A Phenology of Fall Bird Records in the Columbia River Gorge

1 August through 30 November 2006

Abbreviations and Acronyms:

a.p. – alternate plumage

ASY – after second year, ie., fully adult

BBA – Breeding Bird Atlas

b.p. – basic plumage

BSI – Bingen School Inn, at ne. corner of N. Cedar and E. Humboldt streets in Bingen, WA

D.O.R. – dead on the road

GPNF – Gifford Pinchot National Forest

HY – hatching year bird: i.e., young of the year

IBA – Important Bird Area

KTC – Klickitat Trail Conservancy

L. – Lake

MP – milepost

NAMC – North American Migration Count

NAP – Natural Area Preserve

NF – National Forest

NWR – National Wildlife Refuge

OBOL – Oregon Birders Online

R. – River

RBA – Rare Bird Alert

SP – State Park

stt – steel transmission tower

SY – second year bird (bird in it’s second calendar year)

Tweeters – Washington bird chat online

WMA – Wildlife Management Area

WOS – Washington Ornithological Society

WTP – wastewater treatment pond / s

Records are from Klickitat Co., WA, unless otherwise indicated, with the exception of the well-known city of Hood River, located in Hood River County, OR.

For the purposes of this phenology project, the Columbia River Gorge extends from the Sandy River mouth Multnomah Co., OR, and from Steigerwald Lake NWR in Clark Co., WA, east to the Willow Cove WMA in nw. Morrow and ne. Gilliam counties., OR, and to the Whitcomb Island Unit of Umatilla NWR and Crow Butte SP in sw. Benton Co., WA. This includes all of Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties, nw. Morrow Co. and e. Multnomah Co. in OR and all of Skamania and Klickitat counties and se. Clark and sw. Benton counties in WA.

Greater White-fronted Goose –

2 on 2 Oct., silent adults, flying downriver over the Columbia off Riverfront Park, The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR, at 16:33. Their flight is >3 times treetop height. Both have “speckled” bellies (SJ).

4 on 25 Oct., HY birds, grazing on the lawn above the beach at the e. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at 13:15. When dogwalkers with their pets spooked the geese, they flew into adjacent shallow waters at the swim beach and waited them out (SJ).

5 on 3 Nov., an adult & 4 HY birds, in shallow waters at the mouth of the Hood R., at 12:10. An overflight by a helicopter spooked them, and they were later re-encountered sitting on the lawn across the road to e. of the Hood River Co. Historical Museum (SJ).

2 on 4 Nov., at Rock Cove, Stevenson, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK): Tweeters.

6 on 13 Nov., adult with 5 HY, grazing on the lawn across the road to e. of the Hood River Co. Historical Museum, just n. of I-84 along the Hood River waterfront, at 13:28 (SJ).

2 on 24 Nov., at Stevenson, Skamania Co., WA (AK, KK); gleaned from OBOL. Presumably at the Skamania Co. fairgrounds along Rock Cove, the usual spot.

Snow Goose –

1 on 25 Oct., adult, loafing and preening with a flock of gulls on the stony ne. margin of The Spit, at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at 13:15. Scoped: black “grin patch” easily observed on the not-stubby bill. This is the first one I’ve seen in The Gorge (SJ).

2 on 29 Nov., Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA: “The leucistic Cackling Goose was in a flock just east of Gibbons Creek and has been joined by an adult and a juvenile Snow Goose. Until it raises it's head it looks like a third Snow Goose” (WC); gleaned from Tweeters.

“Cackling”/ Canada Goose –

>75 on 20 Oct., calling flock, flying w. down the Columbia R., fairly high up, off the St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA, at ~07:23 (PG, SJ).

40 on 29 Oct., small race Canada Geese, flying w. down the Columbia R. at Memaloose Is., Wasco Co., OR / Klickitat Co., WA, at 12:55 (SJ).

2 on 31 Oct., with 100+ normal-sized Canadas, grazing on the Hood River WTP lawn, along the Hood River waterfront, at 15:55. They’re tiny, have medium-dark brown, not pale, underparts (SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., at Rock Cove, Stevenson, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK): Tweeters.

Mute Swan –

1 on 4 Sept., still there on the eastern lake at Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA, where it has been present since 6 Feb. 2006 (WC). Gleaned from Tweeters.

“The Mute Swan at Steigerwald hasn't been seen since Oct. 24 and may have left with a flock of Tundra Swans that were there at that time.” From a 27 Nov. posting to OBOL by WC.

Tundra Swan –

?20 on 2 Nov., rafting in mid-river on the Columbia just to the e. of Wells Is., along the Hood River waterfront, in mid-afternoon. “Within 15 minutes they lifted for no apparent reason, changed flight direction a few times to gain [altitude], then flew determinedly straight down the middle of the river, west, at about the height of the Underwood bluff. Weather was cold, cloudy, dry, no wind, the usual, but I went down to The Hook with some anticipation because we had just had hard rain and that means good birding” (DS). Presumably tundras?, as Trumpeter Swans are less likely here, especially in such a big flock.

#? on 4 Nov., at Franz Lake NWR and at Spring Creek Hatchery, both in Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK); gleaned from Tweeters.

30 on 5 Nov., on the “slough just south of the main park area, on the south side of I-84,” Rooster Rock State Park, Multnomah Co., OR (JHy fide AC); gleaned from OBOL.

Wood Duck –

11 on 30 Aug., eight on a log in Duncan Creek, 3 at Franz L., all in Skamania Co., WA (PW).

1 on 3 Sept., female, on Bingen Pond, along the Bingen riverfront, at ~17:45 (SJ).

4 on 7 Sept., flushed, flew a short ways further e. on South Prairie pond, at ~14:15 (SJ).

1 on 13 Sept., drake, along the shore of the Columbia R. backwater at the mouth of Chapman Creek, at Sundale, at 15:30 (BH, DL, SJ).

17 on 16 Sept., total counted in 5 of 10 sectors surveyed during the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC:

Trout Lake, 4; White Salmon, 1; Conboy Lake NWR, 2; Catherine Creek, 7 and Roosevelt-Alderdale, 3. None found in the other five.

49 on 3 Oct., at the nw. side of Rowland L., along Old Hwy. 8 and n. of hwy. 14, at 17:58 (SJ).

6 on 22 Oct., one male still had eclipse head pattern; they flushed from the little irrigation pond along Stonehenge Rd., just n.ne. of Maryhill, at 09:10. This is in the Columbia Hills IBA (SJ).

1 on 7 Nov., female, loafing on a log along the e. shore of Bingen’s marina, at 14:15 (SJ).

Gadwall –

35 on 3 Sept., HY & eclipse birds, loafing and foraging on Bingen Pond, along the Bingen riverfront, at 17:45 (SJ).

25 on 1 Nov., with coots and wigeon, along the Bingen riverfront, from The Lunch Grove w. to the V Cove, 17:00 to 17:15 (SJ).

7 on 21 Nov., four drakes, 3 hens, in Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 14:25 (SJ).

16 on 30 Nov., in the V Cove, along the n. side of the Columbia R. at Bingen, at 15:30 (SJ).

American Wigeon –

7 on 15 Sept., a.p. birds, at the mouth of the Klickitat R., with a N. Pintail, at 09:24 (BH, SJ).

3 on 15 Sept., a.p. birds, at the n. end of Spearfish L., ne. of The Dalles Dam, at 11:30 (SJ).

10 on 25 Sept., in the V Cove along the Bingen riverfront, foraging with ten Canada Geese, 2 coots and a few other duck, at 17:40 (SJ).

1 on 25 Oct., drake, with raft of 33 diving ducks (Greater and Lesser scaup, Ring-necked Ducks) off the n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~17:50 (SJ).

6 on 31 Oct., paltry number, along with 175 coots, in Waucoma Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, at 16:15 (SJ).

~40 on 1 Nov., accompanying big rafts of coots, along the Bingen riverfront from The Lunch Grove w. to the V Cove, 17:00 to 17:15 (SJ).

125 on 3 Nov., total number: in Bingen’s marina (25), just e. of marina’s mouth (67), and to w. of marina’s mouth (32), 15:05 to 16:15 (SJ).

1 on 21 Nov., drake, sitting with head tucked on e.se. shore of the sandbar island off dike between the Hood R. mouth and the marina’s mouth, Hood River waterfront, at 15:53. It’s loafing with 16 gulls (SJ).

20 on 30 Nov., in the V Cove, n. side of the Columbia R. at Bingen, at 15:30 (SJ).

Eurasian Wigeon –

1 on 3 Nov., male, just e. of Bingen marina’s mouth, between rafted logs and shore, along with ~400 coots and 67 Am. Wigeon, at ~15:40. Looks like it is still undergoing some molt as there is white mottled in with the dull foxy-brown on the sides (SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., Little White Salmon hatchery, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK); Tweeters.

Northern Shoveler –

6 on 29 Aug., five loaf with gulls and Green-winged Teal on gravel bar at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, at The Spit, 08:15, and 1 near s. end of Boat Works Basin at 09:45. The former flew off downriver with the teal (SJ).

1 on 3 Sept., HY or eclipse male (with gold eye), on Bingen Pond at ~17:45 (SJ).

4 on 4 Sept., one eclipse/HY male with gold eye, feeding at the s. end of Boat Works Basin, and 3 “female plumaged” ducks loafing with gulls and 2 Green-winged Teal at the Hood R. mouth, all four along the Hood River waterfront, ~09:00 & 09:30 (SJ).

1 on 7 Sept., flushed with 8 Ring-necked Ducks at South Prairie pond, Skamania Co., WA, at ~09:40. Ducks circled several times before dropping back down onto pond (SJ).

1 on 2 Oct., female, preening on little islet in settling pond (for the aluminum plant) at ne. corner of Klindt Dr. and River Rd. in The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

1 on 5 Oct., female-plumage, in the se. corner of Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront (SJ).

5 on 31 Oct., female-plumage, off nw. corner of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, 16:37 (SJ).

26 on 3 Nov., in Boat Works Basin along the Hood River waterfront, at 11:30. Two of these are easy to identify as males in nearly-full breeding plumage (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., male, Bingen’s marina, at 15:05 (SJ).

Northern Pintail –

1 on 15 Sept., a.p. bird, probable female, with 7 Am. Wigeon, at w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at 09:24 (BH, SJ).

2 on 2 Oct., a.p., settling pond for the aluminum plant at ne. corner of Klindt Dr. and River Rd., The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

Green-winged Teal –

28 on 29 Aug., loafing with gulls on gravel bar at The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, at 08:15 (SJ).

3 on 30 Aug., loafing with gulls out at the tip of the spit on the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:35 (SJ).

2 on 3 Sept., female & eclipse male (it looks like) on Bingen Pond, at 17:50 (SJ).

2 on 4 Sept., “female plumage” birds, loafing with gulls at the Hood R. mouth along the Hood River waterfront, ~09:30 (SJ).

3 on 15 Sept., female-plumaged, foraging out of the wind along the e.ne. shore of Spearfish L., ne. of The Dalles Dam, at 11:30 (SJ).

6 on 2 Oct., five loafing with gulls on the w. side sandbar (at 10:25) and 1 feeding close to the big coot flock off the w. shore of Lyle Point (at ~11:30), all at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle (SJ).

14 on 2 Oct., two (semi-eclipse male, female) on settling pond for the aluminum plant at the ne. corner of Klindt Dr. and River Rd., at 14:00, and 12 on “billboard basin” at the mouth of Threemile Creek, Riverfront Park, at 16:50, all 14 teal in The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

14 on 9 Oct., loafing between the tip of The Spit and an offshore sandbar sliver at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at 17:11 (SJ).

6 on 22 Oct., foraging at the pond along hwy.14, at M.P.106.1, in the Columbia Hills IBA; no males in b.p. yet (SJ).

2 on 31 Oct., pair, at se. corner of Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, 15:50 (SJ).

20 on 3 Nov., foraging along e. shore of Bingen’s marina, at 15:05 (SJ).

7 on 17 Nov., near shore of a lagoon on the n. side of hwy.30, ~ two miles w. of Rufus, Sherman Co., OR (TA, SJ).

7 on 30 Nov., in the V Cove, n. side of the Columbia R. at Bingen, at 15:30 (SJ).

Canvasback –

9 on 3 Nov., two female, 4 male, diving off the e.-ese. shore of Wells Is., and two female, 1 male off the n. side of The Hook, all along the Hood River waterfront, 08:50 to 09:50 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., male, diving in Bingen’s marina, at 15:15 (SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., above Bonneville Dam, Skamania Co., WA, mixed in with a raft of W. Grebes (WOS field trip, KK); from Tweeters.

#? on 4 Nov., Franz Lake NWR, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK); Tweeters.

Redhead –

2 on 16 Sept., the only ones found for the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC were in the Roosevelt – Alderdale sector, as follows: one eclipse male diving in an irrigation pond deep down in a draw at the jct. of hwy. 14 and Old Hwy. 8, immediately e. of M.P. 131, at times consorting with 4 ring-necks; and one female diving in waters at the n. side of the Columbia R. just out from Roosevelt Ferry Rd., accompanying 51 coots and 4 ring-necks (SJ).

2 on 31 Oct., males, diving with scaup and ring-necks, off the w. end of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at 16:22. Males are not yet in full breeding plumage (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., male, with scaup, ring-necks and coots, diving off the e.-ese. shore of Wells Is., along the Hood River waterfront, at 09:25 (SJ).

Ring-necked Duck –

8 on 7 Sept., on South Prairie pond, along Gifford Pinchot Nat’l Forest Rd. 66, Skamania Co., WA, at ~09:40. This is probably a breeding site (SJ).

15 on 13 Sept., loafing on the Columbia R. backwater at the mouth of Chapman Creek, at Sundale, at 15:30 (BH, DL, SJ).

5 on 15 Sept., diving and loafing on Spearfish L., ne. of The Dalles Dam, at 11:30. Three hens, 2 drakes, one of which is in nearly-full b.p., the other still in eclipse (SJ).

19 on 2 Oct., loafing on the settling pond for the aluminum plant in The Dalles, at the ne. corner of Klindt Dr. and River Rd., Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

13 on 25 Oct., off The Hook’s n. side, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~17:50 (SJ).

110 on 31 Oct., off the w. end of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, at 16:30 (SJ).

7 on 1 Nov., along the Bingen riverfront, from The Lunch Grove w. to the V Cove, 17:00 (SJ).

9 on 21 Nov., one pair in Waucoma Basin, at 14:25, and 7 males off the n. side of The Hook, at ~15:00 (SJ).

Greater Scaup –

1 on 2 Oct., eclipse male, loafing with ring-necks on the aluminum plant settling pond at the ne. corner of Klindt Dr. and River Rd., The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR; close scope views, good light (SJ).

12 on 25 Oct., six with 3 Lesser, just w. of the nw. corner of The Hook, and six with 14 Lesser and 13 Ring-necks, off n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, ~17:50 to 18:20 (SJ).

20 on 31 Oct., close enough to specifically I.D., off w. end of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, at 16:30. Rafts of 100+ more scaup, sp. are distant off the n. side of The Hook (SJ).

3 on 3 Nov., two hens, one HY or eclipse drake, Bingen’s riverfront, between the marina’s mouth and the crane, accompanying 72 Lessers, at ~16:00 (SJ).

2 on 21 Nov., single hens, along the Hood River waterfront, off the sw. corner and the n. side of The Hook, at 14:40 & 15:00 (SJ).

Lesser Scaup –

1 on 5 Sept., eclipse male, scoped at the e. side of “billboard basin,” at the e. end of the Riverfront Park nature trail in The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR, at 16:40. Basin is at the mouth of Threemile Creek. Drake has small, narrow black nail at tip of bill and there is a noticeable corner on the hind crown. Although feathers of crown are not very relaxed-looking, they are not slicked down like they are when scaup are diving. Head is dark, blackish-brown, breast and rear end are dull, dusky blackish, and back and sides are a dirty, smudgey grey-brown, sides perhaps a bit paler than back. Much of bill, the entire saddle, is slaty. Tucks head in loafing posture as I leave (SJ).

2 on 15 Sept., eclipse drakes, diving and loafing on Spearfish L., ne. of The Dalles Dam, at 11:30. Good scope viewing (SJ).

17 on 25 Oct., off The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, ~17:50 to 18:20. Count 17 again on 21 Nov. off the n. side of The Hook, at ~14:55/15:00 (SJ).

73 on 3 Nov., along Bingen’s riverfront, from just e. of the marina’s mouth (1 drake) w. to the swim beach, e. of the riverfront crane (72), from 15:30 to 16:00 (SJ).

94 on 24 Nov., along the Bingen riverfront, from The Lunch Grove w. to the V Cove spit, at 16:20. Most were drakes, a few of these eclipse or imm. birds, but there were at least 6 hens (SJ).

18 on 30 Nov., along the Bingen riverfront, from The Lunch Grove w. to the V Cove, at 15:45. Three are hens (SJ).

scaup, sp. –

100+ on 30-31 Oct., out toward mid-river off the n. side of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, at ~16:45. Too distant to specifically I.D., and to count, in the choppy waters of the Columbia R. (SJ).

100 on 1 Nov., along the Bingen riverfront, just s.sw. of The Lunch Grove, at 17:00. Most look to be Lesser, but some Greater may be present; also half a dozen ring-necks (SJ).

Harlequin Duck –

1 on 4 Sept., eclipse male, at the s. end of Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, at ~09:00. It is swimming, a dark brown diving duck with a slightly darker head; a snowy white circle just back of and slightly below eye level; a dingier white paisley patch between eye and base of bill, with a smudge of dusky partially obscuring this patch directly in front of eye, leaving a small, whitish spot on either side of forehead; bill an unmarked pale, chalky bluish-grey and rather small, short in length. Close scrutiny reveals two very thin white crescents, each about 1.5 inches in length, one extending down toward top of breast from base of hind neck, and other lower down at sides of breast. When duck hops up onto concrete boat slip at the waters edge and preens for a bit, as well as when it flapped it’s wings once in the water, noted that right wing is either maimed or in such heavy molt that primaries seem to be lacking (or perhaps are just beginning to regenerate?); left wing looked normal. There appeared to be some white hidden in the wing, barely exposed, when duck was swimming, before it lopsidedly flapped it’s wings. When I passed by the basin again later, ~11:00, the harlequin was sitting on a rock at the sw. corner of this body of water, loafing, with head tucked at times. Head and breast sketched while first viewing duck (SJ).

Surf Scoter –

1 on 28 Oct., along the Bingen riverfront out from the binstacks, just beyond the dolphins and pilings, accompanying 10 Lesser Scaup. While preening, twice saw bird flap it’s wings: no white secondaries. This feature was also noted when a motorboat sped by flushing the ducks; they circled a couple times before resettling a little further upriver, just w.sw. of The Lunch Grove. Head and bill are Surf Scoter shape; belly (in flight) is pale, whitish-beige; breast looks very slightly paler than rest of upperparts, while back and cap / top of head look slightly darker. A dark brown duck with 2 white face patches—one between eye and base of bill is more vertical with a slight diagonal tilt, other is more horizontal, running back from the eye on upper part of the auricular patch. Observed from 17:06 to 17:58 (SJ).

Long-tailed Duck –

1 on 24-29 Nov., “Friday afternoon, Nov. 24, a quick stop at the Washougal Sewage Lagoons at milepost 17.8 on Highway 14 [in Clark Co., WA,] produced a female Long-tailed Duck and an Eared Grebe. The Long-tailed Duck is only the second county record that I am aware of, the birds were easily visible from the shoulder of the highway.” Still present in the morning on 25 Nov. And on 27^th Nov.: “I checked the Washougal Sewage Lagoons from Highway 14 at milepost 17.6 and the female Long-tailed Duck was still on the pond closest to the road.” Still present 29 Nov.: “The Long-tailed Duck wasn't visible until a maintenance truck disturbed the flock of birds and they moved into the middle of the pond,” at 14:30 (all observations WC). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 24 Nov., “Got home [after a day spent birding in Skamania Co.] and turned around back to Washougal sewer ponds and saw the Long-tailed Duck before dark. Thanks to Wilson Cady for leaving me a message” (KK).

Bufflehead –

8 on 4 Sept., all HY or female-plumaged birds, flew in over Boat Works Basin, circled a couple times, then dropped in to centre of the basin, where they huddled, alert, eyeing the sky, ~10:50. These appear to be early, first-of-the-season, birds (SJ).

2 on 25 Oct., males in full (breeding) b.p., loafing at the centre of Waucoma Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, at 18:13 (SJ).

70 on 30 Oct., in rafts of scaup off the n. side of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, ~17:00 (SJ).

32 on 31 Oct., in Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 1610. Additionally, as there were yesterday evening, many Bufflehead are off the n. side of The Hook, accompanying the rafts of scaup, but are too distant this time to count in the choppy waters whipped up by chill e. winds (SJ).

3 on 1 Nov., male & 2 female-plumaged birds, in the V Cove along the Bingen riverfront, at 16:50 (SJ).

15 on 21 Nov., diving in Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 14:30 (SJ).

22 on 28 Nov., thirteen hens, 9 drakes, in Waucoma Basin, at 16:40 (SJ).

11 on 30 Nov., ten female plumage, 1 drake, along the Bingen riverfront, seven in the V Cove, at 15:30, and 4 a little further upriver, at 15:35-15:40 (SJ).

Common Goldeneye –

3 on 31 Oct., female plumage, off n.nw end of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, at 16:40. First autumn arrivals noted in The Gorge (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., female plumage, e. of the marina’s mouth, Bingen riverfront, at ~15:30 (SJ).

>10 on 9 Nov., along s. side of the Columbia R., between John Day Dam and Rufus, Sherman Co., OR, from 12:00 to 13:40 (BMcK, SJ).

3 on 13 Nov., two drakes, one hen, out in the Columbia R. to n.ne from the base of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at 15:45 (SJ).

1 on 24 Nov., drake, along the Bingen riverfront, between The Lunch Grove and the binstacks, accompanying Lesser Scaup rafts, at 16:20 (SJ).

Barrow’s Goldeneye –

>1 on 4 Nov., Little White Salmon hatchery, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK); gleaned from Tweeters.

Hooded Merganser –

2 on 3 Nov., pair (male with crest erect) in Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 13:40. First of the season. Pair here again on 21 Nov. and 28 Nov. (SJ).

1 on 9 Nov., female-plumage, in little backwater next to the upstream boat launch site, n. side of The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, at 11:00 (BMcK, SJ).

3 on 14 Nov., drake and 2 hens, Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, 16:39 (SJ).

1 on 24 Nov., drake, along the Bingen riverfront just e. of the V Cove spit, loafing with it’s head tucked, at 16:29 (SJ).

2 on 27 Nov., on the Columbia R. to nw. of Memaloose Is. in Klickitat Co. waters; seen mostly in silhouette (one obviously male) at 16:45 (SJ).

Common Merganser –

16 on 30 Aug., Columbia R. near Reed Is., s. of Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA (PW).

10 on 25 Sept., female plumage, diving in the shallow waters around sandbar slivers off the Hood R. mouth, and stopping to preen and loaf on one sandbar, along the Hood River waterfront, mid- to late morning (SJ).

3 on 30 Oct., out in the Columbia R. off n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront: These are the first males I’ve seen this fall that are molting in white plumage (SJ).

25 on 31 Oct., assembled at the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, as dusk descends (17:05) (SJ).

17 on 9 Nov., mostly female-plumaged birds, but including at least 2 easily recognisable males molting into their white breeding plumage (molt of one nearly completed), close to s. shore of the Columbia R., downstream several hundred m. from John Day Dam, Sherman Co., OR (BMcK, SJ).

50 on 13 Nov., off sandbar island at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, at 16:52, fading light (SJ).

Ruddy Duck –

1 on 16 Sept., female plumage, foraging close to the shore of the Roosevelt WTP, at 09:19 (SJ).

1 on 30 Oct., female plumage, with raft of Bufflehead and scaup, off n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, ~17:00 (SJ).

Chukar –

1 on 13 Sept., running through the sagebrush steppe along Sand Ridge Rd. ~2 mi. n. of the jct. with Peterson and Alder Creek roads, at ~12:45 (DL, BH, SJ).

6 on 22 Oct., one calling several minutes before the flock flushed, along hwy.14 at the Hartley Canon crossing, at 10:45. This is in the Columbia Hills IBA (SJ).

>2 on 11-12 Nov., noted on both days while running the n. and the s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey routes (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

Grey Partridge –

8 on 16 Sept., Rock Creek s. to Newell Rd. and e. to Bickleton, then s. to Hale Rd., ie., in the Cleveland-Bickleton sector of the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC. These were the only ones found for the count (DL).

Ring-necked Pheasant –

1 on 15 Sept., hen, flushed between Spearfish L. and orchard to the n., flew sw. down to Russian olive at nw. end of the lake, at ~13:30 (SJ).

1 on 16 Sept., in w. half of Goldendale sector, Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC (CH, TH).

2 on 17 Nov., cocks, flushed along Scott Canon Rd., 1.6 mi. to s. of the jct. with Herin Lane, Sherman Co., OR, at 10.25 (TA, SJ).

Ruffed Grouse –

1 on 15 Nov., along Larch Mountain Rd., Multnomah Co., OR (KT, AT); gleaned from OBOL.

Sooty Grouse –

2 on 15 Nov., along Larch Mountain Rd., Multnomah Co., OR; there was quite a bit of snow above MP11 (KT, AT). Gleaned from OBOL.

Wild Turkey –

27 on 4 Nov., noted while running the Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR; “a large flock of very plump-looking birds” (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

Pacific Loon –

1 on 9 Nov., preening, just s. of the small islands a little downstream from John Day Dam, Sherman Co., OR, at 12:50. Pattern of pale edgings to feathers on mantle suggests this may be a HY bird; well seen using big Celestron scope (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 24 Nov., “…at Wind River mouth just north of Hwy 14” in Skamania Co., WA (AK, KK).

Common Loon –

1 on 25 Sept., b.p. bird, first noted just beyond a distant sandbar sliver off the Hood R. mouth, at noon; later it slowly swam in to Boat Works Basin, where it began to preen, at 12:25 (SJ).

9 on 5 Nov., a total of 9 on the Columbia R. at Rooster Rock State Park, Multnomah Co., OR, along with “a few cormorants, a Horned Grebe, a few Com. Mergansers and Mallards”(JH); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 9 Nov., apparently a HY bird, above The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, at 10:30. Seen closeby just inside the mouth of the locks, using binoculars, and then a big Celestron scope to bring bird into closer view when it next surfaced further out, off the boat launch site. First things that caught my eye were the conspicuous, broad, buff edgings to feathers on the back (and scapulars?), suggesting the possibility of Yellow-billed Loon, but head colour looked no paler than back/mantle and bill’s culmen didn’t seem particularly straight; rather, both lower and upper surfaces of bill were slightly down- and up-curved, bill’s overall colour pale greyish, but dark/dusky along at least the basal half of the culmen (BMcK, SJ).

Pied-billed Grebe –

2 on 30 Aug., one at Franz L. and one at Duncan Creek pond, both in Skamania Co., WA (PW).

12 on 16 Sept., total number found on 5 of the 10 sectors surveyed for the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC, as follows: Trout Lake, 3 (DS, KK); Conboy L. NWR, 1 (JH, RR); Catherine Creek, 1 (BH); Dallesport, 6 (MR, DCR, LW); Roosevelt-Alderdale, 1 (on the backwater at the mouth of Chapman Creek, Sundale) (SJ).

1 on 26 Sept., basic plumage, in confluence waters at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 15:35 (SJ).

7 on 5 Oct., in Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 14:20 (SJ).

3 on 25 Oct., singles, off The Hook, Hood River waterfront, 17:50 to 18:20 (SJ).

3 on 4 Nov., above The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, at 14:30 (SJ). Three again on 9 Nov., but this time 2 are at s. end of the dam, in Sherman Co., OR (BMcK, SJ).

4 on 30 Nov., in the V Cove, Bingen riverfront, at 15:30 (SJ).

Horned Grebe –

1 on 4 Sept., in rather pale and drab (very faded?) brownish-grey plumage, somewhere between alternate and basic plumage, along the w. side of Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, ~10:30. First of the fall season and on the early side? (SJ)

1 on 25 Sept., just off a sandbar sliver in the Columbia R. along the Hood River waterfront, out from the mouth of the Hood R., at 09:40 (SJ).

2 on 26 Sept., in basic plumage, close together in confluence waters at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 15:35. Two found at this same spot on 2 Oct. at ~09:40 (SJ).

3 on 5 Oct., b.p., in Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 11:23 (SJ).

2 on 9 Oct., around sandbar sliver off The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, at 17:15 (SJ).

27 on 25 Oct., a raft of 25 to n. off the base of The Hook and 2 further downriver off the nw. corner of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at 18:25 in fading light (SJ).

53 on 30 Oct., counted off n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~17:00 (SJ).

Red-necked Grebe –

1 on 15 Sept., diving in the confluence waters at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at 08:15 (BH, SJ).

1 on 5 Oct., still showing some of the striped face of a HY bird, swims s. in to Boat Works Basin, on the Hood R. waterfront, at 11:23 (SJ).

1 on 29 Oct., above The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, along with 7 Western and 3 Horned grebes, at 16:55 (SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., above The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, along with 27 Western and 3 Pied-billed grebes, at 14:30 (SJ). Probably the same bird still there on 9 Nov., at 10:30, rafted with 20 Westerns, loafing with bill tucked into breast feathers; viewed with Celestron scope (BMcK, SJ).

Eared Grebe –

1 on 16 Sept., on the small pond beside the entrance road to Spearfish Lake park; found while surveying for the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC (MR et al).

1 on 25 Oct., b.p., off the n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~17:50 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., just off the e.-ese. shore of Wells Is., along the Hood River waterfront, 09:26 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., along the e. side of Bingen’s marina, at 15:15. Forages by swimming in shoreline shallows, with head and neck submerged (SJ).

1 on 24 Nov., “…a quick stop at the Washougal Sewage Lagoons at milepost 17.8 on hwy. 14, [Clark Co.,] produced a female Long-tailed Duck and an Eared Grebe…the birds were easily visible from the shoulder of the highway” in the afternoon (WC); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 29 Nov., still present on the Washougal WTP this morning (AA); gleaned from OBOL.

Western Grebe –

1 on 18 Aug., sticking close to an alternate plumage Clark’s Grebe, both diving in the mouth of Boat Works Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, mid-morning. Are they a pair? (SJ)

1 on 15 Sept., diving in the confluence waters at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at 08:15 (SJ).

1 on 26 Sept., again seen at the confluence of the Klickitat and Columbia rivers, at 15:35 (SJ).

42 on 5 Oct., loafing off the n. side of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at 14:15 (SJ).

64 on 25 Oct., off The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, from ~17:50 to 18:20. Sixty-one were in a long, loose raft off the n. side, with 2 and a single a bit further up and down river (SJ).

63 on 30 Oct., off n. side of The Hook, Hood river waterfront, ~17:00 (SJ).

75 on 31 Oct., off n. side of The Hook, at 16:50 (SJ).

161 on 3 Nov., loafing to ne. off the base of The Hook, Hood River waterfront, at 09:40 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., in Bingen’s marina, at 15:05 (SJ).

27 on 4 Nov., loafing above The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, at 14:30 (SJ). Count 20 there on 9 Nov., at 10:30 (BMcK, SJ).

60 on 13 Nov., minimun total count, from nw. corner of The Hook e. to the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, 15:00 to 16:40 (SJ).

56 on 21 Nov., total count along the Hood River waterfront, from the Hood R. mouth downriver to include waters off The Hook; 53 in a close-in raft off the n. side of The Hook at 14:50, plus a few stragglers up- and downriver (SJ).

Clark’s Grebe –

1 on 18 Aug., closely associating with an adult Western Grebe, both diving in the mouth of Boat Works Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, mid-morning. Excellent close scope views of both. The Clark’s showed conspicuous white surrounding red eye, bright orange-yellow bill, black line down hindneck is narrower than adjacent Western, and upperparts are paler grey than Western, with more white mottling on the flanks (SJ).

Double-crested Cormorant –

1 on 25 Aug., flushed from n. side of the Columbia R. at St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA. Bird looked all dark like an adult; no pale colour was noted on neck or breast (SJ).

2 on 30 Aug., near St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA (PW).

2 on 30 Aug., near Reed Is., out from Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA (PW).

1 on 15 Sept., flew off Spearfish L., ne. of The Dalles Dam (SJ).

12 on 25 Sept., flying in a V past the Hood R. mouth, heading w., down river, at 11:22 (SJ).

355 on 29 Oct., roosting on 3 stt at the n. end of The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, at 17:00. This is a regular roost site, and birds were continuing to arrive as I left at 17:15. Earlier there were 76 loafing with gulls on the small rocky islets, and in adjacent waters, below the w. side of The Dalles bridge (hwy. 197) over the Columbia R., Wasco Co., OR, at ~16:00 (SJ).

14 on 9 Nov., loafing with hundreds of Canada Geese and gulls at the n. end of Columbia R. sandbars just downriver from the mouth of the Deschutes R., Wasco Co., OR, at 11:45 (SJ).

~80 on 9 Nov., loafing on little islands just downriver from John Day Dam, Sherman Co., OR, at 13:00 (BMcK, SJ).

American Bittern –

1 on 24 Aug., out in the open, but close to marsh vegetation, at a shrinking pool of water w. of the unpaved s. extension of Lake Rd., <0.5 mi. s. of “T” intersection with Hansen Rd., Conboy Lake NWR, at 11:30 (BMcK, SJ).

Great Blue Heron –

8 on 13 Nov., total number counted in a scope sweep of sandbars and islands at and off the Hood R. mouth, at ~15:10, more than usual for the Hood River waterfront this time of year, it seems (SJ).

3 on 17 Nov., noted along the 98.8 mile N. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23. One along the shore of a lagoon on the n. side of hwy. 30, ~ two miles w. of Rufus, at 09:24, and two along Grass Valley Creek: one on fence brace in the canon just downstream from Sandon Rd., at 13:32, and one further upstream at the Lone Rock Rd. bridge, at 14:24 (TA, SJ).

Great Egret –

1 on 24 Nov., “…50 feet up in a tree at Skamania Landing, [Skamania Co., WA,] with a Great Blue Heron below it in a small pond” (AK, KK).

Green Heron –

1 during the second week of Sept., at Conboy Lake NWR: “I have seen a Green Heron twice this week perching on a fence post and feeding in the irrigation canal.” [from an e.mail on 14 Sept.] (ML).

Black-crowned Night-Heron –

3 on 25 Sept., an adult, a HY bird, and one in very drab adult plumage, apparently a SY bird, roosting in riparian along the shore of Boat Works Basin, on the Hood River waterfront, 10:20 to 10:40. This is the same spot where 3 overwintered in 2005-06 (SJ).

4 on 13 Nov., one HY and 3 adults (one a dull-plumaged adult, maybe a SY bird), again roosting in riparian along the shores of Boat Works Basin, at 14:45. I have checked these shores for night-herons several times, unsuccessfully, in the weeks following the 25 Sept. record (SJ).

2 on 14 Nov., at least one HY and one dull adult, Boat Works Basin, at 16:17 & 16:44 (SJ).

4 on 21 Nov., one HY and 3 adults, roosting along the shore of Boat Works Basin, at 15:13 (SJ).

3 on 1 Dec., one HY, 2 adults, Boat Works Basin…looks like they’re here for the winter (SJ).

Turkey Vulture –

7 on 24 Aug., six along Holmes Creek: one circling over the Laurel vicinity and 5 adults roosting in a big dead conifer snag a little further upstream at ~09:45. And one adult in flight along Trout Lake Hwy., 1.4 mi. e.se of the jct. with Sunnyside Rd., at ~14:45 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 30 Aug., overhead at St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA (PW).

8 on 30 Aug., over Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA (PW).

2 on 2 Sept., flying n.nw. over hwy. 14 at MP 30.85, Skamania Co., WA, at ~14:25 (CJF).

1 on 4 Sept., circling over Hood R. n. of the pedestrian bridge, Hood River waterfront, mid-morning (SJ).

2 on 5 Sept., one in flight over I-84 just n.nw. of the Discovery Centre, at 07:46, and one in flight over the mouth of Threemile Creek, at ~17:10, both in The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

3 on 13 Sept., one flying to se. along Bickleton Hwy. just sw. of the jct. with Naught Rd., between Cleveland and Bickleton, ~09:15, and 2 flying w. on the w. side of S. Columbus Ave., s. of Goldendale, 1.7 mi. n. of the jct. with hwy. 97, at ~16:50 (BH, DL, SJ).

1 on 15 Sept., in flight over Spearfish L., just ne. of The Dalles Dam, at 11:21 (SJ).

68 on 16 Sept., reported from 9 of 10 sectors surveying birds for the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC: Trout Lake, 3; White Salmon, 7; Conboy Lake NWR, 7; Catherine Creek, 8; Klickitat R.-Lyle, 3; Spearfish L. subsector, 4; Goldendale west, 11; Goldendale east, 13; Bickleton-Cleveland, count week (see 13 Sept. above); Rock Creek, 6; and Roosevelt-Alderdale, 6 (see below).

6 on 16 Sept., flying w. over Alderdale Rd. at the mouth of Alder Creek, at 15:00, coming over the hills s. of Golgotha Butte, then angling w-nw. over the backwater lagoon, dropping down in altitude to circle very low over the s-se. flank of Alder Ridge (just n. of the stt powerline); lead bird has molt in its outer primaries (SJ).

Osprey –

2 on 24 Aug., perching on the Acorn Woodpecker granary tree at the Sondino site w. of Lyle (CJF).

2 on 29 Aug., bathing in shallows at sandbars off The Spit, Hood River waterfront, at ~08:45 or 09:00 (SJ).

4 on 30 Aug., along the n. side of the Columbia R. in the lower Gorge: 2 over the Columbia at St. Cloud Recr. Area and one near Skamania, in Skamania Co., and one over the Columbia near Washougal, Clark Co., WA (PW).

2 on 30 Aug., one flying low into the w. wind at tip of the sandspit on the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, ~10:35, and one perching atop a small tree on crest of the Klickitat R. bank at the undeveloped park 0.85 mi. n. of Lyle, at about noon (SJ).

1 on 3 Sept., on utility pole just w. of Tunnel #1 along hwy 14, Skamania Co., WA, ~17:20 (SJ).

1 on 3 Sept., calling/begging like a HY bird, along the Bingen riverfront, on nest on the stt at mouth of the V Cove, at the se. corner of SDS’s timber stacks, ~17:35 (SJ).

1 on 4 Sept., in flight e. to w. over the Columbia R. out at the n. tip of The Spit, Hood R. mouth along the Hood River waterfront, about mid-morning (SJ).

2 on 5 Sept., one with fish prey perching on dead top of willow at the MP 79 willow riparian stretch, on the n. side of hwy. I-84 and along the s. shore of the Columbia R., < 2 mi. e-se. of Rowena, and one in flight past the mouth of Threemile Creek, at the e. end of the Riverfront Park nature trail in The Dalles, both in Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

2 on 13 Sept., one over hwy 14 at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at 06:34 (BH, SJ), and one carrying a fish, flying w. into stiff winds, n. above hwy. 14 a mile w. of the jct. with Rock Creek Rd., at ~15:45 (BH, DL, SJ).

4 on 16 Sept., total number found in 3 of 10 sectors surveyed for the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC: White Salmon, 1 (BS, JM, DG, RG); Catherine Creek, 1 (BH); and Spearfish L.-The Dalles Dam subsector, 2 (LW, DCR, MR).

1 on 24 Sept., seen in flight along the n. shore of the Columbia R., suddenly dove vertically and was quickly lost to view, just downriver from Stevenson, Skamania Co., WA, at 14:22. Seen from the car as we were driving e. on hwy. 14, abreast of Ashes L. (CJF, SJ).

1 on 29 Oct., Trout Lake NAP, seen “flapping about” the marsh from the w. side trail (JE, PM).

1 on 6 Nov. “I was at Eagle Creek [in Multnomah Co., OR]…Nov. 6th, and heard and saw an osprey (not seen previous weeks there) in the pouring rain and above the swollen river” (CJF).

Bald Eagle –

1 on 24 Aug., adult, circling over the e. end of Glenwood Millpond at ~14:10 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 20 Oct., heard-only, calling “whinnying” notes several times from vicinity of the Osprey nest above the n. side of hwy. 14 at the St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA, at 08:37. This is just nw. of net #8 (SJ).

1 on 23 Oct., HY bird, circling around oaks (just above treetop level) on the n. side of Hoctor Rd., immediately w. of the jct. with Oak Flat Rd., at 14:21. It made several aborted attempts to fly in to the ground or the oaks along the powerline, eventually opting to perch atop a low juniper s. of Hoctor Rd. This is along the ridge of the Columbia Hills IBA. As there were 25 ravens assembled here, it seems likely there was a carcass that the eagle was trying to access (DG, SJ).

1 on ?Nov., adult, on a frequently-used perch e. of Doug’s Beach State Park (CJF, SF).

2 on 2 Nov., pair of adults at / near the mouth of Eagle Creek, Multnomah Co., OR (CJF).

#? on 3 Nov., surveyed along the Klickitat R. between Lyle and Klickitat (CJF)

1 on 4 Nov., age? Franz Lake NWR, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK); from Tweeters.

1 on 4 Nov., imm., about 3 yr. old, noted along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 21 Nov., adult, perching at top of big cottonwood at the ne. tip of Wells Is., along the Hood River waterfront, at 14:47. This is a usual perch for the pair that built the nearby nest, but this is the first one I’ve seen here this fall-winter (SJ).

Northern Harrier –

1 on 24 Aug., hunting HY bird, spins and pounces unsuccessfully, apparently trying for a juv. Spotted Sandpiper, at the inlet end of Glenwood Millpond, at ~13:25 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 12 Sept., adult female, hunting low over Conboy Lake NWR, flying w-sw. over BZ Corner-Glenwood Rd. at the Camas Ditch crossing, at 08:12 (BMcK, SJ).

4 on 13 Sept., male, n. side of Bickleton Hwy. in the Pleasant Valley, 0.4 mi. w. of the jct. with Old Mountain Rd.; female plumage bird flying to s-sw. along Ferguson Rd., ne. of Bickleton, 0.5 mi. w. of the jct. with Matsen Rd.; HY bird along the e. side of Sand Ridge Rd., 0.3 mi. s. of Bluelight; and a HY bird along Sand Ridge Rd., 0.3 mi. n. of the jct. with Hale Rd., nw. of Alderdale. Noted during a 132 mile loop drive through e. Klickitat Co., 07:25-16:20 (DL, BH, SJ).

1 on 25 Sept., HY bird, hunting low over the marshy margins of Bingen Pond, at 17:47 (SJ).

1 on 26 Sept., HY, likely same bird as on 9/25, perched on a dead willow shrub at the outlet end (sw. corner) of Bingen Pond, at 17:50 (SJ).

7 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR; observations confined to the Tygh Ridge Rd. – Old Tygh Rd. (2 males), Center Ridge Rd. (1 male, 1 female), and Long Hollow Rd. stretches (2 HY, 1 male) (CJF, SF).

15 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

6 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route. No rain and partly sunny skies (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

8 on 12 Nov., noted while running the s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route. The weather was overcast and quite windy (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

6 on 17 Nov., noted while running the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route: 3 female-plumaged birds along Medler Lane (2) and Oehman Rd. (1), and 3 males along Hay Canon Rd. (TA, SJ).

Sharp-shinned Hawk –

1 on 3 Sept., at their home on Mt. Pleasant in sw. Skamania Co., WA (WC); from Tweeters.

1 on 7 Sept., chasing, several times, both a N. Flicker (that calls raspy “being harassed” series of notes) and a Steller’s Jay, in lodgepole pine snags distant to e.ne. of the Gifford Pinchot NF Rd. 66 crossing of the South Prairie bog outlet stream, in Skamania Co., WA, at 08:40. Scoped: body bulk of the Accipitre seems < flicker’s—certainly Accipitre looks no larger, heavier than flicker (SJ).

1 on 12 Sept., flew up from roadside brush and circled low over Conboy Lake NWR along Hansen Rd., 0.18 mi. w. of the jct. with BZ Corner-Glenwood Rd., at ~10:00 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 5 Nov., adult, along hwy. 35 between Woodworth and Tollbridge roads, in the vicinity of Mt. Hood (community): found during the 4 hour, 65 mile Hood River winter raptor survey route, Hood River Co., OR (CJF, SF).

1 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 24 Nov., “…at Sams - Walker Rec. Area, just west of Skamania Landing,” in Skamania Co., WA (AK, KK).

1 on 27 Nov., email from Goldendale: “At about 1300…as I was walking e. on Broadway, between Columbus and Les Schwab's tire store, an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (bright reddish belly against the overcast sky) flew overhead, S>N, toward the [Ekone] park/Little Klickitat [River], up less than 15m--flitting along, like a deadly butterfly” (DL).

Cooper’s Hawk –

1 on 16 Aug., HY bird, flew off from the L net at the St. Cloud Recr. Area fall banding station, Skamania Co., WA, where it had killed and partially eaten a Warbling Vireo that was caught in the net near the center pole (SJ).

1 on 24 Aug., adult, harassed by Am. Kestrel just before it perches atop a dead conifer to sw. of the pumphouse at Conboy Lake NWR headquarters (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 29 Aug., HY bird, next to the Hood River WTP, at e. end of Waucoma Basin, at 11:35. Flies in from ne. to perch atop a brush pile in which a small flock of House Sparrows are sheltering, clambers around from perch to perch, peering down into tangle where the sparrows lurk. Eventually, it simply perches in one spot for several minutes, holding it’s body in a very vertical posture, looking more relaxed, before finally moving off to the w. into brush at the e.se. corner of Waucoma Basin (SJ).

1 on 30 Aug., at the St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA, in unsuccessful pursuit of a flicker (PW).

1 on 8 Sept., HY bird, flew w. just above treetop level of the willows at net B, at the fall bird banding site, St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA, at 12:02 (PG, SJ).

2 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27. One along Shadybrook Rd. and one along Long Hollow Rd. (CJF, SF).

1 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 17 Nov., adult, along Van Gilder Rd., 0.4 mi. to s. of the jct. with hwy. 206, at ~15:40. Noted while conducting the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route (TA, SJ).

1 on 24 Nov., “…at Underwood, [Skamania Co., WA], trying to dry out on top of an oak” (AK, KK).

Northern Goshawk –

1 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

Accipitre, species? –

1 on 14 Sept., briefly seen, distant, in regenerating, patchy second growth s.sw. of Kreps’ corral along Barnedt Rd., in the Jewett Creek watershed at the ne. edge of White Salmon, at ~11:45. A couple Steller’s Jays are there in the treetops with it; also heard once the flicker call-series of notes that they give when being chased, harassed by Accipitres. This one seemed small, possibly a Sharp-shinned Hawk (SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

Red-shouldered Hawk –

2 on ~5 or 6 Sept., continuing through 14 Sept., at Conboy Lake NWR headquarters: “There have been two Red-shouldered Hawks hanging around the refuge headquarters for a little over a week. I'm not positive but they both appear to be adults.” [from an e.mail on 14 Sept] (ML)

Red-tailed Hawk –

1 on 13 Sept., HY bird, perched on a fence post out in a field along Simcoe Mountain Rd., 2.5 mi. to n. of Centerville (BH, SJ).

5 on 13 Sept., adults, total number noted (casual observation, not a census) during a big loop drive through e. Klickitat Co. while scouting for the upcoming NAMC: 3 along Bickleton Hwy., one along Sand Ridge Rd. and one along Roosevelt Grade Rd. One of these, perched atop a shrub along a shallow side draw e. above Rock Creek canon, was repeatedly dive-bombed by a Prairie Falcon; this was just a little e. of Bickleton Hwy. (DL, BH, SJ).

33 on 4 Nov., adults, along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27 (CJF, SF).

26 on 4 Nov., “including ~3 very dark birds,” noted along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

6 on 5 Nov., found along the 4 hour, 65 mile Hood River winter raptor survey route, Hood River Co., OR; rain began at 12:30 (CJF, SF).

17 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route. No rain and partly sunny skies (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

3 on 12 Nov., “only!” three noted while running the s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route. “…the weather was overcast and quite windy, which kept the numbers down” (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

30 on 17 Nov., one HY bird, the rest adults or age unknown, along the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23. One of a pair near a nest along Hay Canon Rd. was very pale on the underparts, with only sparse fine streaking on the lower breast (TA, SJ).

Rough-legged Hawk –

16 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27. One of 3 along the stretch of hwy. 197 between MP 18.6 & MP 33 was a dark morph bird; the double back Center Ridge Rd. stretch produced the greatest total number of rough-legs: eight (CJF, SF).

9 on 4 Nov., including “one very dark bird,” noted along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

8 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route. No rain and partly sunny skies (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

9 on 12 Nov., noted while running the s. Gilliam Co. raptor survey route. The weather was overcast and quite windy (CK, PS). Gleaned from OBOL.

6 on 17 Nov., along the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23. One adult male, one dark morph, one distant fly-by, the rest females or HY birds (TA, SJ).

1 on 29 Nov., off to the e. of Bates Rd., w. above Major Creek canon (DG).

Buteo, species ? –

2 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 15 Nov., in a treetop along Bates Rd., in Fred House’s yard: either a dark Harlan’s or a dark morph-type Red-tail. Has some creamy streaking on breast, also some pale mottling, markings on the wing coverts or scapulars; rectrices have a dark band at the tip but the rest of the tail is cloudy greyish (DG).

3 on 17 Nov., along the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23 (TA, SJ).

Golden Eagle –

1 on 5 Sept., HY bird, flying w-nw over the n. slope of Sevenmile Hill, above I-84 at MP 78, at ~08:10. This is <1 mi. e-se. of Rowena, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

1 on 15 Sept., subadult, hunting very low over the e. side of Spearfish L., moving s. at 12:21. Basal 2/3 of tail whitish, with blackish at tip—roughly the distal third (SJ).

1 on 10 Oct., subadult, soaring along the s. rim of Burdoin Mountain, n-ne. above the jct. Pine St. and E. Franklin St., Bingen, at ~13:35. There is a slight e. wind; it’s warm and sunny (JA, SJ).

2 on 4 Nov., imm. birds, along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27. One along the stretch of hwy. 197 between MP 18.6 & MP 33 = hwy 216 E, and one along hwy. 216 E. between MP 0 & MP 4 = state park (CJF, SF).

1 on 12 Nov., noted while running the s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

American Kestrel –

2 on 7 Sept., perching on utility cable/wires along hwy 141, where there are fields on both sides of the road, 0.22 and 0.52 mi. to north of MP 10, between Husum and BZ Corner, at ~17:33 (SJ).

7 on 12 Sept., noted in long loop drive from White Salmon to BZ Corner to Conboy Lake NWR and Glenwood Millpond back to White Salmon via the Trout Lake Valley, 08:15 to 14:15. One at 421 BZ Corner-Glenwood Rd. at the Kreps’ ranch, in the Gilmer Valley. And in the Conboy Lake NWR area, one distant to ne. of the BZ Corner-Glenwood Rd. crossing of Camas Ditch; a male & 2HY along Hansen Rd.; and 2 along Kreps Lane, a male and one sex/age? (BMcK, SJ).

20 on 13 Sept., twenty singles noted in casual observation during a big loop drive through e. Klickitat Co., scouting for the upcoming NAMC (DL, BH, SJ).

1 on 3 Oct., male, in dead treetops at the se. corner of Bingen Pond, at 10:50 (SJ).

17 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27 (CJF, SF).

6 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

7 on 5 Nov., six males, one unsexed, found along the 4 hour, 65 mile Hood River winter raptor survey route, Hood River Co., OR; rain began at 12:30 (CJF, SF).

4 on 11 Nov., noted while running the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

13 on 12 Nov., noted while running the s. Gilliam Co. raptor survey route (CK, PS); OBOL.

15 on 17 Nov., noted along the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23. Two female, 7 male and 6 sex unknown (TA, SJ).

Merlin –

1 on 25 Sept., flew by, along the Hood River waterfront, putting up shorebirds at the Hood R. mouth, at 09:45. It flew nw. out to and beyond the sandbar slivers, then circled briefly way out over the Columbia R. (where it was seen in direct comparison with a flock of crows: falcon was brown-dark brown, with a tinge of grey on the back, and it was conspicuously smaller than the crows) before returning s.sw. to the s. shore in the vicinity of the Luhr-Jensen plant, e. of the Event Site. At first I thought it was a peregrine! (SJ)

1 on 10 Oct., flying ne. over E. Humboldt St. between Cherry and Cedar streets in Bingen, continuing ne. over the nw. corner of BSI, heading upslope at the base of Burdoin Mountain, at mid-day (JA, SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 15 Nov., flew up to perch in a treetop near their house, along Bates Rd. (DG).

1 on 27 Nov., male, at Rivendell, a home along the Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Counts Rd. and opposite the Klickitat Wildlife Area, at ~15:45. The “first Merlin here at my place” (TA).

Gyrfalcon –

1 on 30 Sept., a light-phased bird, reported near Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood (Audubon Society of Portland weekly rare bird report, gleaned from OBOL (fide HN).

Peregrine Falcon –

1 on 16 Sept., the only one found for the Klickitat Co. Fall NAMC was observed in the Trout Lake sector (DS, KK).

1 on 5 Oct., adult, bathing alongside a sandbar sliver off The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth; then it run-hopped and fluttered a few m. to perch on a big branch washed up on the sandbar, where it proceeded to preen, 11:26 to 11:40. It had a tawny-buff wash over the breast (SJ).

1 on 5 Nov., along Alexander Rd., ~ 2 mi. n. of Parkdale: found during the 4 hour, 65 mile Hood River winter raptor survey route, Hood River Co., OR (CJF. SF).

2 on 26 Nov., pair perching atop the stt at the se. corner of the SDS timber stacks along the Bingen riverfront, at 13:11. Male atop peak of the tower, female on the ne. insulator arm. Earlier, about 12:25, saw one make an unsuccessful stoop—I think trying for a Varied Thrush—at the se. corner of the Remnant Wetland (just n.ne. of The Lunch Grove); it came from the w.sw., U-turned and headed back sw. toward the river. First became aware of this stoop when I heard a sudden loud rush of wings, looked up and there it was careening down just over my head, close enough to wonder that I didn’t feel the bird’s wake! Could easily see the pale tawny wash on falcon’s underparts. One bird was still perched on the ne. insulator arm at 14:57 (SJ).

1 on 28 Nov., perched up overhead on the Hood River toll bridge (DG).

Prairie Falcon –

1 on 13 Sept., divebombing an adult Red-tailed Hawk perched atop a big bush along Bickleton Hwy., ~2.4 mile to se. above the Rock Creek crossing, before mid-morning (DL, BH, SJ).

1 on 13 or 14 Sept., at Conboy Lake NWR (ML).

2 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27. One along hwy. 216 between MP 0 & MP 4 (= state park), and one along the Tygh Ridge Rd. – Old Tygh Rd. stretch (CJF, SF).

1 on 4 Nov., along the 5.5 hour, 76.5 mile Dufur area raptor survey route C, Wasco Co., OR (DLu, CC). Gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 11-12 Nov., noted while running the n. and the s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor survey routes, one falcon observed each day, each route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 17 Nov., along the almost-8-hour, 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route: one along Dehler Rd., 1.1 mi. e. of the jct. with Beacon Lane, at ~12:48, and one along Crites Rd. at the jct. with Fraser Rd., at 14:07, each on utility pole top or cross arm (TA, SJ).

hawk, sp. –

3 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27 (CJF, SF).

1 on 17 Nov., along the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23 (TA, SJ).

eagle, sp. –

1 on 4 Nov., along the 105 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor survey route B, Wasco Co., OR, from 10:05 to 16:27 (CJF, SF).

small falcon, sp. –

1 on 17 Nov., on utility pole s. above Rufus, along the 98.8 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor survey route, from 08:35 to 16:23. Probably a kestrel, but Merlin not ruled out (TA, SJ).

Virginia Rail –

1 on 26 Sept., calling both the “oinking” series of notes and a piercing, loud “skeew!” squeal, from the small island overgrown with Bidens cernua (Nodding Beggar Ticks) in a pond at the Sondino tract s. of Old Hwy 8, w. of Lyle, at ~11:20 (BH, SJ).

1 on 3 Oct., heard calling the “oinking” series of notes, along s. side of Bingen Pond, 10:45 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., heard calling “oinking” series, e. side of Bingen Pond, at 16:54 (SJ).

1 on 24 Nov., twice heard calling “oinking” series in the distance along the n. side of Bingen Pond; heard from my position along N. Harbour Dr. at the ne. corner of the pond, at 16:50 (SJ).

American Coot –

1 on 29 Aug., adult, quiet waters in the se. corner of Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, foraging with flock of Mallard, at 11:20. First returning fall migrant (SJ).

5 on 30 Aug., in Franz Lake, Skamania Co., WA (PW).

11 on 3 Sept., along the Bingen riverfront: one in Bingen’s marina (CJF, SF), and 10 on Bingen Pond, at 17:35 (SJ).

9 on 4 Sept., s. shore of Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, mid-morning; at least 2 are adults, others look like HY birds, some nearly identical to adults (SJ).

18 on 15 Sept., backwater at e. side of the vegetated sandbar on e. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at ~09:50. This is just off the w. shore of Lyle Point (BH, SJ).

9 on 15 Sept., at the n. end of Spearfish L., ne. of The Dalles Dam, at 11:30 (SJ).

148 on 2 Oct., in confluence waters at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at ~09:45 (SJ).

3 on 2 Oct., settling pond for the aluminum plant at ne. corner of Klindt Dr. and River Rd., The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR , at ~14:10 (SJ).

500 on 5 Oct., counted in Waucoma Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 14:20 (SJ).

115 on 25 Oct., off The Hook, Hood River waterfront, 17:50 to 18:20 (SJ).

1055 on 1 Nov., in big rafts (85, 95, 500 & 375) along the Bingen riverfront, from The Lunch Grove w. to the V Cove, from 17:00 to 17:10 (SJ).

415 on 3 Nov., along a portion of Bingen’s riverfront: 400 just e. of the marina’s mouth, at 15:25, and 14 to w. of the marina’s mouth and of the rock islet closeby there, at ~16:00 (SJ).

205 on 9 Nov., above The Dalles Dam: 65 at the n. end in Klickitat Co., 140 at the s. end in Wasco Co. (BMcK, SJ).

Sandhill Crane –

>1 on 24 Aug., heard-only, calling distant to s. of the manager’s house at Conboy Lake NWR headquarters, at ~10:20 (BMcK, SJ).

3 on 12 Sept., scoped in the distance to s. of the parking lot at Conboy Lake NWR headquarters, foraging together in grassland, at 12:18. May have been a pair with their adult-sized colt, apparently n. of Kreps Lane? (BMcK, SJ).

Semipalmated Plover –

1 on 5 Sept., on the small mudflat at the ne. shore of “billboard basin,” associating with 2 Killdeer, at 16:40. This basin is situated at the mouth of Threemile Creek and it’s at the e. end of the Riverfront Park nature trail in The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

Killdeer –

13 on 29 Aug., eight at The Spit and 5 at the WTP, along the Hood River waterfront (SJ).

14 on 25 Sept., at The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, mid- to late morning (SJ).

20 on 5 Oct., count 18 on The Spit, at 13:30, and 2 on the lawn at the Hood River WTP, at ~15:20, all along the Hood River waterfront (SJ).

30 on 9 Oct., stony ne. margin of The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, at 17:11 (SJ).

2 on 13 Nov., on the lawn at the Hood River WTP, at __:__. There is very little mud- and sandflat habitat available at the Hood R. mouth, due to very high water levels, so Killdeer may well have moved inland to avail themselves of the rain-soaked habitat provided by local pastures and fields. The big sandbar off The Spit is covered with much tree-debris washed downriver(SJ).

1 on 26 Nov., calling, in high flight over the vacant “industrial park” land between Bingen Pond and the marina, heading se., at 14:31. Perhaps on the move due to the first big snow of the winter in the uplands above the river valley; at least 1 ½ inches fell in Bingen last night (SJ).

Spotted Sandpiper –

2 on 25 Aug., along the n. shore of the Columbia R. at the St. Cloud Recr. Area, Skamania Co., WA (PG, CJF, SJ).

1 on 3 Sept., along the WA side of the Columbia R. in the Dallesport vicinity; noted before passing navigation marker 64 while enroute downriver from The Dalles to Bingen (CJF, SF).

“peep” –

15 on 29 Aug., foraging on distant sandbar sliver off The Spit, at the Hood River mouth; this flock may include the 2 Western and 6 Leasts seen closerby a bit later (SJ).

3 on 30 Aug., flush from the spit at w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, ~10:30 (SJ).

32 on 4 Sept., along e. shore of sandbars at the Hood River mouth; fifteen of this flock crossed over mouth to forage along the w. shore, nearer me, and I identified them as Westerns and Leasts; see below (SJ).

?? 1 on 7 Sept., heard-only, calls that sounded like a “peep” in flight over South Prairie pond, Skamania Co., WA, at ~10:40. Did not sound like a Spotted Sandpiper. Nonetheless, this I.D. is questionable (SJ).

Semipalmated Sandpiper –

1 on 4 Sept., foraging with 4 Leasts and a Western, on the stony mudbar just downstream from the pedestrian bridge crossing the Hood R. at the Hood River County Historical Museum, in late morning, ~11:05. Bill about same length as head with blunt tip, legs dusky-slate; no rust on scapulars; lower, more squat foraging posture—Western looks longer-legged. Re-encountered downriver a little further, on mudbar below the n. end of fire lane, e. side of the river, 11:10 (SJ).

Western Sandpiper –

2 on 29 Aug., HY, w. side of the Hood River mouth at The Spit, 08:30 (SJ).

4 on 4 Sept., at the Hood River mouth, The Spit, early-mid-morning (SJ).

Least Sandpiper –

6 on 29 Aug., HY birds, Hood River mouth at The Spit, 08:30 (SJ).

11 on 4 Sept., on The Spit at the Hood R. mouth, early-mid-morning (SJ).

1 on 15 Sept., calling, flew in to the sandspit at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at Lyle, at 08:46 (BH, SJ).

3 on 25 Sept., on The Spit at the Hood R. mouth, mid-morning (SJ).

1 on 26 Sept., sandbar at w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, with a Killdeer, at 15:45 (SJ).

2 on 5 Oct., on The Spit, along the w. side of the Hood River mouth, at 13:00 (SJ).

1 on 9 Oct., along the stony e-ne. margin of The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, loosely associated with 30 Killdeer and a Dunlin, at 17:11 (SJ).

Baird’s Sandpiper –

1 on 15 Sept., HY bird, foraging along the sandspit at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at Lyle, at 08:44 (BH, SJ).

Dunlin –

1 on 9 Oct., b.p., foraging at stony ne. margin of The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, with 30 Killdeer and a Least, at 17:11 (SJ).

1 on 25 Oct., b.p., same spot as 9 Oct. bird aforementioned, with loafing gulls, at ~13:30 (SJ).

4 on 30 Oct., b.p., foraging at the same spot as 9 Oct., at 16:30 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., b.p., foraging on sandflat at The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along with a couple Killdeer and 54 pipits, at ~13:00 (SJ).

Wilson’s Snipe –

2 on 26 Nov., one flushed from the nw. corner of the Remnant Wetland, at 12:34, and one was seen flying in big circles over the ne. shore of Bingen Pond, at 14:09, both along the Bingen riverfront. At least 1 ½ inches of snow fell last night in Bingen, the first of the winter (SJ).

Bonaparte’s Gull –

1 on 9 Sept., below McNary Dam, Umatilla Co., OR (JW). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 13 Sept., b.p. adult, loafing on rocks just offshore the n. side of the Columbia R., scoped from Roosevelt Ferry Rd., s. of the Roosevelt WTP, at 15:05. Associating with half a dozen Ring-billed and 83 California gulls, at 15:05 (BH, DL, SJ).

1 on 2 Oct., b.p. adult, along the n. shore of the Columbia R. at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at ~09:45 (SJ).

2 on 7 Oct., b.p. adults, along the n. shore of the Columbia R. at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at 17:45 (SJ).

1 on 8 Oct, b.p. adult, methodically fishing (aerially) along the n. side of The Hook, Hood River waterfront (JA).

2 on 21 Oct., b.p. adults, same spot as the two seen on 7 Oct. (see above) at 17:15 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., b.p. adult, out on the shore of an offshore sandbar at The Spit, Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront; later it was swimming out further to the ne., dipping frequently to pick “prey” from the water surface, like a phalarope (but no spinning). Observed on and off over the course of an hour—12:15 to 13:15 (SJ).

1 on 4 Nov., Columbia R. below Bonneville Dam, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK).

>15 on 9 Nov., on the Columbia R. below John Day Dam, Sherman Co., OR, at ~12:35. At least one, scoped with Celestron, was a HY bird (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 13 Nov., adult, at the mouth of Boat Works Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, loafing with a bunch of other gulls on small sand bars at the e. side of the mouth, at 14:55. Later saw it swimming way out in the Columbia R. to n. of the nw. corner of The Hook (SJ).

20 on 24 Nov., “…below Bonneville Dam (northmost dam),” Skamania Co., WA (AK, KK).

Heermann’s Gull –

1 on 14 Nov., adult in nonbreeding plumage, loafing with 50-60+ other gulls along the w. shore of the big sandbar on the e. side of the confluence channel at the Klickitat R. mouth. It was first noted at 13:10, at which point I jotted down the following field notes, scoping (22x wide angle) from the w. side of the channel, about 125 m. from the side lit bird; bright light, wan sun, no wind.

Overall, a sooty-slaty grey gull with a bright, blood red bill that has a black tip. Head, neck and underparts sooty grey. When head is held at certain angles, it looks like sides of head (auricular, eyeline and superciliary area) are slightly darker, but when facing toward the light, these areas look similar to rest of head; that said, nape, forehead and area on sides of neck below auricular look somewhat paler in certain light, possibly lighter than breast. White crescents conspicuous below and above eye. Mantle (back, scapulars and wing coverts) of standing bird slaty, conspicuously darker than head and underparts. Primaries very dark slaty, look blackish. Conspicuous wide white tips to secondaries form a vertical crescent on folded wing, between blackish primaries and the slaty mantle, plus there’s a conspicuous white spot higher up on the inner folded wing (scapular tip?). Cannot see tail well; it looks blackish. Legs black.

Bird looks dozey, so at 13:33 walk back up to the car and drive on up to see if Bob Hansen is able to come down for a look. We arrive at the rivermouth overlook at 14:00 and scope from there: gull’s still present. Walk out on the sandbar and again scope across the confluence channel. This time, when Heermann’s is standing closeby a Mew, note that the former looks equal to, or possibly slightly smaller than, size of the latter. Californias are definitely bulkier, larger. Attempts to digiscope gull failed. All at once, at 14:28, perhaps ¼ of the gulls suddenly flew up and off, including the Heermann’s. At this point I see that tail is black with conspicuous white tips to the rectrices. It flew sw. out toward the s. side of the river, possibly entering Wasco Co., OR, waters, and then headed downstream (BH, SJ).

Extremely gusty winds blew up the Columbia during the last storm, possibly delivering this coastal migrant to Klickitat Co. to become the second record; the first was a bird seen at Roosevelt about a decade ago.

Later in the afternoon, before completing an errand in Hood River, I stopped at both sides of the Hood R. mouth to check the gull flocks there for Heermann’s, but did not see one. Scanned flocks for half an hour, from 16:30 to 17:05, dusk (SJ).

Mew Gull –

1 on 26 Sept., adult, loafing with about 30 other gulls on the sandbar at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at 15:25 (SJ).

1 on 29 Oct., adult, loafing with 84 gulls at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 14:35 (SJ).

5 on 29 Oct., adults, loafing with 270 gulls on rocky islets below the w. side of The Dalles (hwy. 197) bridge over the Columbia R., Wasco Co., OR, at 16:30 (SJ).

4 on 3 Nov., adults, low water sandbar on the w. side of the Hood R. mouth, on The Spit, along the Hood River waterfront, at 12:40 (SJ).

2 on 4 Nov., an adult & a HY, atop the wall on s. side of the locks, upriver side of The Dalles Dam, Klickitat Co., WA, 14:40 to 15:30 (SJ).

8-12 on 13 Nov., along the Hood River waterfront: minimum number = 8, all counted on little sand bars at the e. side of the mouth of Boat Works Basin (one is a subadult bird), at 15:00. A little earlier, two adults were seen on the nearshore sandflat off the swim beach on the e. side of the Hood R. mouth, at 13:35, and 2 adults were foraging on the lawn e. of the Hood River Co. Historical Museum, with many ring-bills and several Californias, at 14:00 (SJ).

2 on 14 Nov., at least 2 at the Klickitat R. mouth, loafing with 50-60 gulls, at 13:10 (SJ), with at least one still present at 14:20 (BH, SJ).

4 on 14 Nov., on little sandbars at e. side of the mouth of Boat Works Basin at 16:30. Other/s were present at the s. shore of the sandbar island off The Spit, at the w. side of the Hood R. mouth, but I was intent on scanning for Heermann’s and losing light fast, so did not take the time to make a careful count. Yet more gulls on the sandbar island off the e. side of the rivermouth were too distant to pull out Mews. Altogether, there were 400 some gulls assembled at the Hood R. mouth by dusk.

5 on 21 Nov., one HY and 4 adults, on extensive mudflat at e.ne shore of Waucoma Basin along the Hood River waterfront, at 14:59. Very low water level exposed the mudflat; usually there is almost no mudflat here (SJ).

Ring-billed Gull –

29 on 29 Aug., including 3 HY birds, at The Spit (27) and on log raft off the Luhr Jensen plant (2), Hood River waterfront, ~09:30 to 10:00 (SJ).

2 on 30 Aug., adults, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:35 (SJ).

2 on 4 Sept., adult and HY, at the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, mid-morning (SJ).

4 on 5 Sept., at the Klickitat R. mouth, scoped from car window at the overlook, 17:40 (SJ).

2 on 10 Sept., adults, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at se. tip of the w. side sandspit, at 17:30 (SJ).

6 on 13 Sept., on rocks just offshore the n. side of the Columbia R., scoped from Roosevelt Ferry Rd., Roosevelt, at 15:05 (BH. DL, SJ).

2 on 15 Sept., adults, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 09:00 (BH, SJ).

4 on 2 Oct., adults, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:25 (SJ).

6 on 5 Oct., one a HY bird, loafing at the Hood R. mouth, at 17:30 (SJ).

1 on 7 Oct., adult, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 17:45 (SJ).

18 on 9 Oct., including 5 HY birds, loafing at e. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at 17:45 (SJ).

1 on 21 Oct., adult, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 17:15 (SJ).

30 on 25 Oct., including 2 HY, at the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, at ~13:30 (SJ).

5 on 29 Oct., including 1 HY & 1 SY, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 14:30 (SJ).

24 on 29 Oct., including 2 HY birds, on rocky islets below The Dalles (hwy. 197) bridge over the Columbia R., Wasco Co., OR, along with 254 other gulls, at 16:30 (SJ).

California Gull –

77 on 29 Aug., including 15 HY and 4 SY birds, at The Spit (72) and off the base of The Hook (5), Hood River waterfront, ~09:30 & ~11:20 (SJ).

63 on 30 Aug., including 2 HY and 12 SY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:35 (SJ).

52 on 4 Sept., including 11 HY, 1 SY birds, loafing on sandbar off e. side of the Hood R. mouth (43) and at e-ne. margin of sandbar on w. side of river mouth (9), at mid-morning (SJ).

35 on 5 Sept., at the Klickitat R. mouth, scoped from car window at the overlook, 17:40 (SJ).

35 on 10 Sept., including 4 HY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 17:30 (SJ).

83 on 13 Sept., on rocks just offshore the n. side of the Columbia R., scoped from Roosevelt Ferry Rd., Roosevelt, at 15:05 (BH, DL, SJ).

38 on 15 Sept., including at least 2 HY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 09:00 (BH, SJ).

44 on 2 Oct., including 7 HY and 2 SY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:25 (SJ).

34 on 5 Oct., including 2 HY, loafing at the Hood R. mouth, at 17:30 (SJ).

24 on 7 Oct., including at least 3 HY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, 17:45 (SJ).

42 on 9 Oct., including 2 HY, at the Hood R. mouth (e. side), Hood River waterfront, 17:45 (SJ).

26 on 25 Oct., no HY birds, at the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, at ~13:30 (SJ).

64 on 29 Oct., including 1 HY bird, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 14:30 (SJ).

230 on 29 Oct., including 3 HY, loafing on the rocky islets below the w. side of The Dalles (hwy. 197) bridge over the Columbia R., Wasco Co., OR, at 16:30 (SJ).

Thayer’s Gull –

1 on 4 Nov., adult, at the pier along the Stevenson waterfront, Skamania Co., WA (WOS field trip, KK); gleaned from Tweeters.

1 on 24 Nov., “one adult…below Bonneville Dam, [Skamania Co., WA] - may be the same bird I observed at Stevenson on Nov. 4” (AK, KK).

Herring Gull –

3 on 25 Oct., 2 adult, 1 HY, scoped on a sandbar at the e. side of the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, at ~13:30 (SJ).

1 on 3 Nov., adult, on The Spit, Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, 12:35 (SJ).

2 on 13 Nov., adults, on the nearshore sandflat just off the swim beach on the e. side of the Hood R. mouth, at 13:35 (SJ).

2 on 14 Nov., adults, at w. shore of the big sandbar on e. side of the confluence channel at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 13:20 (SJ).

2 on 21 Nov., adults, s.se. shore of the island off The Spit, at the Hood R. mouth, at 15:20 (SJ).

Western Gull –

1 on 10 Sept., SY bird?, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at se. tip of the w. side sandspit, at 17:30. It may be a 1^st winter bird (SJ).

2 on 2 Oct., HY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, w. side sandbar, loafing with gull flock, at 10:25. It is possible that they might be Herring Gulls?? (SJ).

1 on 9 Oct., HY bird, at e. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at 17:45. Might be a Herring?? (SJ).

Glaucous-winged Gull –

1 on 29 Aug., loafing at The Spit, Hood River waterfront, ~09:30 (SJ).

2 on 30 Aug., adults, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:35 (SJ).

3 or 4 on 4 Sept., loafing with Calif. and Ring-billed gulls at the Hood R. mouth, ~ 09:45 (SJ).

>1 on 5 Sept., at the Klickitat R. mouth, scoped from car window at the overlook, at 17:40 (SJ).

1 on 10 Sept., HY bird flying off to sw. from Klickitat R. mouth, at ~17:10 (SJ).

2 on 15 Sept., adults, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 09:00 (BH, SJ).

20 on 5 Oct., loafing at the Hood R. mouth, at 17:30. Some are undoubtedly hybrids (SJ).

13 on 7 Oct., including some hybrids, loafing at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 17:45 (SJ).

19 on 9 Oct., loafing at the Hood R. mouth, at 17:45. All but 4 are out on distant sandbar sliver, scoped; the 4 are on the e. side with the smaller gulls (SJ).

23 on 25 Oct., including hybrids, at the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, 13:30 (SJ).

13 on 29 Oct., including hybrids, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 14:30 (SJ).

17 on 29 Oct., including hybrids, rocky islets and shelf below The Dalles (hwy.197) bridge over the Columbia R., Wasco Co., OR, at 16:15 (SJ).

42 on 30 Oct., including hybrids, at the Hood R. mouth, at 16:30 (SJ).

Caspian Tern –

2 on 29 Aug., adult & HY, at The Spit, Hood River waterfront, 09:30 (SJ).

4 on 30 Aug., two adults tending two HY birds, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 10:30. The latter are not siblings; one has vivid markings on the mantle and short wings, while the other has more faded markings on the mantle and it’s wings are equal in length to the adults, a more mature HY bird (SJ).

1 on 3 Sept., seen in flight along the Mosier riverfront, Wasco Co., OR, while boating on the Columbia R. (CJF, SF).

1 on 4 Sept., alternate plumage adult, loafing at the Hood River mouth, mid-morning (SJ).

1 on 5 Sept., heard-only, calling in flight along the MP 79 stretch of I-84, possibly over the lake on the s. side of the hwy.; heard twice in the course of the morning. This is >2 mi. e.se. of Rowena, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

Common Tern –

19 on 9 Sept., below