sore heel made sure that I went around the loop
slowly.  Not wishing to go home with fewer than thirty for the day, I decided
to loop up to Thorp Road.

I arrived at the Moxee Bog and came up with another strange
threesome...Wilson's Snipe, California Quail and the ever elusive European
Starling.  With those under my belt, I headed for the location on Birchfield
Road where Denny found Yakima County's first reported Common Grackle last
year.  The corrals would be a lock for Brewer's Blackbird and the swampy
creek area could cough up a Killdeer.

I pulled off on the east side of the road and stepped out.  In seconds, I
located two male Brewer's close to the fence.  My bins drifted out to the
creek where I encountered another blackbird.  This one's head was really
glossy green, fading to bronze at the shoulder/mantle and then to purple
tones on the wings.  The tail was awfully long.

I lowered my bins and peered cautiously over the top.  "Dat you, Crack?" I
called out in disbelief.

"Whose askin' ?" he shot back before dropping his long beak down and tossing
a baseball size road apple aside for confirmation.

"It's me, Rich.  Remember?  I was the second guy out to see you last
year...right after Denny discovered you," I replied, proudly emphasizing
"second"

"Second?" he snorted.  "You ever first?"

"Well, no.  But this will be my fourth county second..."

"Fourth second!  You related to Phil Mickelson?" he said, cutting me off.
Glancing at my dull plumage, he continued.  "Evidently not.  What's up with
this town anyway?  Cher tickets are harder to find than a penguin in Peoria;
Toby Keith's concert creates a two hour traffic jam; and I get a second hand
retiree as a greeting committee!  After all I did for the town last year!
Where's the press?"

Reaching for my cell phone, I stammered, "I'll get right on it."  I punched
Denny's number...after all, he does write the Bird Alert column for the local
paper.  When I blurted out that the grackle had returned to the same
location, Denny chuckled out, "No kidding?  I wondered if he would come
back."  He assured me he would come out but he would have to swing by his
house to pick up his scope and camera.

About this time, the grackle flew up to the power line.  "So, is he coming?"

As I explained the situation, he became a little edgy and flew to the east.
"You'll stick around, won"t you?" I called after him.  He lit on a pole
crossbar and shrugged his shoulders to indicate a maybe.  After a couple
moments, he dropped down out of sight.  Several minutes drug by and he popped
up again.  Seeing no press, he flew further south and perched in tall tree.
Here he inflated to twice his normal size, ruffled his feathers, and opened
his beak to unleash what appeared to be some angry language.  With my poor
hearing I was spared his wrath.  After repeating this several times, he
peered at me over his shoulder as if judge my reaction.

"Nice pipes," I said, hoping to appease him and buy some time.  Evidently
this was the wrong answer as he dropped out of sight again.  Denny arrived
shortly thereafter but I feared the vast pasture stretching to the east would
hide the quarry.  Hard-nosed reporter that he is, Denny was able to pick him
out of a small flight of blackbirds in a few minutes.  And now that a camera
was visible, that big ham posed on a wire...in good light no less.

On the drive home, I picked up a couple more species to bring my total to 32.
  Pretty puny.  But I didn't care.

The Grack is Back!

Later,
Rich




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

Hi Yakkers,

Last March I went to Clarkston looking for the Iceland Gull that had been
hanging around there for a week or so.  Two photos of it by Scott Ray are on
the BirdYak website in the "b." folder.

While looking at many, many gulls over the weekend, I saw several
Ring-billed Gulls with a pink wash on their breast and belly.  It was quite
stunning.  There is a photo in the same folder of one of them but it doesn't
quite do it justice.

Sunday at the Terrace Heights landfill there were about 40 Ring-billed and
20 California Gulls with one of the Ring-billeds having the pink wash.  If
you are making a trip to the dump, take your binos and look for it.

Denny
* * * * * * * * * * *
*  Denny Granstrand  *
*       Yakima, WA     *
* osprey@... *
* * * * * * * * * * *

The Great Horned Owl nest at the corner of Hwy 24 and Bell Rd in Moxee has
young chicks poking their heads high above the nest.  It's quite a site and
easily seen from your passing car.

Scott Ray


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

Hi Yakkers,

This afternoon I saw a Prairie Falcon perched on the chain link fence on the
north side of the airport along Washington Ave. just east of 40th Ave.  I
rushed back home to get my scope and camera but it was gone when I got back.
It seemed to be a little away from its normal habitat.  If I had climbed
onto my roof with my scope I might have gotten it on my yard list.

Denny
* * * * * * * * * * *
*  Denny Granstrand  *
*       Yakima, WA     *
* osprey@... *
* * * * * * * * * * *

Denny -- I'm almost positive I saw this Prairie Falcon (or a spittin' image)
flying over the far west end of the airport property last week . . . didn't have
time to stop, but was pretty sure that was what it had to be . . . it may return
for your photo session!

Kathleen Ross
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Denny Granstrand
   To: BirdYak@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 9:49 PM
   Subject: [BirdYak] Prairie Falcon near airport


   Hi Yakkers,

   This afternoon I saw a Prairie Falcon perched on the chain link fence on the
   north side of the airport along Washington Ave. just east of 40th Ave.  I
   rushed back home to get my scope and camera but it was gone when I got back.
   It seemed to be a little away from its normal habitat.  If I had climbed
   onto my roof with my scope I might have gotten it on my yard list.

   Denny
   * * * * * * * * * * *
   *  Denny Granstrand  *
   *       Yakima, WA     *
   * osprey@... *
   * * * * * * * * * * *





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

Denny,
There has been a Prairie Falcon hanging around the airport for a many
years. Airports actually have a lot of game since there is no hunting
allowed.
Mike

On Wed, 12 Mar 2003 21:49:59 -0800 Denny Granstrand <osprey@...>
writes:
> Hi Yakkers,
>
> This afternoon I saw a Prairie Falcon perched on the chain link
> fence on the
> north side of the airport along Washington Ave. just east of 40th
> Ave.  I
> rushed back home to get my scope and camera but it was gone when I
> got back.
> It seemed to be a little away from its normal habitat.  If I had
> climbed
> onto my roof with my scope I might have gotten it on my yard list.
>
> Denny
> * * * * * * * * * * *
> *  Denny Granstrand  *
> *       Yakima, WA     *
> * osprey@... *
> * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> birdyak-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>