1 March through 31 May, 2006

A co-operative project of The Larks

and other bird observers

in the Gorge

Abbreviations and Acronyms:

ABW – Audubon Birding Weekend, sponsored by the Audubon Society of Portland

BBA – Breeding Bird Atlas

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

D.O.R. – dead on the road

GPNF – Gifford Pinchot National Forest

IBA – Important Bird Area

KTC – Klickitat Trail Conservancy

L. – Lake

NAMC – North American Migration Count

NAP – Natural Area Preserve

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

Tweeters – Washington bird chat online

VAS – Vancouver Audubon Society

WMA – Wildlife Management Area

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 in 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 and e. Multnomah Co. in OR and all of Skamania and Klickitat counties and se. Clark and sw. Benton counties in WA.

Updated 31 May ‘06

Greater White-fronted Goose –

4 on 11 Mar., at the Skamania Co. fairgrounds, Rock Cove, Stevenson, WA (MB, KK).

2 on 18 Mar., at Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA, at the edge of a large flock of Cackling Geese (WC leading VAS field trip).

1 on 18 Mar., at Rock Cove, Stevenson, Skamania Co., WA, “…the resident Greater White-fronted Goose walked right up to us” (WC leading VAS field trip).

Snow Goose –

5 on 10 Mar., at Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA, late in the day (MB, KK).

Cackling Goose –

8 on 8 Mar., accompanying 200 Canadas at the Tidyman Rd. wetlands in the Dallesport area; the ones that may be Cackling Geese had breasts more or less the same dark grey-brown colour as their mantles, had stubby bills, and shortish necks, plus their body bulk was <1/3 that of the other Canadas. I would not say that their breasts were darker than their mantles. One was seen flying off to n. with two “normal-sized” Canadas, at ~12:50 (SJ).

Many on 11 Mar., “…and tons of geese, with a big percentage being Cackling,” at the Whitcomb Is. unit of Umatilla NWR, Benton Co., WA, in the afternoon (MB, KK).

Large flock on 18 Mar., at Steigerwald Lake NWR (WC leading VAS field trip).

Canada Goose –

~20 on 26 Mar., “flying w-nw. down the Columbia Gorge at high elevation. First time I have seen geese flying at high elevation for months. They were not so much in a vee, more like one leg of the vee...” (BH).

4 on 3 Apr., two pair at Laurance L., 5.3 mi. sw. of Parkdale, Hood River Co., OR, elev.______; one pair, at the Clear Branch / inlet end of the reservoir, called a lot as we approached over the water in kayak & canoe (KW, BH, SJ).

6 on 23 Apr., three pair on sand flats at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, one pair shepherding 19 small goslings, the first I’ve seen this season, at 10:15. Goslings look to be several days old, some slightly larger than others (SJ).

6 on 19 May, loafing on mudflats at Glenwood Millpond, at 15:10. The dam is out, so water is confined to Outlet Creek running through, along with several small “ponds.” (SJ).

1 on 5 Mar., on the main pond at the Steigerwald Lake NWR, near Washougal, Clark Co, WA. “I saw the bird at 12:30 as I headed w. to Vancouver…and the swan was still there when I drove back at 16:30. It is best seen by parking along the shoulder of hwy. 14 at approx. MP 18. You may have to go east a few hundred feet to gain elevation to see over the Reed-canary Grass if the bird is close to shore” (WC); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 10 Mar. & 11 Mar., at Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA, late in the day & early in the morning, respectively (MB, KK).

1 on 11 Mar., again at Steigerwald Lake NWR near Washougal, Clark Co., WA. “I was there with a group of volunteers doing habitat restoration at 09:00 when it flew in from the west and landed in the easternmost body of water. It was still there when I went past the refuge again at around 15:00. You might be able to see it best by driving past the refuge and looking down on that pond from the shoulder of hwy. 14, if you can find a spot where you can see through the oak forest” (WC). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 18 Mar., Steigerwald Lake NWR: “…while parked there we could barely see the Mute Swan in the pond at the east end of the refuge, but without any identifying details. When 4 Tundra Swans flew over, it lifted up and after a circle over the refuge, returned to the east pond. We drove 2 miles e. on Highway 14 to MP 20, where we could look down on the bird from the shoulder, giving everyone great scope views” (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

1 on 8 & 9 Apr., “The Mute Swan at Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA, continues to be most consistently found in the east pond. It was present on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon, [8 & 9 Apr.]” (WC); from Tweeters.

1 on 16 May, “…at Steigerwald Lake NWR [the Mute Swan] continues to be seen in the eastern pond. It looks like the classification of this bird may soon become "resident" rather than "rare" for Clark County” (WC); from OBOL.

Tundra Swan –

4 on 18 Mar., flew over Steigerwald Lake NWR in the a.m. (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

2 on 29 Apr., Crofton Prairie, on vernal pond along Glenwood Hwy., ¼ mi. n. of the jct. with hwy. 142 (TA).

2 on 10 May, near the mouth of the Hood R., at ~15:00 (TA).

1 or 2 on 13 May, at Bingen Pond (JA).

~6 on 13 May, at the Klickitat R. mouth (JA).

Wood Duck –

Several on 18 Mar., at Franz Lake, Skamania Co., WA (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

2 on 24 Mar., “on and over Balch Lake. First seen for months, if not longer” (BH).

2 on 10 Apr., pair, on the pond along Ferguson Rd., in a side draw of Luna Gulch, found during the spring raptor survey of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 10:27 (SJ).

2 on 12 Apr., pair, foraging in duckweed on the inlet ditch at ne. corner of Bingen Pond, at 17:53 (SJ).

3 on 13 Apr., pair + one drake, on Balch L., at ~14:30. None wintered there (BMcK, SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River County NAMC (CK, PS).

~10 on 19 May, flushed at Glenwood Millpond, late afternoon (SJ).

Gadwall –

16 on 1 Mar., flushed from vernal wetland nw. of the corner F St. & 3^rd Ave. in Dallesport, flew off to the nw. toward the Columbia R. and the cooling pond along The Dalles riverfront, where 50 were counted later on (SJ).

50 on 1 Mar., on the cooling pond at the ne. corner of River Rd. and Klindt Dr. along The Dalles riverfront, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

29 on 28 Mar., along the n. shore of Bingen Pond, at ~17:40 (SJ).

24 on 20 Apr., on Bingen Pond, mostly along the n. shore, at 13:55 (SJ).

3 on 23 Apr., hen & 2 drakes, loafing on sandbar at nw. edge of The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~10:15, along with a pair of shovelers. At 11:30 re-encounter this trio loafing out in the river further downstream, out from base of The Hook; suspect these might be migrants, by their choice of habitat (SJ).

>3 on 19 May, at least 3 (one pair and a drake), at Glenwood Millpond, in the afternoon (SJ).

2 on 31 May, pair, on the backwater at the mouth of Pine Creek, n. side of hwy. 14 (SJ).

Eurasian Wigeon –

1 on 11 Mar., at the Whitcomb Is. unit of Umatilla NWR, Benton Co., WA, in the afternoon (MB, KK).

Am. Wigeon –

5 on 13 Mar., on Hewett L. with Ring-necked Ducks, 17:03 to 17:05 (SJ).

4 on 14 Mar., n. shore of Columbia R. at Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery, Skamania Co., WA (BMcK, SJ).

11 on 28 Mar., along the n. shore of Bingen Pond, at 17:45 (SJ).

3 on 1 Apr., flushed from the Tidyman Rd. Wetlands, e-ne. of Dallesport (KK, SJ).

1 on 2 Apr., drake, with Ring-necks at nw. corner of Rowland L., at ~12:50 (SJ).

1 on 11 Apr., drake, again with Ring-necks and Lesser Scaup along the n. shore of Rowland L., near the nw. corner, at 17:45 (SJ). Same drake still present there on 13 Apr., at ~13:30 (SJ).

1 on 20 Apr., female plumaged bird, along the n. shore of Bingen Pond (SJ).

4 on 3 Apr., two pair at Laurance L., 5.3 mi. sw. of Parkdale, Hood River Co., OR, elev. ____ft.; the reservoir is ice-free (KW, BH, SJ).

2 on 10 Apr., pair, on Luna Gulch creek (high water level now), just downstream from the Oak Flat Rd. bridge, at the n. boundary of the Columbia Hills IBA, 13:35 (SJ).

7 on 19 May, at the Timber Valley pond along Canyon Rd.: 5 drakes on the s. shore, at least 2 hens with broods. One hen shepherds at least 10 downy ducklings, another has several much older young (she flushed from forest underbrush just se. of the shore, whereupon 2 of her young ran upslope in the w. roadside ditch, going away from the pond) (SJ).

2 on 15 Apr., pair, along n. shore of sandflats, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront: first of the season (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 or 2 on 19 May, drake/s, at Glenwood Millpond, mid- to late afternoon (SJ).

3 on 15 Apr., fly by over The Spit, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, going nw. (SB, CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education fielf trip).

N. Shoveler –

~15 on 1 Mar., flushed from a vernal wetland nw. of the corner of F St. & 3^rd Ave. in Dallesport, flew off to the nw.; possibly the following observation of 23 along The Dalles riverfront includes some of these same individuals (SJ).

23 on 1 Mar., loafing on islet in the cooling pond on the ne. corner of River Rd. and Klindt Dr. in the industrial park along The Dalles riverfront, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

2 on 23 Apr., pair, loafing at nw. margin of sandbar, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, at 10:15, along with a trio of Gadwall; apparent migrants (SJ).

N. Pintail –

3 on 1 Mar., females, vernal wetland in Dallesport, nw. of the corner of F St. and 3^rd Ave. (SJ).

5 on 1 Apr., flushed from the Tidyman Rd. Wetlands, e-ne. of Dallesport (KK, SJ).

Green-winged Teal –

2 on 13 Mar., pair, on Bingen Pond, at 17:45, the only ducks present other than 3 female Bufflehead and a drake Mallard; at least 2 pair present on the pond at 17:45 on 28 Mar. (SJ).

4 on 20 Apr., two pair, flush from emergent cattails along s. shore of Bingen Pond (SJ).

4 on 20 Apr., two pair, flushed from the “drillhole” pond in basalt rocky uplands, a little se. of lower Dalles Mountain Rd., on the s. slope of the Columbia Hills (TA, et al).

1 on 19 May, drake, scoped loafing at n. end of Glenwood Millpond, from the inlet (s.) end, at 15:10 (SJ).

Canvasback –

1 on 13 Mar., female, just off the w. side sandbar at the mouth of the Klickitat R., at ~11:45 (SJ).

2 on 18 Mar., pair, at Franz Lake, Skamania Co., WA (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

Ring-necked Duck –

38 on 13 Mar., on Hewett L., MP 73 along hwy 14: There are 14 on the n. side and 24 on the s. side of the hwy.; all flush, fly out to the Columbia R., at 14:22. When I walk by Hewett L. again, on my return, similar numbers once more fly off, all but 3 from the s. of the hwy., at 17:05 (SJ).

6 on 24 Mar., on and over Balch L. (BH).

9 on 28 Mar., one pair diving with scaup just e. of the V Cove & 7 on nearby Bingen Pond, ~17:40 to 17:57 (SJ).

12 on 1 Apr., at the Tidyman Rd. Wetlands, e-ne. of Dallesport (KK, SJ).

23 on 2 Apr., six hens, 17drakes, at w. end of Rowland L., n. side of hwy. 14, at ~12:50 (SJ).

11 on 11 Apr., at the n. shore of Rowland L., near the nw. corner, at 17:45 (SJ).

8 on 12 Apr., five drakes, 3 hens, on Bingen Pond, at 17:30 (SJ).

7 on 15 Apr., along the Hood River waterfront, four on the Columbia R. off the base of The Hook, and 2 hens & a drake on Boat Works Basin a little earlier (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

6 on 20 Apr., four drakes, 2 hens, on Bingen Pond, at ~13:00 (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 19 May, pair, flew in to a streamside pond at the w. side of Lakeside Rd., just upstream from the Outlet Creek bridge, at Conboy Lake NWR (SJ).

5 on 28 Mar., two female, 3 male, diving with a drake Lesser and two ring-necks, along the Bingen riverfront just e. of the V Cove, at 17:57. During winter and early spring Greaters are usually far outnumbered by Lessers here (SJ).

1 on 12 Apr., drake, n. side of the Columbia R. between the V Cove and the binstacks along the Bingen riverfront, at 17:40. A female scaup, sp. was seen in this area too (SJ).

3 on 20 Apr., full plumaged drake and 2 hens, close in to n. shore of the Columbia R. between the V Cove spit and the w. most dolphins, s-sw. of the binstacks along Shore Dr., on the Bingen riverfront, 12:15 to 15:35 (SJ).

2 on 10 Apr., on the pond along Ferguson Rd., in a side draw of Luna Gulch, found during the spring raptor survey of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 10:27 (SJ).

15 on 11 Apr., n. shore near the nw. corner of Rowland L., at 17:45 (SJ).

7 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

7 on 15 Apr., one drake with 6 hens, off w. end of The Hook, Hood River waterfront (DM, CD, SJ: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

2 on 16 Apr., pair, at the w. end of Locke L., s. side of hwy. 14, at ~17:45 (SJ).

1 on 31 May, drake, out to sw. from the in lieu site beside Roosevelt Park; scoped…head shape suggests Greater, but duck is just a bit too far out for certain ID with my scope (SJ).

6 on 28 Mar., one male, 2 female, just e. of the V Cove along the Bingen riverfront and 3 female on Bingen Pond, ~17:37 to 17:57 (SJ).

15 on 4 Apr., diving w-sw. of the Northwestern Lake Rd. bridge, at the e-ne. end of the reservoir, Skamania Co., WA, at ~09:55 (SJ).

1 on 12 Apr., female plumage, diving along w. side of Bingen Pond, at 17:30 (SJ)

18 on 15 Apr., along the Hood River waterfront: 6 on the Columbia R. n. of the base of The Hook and 12 on Waucoma Basin (Hood River Co. community education field trip, DM,CD, SJ).

4 on 20 Apr., one pr. on the Columbia R., n. shore, just e. of the V Cove spit, and one pair on Bingen Pond, along the Bingen riverfront in late a.m. and early p.m. (SJ).

2 on 23 Apr., hen & drake, diving off se. shore of Wells Is., Hood River waterfront, ~11:45 (SJ).

Com. Goldeneye –

1 on 3 Mar., SY male, gaining the round white spot on face (spot not very evident earlier in the winter), on the ever-shrinking Lake Will-be-gone along Bates Rd. (DG).

>20 on 18 Mar., off Wind Mountain, Skamania Co., WA: “Our last stop was…near Home Valley, where there was a large flock of Greater and Lesser scaup in the Columbia R. that contained a group of over twenty Common Goldeneye and two Western Grebe” (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

Barrow’s Goldeneye –

4 on 18 Mar., “A check of the wind-protected Drano L., at the mouth of the Little White Salmon R., produced a couple pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye and numerous Horned Grebe” (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

Hooded Merganser –

10 on 1 Mar., cooling pond at ne. corner of River Rd. and Klindt Dr. in the industrial park along The Dalles riverfront, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

2 on 2 Mar., females, on a small vernal pond in oak-pine savannah at 18 McConiga Rd., nw. of Lyle. Subsequent occurences include 1 female there on 3 Mar., 4 females on 15 Mar. and 3 females on 16 Mar. and again on 27 Mar. (BH).

4 on 22 Mar., two pair on Lake Will-be-gone, on the n. side of Bates Rd. (DG).

2 on 1 Apr., pair, on ditched creek in Conboy Lake NWR, just s. of the Kreps Lane bridge and immediately e. of the confluence of Chapman and Holmes creeks (KK, SJ).

1 on 2 Apr., displaying drake, “…happened upon a male Hooded Merganser at the Trout Creek "downed bridge" former crossing [in the Trout Lake Marsh NAP]. That was the closest I'd ever been to one displaying, appreciating well his ‘low, purring croak, descending and slowing pah-hwaaaaaa’, that description according to David Allen Sibley…”(PM).

6 on 31 Mar., two drakes, 4 hens, on Timber Valley Pond, along Canon Rd., 2 mi. n. of Appleton, at 16:20 (SJ).

2 on 8 Apr., pair, flush from Swale Creek to e. of the Harms Rd. bridge, seen from the Klickitat Trail (SJ).

Com. Merganser –

58 on 13 Mar., most of these (51) counted at the confluence of the Klickitat and Columbia rivers, off the w. side sandbar, at ~11:45. Also note 7 on the n. side of Memaloose Is., further w., at ~15:40 (SJ).

18 on 19 Mar., one pair flying downriver, the rest loafing along the Klickitat R. in twos and fours, from the confluence with the Little Klickitat R. downstream to just beyond the Horseshoe Bend Rd. bridge at Wahkiacus, 15:25 to 17:00. This was not an exhaustive survey; it included only those noticed while driving along hwy 142 and while walking along the Haul Rd. (SJ).

120 on 2 Apr., at the Klickitat R. mouth, some diving, some loafing on sandbars, 13:35 to 14:10 (SJ).

9 on 4 Apr., four hens, 5 drakes, loafing and jousting on gravel bar and in the adjacent shallows at the mouth of Buck Creek; viewed from the Northwestern Lake Rd. bridge, 09:48 & 09:59 (SJ).

15 on 8 Apr., at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at 10:05 (BR, SJ).

63 on 11 Apr., at the Klickitat R. mouth, Lyle, at 16:30 (SJ).

4 on 23 May, drake & 3 hens, loafing on a log lodged in shallow waters at the Hood R. mouth (very high water levels now), at 17:40 (SJ).

1 on 29 Mar., crosses Dot Rd. at the s. end of Old Lady Canon, 1.4 mi. n. of jct. with Old Hwy. 8 (TA, SJ).

14 on 1 Apr., “We found 14 Chukars at many locations” while surveying the n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 1 Apr., along Sixprong Rd. 0.2 mi. e. of the jct. with Sand Ridge Rd., <2 mi. sw. of Alderdale, at ~08:20 (KK, SJ).

2 on 2 Apr., along Newell Rd., in Klickitat Co., to e. of Rock Creek (CJF, SF).

2 on 10 Apr., along Hoctor Rd., 1.6 mi. nw. of the jct. with Old Hwy 8, Goodnoe Station Rd. & Chamberlain-Goodnoe Rd., at the e. end of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 16:12 (SJ).

> 1 on 15 or 16 Apr., along Cedar Springs Rd., sw. of Arlington, Gilliam Co., OR (PS and ABW participants); gleaned from OBOL.

Grey Partridge –

2 on 11 Mar., somewhere in eastern Klickitat Co. (MB, KK).

Ring-necked Pheasant –

4 on 1 Mar., along 3^rd Ave. in Dallesport (SJ).

1 on 4 Apr., cock, along NW Loop Rd. 100 m. east of the jct. with hwy 141, White Salmon, at ~09:38 (SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., cock, heard crowing across the draw along Hoctor Rd., 0.44 mi. nw. of the jct. with Old Hwy 8, Goodnoe Station Rd. & Chamberlain-Goodnoe Rd., at the e. end of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 16:20 (SJ).

2 on 31 Mar., one flushed at Timber Valley Pond, along Canon Rd. 2 mi. north of Appleton, at 16:35, and another was heard drumming along Klickitat – Appleton Rd., 0.15 mi. e. of jct. with Canon Rd., at ~16:55. Earlier, along forest road H-1800, a short distance upstream from jct. with Bill Moore Rd., found a pile of Ruffed Grouse droppings at the side of the road; riparian here includes fir/Doug fir saplings, hazelnut, alders and elderberry (SJ).

2 on 11 Apr., one drumming, heard 4 times from 11:35 to 11:47 and another flushed along trail in the Dozier tract, at 12:23, two separate spots off Fordyce Rd., sw. of Husum (SJ).

1 on 13 Apr., heard-only, drumming along Courtney Rd., 3.3 miles upslope from the jct. with hwy 14, on the se. slope of Burdoin Mountain, at 12:40 (BMcK, SJ).

Wild Turkey –

1+ on 3 Mar., “…yesterday [3 Mar.] I spotted a tom turkey strutting for a large group of hens on the property next door” (TA). This is along Glenwood Hwy in the vicinity of the jct. with Canon Creek Rd., adjacent the Klickitat Wildlife Area.

11 on 4 Mar., “we also saw 11 turkeys (7 males strutting their tail feathers with 4 female/imm? - no coloration in head) at the county park [along hwy. 142, n. of Lyle]” (CJF, SF).

2 on 29 Mar., tom displaying to hen, along Rock Creek Rd. in riparian 0.9 mi. s. of jct. with Newell Rd., at the e. end of the Columbia Hills IBA (TA, SJ).

15 on 31 Mar., “…trying to cross a very busy Hwy 26 near the junction with the Simnasho Hwy in Wasco Co. One bird actually flew across the road just missing the semi truck in front of me. The others were standing next to the road trying to get up the courage to cross. It's probable that some did not make it” (CG). Gleaned from OBOL.

9 on 31 Mar., along Bill Moore Rd., 2.2 mi. ne. of Snowden, at ~16:06 (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., “At mid-morning there was a Com. Loon in the Columbia R. near the grain elevator at Arlington, [Gilliam Co., OR,]” (RG, FS); from OBOL.

1 on 15 or 16 Apr., “…below the overlook on I-84 just west of Arlington. This bird has been around for some time, but it was a first sighting for me in Gilliam Co.” (PS & ABW participants); from OBOL.

Pied-billed Grebe –

1 on 1 Mar., on a shallow, vernal wetland in Dallesport, nw. of the corner of F St. and 3^rd Ave., accompanying a flock of puddle ducks. It has the black-ringed, chalky-white bill of a breeding-plumaged bird (SJ).

1 on 8 Mar., on the small pond wedged between hwy. 14, the RR tracks and 10^th St. at the e. edge of Lyle; this is an unlikely breeding site (SJ).

1 on 13 Mar., on Hewett L., on n. side of hwy. 14, probably not a breeding site as water levels here fluctuate quite a bit; grebe has black ring on pale bill—i.e., coming into breeding condition (SJ).

1 on 27 Mar., loafing with bill tucked into its breast, on Boat Works Basin along the Hood River waterfront (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., “At mid-afternoon there was a Horned Grebe in the [Columbia] river at Rufus, [Sherman Co., OR,]. It had almost completed the molt into breeding plumage” (RG, FS); from OBOL.

3 on 31 May, in alternate plumage, diving close to shore on the n. side of the Columbia R., just e. of Roosevelt Park (SJ).

Western Grebe –

76 on 13 Mar., on the Columbia R.: 52 w. of the Klickitat R. mouth at 12:10, and 24 to n.-ne. of Memaloose Is., loafing with 34 scaup, ~12:40 (SJ).

10 on 8 Apr., near the n. shore of the Columbia R., to n. of Memaloose Is., at ~10:20 (SJ).

38 on 13 Apr., loafing just downriver from the Klickitat R. mouth, and out from the RR tracks along the s. side of Chamberlain L., at ~15:00 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 23 Apr., out in the Columbia R. off the Hood River waterfront: out from base of The Hook, at 11:30 (SJ).

1 on 10 May, near the mouth of the Hood R., at ~15:00 (TA).

2 on 17 & 18 May, at Steigerwald Lake NWR, Clark Co., WA: evening of the 17^th (CKo); and 06:30 in the morning on the 18th (WC); gleaned from Tweeters.

11 on 21 May, flock circling in thermals over the Klickitat R. mouth at Lyle; pelicans have been around for the preceding 5 days, roughly (PE).

2 on <24 May: “Two White Pelicans continue to be seen at Steigerwald NWR near Washougal” (fide HN); gleaned from the weekly Audubon Society of Portland RBA, posted to OBOL on 25 May.

Double-crested Cormorant –

2 on 6 Mar., adults, loafing on sandbar at mouth of the Deschutes R., s. side of hwy. 30 bridge, Wasco/Sherman Co., OR, at 10:30 (SJ).

~ 25 on 4 or 5 Apr., flying n. – s. over hwy 14 at the Klickitat R. mouth, heading out toward the confluence with the Columbia R. (BH).

~ 35 on 6 Apr., flying e. – w. over the s. part of Rowland L., seen from hwy 14 along the stretch that bisects the lake (BH).

~ 65 on 8 Apr., loafing on the bole and branches of a snag marooned in shallow water at the confluence of the Klickitat and Columbia rivers, at Lyle at ~10:05 (BR, SJ).

107 on 11 Apr., in the Klickitat R. channel s. of hwy. 14 and the RR tracks, at the confluence with the Columbia River at Lyle, at 16:20….38 in a raft on the water and 69 loafing on the same snag as 8 Apr.; at 16:36 all the cormorants on the snag suddenly flew off, dispersed, but the raft on the water remained. Many showed conspicuous breeding plumage head tufts, and, of the 33 rafted birds, only 2 were SY. These large numbers are a recent development as nowhere near this many were present at this site in the winter (SJ).

12 on 15 Apr., flybys along the Hood River waterfront, mid-morning (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 on 20 Apr., SY bird, on Bingen Pond; none on the dolphins between the bin stacks and the V Cove spit, where several regularly loafed all winter along the Bingen riverfront (SJ).

1 on 26 May, adult, loafing on w. most dolphin along the Bingen riverfront (Shore Drive), just e. of the V Cove spit; shows one white plume on R. side of its head (SJ).

3 on 31 May, on the backwater at the mouth of Rock Creek: 2 obvious SY birds, age of other ? Seen from moving vehicle (SJ).

Great Blue Heron –

2 on 6 Mar., one in apparent breeding plumage, perched atop big alders on island in the Deschutes R., at rapids just upstream from the stt powerline crossing, near the mouth, at ~11:55, and the 2^nd standing on the rangeland slope between the w. riverbank and the RR tracks, just n. of “Moody” sign, Wasco Co., OR, at 12:10 (SJ).

6 on 11 Mar., rookery at the w. end of White River SP, Wasco Co., OR: five standing in nests or on branches adjacent to nests, and one fly over (CJF, SF).

17 on 13 Mar., on Memaloose Is., the main island, scoped from the heights above the mouth of Major Creek: there are several nests on the high part of the island where a pair stood together in one nest sited atop bushes, low brush. It looks like there are at least 6 or 7 nests visible from this spot, each with an adult heron on the nest. Six herons were loafing on lower parts of the island , at ~16:00. This rookery, in Wasco Co., OR, is new to me (SJ).

10-12 on 8 Apr., adults, on nests on Memaloose Is., Wasco Co., OR, at ~10:20. Several birds were sitting low in the nests, either incubating or brooding small young. Four herons were flying, fairly high up, in the immediate vicinity of the rookery as we arrived at the viewpoint on the n. side of the Columbia R. (BR, KGo, SJ).

1 on 31 May, adult, on the backwater at the mouth of Chapman Creek, at Sundale (SJ).

1 on ~3 May, along Mosier Creek, at Mosier, Wasco Co., OR (JA).

Black-crowned Night-Heron –

2 on 27 Mar., imm. birds, roosting in alders at Boat Works Basin along the Hood River waterfront; no adults present. These may well be two that wintered at this site. One has a light grey-brown, unmarked back, the other white streaks on its back; both have white spots on their wings (SJ).

1 on 15 Apr., imm. bird, again roosting in alders at Boat Works Basin along the Hood River waterfront (Hood River Co. community education field trip, CD, SJ, et al).

0 on 23 Apr., in usual roosting spot (all winter) along the shores of Boat Works Basin, Hood River waterfront, at 11:16. Looked along both ne. and sw. shores (SJ).

2 on 31 May, in flight n. over the treetops along Rock Creek, about an hour apart; seen from the un-named Corps of Engineers park at the mouth of Rock Creek, at about 09:30 and 10:30. The first was was kind of washed-out looking, but not closely observed; the second was seen flying away from me at a distance (SJ).

Turkey Vulture –

1 on 4 Mar., circle-soaring ne. of the jct. of Old Hwy 8 and Bigger Rd. (CJF, SF); this is nw. of Lyle…and is the first record of the spring for the Gorge.

1 on 13 Mar., flying w. to e. just n. of Hewett L., circling for a bit to n.-ne. of the lake, then continuing on to the east, heading toward Lyle, from 14:54 to ~14:58 (SJ).

1 on 17 & 18 Mar., seen from Eyrie Rd., White Salmon (KG). “Got another close look at a Turkey Vulture just overhead here today [20 Mar.] too” (KG).

7 on 18 Mar., vicinity of the Balch Rd. loop: “We checked Balch Rd. for the Acorn Woodpeckers without any luck, although at least 7 Turkey Vultures cruised low over the oak forest” (WC leading VAS field trip). Tweeters.

1 on 19 Mar., “low fly-over [at a] White Salmon house at 12:00” (CJF).

2 on 19 Mar., circling over hwy 14 above the w. end of Chamberlain L., at ~14:50 (SJ).

3 on 20 Mar., in flight over 18 McConiga Rd., oak – pine savannah just n. of, and above, the w. end of Chamberlain L. (BH).

1 on 20 Mar., dropped to the ground and out of sight in hayfield stubble s. of Highland Orchard Rd., ~4 mi. w. of Underwood via Cook – Underwood Rd., Skamania Co., WA (SJ).

3 on 21 Mar., two in flight over Tom McCall Preserve “and a 3^rd fly-over a few mi. w. near Memaloose, 0.2 mi. e. of Marsh Cut-off Rd. on Old Columbia Hwy 30,” Wasco Co., OR (CJF).

1 on 22 Mar., in flight over property along Glenwood Hwy. opposite the Klickitat Wildlife Area, in the vicinity of the jct. with Canon Creek Rd., first of the season there--other than a probable TV glimpsed there a couple days earlier, moments before it dropped out of view (TA).

1 on 24 Mar., “observed coasting around the basalt cliff face on the north side of the road (hwy. 14) opposite side from and about 500m. nw. of Horsethief Butte, at ~13:25” (DL).

2 on 24 Mar., one along Old Hwy 30, 2 mi. e. of Biggs Jct., and one along Locust Grove Ln. between Mud Hollow and hwy 206; found during survey of the 115 mile n. Sherman Co. raptor route (DG, TA, SJ).

1 on 29 Mar., flying nw. just upslope to ne. from hwy. 14, about 0.5 mi. nw. of the mouth of Sand Spring Canon and from the jct. with Goodnoe Station Rd., at ~14:45 (TA, SJ).

3 on 1 Apr., flybys along hwy. 14, the first at MP 75 at Chamberlain L., w. of Lyle, at ~06:10; then 2 more further e. above Wishram (KK, SJ).

5 on 8 Apr., sail over BSI, Bingen, at 13:05, moving sw. to w. (SJ).

7 on 12 Apr., one in low flight over hwy. 14 at the jct. with Alt. 14, and 6 more ~100 m. further e., also in flight over hwy. 14, heading w.; this is at or near the mouth of the White Salmon R., at ~15:05 (SJ).

On the 15-16 Apr., ABW field trip along the central Columbia R. in OR (from McNary Dam downstrea to the Deschutes R.), Turkey Vultures were found “only below Biggs” (PS).

17 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 24 Mar., on dolphins off The Lunch Grove along the Bingen riverfront, where a pair have nested for at least the last several years (BMcK). This pair was seen in the same area again on 28 Mar. (CJF, SF; SJ).

1 on 27 Mar., at nest on a utility pole along the RR tracks at the e. end of Locke L., at ~17:25 (BH).

2 on 31 Mar., one at the Locke L. nest with mate flying nearby within ~100 ft. of nest (BH); at 17:46 one was on the nest at MP 70 along hwy. 14 at Locke L (SJ).

1 on 2 Apr., on utility pole along the RR tracks at the w. end of Doug’s Beach SP, ~16:45 – 17:00 (BH).

2 on 9 Apr., male flew up to their nest atop a utility pole, mounting female, beginning a copulation; observed as I drove by at 06:40. Nest is along the RR tracks near the e. end of Locke L., s. of MP 70 along hwy 14 (SJ).

3 on 12 Apr., calling, interacting at and around truncated firtop nest high on the White Salmon R. bank opposite the Dozier tract, off Fordyce Rd., downstream from Husum, at 13:02 (SJ).

5 on 12 Apr., pair on nest at the mouth of Bingen’s marina; also singles on 2 nests, and one perching on dolphin immediately s. of a 4^th nest, these 3 nests further w. along the Bingen riverfront, from 17:45 to 17:47 (SJ).

3 on 20 Apr., one pair copulate on nest on stt at w. side of the V Cove mouth, at 12:04, and one standing, calling piping notes (not loudly) in nest on dolphin off The Lunch Grove, all 3 along the Bingen riverfront (SJ).

8 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 31 May, one flying s. down Rock Creek toward the mouth, not far above treetop level; the second was eating prey in a dead tree along the n. shore of the Columbia R., e. of Roosevelt Park, seen from Roosevelt Ferry Rd. A crow was hovering around the osprey; eventually it dropped to the ground and came up with a scrap of fish, which it ate (SJ).

Bald Eagle –

1 on 9 Mar., “…soaring over the property and beyond. He was in plain view for nearly 3 minutes, circling and gaining altitude as he worked his way to the east in tight circles” (TA). This is along Glenwood Hwy. in the vicinity of the jct. with Canon Creek Rd.

2 on 11 Mar., “…while we were heading east into Stevenson on hwy 14, Connie and I saw two Bald Eagles copulating in a tree on an island in Rock Cove, [Skamania Co., WA]. This occurred at 10:45, less than four meters from the nest used by Osprey for the past several years” (CH, TH).

2 on 11 Mar., adults, along Fairgrounds Rd.; found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

2 on 13 Mar., one imm. (not a white-belly or a white-back, but with some white flecking on underparts) comes in from the w. and circles over n. side of Hewett L., gaining altitude, at 13:08. Later, at 13:42, an imm. was noticed perching atop a big ponderosa pine (top half is dead) high above Balch Creek, at the inlet to Hewett L., probably the same imm. seen half an hour earlier. And an adult was seen at 14:38 circling high up, off to nw. of Hewett L., looked for when I noticed a flicker eyeing the sky over there (SJ).

15 on 17 Mar., on a kill along the w. slope of the Klickitat R. at MP 2.3 of hwy. 142, along with 6 ravens and a magpie (CJF).

1 on 20 Mar., adult, perching in cottonwood at ne. point of Wells Is., along the Hood River waterfront, at 17:20. This tree is close to the new, more hidden nest: scope-viewed from pullout along Cook – Underwood Rd., high above the Columbia R., 1.8 mi. w. of Underwood (SJ).

1 on 24 Mar., adult, “in tree about 90m from the n. side of hwy.14, just before the curve going westbound into the Crawford Grove area…in the upland of the field that has the old stone fence running e. to w., at ~09:50” (DL).

5 on 29 Mar., two adults, 2 imm. seen from hwy. 142 along stretches of the Klickitat R., and one imm. flying over the Klickitat R. mouth at 07:00, putting up a big flock of gulls (TA).

3 on 29 Mar., in Rock Creek canon: an adult & an imm. circling over the canon about a mile n. of jct. with Newell Rd., and an imm. perched low along w. shore of the backwater at the mouth of Rock Creek, in the afternoon; all three at the e. end of the Columbia Hills IBA (TA, SJ).

2 on 1 Apr., immatures, 1 in flight along hwy. 14 above Wishram, and 1 flying along Glenwood Hwy. above the Klickitat R., 1 to 1.5 mi. se. of the Sheep Canon crossing, in the Klickitat Wildlife Area (KK, SJ).

1 on 19 Apr., adult, flying n. to s. over the Columbia R. at the Hood R. mouth, high up, at 12:39 (SJ).

6 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 24 May, subadult, circling over the cliffs n. of hwy. 14 at the Chamberlain Lake Rest Area, at 18:23. It has white in the underwing linings and mottled on underparts, plus a whitish tail with a 1-2 inch dark band at the tip (SJ).

9 on 11 Mar., one female, 4 imm., 4 age-unknown, found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

2 on 29 Mar., both along Dot Rd.: male in Old Lady Canon, 1.1 mi. n. of the jct. with Old Hwy 8 (TA), and female 7 mi. further n., 0.8 mi. s. of the intersection with Gadeberg and Brannon roads (SJ).

13 on 1 Apr., found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route, “up from 1 in Feb.” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 1 Apr., female followed in a minute by male, flying e. to w. over rut that is the southern extension of Lake Rd. (s. from jct. with Hansen Rd.), Conboy Lake NWR, mid-afternoon (KK, SJ).

1 on 31 May, female, hunting low over open grassy and brushy area just e-ne. of the gravel road at Corps of Engineers park at the mouth of Rock Creek, at 10:55. Must be nesting somewhere not too far away (SJ).

Sharp-shinned Hawk –

1 on 9 Mar., seen “at least 6 times in the past 10 days. He was here 4 times in one day! Haven't completely ruled out Cooper's, but am as sure as my experience will allow” (TA).

1 on 17 Mar., circling over Bates Rd. in the vicinity of their driveway entrance (DG).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 4 Apr., Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s hawk, heard-only, calling a brief series of “kek-kek-kek” scold notes at 10:46, and heard calling again, single “kek” notes and “kek-kek-kek” series several more times at 10:52 and 11:10, from an older fir and Doug fir grove along lower Nestor Peak Rd., ~ ½ mile n. of Northwestern L., adjacent to brushy regenerating clearcut and, upslope, a scattering of oak and big-leaf maple. Several years ago, when this spot was visited during the breeding season, an Accipitre called in similar fashion, suggestive of scolding around a nest site; no nest was discovered, but one was probably well-hidden there in the dense conifers (SJ).

1 on 16 Apr., flying nw. below cliffs, e. rim of the next canon to w. of Catherine Creek, a little to n. of Old Hwy 8, at 16:17. Note conspicuous white tips to rects, bluish-grey upperparts: size and plumage suggest male Cooper’s (SJ).

2 on 15 or 16 Apr., up Blalock Canon, sw. of Arlington, Gilliam Co., OR (PS & ABW participants); from OBOL.

35 on 11 Mar., found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR; pair did a nest exchange along Shady Brook Rd.; a pair was in a nest tree in the draw along Long Hollow Rd.; an adult was at the rim of first nest at s. end of Boyd Rd., and an adult was in the incubating position in another nest at the historic Boyd Rd. stand, at the n. end of the road (CJF, SF).

32 on 1 Apr., found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route, “up from 11 in Feb.” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 1 Apr., a SY bird, flew out from alders along Alder Creek and adjacent Sixprong Rd.; additionally, four adult or age unknown birds were casually observed during a 341.6 mile drive through Klickitat Co. This was not a thorough raptor survey (KK, SJ).

1 on 15 Apr., adult, perched in top of cottonwood along e. bank of the Hood R., just nw. of the county historical museum, along the Hood River waterfront; three crows, calling, divebomb hawk til it flies off (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 on 20 Apr., adult, perching atop dead Lombardy Poplar at se. corner of Bingen Pond, at ~14:20. Likely one of nesting pair from s. slope of Burdoin Mountain to the north (SJ).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

3 on 1 Apr., found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route, “up from the 1 that wintered on Blalock Canyon Rd.” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

7 on 11 Mar., all adult female or imm., found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR: one dark morph (missing several rectrices) along Route 216 East, 4 along Tygh Ridge Rd. – Old Tygh Rd., and 2 along Center Ridge Rd. (CJF, SF).

3 on 24 Mar., female or imm., two off the e. side of Scott Canon Rd., 7 mi. s. of Rufus, and one on utility pole along Oehman Rd., about 2.5 – 2.75 mi. to the e-se. of the first two; found while surveying the 115 mile n. Sherman Co. raptor route (DG, TA, SJ).

2 on 29 Mar., one female or imm., circling to sw. of Dot Rd. at the top of Old Lady Canon, 0.9 mi. s. of the jct. with Newell Rd., and one circling, moving n. over Gadeberg Rd., 0.7 mi. w. of the intersection with Dot Rd. (TA, SJ).

9 on 1 Apr., found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route, “up from 5 in Feb.” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 9 Apr., “…perched on a pole near the intersection of Centerville Hwy. and O'Brien Rd. It appeared to be the same adult that I saw last week in that area” (DG, RG).

1 on 10 Apr., imm. or female, on a fencepost along Fenton Lane, found during the spring raptor survey of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 10:19 and again at 10:40 (SJ).

2 on 15 or 16 Apr., up Blalock Canon, sw. of Arlington, Gilliam Co., OR (PS & ABW participants); from OBOL.

Golden Eagle –

2 on 11 Mar., one adult and one age-unknown, along Route 216 East in Wasco Co., OR; found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B (CJF, SF).

1 on 12 Mar., at the north end of Tygh Valley, Wasco Co., OR (LR & ornithology class); apparently seen from hwy. 197. Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 29 Mar., subadult, flying w-nw. over the ne. rim of Rock Creek canon, approaching Newell Rd., seen from the jct. with Rock Creek Rd. (TA, SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., adult, flushed from relatively low clifftop just above Bickleton Hwy., 1.2 mi. s. of the Rock Creek crossing, and flew on out over Rock Creek canon (KK, SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., subadult, hunting along a low ridge above Luna Gulch, seen from Oak Flat Rd. in the Columbia Hills IBA, at 14:00 (SJ).

1 on 18 Apr., subadult, in flight over the open area n. of Allen Oaks: at the n. end of Tracy Hill (DG).

1 on 22 Apr., immature bird, in flight over Tom McCall Point, Wasco Co., OR (TA, et al).

7 on 11 Mar., one female, 4 males, 2 sex unknown, found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR; pair were seen along hwy 197 between MP 9.3 and 18.6 (CJF, SF).

1 on 20 Mar., female, arrived at a kestrel box along Bates Rd., joining male that had arrived on an earlier date in March (DG).

7 on 1 Apr., observed during a 341 mile drive through Klickitat Co., including a pair perched side-by-side on utility wires along Middle Rd., 0.4 mi. s. of Bickleton, and a pair ~1.5 mi. ne. of town flying closeby an abandoned farmyard along Alder Creek, n. of Bickleton – Mabton Rd. These were casual observations, not a thorough raptor survey (KK, SJ).

1 on 19 May, male, on utility wires along BZ Corner-Glenwood Rd. at jct. with Hansen Rd., about 2 mi. s. of Glenwood, at ~17:20 (SJ).

2 on 19 May, pair are present at 300 Bates Rd. again this spring, nesting in birdbox in fruit tree (DG).

2 on 31 May, male with food in bill, eventually ate it, in tree next to the shed along Rock Creek, in the far corner of the Corps of Engineers park at the creek mouth, at 11:15. Found a flicker-made cavity under the eaves of the shed and, at one point, saw the head of a kestrel (in shadow) in the nest, maybe the female? (SJ)

Merlin –

1 on 8 Mar., noticed when it suddenly stooped low over the log raft that’s moored off the Dickey Farms dike to e. of the Bingen marina’s mouth. From my car window, I was scoping a Say’s Phoebe and a couple Yellow-rumped Warblers foraging there when the Merlin suddenly appeared, at 11:45. It flew on to the nw. over the e. shore of the marina, where I lost it when I leapt out of the car in an attempt to continue following it’s trajectory. It appeared to be a female or immature bird (SJ).

1 on 11 Mar., Crow Butte SP, Benton Co., WA, in the afternoon (MB, KK).

1 on 8 Apr., male, flying away from the roadside (perhaps from a fencepost), e. of 1211 Centerville Hwy and within half a mile of the first oaks. A smallish falcon, not much bigger than a kestrel, with a blue-tinged, grey back and wings; seen well, though briefly, from a moving, westbound vehicle that was fast approaching the transition from wide open country to oak – pine woodland (SJ).

1 on 15 or 16 Apr., along Blalock Canon Rd., sw. of Arlington, Gilliam Co., OR (PS & ABW participants); gleaned from OBOL.

Prairie Falcon –

1 on 1 Mar., atop twin-wooden-pole powerline, w. of Dallesport Rd. and ~ ½ mile sw. of the jct. with hwy 14, n. of Dallesport, at 10:11. There are multiple records for this site over the past decade; this is as far w. as I have ever found this species along the n. side of the Columbia R. A male Am. Kestrel perched atop the adjacent pole (SJ).

2 on 11 Mar., both adults, one along Route 216 East and one along Center Ridge Rd., Wasco Co., OR; found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B (CJF, SF).

1 on 12 Mar., “…flew over the road [hwy 197] a couple of miles north of the road to Dufur,” Wasco Co., OR (LR & his ornithology class); gleaned from OBOL.

Virginia Rail –

2 or 3 on 1 Mar., calling “oinking” series of notes, one after the other, at the cattail wetland along The Dalles riverfront, between Windseekers restaurant and the USDA Service Centre on River Rd., Wasco Co., OR, at 14:12 (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., “At about noon there [was]…a Virginia Rail calling…at Willow Cove WMA, which is along the Columbia R. at the eastern edge of Gilliam Co., [OR]” (RG, FS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 1 Apr., called sharp “keek” notes and also an “oinking” series, when hands were clapped, in the marsh on the other side (w-nw. side) of the dike road at Glenwood Millpond, at 14:00 (KK, SJ).

8 on 23 Apr., remnants of the wintering flock? Four along the se. shore of Wells Is. and 4 in the sw. part of Waucoma Basin, at ~11:45 (SJ).

Killdeer –

14 on 2 Mar., calling lots, on pasture w. of Bates Rd. & just n. of the steadily-shrinking Lake Will-be-gone (DG).

9 on 6 Mar., on the lawn in the group camp vicinity, Deschutes River SP, Sherman Co., OR (SJ).

2 on 8 Apr., pair, copulate along Swale Creek a stones throw e. of the Harms Rd. bridge, 6 mi. w-wsw of Centerville, at ~08:25 during a KTC bird walk in the rain. (BR, SJ).

2 on 23 Apr., pair, out on The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront: one was nestbuilding, making a nest scrape (sitting down in gravel, leaning forward while at the same time kicking out little stones out the back, excavating), at 11:33 (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 1 Apr., foraging in a big vernal puddle along the n. side of Hansen Rd., 0.4 mi. w. of the jct. with BZ Corner – Glenwood Rd., in early to mid-afternoon. This is adjacent Conboy Lake NWR (KK, SJ).

1 on 8 Apr., scolding us as we approached along the Klickitat Trail, calling “clue clue clue” briefly when flying in a short hop from one spot along the bank of Swale Creek to another, this ~100 m. upstream from the Harms Rd. bridge and 6 mi. w-wsw. of Centerville (BR, SJ).

5 on 15 Apr., three at the Hood R. mouth about 08:00, one in extremely faded plumage on upperparts, all molting in alternate plumage on their breast; within 15-20 min., two more, calling, flew in, circling some before landing at the n. shore of the sandflat, not far from the 1^st three (CD, SJ, et al, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 on 23 Apr., at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, foraging in a backwater channel alongside the brushy jetty that extends n. from below the nw. rim of the cul-de-sac at the end of The Spit road, at 10:50. Later, at 13:26, one flew overhead just ne. of the Hood River Co. Historical Museum, heading se., calling the 3-note whistle, “clue clue clue”—possibly the same bird as seen earlier (SJ).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 16 May, foraging together along waterline at sandy beach on n. side of the Columbia R. between the Chamberlain Lake rest area and Hewett L.; apparently a pair, one slightly larger than mate (SJ).

5 on 19 May, one at Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., and 2 pair at Glenwood Millpond (SJ).

2 on 29 May, probable pair, along the s. shore of Lyle Point, e. of the in lieu site (RH, PE, , SJ, et al).

6 on 1 Apr., “We found 3 pairs of courting Long-billed Curlews, along Blalock Canyon Rd. ~ 3 mile n. of Cedar Springs Rd., [while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route.] See Delorme Atlas p. 84, B3 -- at a triangle labeled ‘Turner Butte’ " (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 1 Apr., “At about noon there [was]… a Long-billed Curlew crying at Willow Cove WMA…along the
Columbia R. at the e. edge of Gilliam Co., [OR]” (RG, FS); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 2 Apr., “We found another pair of Long-billed Curlews above Hay Creek canyon on Devils Butte Rd. [while surveying the 152 mile s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route.] (DeLorme p. 84, C3)” (CK, PS); from OBOL.

1 on 9 Apr., at the Sandy R. delta in Multnomah Co., OR (fide HN, Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report via OBOL).

1 on 9 Apr., calling in flight display, distant to ne. of the Uecker Rd. bridge over Swale Creek, in the Columbia Hills IBA, at 13:50 (SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., standing in the rain in pastureland along Hoctor Rd., ~75 m. to se. of the jct. with Bigby Rd., in the Columbia Hills IBA, at 10:00 (SJ).

2 on 13 May, at the Wasco sewage ponds, Sherman Co., OR (fide HN); gleaned from the weekly Audubon Society of Portland RBA, posted to Tweeters.

4 on 23 Apr., foraging on mudflat at w. side of Hood R. mouth, mid-a.m.; when one became separated from the others, after flushing and flying about, it “sang” a short trilled song a couple times, at 10:45 (SJ).

~30 on 15 Apr., alternate plumage, calling flock flew back and forth past and around the n. shore of the sand flat at the Hood R. mouth, early to mid-morning (CD, SJ, et al, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

2 on 15 Apr., flush from w. side of the Hood R. mouth, n. of cul-de-sac at end of The Spit road, early a.m. (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 on 2 Apr., SY bird, loafing at the Klickitat R. mouth with a flock of 350 gulls, at 13:45 (SJ).

1 on 13 Apr., alternate plumage adult, resting on the water at the Klickitat R. mouth, at ~15:00. All of the sandbars are inundated as the river’s water is being maintained at very high levels (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 15 Apr., head mostly blackish, but with forehead still white, at the Hood R. mouth, in the a.m. (CD, SJ, et al, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

Mew Gull –

2 on 13 Mar., adults, still with “dirty” heads, loafing on sandbar at w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth at the confluence with the Columbia R., just w. of Lyle, along with 47 other gulls, at ~11:35 to 11:40 (SJ).

2 on 22 Mar., one adult and one 2^nd winter bird, on the big sandbar at the e. side of the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront, 17:30 to 17:50 (SJ).

6 on 27 Mar., adults but for one 1^st winter bird, on sandbars at the Hood R. mouth, at 13:45 and 14:37 (SJ).

3 on 29 Mar., two adults (one with partly “dirty” head), 1 first spring bird, at the Klickitat R. mouth, at ~14:30, along with 507 other gulls, mostly Californias (SJ).

2 on 2 Apr., one 2^nd spring bird and another subadult not studied as closely, loafing with 348 other gulls at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 14:00 (SJ).

Ring-billed Gull –

7 on 13 Mar., at the Klickitat R. mouth, 11:35 to 11:40 (SJ).

No count on 22 Mar., at the Hood R. mouth, along the Hood River waterfront. Two of the adults had a rosy blush on their body plumage, especially on the breast; one was a 1^st winter bird . There were 106 gulls total, many of them Ring-billed, at 17:32 (SJ).

50 on 29 Mar., at least 2 first spring birds, loafing with 460 other gulls at the Klickitat R.mouth, at ~16:30 (SJ).

12 on 2 Apr., including 1 SY bird, part of a loafing flock of 350 gulls at the Klickitat R. mouth, 14:00 (SJ).

1 on 11 Apr., a SY bird, at the Klickitat R. mouth, on the water (all sandbars are inundated—high water levels recently) in loose association with 48 Calif. Gulls, at 16:35 (SJ).

5 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

21 on 16 May, loafing on sandbar at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth; many subadults and some 1^st spring birds too (SJ).

California Gull –

27 on 13 Mar., mostly with “clean” heads, in alternate plumage, at the Klickitat R. mouth, 11:35 to 11:40 (SJ).

440 on 29 Mar., loafing with 70 other gulls at the Klickitat R. mouth, 16:05 to 16:55 (SJ).

325 on 2 Apr., loafing with 25 other gulls at the Klickitat R. mouth, 14:00 (SJ).

48 on 11 Apr., one SY, the rest alternate plumage adults, on the water at the Klickitat R. mouth, at 16:35. Courtship begging and feeding took place between one pair while swimming in the water! All the sandbars are inundated; water levels are being maintained at very high levels recently (SJ).

28 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

22 on 16 May, loafing on sandbar at w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, mostly alt. plumage adults or near-adults, but including one 1^st spring and one 2^nd spring birds (SJ).

Western Gull –

1 on 18 Mar., adult, in Rock Cove, Stevenson, Skamania Co., WA, “…Among the gulls on the mud flats in this pond we scoped an adult Western Gull from close range” (WC leading VAS field trip). From Tweeters.

1 on 1 Apr., “In late afternoon there was an adult Western Gull about ½ mile downstream from the John Day Dam, [Sherman Co., OR]” (RG, FS); from OBOL.

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 27 Mar., loafing with gulls at the Hood River mouth for a few minutes, at 14:58, and later, one fishing off the beach at Viento State Park, at 16:49; both in Hood River Co., OR, and both potentially the same bird (SJ).

5 on 29 Mar., loafing with 510 gulls on the sandbar at the w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at ~16:40. One pair, standing side-by-side, bowed their heads simultaneously, pointing their bills vertically down at the shallow water they were standing in, apparently in some sort of courtship manoeuvre (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., flying down the n. side of the Columbia R. at Moonax, a mile w. of Pine Creek mouth (KK, SJ).

12 on 2 Apr., loafing with 350 gulls at the Klickitat R. mouth, 14:00; one pair engaged in courtship feeding (SJ).

16 on 12 Apr., loafing with gulls on the dike road separating the Columbia R. beach from the Hood River Marina along the Hood River waterfront; all of the sandbar areas were inundated due to very high water levels, at 15:16 (SJ).

22 on 15 Apr., on distant sandbar, w. side of the Hood R. mouth, scoped about mid-morning, along the Hood River waterfront (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

2 on 19 Apr., loafing on uprooted tree bole, moored at mouth of the Hood R., along the Hood River waterfront, at ~12:25. The Columbia R. water level is very high with no sandbar expanse exposed, so gulls are loafing on this tree and rock jetty nearby (SJ).

1 on 20 Apr., calling a time or two, in flight w. to e. over the se. corner of Bingen Pond, at 13:43 (SJ).

1 on 10 May, near the mouth of the Hood R., at ~15:00 (TA).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

5 on 16 May, loafing on the sandbar at w. side of the Klickitat R. mouth, at 12:35 (SJ).

Eurasian Collared-Dove –

1 on 8 Mar., “foraging/exploring the center of the lane behind my building [along N. Columbus Ave. s. of the Little Klickitat R. bridge, in Goldendale], at ~10:30. It looked at first like a very large Mourning Dove with a very dark band at the base of the tail and a black “scar” around the back of the neck. With binoculars, the “dark band” was seen as the dark primaries folded over the tail. The tail was square tipped (not pointed). A dog came along and sent all of the birds up into the trees. The Eur. Collared-Dove went to a distant tree and stayed for a few minutes, but hasn’t returned.” (from 8 Mar. email)

“I didn’t get to see it fly, as I was getting out my camera when the dog showed up. Besides the black crescent on the rear of the neck, it’s dark-ended primaries were very prominent and, as said, at first looked like the base (upper part) of the tail had a black band, until better seen with binoculars. The bird was significantly larger than a Mourning Dove, nearly having the beefy look of a Rock Pigeon, except was a little more svelte with relatively thin neck, small head. When it was in a distant tree, I could only tell it was a “large, unique dove” and saw no belly or undertail details. Overall, it was a dusty grey, off white buffy, but no spots and dots like a Mourning Dove. And it did have a square-ended tail, not pointed.” (from 10 Mar. email) (DL). This is the first record for Klickitat Co.

As of 24 Mar. email: “The Eurasian Collared-Dove is still heard calling from the center of the residential area between Roosevelt, E. Collins, Columbus and E. Main [in Goldendale]. I've seen it on wires and tree tops over the past couple of weeks when walking in that part of town. The vocalization is now consistent with one of Sibley's renditions: coo-cooo-cu in a long repeated sequence, with the call lasting about about 1.5s and a pause of .25 to .5 sec. The call appears slightly raspy, but when I was able to hear very close it's actually two-toned! Something like a tonic and a fifth below” (DL).

1 on ~25 Mar. (roughly), reported on 13 May as having been seen at the end of winter, before the observer stopped feeding birds, “about 6-8 weeks ago.” The dove came to his feeder along Mosier Creek, in Mosier, Wasco Co., OR, where it was well seen, twice, on one day only (JA).

5 on 11 Mar., found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

6 on 29 Mar., two above Chapman Creek at the hwy. 14 crossing in Sundale, and 4 found during a 64 mile raptor survey from n. of Glass Canon (Gadeberg Rd.) s. to The Burn (Goddard Rd.) and from Rock Creek e. to the northern stretch of Old Lady Canon (TA, SJ).

1 on 31 Mar., heard-only, singing n. of Canon Rd. at Timber Valley Pond, at ~16:30 (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., heard-only, singing along Alder Creek in vicinity of the abandoned farmyard to n. of the Bickleton – Mabton Rd., ~09:50 (KK, SJ).

4 on 10 Apr., along Williamson Rd., on Oak Flat; this is on the n. slope of the Columbia Hills IBA (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

7 on 19 May, six flushed from opening at n. side of Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., about mid-morning; and 1 flushed from the pavement on BZ Corner-Glenwood Rd., just s. of the Conboy Lake NWR information kiosk, at ~17:20 (SJ).

2 on 11 Mar., pair, in a draw along hwy 197, between MP 18.6 and the jct. with Route 216 Eeast, in Wasco Co., OR; one perched in nest tree and mate in the incubating position in the nest (CJF, SF).

As of 24 Mar. email “The nest in the cottonwood copse in the nw. riparian at the hwy. 97 bridge over Swale Creek, which was occupied by a Red-tailed Hawk pair last summer, now has a Great Horned Owl in it, apparently on eggs.” This is about 4 miles s. of Goldendale (DL).

8 on 24 Mar., six sitting in nests, the mate of one perching in the same copse, and one single flushed in a row of trees along the road elsewhere. Found while surveying the 115 mile n. Sherman Co. raptor route. A fluffy chick >10 days old was visible with the adult in one nest. At a different site, the adult was sitting high in the nest leaning inward as though brooding young; one other adult seemed to be sitting a bit higher in the nest than an incubating bird, thus possibly brooding young as well (DG, TA, SJ).

1 on 29 Mar., flew out of an abandoned barn near the top of Old Lady Canon, along Dot Rd., at 09:50 (TA, SJ).

4 on 1 Apr., “at 2 nests – plus 2 owlets,” found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

6 on 2 Apr., “at 3 nest sites – plus 2 owlets,” found while surveying the 152 mile s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 10 Apr., pair, at & near nest with at least one downy owlet (est. 10 days old) in locust tree nest at the e. end of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 16:46 (SJ).

> 1 on 15 or 16 Apr., “nest along Cedar Springs Rd., sw. of Arlington,” Gilliam Co., OR (PS and ABW participants); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 1 Apr., “After waking up to mixed rain and snow this morning in Condon, [Gilliam Co., OR,] we found the Snowy Owl again at 07:30 (Paul Sullivan and Carol Karlen reported it there again at about 18:30 on a utility pole along Hwy. 19 just north of Jaegar Rd.)” (RG, FS); from OBOL.

1 on 1 Apr., “We found the Snowy Owl along Hwy 19 at dusk, on a utility pole ~6 poles north of the junction of Jaeger Rd. with the highway” (CK, PS). This site is 2 mi. n. of Condon, Gilliam Co., OR. Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 2 Apr., “We again found the Snowy Owl at 07:45 off Hwy 19. At the junction of Hwy 19 and Hwy 19 [suspect this repeat Hwy 19 is supposed to be Jaeger Rd., not Hwy 19] there is a mailbox with the name Jaeger (rural fire # 58936), then a house to the west. Behind the house is a draw, and on the far side of that, an open-front machine shed. The owl was sitting on the fence west of that shed, ~ 1/3 mile from the highway” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 17 Mar., heard calling from near their house at the edge of the woods s. of Bates Rd., apparently in response to her imitations (DG).

1 on 19 Mar., calling in response to my imitations, along hwy 142 at ~MP 18.5. It flew across the Klickitat R. to perch in an oak behind me, along the Haul Rd., at 16:30, and in a couple min. returned to the conifers above the hwy. This is ~2 mi. ne. of Wahkiacus. Two Violet-green Swallows were in hot pursuit of the owl on it’s first crossing (SJ).

1 on 22 Mar., heard calling off-and-on from 10:00 to 13:00 in the Burdoin Mtn. area, 0.8 mi. n. of Rick Bob Rd. off Courtney Rd. (CJF).

1 on 31 Mar., calling in response to my imitations, along Bill Moore Rd. 1.9 mi. ne. of Snowden, ~15:45 to 15:55. Owl was perched ~150 m. upslope from rd. atop a fir (Doug?), one of very few left in clearcut, then flew down to resume calling atop a fir at the roadside (SJ).

8 on 11 Mar., along Center Ridge Rd., Wasco Co., OR; found during The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, from 15:18 to 15:48. “All 8 foraging in snow flurry and low light conditions. See 2 vole-like prey cached on the ground in the same location within a 15 min. period, cache located 0.4 mi. w. of Easton Canon Rd., n. of Center Ridge Rd.” (CJF, SF).

2 on 18 May, “On May 18 there were two reports of early nighthawks in Morrow County.” (fide HN); gleaned from the weekly Audubon Society of Portland RBA, posted to OBOL on 25 May.

1 on 4 May, at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (TA).

2 on 18 May, first heard calling nearby, then two were seen (without binoculars, from the BSI parking lot) flying w. over the block enclosed between Elm and Cedar streets and hwy. 14 and E. Humboldt St., Bingen, at 15:00. At that time there were no Vaux’s Swifts about (SJ).

Anna’s Hummingbird –

1 on 4 Mar., male, “was at the same shrub in Lyle county park that I saw him in all winter. I have to walk to it vs. drive-by – then he consistently shows up and gives his territorial call” (CJF, SF).

1 on 24 May, male, in the garden at 728 7^th St., Lyle, at ~18:45 (SJ).

Rufous Hummingbird –

1 on 6 Mar., male, first of spring, at feeder on Mt. Pleasant (1200 ft. elev.), Skamania Co., WA (WC); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 23 Mar., “Heard my first buzz-by of a Rufous Hummingbird at 18:30 at home [NW Garfield Ave., White Salmon]. I’ll follow up on it tomorrow morning. Currant flowers still closed” (CJF).

1 on 24 Mar., “I had two buzz-bys last night at 18:30 and one Rufous Hummingbird this morning at 06:40” in vicinity of feeders along NW Garfield Ave., White Salmon (CJF).

1 on 26 Mar., “male seen at the home feeder,” NW Garfield Ave., White Salmon (CJF).

2 on 2 Apr., males, the first this spring at a feeder along Johnson Rd., Lyle (PE).

1 on 4 Apr., male, perched in the top of a bare deciduous tree along lower Nestor Peak Rd., n. of Northwestern L.; one display dive was heard, ~10:20 (SJ).

1 on 12 Apr., heard-only, buzzing around vicinity of yellowish blossoms of black twin-berry (Lonicera involucrata) along the White Salmon R. at the sharp bend on the Dozier tract, sw. of Husum, at 14:00 (SJ).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 22 May, male, atop dead fir, off w. side of Snowden Rd. at the stt powerline crossing, 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop, ~16:20 (SJ).

1 on 28 Mar., male, in the V Cove along the Bingen riverfront, at 17:22. Probably the same male that has been seen there at practically every visit to the site throughout the winter (SJ).

1 on 15 Apr., heard-only, calling, vicinity of the I-84 bridge over the Hood R., along the Hood River waterfront, early a.m. (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 on 13 Apr., in oaktop along Old Hwy 8 at the n. side of Rowland L., the first spring arrival; making little sallies after flying insects, at ~13:30 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 20 Mar. and again on 22 Mar., in oaks along the s. side of Old Hwy 8, four utility poles w. of the intersection with Sauter and Balch roads; there is a 50 mph sign for eastbound traffic at this point (BH).

1 on 11 Apr., in oaks along the s. side of Old Hwy 8 in the same stretch as the 20 & 22 Mar. observations, at 17:20. It was not sexed as the lighting was less than ideal and it flew, first to oaks further e., then back to the w.; at 17:26 rain began and I left (SJ).

Williamson’s Sapsucker –

2 on 14 Mar., males, along the Pipeline Loop ski trail in the GPNF, Yakima Co., WA, ~ 1 mi. sw. of Smith Butte (near the intersection of GPNF roads 744 and 101), at ~3350 ft. elev.; counter-tapping frequently (briefly from the same snag), at ~13:30 (KG).

1 on 19 May, apparent male, in the grove of big aspens at the w. end of Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., in late morning. A Red-breasted was seen in this same grove minutes earlier…thus, this may be a site for hybridisation. Several years ago, on 5 May 1998, a Red-naped and a pair of Red-breasted sapsuckers were seen together in these aspens (SJ).

1 on 17 Mar., on a utility pole along Bates Rd. at the end of their driveway (DG).

1 on 4 Apr., on snag along lower Nestor Peak Rd., half a mile n. of Northwestern L., at 10:15; later heard courting (flight) calls and drumming of one or two birds in the same vicinity at 11:15, 11:26 & 11:35 (SJ).

1 on 19 May, in grove of big aspens at w. end of Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., late morning (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., female, flew from riparian along Pine Creek, at the Middle Rd. crossing, to perch on a dense, low cluster of Eriogonum sp. leaves in bitterbrush on the slope s. above the road, where it began foraging, pecking in the foliage. This is 1 mi. s. of Bickleton (KK, SJ).

1 on 4 Apr., male, calling, flew in to oaks at abandoned house at the end of forest road N-1100, sw. of Nestor Peak, at 13:57 (SJ).

2 on 19 May, pair, at Glenwood Millpond; male excavating cavity in a pine. When female arrives, male flies off, calling a strident riff and displaying a flashier, more deliberate, flight mode (SJ).

1 on 19 May, male, calling every so often, scaling dying pines at Glenwood Millpond; the low, hollow “kip” calls suggested a ground squirrel (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

Pileated Woodpecker –

1 or 2 on 15 Mar., “…found the first bird hammering away at a dead pine tree and then there was one a few minutes later 150-200 yards up the hill working on an oak. At least one, probably two, spotted between about 4:15-4:30.” Observed along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Canon Creek Rd., opposite the Klickitat Wildlife Area (TA).

1 on 10 Mar., heard-only, calling in vicinity of Eyrie Rd., White Salmon (KG).

1 on 17 Mar., seen in flight approaching Bates Rd. near the end of their driveway (DG).

1 on 19 Mar., heard-only, calling several times, a little n. of E. Franklin St., between Pine and Cedar streets, in Bingen, at ~10:45. Habitat is oaks with scattered pines at the southern base of Burdoin Mountain (SJ).

1 on 19 Mar., heard-only, apparently calling in response to my pygmy-owl imitations, a short ways n. of the confluence of the Little Klickitat and the Klickitat rivers, at 16:58. As the crow flies, this is ~2.25 mi. to ne. of Wahkiacus (SJ).

1 on 22 Mar., twice heard calling “ca-ca-ca” series in the Burdoin Mountain area, 0.8 mi. n. of Rick Bob Rd. off Courtney Rd. (CJF).

1 on 31 Mar., heard calling in forest along the w. side of Canon Rd. a short distance n. of the jct. with Klickitat – Appleton Rd., at 16:55 (SJ).

1 on 1 Apr., heard calling twice from the slope e-se. above Jewett Creek and Barnedt Rd. at the Kreps corral, at ~15:55. This is just ne. of White Salmon on the lower w. slope of Burdoin Mountain (KK, SJ).

2 on 3 Apr., “…found a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers out on the property.” Observed along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Canon Creek Rd., opposite the Klickitat Wildlife Area (TA). See 15 March above.

2 on 4 Apr., one heard calling from lower Nestor Peak Rd. in vicinity of forest lands ~1/3 mi. n. of Northwestern L., at 11:18, and one heard calling ½ mi. further w., along Mill Creek, at 12:19 & 12:22 (SJ).

3 on 9 Apr., heard-only, calling, in 3 spots along Centerville Hwy., on the n. slope of the Columbia Hills IBA: One n-nw. of High Meadow Dr., at 08:35. One se. of the hwy., 0.7 mi. e. of the jct. with Hartland Rd., at 09:40. And one s. of the hwy., 0.3 mi. w. of the jct. with Schilling Rd., at ~10:05 (SJ).

1 on 13 Apr., heard-only, from closeby BSI, Bingen, this morning. It was heard calling through a closed window while in room #12 at ~08:15 (SJ).

1 on 13 May, along Buck Creek, in w. Klickitat Co. (JA).

1 on 19 May, male, calling, in big aspens at Timber Valley pond, at midday (SJ).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 19 May, one heard singing n-ne. of the corner in Canon Rd. at Timber Valley pond, ~09:35, and one heard singing and calling just w. of the inlet end of Glenwood Millpond, in late afternoon (SJ).

1 on 22 May, calling “pil-pil-pil” just s. of the stt powerline and off to w. of the Snowden Rd. crossing, 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct with the Bates Rd. loop, at ~16:00. This is a little over a mile s-sw. of Mount Brook (SJ).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

3 on 19 May, two at Timber Valley pond (one of these singing in conifers to n. of, and in aspens at w. end of, the pond) along Canon Rd., and one heard singing in pines just w. of the Glenwood Millpond inlet (SJ).

1 on 22 May, heard-only calling, singing at the stt powerline crossing Snowden Rd., 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop, at ~16:30 (SJ).

1 on 29 May, silent, in partly-dead trees out on Lyle Point, at 10:23 (RH, SJ, et al).

3 on 13 May, at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near jct. with Counts Rd., in vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (BT).

1 on 19 May, calling “dew-hic” notes repeatedly, along creek riparian in a meadow immediately s. of Jebe Swale, along the w. side of Fisher Hill Rd., in early afternoon (SJ).

Say’s Phoebe –

1 on 1 Mar., in a yard along sw. Eyrie Rd., White Salmon (KG).

1 on 1 Mar., in the vicinity of lower Major Creek (JD).

1 on 1 Mar., flycatching from fence and bitterbrush at the n. edge of Hess Park, just n. of The Dalles Dam (SJ).

2 on 1 Mar., flycatching from cattails and brush around a wetland in the natural area of Riverfront Park, The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

1 on 2 Mar., about half a mile east of the parking lot at the Sandy R. Delta (I-84, Exit 18), Multnomah Co., OR. “The bird was perched on a sapling stake on the right side of the track a couple hundred yards past the The Corral, at about 12:30” (JF, IT). Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 3 Mar., flycatching from the roof and chimney of the BSI in Bingen at 16:10 (SJ).

1 on 5 Mar., found near the mouth of the Sandy R., Multnomah Co., OR, around noon. “We parked at exit 18 off I-84 and walked e. past the corrals along the band of cottonwoods. The open meadow was very windy. We rounded the end of the trees and started back w. into the next clearing. There, out of the wind, we found the bird, actively flycatching” (CK, PS). According to the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report for the week preceding 9th Mar., two Say’s Phoebes were at the Sandy River Delta on 5 Mar. (fide HN). Gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 6 Mar., one at e. shore of the Deschutes R. near its mouth, in the park (10:57), and another later, up along the gravel road /bike trail further s. (~16:25), in Sherman Co., OR (SJ).

5 on 8 Mar., two flycatching from cattails along the e. and w. shores of Bingen Pond, at 10:50, one flycatching from the log raft moored to dolphins e. of the Bingen marina’s mouth, at 11:45, one on the fence at the vineyards along Dallesport Rd., 0.8 mi. to s. of hwy 14, at ~12:30, and one along Tidyman Rd., 0.1 mi. to w. of jct. with the spur rd. at the Dallesport recycling centre, at 13:05 (SJ).

3 on 9 Mar., foraging & flycatching on a log raft moored to dolphins e. of Bingen marina’s mouth, at 14:28 (SJ).

1 on 12 Mar., at Bingen Pond, flycatching in the early afternoon from low perches in the wetland vegetation (KG).

2 on 13 Mar., one hovering over the RR tracks just e. of Hewett L., dropping to the ground, then flying up to the utility wires overhead, at ~12:35. And one calling, flycatching from rushes/cattails at the n. shore of Bingen Pond and from the e. end of rip-rap n. of the pond, at 17:45 (SJ).

1 on 14 Mar., flycatching from yucca at the sw. corner of the gymnasium bldg. at BSI, at 13:07, and from the yard fence and the stop sign at the nw. corner of the intersection of Cedar and E. Humboldt streets in Bingen a few minutes later (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 19 Mar., nestbuilding. “We found a Say’s Phoebe with a huge wad of white fur in its bill heading to a nest under a bridge along Easton Canyon Rd., Wasco Co., OR” (CJF, SF).

1 on 20 Mar., flycatching from farmyard fence at MP 0.15 along Highland Orchard Rd., Skamania Co., WA; via Cook – Underwood Rd., this is ~4.2 mi. w. of Underwood (SJ).

16 on 24 Mar., found while surveying the 115 mile n. Sherman Co., OR, raptor route (DG, TA, SJ).

5 on 29 Mar., found during a 64 mile raptor survey, from n. of Glass Canon (Gadeberg Rd.) s. to The Burn (Goddard Rd.) and from Rock Creek e. to the upper stretch of Old Lady Canon (TA, SJ).

11 on 1 Apr., found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS).

12 on 2 Apr., “We found 12 Say's Phoebe across the [152 mile s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor] route” (CK, PS).

1 on 5 & 9 Apr., along Bates Rd., singing on the latter date; unusual at this location (DG).

1 on 17 Apr., at Rivendell, property along Glenwood Hwy. closeby the jct. with Canon Creek Rd., where oak – pine woodland is the dominant habitat; unusual, rare at this location, nw. of the jct. with Counts Rd. and beyond the nw. edge of Crofton Prairie (TA).

1 on 12 May, perched atop the baseball homeplate backdrop fence at the sw. corner of the BSI playfield, at ~17:35. It flew w-nw. up into the big locusts on the s. side of BSI in Bingen (SJ).

1 on 13 May, heard-only, calling in forest at the s. base of Burdoin Mtn., to n. of E. Franklin St. and e. of N. Cedar St., Bingen, at 07:10 (SJ).

1 on 24 May, heard-only, calling in woods n. of hwy. 14 at the Chamberlain Lake Rest Area, at 18:23 (SJ).

1 on 15 or 16 Apr., Blalock Canon, sw. of Arlington, Gilliam Co., OR (PS & ABW participants); from OBOL.

1 on 7 May, along Snowden Rd. at Ladiges Flat; 2 mi. n. of White Salmon, as the crow flies (the road here is on the quarter section line between the ne. & nw. quarters of Sec.7 T3N R11E) (DG). Occur here annually in spring.

2 on 19 May, pair, on fence along Glenwood Hwy., 1.4 mi. e. of the jct. with Lakeside Rd., e. of Glenwood (SJ).

3 on 21 May, at BSI, Bingen, in dead top of dying locust on s. side of the hostel; one stays as 2 flutter, call, and then fly e-se. Relocate them along E. Humboldt St., one on utility wire near transformer “canister” on pole, other atop a small oak across the street, at s. edge of the BSI playfield, at ~13:10 (SJ).

1 on 25 May, first heard “bickering” calls closeby BSI, Bingen (dying locust top? on s. side of hostel); walk e. and see one flying n. from vicinity of Pine St. & E. Humboldt St. in to trees n. of the T intersection at Pine and E. Franklin streets, at noon (SJ).

1 on 11 Mar., in big sagebrush along Long Hollow Rd., Wasco Co., OR, found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, at 16:06. “Bobs tail, gives peent-like call twice; black mask above eye, darker grey back, shorter bill” (CJF, SF).

1 on 29 Mar., on a fencepost upslope to ne. of Old Hwy 8 at the Chapman Creek crossing, ~3.6 mi. nw. of Sundale (as the crow flies), at 08:35. A broad expanse of mature big sage, excellent nesting habitat for this species, lines the banks of Chapman Creek here (TA, SJ).

10 on 1 Apr., “up from 4 in Feb.,” found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS).

3 on 2 Apr., found while surveying the 152 mile s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS).

1 on 10 Apr., singing from the dead top of an almond tree in an abandoned orchard at the e. end of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 16:40. Last spring, on 17 Apr.’05, a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes were flushed from a rabbitbrush shrub 0.4 mi. further along the road; upon investigation, a down-lined nest was discovered containing one egg. When this site was checked at 16:52, today, a substantial nest was found, as yet unlined, with no adult present; the nest looked current, tended, not old and decrepit (SJ).

1 on 11 Mar., along Tygh Ridge Rd., Wasco Co., OR, found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, at 14:10. “Long bill, hook obvious, black mask half through eye, light grey back” (CJF, SF).

0 on 1 Apr., none found while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS).

1 on 2 Apr., found while surveying the 152 mile s. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route (CK, PS).

Shrike, sp. –

1 on 13 Mar., on utility wires along hwy. 141 to n. of Trout Lake school: very likely Northern Shrike (KH).

1 on 23 Apr., at Trout Lake Marsh NAP (PM).

4 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

4 on 15 May, singing along upper Catherine Creek (CJF).

3 on 19 May, two singing in vicinity of Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., and one singing in conifers w. of the creek riparian s. of Jebe Swale, along Fisher Hill Rd. (SJ).

Hutton’s Vireo –

1 on 9 Mar., heard-only, singing downslurring, rough whistled “zeeer – zeeer – zeeer,” etc., notes from forest edge along GPNF Rd. 1850-529 to w. above Grant Lake, e. of Home Valley, Skamania Co., WA, at ~15:25 (SJ).

1 on 24 Mar., heard-only, singing “zuweeee?” (rising whistled notes) in oak-ponderosa pine habitat on the se. slope of Burdoin Mountain; this is s. of Bristol Lane and about a mile s. of the “Top of the World Ranch” (CJF).

1 on 4 Apr., twice heard-only, singing downslurring “zeeer” notes, these whistled notes several seconds apart, not back-to-back, uninterrupted, and sustained for only ½ a min. or so, singing from regenerating cutover lands (willows and other deciduous growth, not replanted with conifers; with adjacent mature Douglas fir patches and with some scattered mature oak and big-leaf maple upslope) w. and s. of lower Nestor Peak Rd. and ½ mi. n-nw. of Northwestern L., at ~10:30 and again at ~10:55. This is the second occurrence at this location; one was found singing there in spring (April?) several years ago: try to find exact date (SJ).

1 on 12 Apr., heard-only, singing “zuweeee?” and “zeeer,” both in repetetive series, in the same spot along Fordyce Rd. where one was seen on 17 June ’01 _______check to see if date is correct ???? At first bird was heard singing s. 100 m. or so from the road, from 10:33 to 10:43, and it was not lured in by my imitations of its song or by pygmy-owl imitations; later on, at 12:30, one was heard singing several “zuweeee?” series n. of the road in the Dozier tract, perhaps 300 m. to nw. of the point where bird was heard earlier (SJ).

2 on 7 May, heard and then seen, along upper Jewett Creek, near White Salmon, in the afternoon (PM).

2 on 12 May, pair feeding a fledged young (with a short, one inch long tail) along upper Jewett Creek, near White Salmon (JE, PM).

1 on 15 May, heard singing along upper Catherine Creek in the Tracy Hill area; this is further to the e-ne. than the 24 March record (CJF).

7 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

3 or 4 on 19 May, one or 2 singing at Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., and a pair low in riparian at/below creek confluence s. of Jebe Swale, along Fisher Hill Rd. (SJ).

Steller’s Jay –

4 on 11 Mar., at Crow Butte SP, Benton Co., WA, in the afternoon; there have been fewer than 5 records for Benton Co. (MB, KK).

8 on 2 Apr., riparian in Big Horn Canon at the Schrantz Rd. crossing, in eastern Klickitat Co. (CJF, SF).

1 on 11 Apr., heard calling down along E. Humboldt St., just s. of BSI, Bingen, in mid-morning; later in the day, heard calling n. of BSI along E. Franklin St., at ~15:00. Apparently migrating, as none wintered in this immediate vicinity (SJ).

10 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

W. Scrub-Jay –

2 on 11 Mar., one along hwy 197 at MP 15, the 2^nd along Fairgrounds Rd., both in Wasco Co., OR; found while surveying the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B (CJF, SF).

3 on 13 Mar., at Maryhill (MB, KK).

1 on 19 Mar., perching in a small oak above the Haul Rd. ~1.5 mi. to ne. of Wahkiacus (as the crow flies) (SJ).

1 on 2 Apr., along Newell Rd. in Squaw Creek riparian, 0.5 mi. n. of the jct. with Rock Creek Rd. (CJF, SF).

2 on 20 Apr., pair, one calling in Lombardy Poplar at se. corner of Bingen Pond and one incubating 6 eggs in a nest ~8.75 feet up in crotch of one of these poplars. A pair fledged young from a nest in these same few poplars > five years ago during the Klickitat Co. BBA; three other nests were found along this stretch of the Bingen riverfront that same year (SJ).

4 on 10 May, at 256 Bates Rd., also seen in vicinity of the corner intersection Bates and N. Major Creek Rd.;these jays were present in this area for the next couple of days (DG). Scrub-jays are rarely encountered at 256 Bates Rd.

16 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 22 May, perched atop a dead fir on the s. side of the stt powerline, w. of the Snowden Rd. crossing, at 16:24. This is 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop; scrub-jay/s were seen at this spot earlier this spring: DATE?? (SJ).

Black-billed Magpie –

5 on 6 Mar., in a small flock, along the upper trail, Deschutes River State Recreation Area, just upriver from the Deschutes R. mouth, Sherman Co., OR (SJ).

12 on 11 Mar., found while surveying the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, in Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

1 on 17 Mar., “on a kill with 15 Bald Eagles and 6 ravens, along the w. slope of the Klickitat R. at MP 2.3 along hwy. 142” (CJF).

1 on 19 Mar., nestbuilding activity, carrying a stick at Horsethief Butte in Horsethief Butte SP (BH).

9 on 1 Apr., five singles and 2 apparent pairs, noted along a 57.6 mi. stretch of hwy. 14, from just < the Eightmile Creek crossing at Crawford’s Grove e. to 3.3 mi. beyond the Pine Creek crossing (KK, SJ).

Am. Crow –

>75 on 9 Mar., flew up along the RR tracks < ½ mi. w. of hwy 14’s MP 55, Skamania Co., WA, at ~15:05 (SJ).

5 on 19 Mar., four at Pitt, along hwy 142 at MP 9.7, under the line of walnut trees there (15:25), and one heard-only, calling, just w-nw of the Haul Rd. and ~1.4 mi. to ne. of Wahkiacus (as the crow flies), at 17:35. The latter sounded like a flyby (SJ).

2 on 1 Apr., probable pair, along Kreps Lane, Conboy Lake NWR, mid - late afternoon (KK, SJ).

31 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

~15 on 19 May, mobbing something along Glenwood Hwy. just w. of Glenwood Millpond, late afternoon (SJ).

9 on 11 Mar., found while surveying the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, in Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

1 on 23 Apr., calling, flushed from flats at w. side of the Hood R. mouth, Hood River waterfront, ~10:15 (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

Horned Lark –

298 on 11 Mar., many eating gravel in the snowy road, found during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

On 1 Apr., while surveying the 127 mile n. Gilliam Co., OR, raptor route, “…Horned Larks were scattered everywhere in modest numbers” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 8 Apr., about 100-150 m. from the rim of The Syncline, also known as Coyote Wall, n. above Locke Lake – a possible lower elevation breeding site? (CR, TA).

Tree Swallow –

3 on 8 Mar., skimming low over Bingen Pond at ~10:50 (SJ).

>2 on 11 Mar., Tree Swallows (plural) observed over Bingen Pond, in the morning (MB, KK).

20-25 on 28 Mar., foraging over Bingen Pond at 17:45 (SJ).

1 on 29 Mar., along Rock Creek, 3.3 mi. n. of the jct. Newell and Rock Creek roads, foraging with several Violet-green Swallows, at 13:00 (TA, SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

Violet-green Swallow –

1 on 8 Mar., skimming low over Bingen Pond at ~10:50 (SJ).

18 on 13 Mar., circling fairly high over Hewett L. at 17:15. It is possible some Tree Swallows were mixed in with this flock of 18 swallows. Earlier, two violet-greens were seen foraging lower over the lake, growing to 5 swallows, from 13:10 to 13:15 (SJ).

>6 on 19 Mar., calling, foraging well above treetop level over the Klickitat R., ~2 mi. to ne. of Wahkiacus, at 16:30. Two chased a pygmy-owl that flew across the river (SJ).

1 on 20 Mar., calling overhead, along Eyrie Rd., White Salmon, “my first area swallow of spring” (KG).

2 on 28 Mar., one or 2 heard calling in vicinity of BSI buildings in late a.m. and at least one foraging with Tree Swallows over Bingen Pond ~17:40 (SJ).

>6 on 29 Mar., three perching on utility wires, the others foraging over adjacent Rock Creek, 3.3 mi. n. of the jct. Newell an Rock Creek roads, along with 1 Tree Swallow, at 13:00 (TA, SJ).

1 on 5 Apr., “…this morning…I was bombarded with a series of ‘twang twangs’ from rapidly changing directions and turned to see the first Violet-green Swallow swooping low over the street and yard, and making passes at the nest box. It appeared quite suddenly and I haven't seen or heard it the rest of the day.” Along N. Columbus Ave. in Goldendale, s. of the Little Klickitat R. bridge (DL).

4 on 18 Apr., calling, circling around w. end of gym bldg. at BSI, Bingen, where crannies under the eaves attract this species – the first time I’ve seen them here this spring (SJ).

18 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

>1 on 22 & 24 May, heard only, calling continual chattering in pitch black darkness, predawn (at 03:50 on the 24^th) in the vicinity of BSI, Bingen; sounds like they are higher than treetops and buildings. What are these birds doing flying around in the darkness??? (SJ).

4 on 15 Apr., along the Hood River waterfront: first heard calling in flight at the Hood R. mouth, later 4 seen perching on dead branches of a bush at tip of The Hook (field trip for Hood River Co. community education, DM, CD, SJ, et al).

9 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 23 May, calling, at the Hood R. mouth, at 10:56. Heard the buzzy calls first, then saw 2 in low flight over the lawn (e. side of mouth) and adjacent river; they didn’t stick around for more than a minute. Violet-green, Cliff, Tree and Barn swallows were also present at the rivermouth this morning (SJ).

1 on 26 May, Hood River waterfront: foraging low over Waucoma Basin, with >15 other swallows (Cliff and Tree). Viewed from The Hook, on the w. side of the basin. Cool temperatures, steady moderate w. winds, wan sun to overcast skies today (SJ).

1 on 15 Apr., along the Hood River waterfront: first seen with other swallows at the Hood R. mouth, later seen flying around the sw. corner of The Hook (CD, SJ, et al, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

~12 on 23 Apr., nine of these fluttering at the edge of a puddle, gathering mud pellets, at the ne. corner of the jct. Riverside Dr. & N. 8^th St., along the Hood River waterfront, at 12:22 (SJ).

40 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

>2 on 23 May, nesting under eaves at ne. corner of the (now empty) building between the Hood River Marina’s entrance and the s. end of the toll bridge spanning the Columbia River (SJ).

14 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 20 Apr., calling a bit when full-plumaged male and female-plumaged bird flutter close together over the se. corner of Bingen Pond, at 13:27; an hour earlier one was heard-only calling just n-ne. of The Lunch Grove, nearby. This species nests in pilings and dolphins along the Bingen riverfront, and has nested in a woodpecker-made cavity in a dead cottonwood (from which young were fledged) along the e. side of Bingen Pond (SJ).

6 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 18 May, ASY male, calling, in flight over BSI, Bingen, heading nw., at about midday (SJ).

1 on 23 May, at least one, heard-only, calling on and off for 5+ minutes, in the vicinity of the Hood River Marina boat launch site, it sounded like, at 11:00. From the rivermouth, I walked around the w., s. and e. sides of the marina, but the martin/s had moved on by the time I got over to the e. side of the marina (SJ).

1 on 25 May, ASY male, calling in flight over BSI parking lot, Bingen, at about twice treetop level, at 16:45 (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 2 Apr., in oaks along Newell Rd., in e. Klickitat Co. (CJF, SF).

Bushtit –

25 on 6 Mar., flew across the trail connecting the river trail and the upper trail, Deschutes River State Recreation Area, near the mouth of the Deschutes R. in Sherman Co., OR, at 16:53. Several others were heard/seen earlier in the day at other points along the trails, including 4 or 5 in big sage along the upper trail at 16:40 (SJ).

2 on 19 Mar., calling, in riparian (alders) along the Klickitat R. and the Haul Rd., ~1.5 mi. (as the crow flies) ne. of Wahkiacus, at 17:23. Foraging with several chickadees, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This species has been observed (about a decade ago) as far upriver as the Glenwood Hwy. crossing at the Leidl Park campground, almost 7 miles n.-nnw. of this point; the distance is considerably longer in river miles (SJ).

1 on 18 Apr., calling a few notes only, moving quickly through locusts at s. side of BSI, Bingen, flying on w. to trees along w. side of N. Cedar St., at 14:03 (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 2 Apr., along Newell Rd. and Squaw Creek, 0.5 mi. n. of the jct. with Rock Creek Rd. (CJF, SF).

1 on 13 Apr., heard-only, singing a few times along Courtney Rd., 3.3 mi. upslope from the jct. with hwy. 14, on the se. slope of Burdoin Mountain, at 12:37 (BMcK, SJ).

1 on 19 May, carrying nest material into nest situated behind loose bark on a dead pine stub, ~8-10 ft. above ground, at Glenwood Millpond, about 16:45. Saw bird make at least 8 trips into and out from nest (SJ).

1 on 22 Mar., heard only, singing from cliff habitat on the n. slope of Kaser Ridge, Wasco Co., OR, s. above hwy. I-84 at approx. MP 93.5. Canon Wren was also heard singing in this same general area (MR, SJ).

1 on 29 Mar., singing from low cliffs at creek confluence along Newell Rd., 0.8 mi. upstream from jct. with Rock Creek Rd., at 12:14 (TA, SJ).

1 on 11 Apr., heard-only, singing along the lower Cherry Orchard Trail, e. of the Lyle twin tunnels, at sundown / first dark (KW, BH).

Bewick’s Wren –

2 on 6 Mar., countersinging in riparian along the Deschutes R., one on each side of the river in the Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Sherman and Wasco counties, OR, at 13:30 (SJ).

1 on 13 Mar., heard-only, singing just nw. of Bingen Pond, at 17:45 (SJ).

2 on 29 Mar., one singing, riparian along Newell Rd., 1.9 mi. upstream from jct. with Rock Creek Rd. (TA, SJ).

Several on 1 Apr., “At about noon there were several Bewick’s Wrens singing…at Willow Cove WMA,…along the Columbia R. at the e. edge of Gilliam Co., [OR]” (RG, FS); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 15 Apr., along the Hood River waterfront: one heard singing at 07:05 along the Hood R. immediately w. of the county historical museum and a little later one was seen nearby, carrying food in it’s bill, at the w. end of the pedestrian bridge over the river, suggestive of feeding nestlings. A second was heard singing around mid-day at the w. end of the vegetated tip of The Hook (CD, SJ, et al, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

1 on 16 Apr., heard calling and singing, in the e-se. riparian margin of Bingen Pond, 13:48 to 14:38. During the Klickitat Co. BBA, >5 years ago, a pair were feeding young in a nest in a battered old pipe sticking up out of the ground at about a 45 degree angle in the se. corner riparian of Bingen Pond, at about this time of year—very close to where this bird is singing today (SJ).

1 on 23 Apr., heard only, calling, at w. edge of blackberries and brushy vegetation at tip of The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~11:45 (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 22 May, heard-only singing along the w. side of Snowden Rd., 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct with the Bates Rd. loop, at ~15:40. Same spot where one was seen singing earlier this spring ….date ?????????? (SJ).

2 on 31 May, a probable pair, one singing, in brush along Rock Creek just upstream from the mouth, in the far corner of the Corps of Engineers park (SJ).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

3 on 19 May, one heard singing in riparian along the creek in the open area at the s. end of Jebe Swale, w. side of Fisher Hill Rd., at ~13:00, and a pair, with the male singing and fluttering its wings closeby mate, at the Glenwood Millpond, at ~15:45 (SJ).

1 on 22 May, heard-only, singing along the w. side of the road at 776 Snowden, a little over a mile s-sw. of Mount Brook and n. of the stt powerline crossing (SJ).

1 on 30 May, singing, in the Trout Lake NAP, in the same general vicinity as one last summer (SJ).

1 on 30 May, heard-only, singing along N. Sunnyside Rd. (drive-by), a mile w. of the jct. with Trout Lake Cemetery Rd. (SJ).

Winter Wren –

1 on 18 Mar., along Pipeline Loop ski trail in GPNF, Yakima Co., WA, ~1 mi. sw. of Smith Butte, at ~3350 ft. elev. with a snow depth of >4 feet (KG).

On 12 Apr., nest found along rut in the Dozier tract, off Fordyce Rd., sw. of Husum: side entrance into a green, living ball of moss at about hip height, lodged in fork of a 11 ft. tall Ocean Spray bush. A dead, curly big leaf maple leaf forms a canopy over entry. Appears to be in the building stage, unless it has already been robbed. It looks lined, but the entry hole looks too loose, insecure, for a finished nest; it stands out conspicuously in this bush, but looks like moss that might have blown down from nearby trees into the bush. In the SE ¼ of T4N R10E, for BBA purposes (SJ).

1 on 30 May, singing along a vernal creek in the Trout Lake NAP, where one was observed tending stub-tailed fledgelings last summer (SJ).

Am. Dipper –

3 on 12 Mar., Eagle Creek: “Our first stop of the morning was at Eagle Creek in the Gorge to see Am. Dippers…we saw three, two…were busy constructing a nest under the first foot bridge that passes over the creek” (LR & his ornithology class); close to the Hood River/Multnomah county line. Gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 19 Mar., singing along the Klickitat R. <50 m. upstream from the hwy. 142 “twin bridges” crossing, at 15:56. There is a used nest on the concrete I beam under the bridge, with old mutes trailing down the concrete from the side entry; the nest looks refurbished, though, and is probably in current use. For BBA purposes, this is in the NW ¼ of T4N R14E (SJ).

2 on 12 Apr., pair, at sharp bend in the White Salmon R. at base of the high stony-soil cliff opposite the Dozier tract, >1 mile downstream from Husum; this was the site of an active nest several years ago (SJ).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 12 Apr., heard-only, singing, down near the river in the Dozier tract, off Fordyce Rd., sw. of Husum, at 12:41 (SJ).

1 on 30 May, heard singing in the Trout Lake NAP (SJ).

Ruby-crowned Kinglet –

8 on 6 Mar., singles frequently encountered in riparian and big sage along trails in the Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Sherman Co., OR, during a hike just upriver from the mouth; these probably were not all wintering birds (SJ).

1 on 19 Mar., foraging in alder riparian along the Klickitat R. and the Haul Rd., ~1.5 mi. (as the crow flies) ne. of Wahkiacus, accompanying several chickadees and 2 Bushtits, at 17:23 (SJ).

As of 29 Mar., “Ruby-crowned Kinglets [are] migrating through in large numbers now,” per email from White Salmon (CJF).

1 on 3 Apr., at the w. end (Clear Branch inlet end) of Laurance L., 5.3 mi. sw. of Parkdale, Hood River Co., OR, elev. ___ ft., in late afternoon (KW, BH, SJ).

1 on 4 Apr., male, foraging in deciduous brushy growth in the regenerating clearcut along lower Nestor Peak Rd., ~ ½ mile n. of Northwestern L., at 11:25. Heard singing at 11:35 and later on, scolding for a solid minute further e. along the old rd./trail, at 13:32 (SJ).

>4 on 16 Apr., along w. side of Catherine Creek, trails 1230 – 020 & 1230 – 015, encountered in 3 spots (1, 2, 1), late a.m. and afternoon (SJ).

W. Bluebird –

2 on 2 Mar., pair, checking out a nestbox at 18 McConiga Rd., nw. of Lyle (BH).

2 on 4 Mar., pair, the first of spring, at property along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Canon Creek Rd.; this is adjacent the Klickitat Wildlife Area (TA).

5 on 11 Mar., flew over Eyrie Rd., White Salmon (KG).

2 on 18 Mar., pair, at Catherine Creek (WC leading VAS field trip); from Tweeters.

1 on 20 Mar., female, foraging along farmyard fence at MP 0.15 Highland Orchard Rd., Skamania Co., WA; via Cook – Underwood Rd., this is ~4.2 mi. w. of Underwood (SJ).

2 on 29 Mar., males, in wide open/treeless country along Dot Rd.: one perching on low vegetation in open rangeland to w. of the road, one mi. n. of the jct with Newell Rd., the second, associating with a male Mountain Bluebird, closeby the old Grange hall at Dot, 0.6 mi. further n. along the e. side of the road (TA, SJ).

2 on 31 Mar., “Yesterday [31 Mar.] near the town of Lone Rock, [Gilliam Co., OR,] there were dozens of Mountain Bluebirds and at least one pair of Western Bluebirds” (RG, FS); from OBOL.

2 on 31 Mar., pair on fence along Klickitat – Appleton Rd., 0.13 mi. e. of jct. with Canon Rd., alongside a vernal pond/marsh with camas meadow adjacent, at ~16:55 (SJ).

6 on 1 Apr., two singles along Bickleton Hwy., between Cleveland and Rock Creek; three, including a pair 2 mi. e. of Glenwood, along Glenwood Hwy.; and a male in Conboy Lake NWR, along the s. extension of Lake Rd. from the jct. with Hansen Rd., accompanying 2 female bluebird sp. at the edge of an aspen copse (KK, SJ).

3 on 2 Apr., territorial chasing along Old Hwy 8 at the jct. with Sunset Dr., w-nw. of Lyle, at 12:55 (SJ).

1 on 16 Apr., male, singing softly, staying close to a dead ponderosa pine on the w. side of the wide open swath high on the slope w. of Catherine Creek; a STT powerline runs down this lower se. slope of Burdoin Mountain (SJ).

2 on 24 May, pair, on the garden fence at 728 7^th St., Lyle, at ~18:45 (SJ); they have nested here in the recent past (last year?) (JL).

Mountain Bluebird –

“a small flock” on 12 Mar., along hwy 197 south of Tygh Valley, Wasco Co., OR (LR & his ornithology class); gleaned from OBOL.

13 on 29 Mar., five pairs and a single male, at or in the vicinity of bluebird boxes along Dot Rd., from the top of Old Lady Canon n. to the old Grange hall at Dot and on to within half a mile of Gadeberg Rd.; also 1 pair along Newell Rd., 1.3 mi. w. of jct. with Dot Rd. (TA, SJ).

Dozens on 31 Mar., “Yesterday [31 Mar.] near the town of Lone Rock, [Gilliam Co., OR,] there were dozens of Mountain Bluebirds and at least one pair of Western Bluebirds” (RG, FS); from OBOL.

On 2 Apr., “No Mountain Bluebirds had any nest starts. Several pairs were at the boxes and entered after we removed the old nesting material” (CJF, SF). These observations were made during maintenance work along stretches of the Bickleton bluebird trail.

bluebird, sp. –

1 on 1 Mar., heard-only, calling along 3^rd Ave. a little s. of the corner with F St. in Dallesport; three W. Bluebirds were seen in the Russian olives here earlier this winter, on 18 Dec.’05 (SJ).

1 on 3 Mar., heard-only, calling along N. Major Creek Rd. ~1/2 mile e. of the jct. with Bates Rd.; this is a W. Bluebird breeding area (DG).

Townsend’s Solitaire –

1 on 25 Feb., at the mouth of the Hood R., along the Hood River waterfront (SJ).

1 on 1 Mar., in the vicinity of lower Major Creek (JD).

1 on 12 Mar., Eagle Creek, in general vicinity of the first footbridge that crosses the creek, probably in Multnomah Co., OR, but close to the Hood River Co. line (LR & his ornithology class); gleaned from OBOL.

2 on 29 Mar., one in dead sumac along Newell Rd. ~25m. upcreek from jct. with Rock Creek Rd., a second in sumac along Rock Creek Rd. two miles further n. (TA, SJ).

4 on 16 Apr., two probable pairs: 2 at e. rim of a steep canon slope where oaks give way to a wide swath of grassland with a stt powerline running se. downslope, and 2 more at low rocky cliffs further se., at a lower elevation along trail 1230 015 at Catherine Creek (SJ).

1 on 29 Apr., at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

1 on 14 May, in his Stevenson, Skamania Co., backyard, in the evening (JD).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 19 May, heard-only, calling “whit” water-drip notes, in creek riparian just downstream from meadow at the s. end of Jebe Swale, along the w. side of Fisher Hill Rd., at ~13:20 (SJ).

Hermit Thrush –

1 on 1 Mar., under Russian olives alongside F St. at the corner with 3^rd Ave., Dallesport, at ~11:00. This was a wintering site (SJ).

1 on 1 Mar., at the wetland between the Windseekers restaurant and the USDA Service Centre, along The Dalles riverfront, at ~14:15 (SJ).

1 on 4 Mar., along the paved trail at Catherine Creek, between Old Hwy 8 and hwy 14 (CJF, SF).

1 on 22 Mar., heard call note series of this species in the Burdoin Mountain area, 0.8 mi. n. of Rick Bob Rd. off Courtney Rd. (CJF).

1 on 10 Apr., calling soft “derp” notes in response to my pygmy-owl imitations, along Oak Flat Rd. in the Columbia Hills IBA, at ~12:12 (SJ).

1 on 16 Apr., heard-only, calling soft “derp” notes in response to my pygmy-owl imitations, along old rd. / trail on the w. side of Catherine Creek, at ~12:30 (SJ).

2 on 15 May, calls and songs heard along upper Catherine Creek (CJF).

1 on 19 May, heard-only, singing at forest edge near the dam at Glenwood Millpond, ~16:55 (SJ).

Am. Robin –

~115 on 9 Mar., sixty nw. of Port of Klickitat’s office, 55 along W. Lakeview Blvd., Bingen’s riverfront (SJ).

830 on 11 Mar., noted during the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR (CJF, SF).

130 on 20 Mar., foraging on hayfield stubble along Highland Orchard Rd., Skamania Co., WA (SJ).

2 on 3 Apr., at Laurance L., 5.3 mi. sw. of Parkdale, Hood River Co., OR, elev. ___ ft.; most of the ground is still covered with fairly deep snow, but the margins of the reservoir, recently drawn down, are snow-free (KW, BH, SJ).

1 on 23 Apr., in locusts out in front (on s. side) of BSI, Bingen, at 09:08. Flew up from the ground in this same area at 09:50. Robins have never nested on the BSI grounds, nor have they nested around Bingen Pond, at a slightly lower elev. and a little further south (SJ).

29 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

Varied Thrush –

2 on 9 Mar., one on the w. side of Grant L., the second heard-only, calling, in Home Valley Park, both in Skamania Co., WA (SJ).

1 on 20 Mar., at 18 McConiga Rd., oak-pine savannah just n. of and above the w. end of Chamberlain L. (BH).

As of 24 Mar., “the male Varied Thrush is still frequently foraging the back lane and lawn. At times there have been two of them.” Presence first noted in late winter. Property is along N. Columbus Ave. in Goldendale (DL).

1 on 3 Apr., heard-only, singing in late afternoon/early evening (~18:45) at Laurance L., Hood River Co., OR, elev. ___ ft.; except for bare ground at the margins of the recently-drawn-down reservoir, the surrounding area is still covered with fairly deep snow (KW, BH, SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., male, calling “turp!” notes, and scolding too, along a vernal creek beside upper Oak Flat Rd. on the n. flank of the Columbia Hills IBA, in oak forest with scattered Ponderosa Pine, at 11:55. A mobbing response to my pygmy-owl imitations, along with nuthatches, etc. (SJ).

1 on 11 Apr., “This a.m. both the Mockingbird and the Vesper Sparrow were seen at the Sandy [River] Delta, [Multnomah Co., OR], just past the previously reported site of the Mockingbird, where the first path to the left turns back to the main gravel trail. The VS was on the right side in the brambles and the MB was flying around on both sides” (Linda ______); from OBOL.

300 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

9 on 26 May, five adults and 4 fledged young, calling distinctive “begging” notes, foraging alongside E. Humboldt St., just below the BSI parking lot in Bingen, at 15:15. The young are pretty much the same size as adults, but still show some traces of flabby, yellow gape flanges; they fly and perch with assurance. These are the first fledged young starlings I’ve encountered this spring (SJ).

Am. Pipit –

2 on 11 Mar., around Bingen Pond (MB, KK).

1 on 15 Apr., calling, flew over the sandflat at the Hood R. mouth, heading upriver, ~08:00 – 08:15 (CD, SJ, et al, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

5 on 19 May, calling in flight se. toward the grove of big aspens at Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., in mid-late morning (SJ).

1 on 27 Apr., first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

4 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 21 Apr., at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

1 on 27 Apr., at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (TA).

12 on 14 May, “…up on Old The Dalles Rd. on the ridge at the east edge of the county. The habitat is a mixture of meadows, oaks, and conifers. There we also found 12 Nashville Warblers, and I'm sure we could have found more if we'd worked only that road more seriously.” Found during the Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

7 on 19 May, at least 4 at Timber Valley pond: 2 pairs (one pair may have copulated), males singing. One, calling, in riparian at the confluence of two creeks just downstream from the s. end of Jebe Swale, along Fisher Hill Rd.; and two heard singing at Glenwood Millpond, one just w. of the inlet and another further downstream near the dam (SJ).

3 on 22 May, singing along Snowden Rd. at the stt powerline crossing, 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop, ~16:00 to 16:50 (SJ).

1 on 23 May, singing at the Hood R. mouth, in riparian along the w. bank, at 10:18. A bit later it was singing in park trees on the e. side of the river (SJ).

Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler –

2 on 1 Mar., calling, at the wetland between Windseekers restaurant and the USDA Service Centre on River Rd., along The Dalles riverfront, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

1 on 16 Apr., female plumage, with >5 male Audubon’s, riparian along Catherine Creek, trail 1230 – 020 (SJ).

2 on 20 Apr., foraging in willows along e. side of Bingen Pond; both look to be females or SY males with obvious molt on heads and necks (SJ).

1 on 23 Apr., male, singing and foraging in alders below nw. rim of cul-de-sac at n. end of The Spit road, along the Hood River waterfront, at 11:00 (SJ).

Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler –

5 on 6 Mar., flycatching from alders, etc., in the riparian along e. side of the Deschutes R., mostly at the “seeps” in the boardwalk stretch, Deschutes River SP, Sherman Co., OR (SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., singing male, foraging in an oak along Oak Flat Rd. on the n. flank of the Columbia Hills IBA, the only yellow-rump encountered in 41 mi. surveying raptors. Nonstop rain into the early afternoon, made for poor viewing conditions all morning, however (SJ).

6 on 19 May, female gathering nest material (stripping stalk of a long-dead plant) while male sings, along n. side of Canon Rd. at Timber Valley pond, mid-morning, and a male heard singing s. of the pond at mid-day; also a pair (male singing) just w. of the inlet at Glenwood Millpond, plus a singing male at the other end of the pond, near the dam, in mid-late afternoon (SJ).

Yellow-rumped Warbler –

1 on 1 Mar., flycatching near a wetland in the natural area of Riverfront Park, The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR (SJ).

~ 6 on 9 Mar., foraging & flycatching on log raft moored to dolphins e. of Bingen marina’s mouth, at 14:28 (SJ).

~ 3 on 11 Mar., at Crow Butte SP, Benton Co., WA, in the afternoon (MB, KK).

>7 on 13 Mar., flycatching over and around Hewett L., ~13:15 to 14:30. Two looked to be dull-plumaged Audubon’s when focused on more closely (SJ).

>8 on 14 Mar., along the entry/exit road to/from Spring Creek Fish Hatchery, Skamania Co., WA; most looked at closely were Myrtles, but one was an Audubon’s; calls of the former were ‘harder’ than the Audubon’s (BMcK, SJ).

>17 on 16 Mar., total number encountered during walk along trails 1230 – 020 & 1230 – 015 at Catherine Creek, n. of hwy. 14, late a.m. and afternoon. Many that were closely observed were singing male Audubon’s (SJ).

1 on 19 Apr., at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

5 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 22 Apr., at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

2 on 23 Apr., at Trout Lake Marsh NAP (PM).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 19 May, singing at Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd., late morning (SJ).

1 on 22 May, singing along Snowden Rd. at the stt powerline crossing, 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct with the Bates Rd. loop; this is a little over a mile s-sw. of Mount Brook (SJ).

>1 on 29 May, singing male/s at Trout Lake NAP (PM).

2 on 30 May, singing males, Trout Lake NAP (SJ).

1 on 13 May, at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (TA).

1 on 19 May, heard-only, singing sw. of the dam at Glenwood Millpond, late afternoon (SJ).

>1 on 29 May, singing in the Trout Lake NAP (PM).

1 on 30 May, in the Trout Lake NAP (SJ).

1 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

>1on 29 May, singing in the Trout Lake NAP (PM).

1 on 31 May, male, singing, in walnut riparian (some alders) along Rock Creek, near the shed in the far corner of the Corps of Engineers park at the mouth of the creek; it’s back was so heavily streaked that it looked almost solid black (SJ).

1 on 29 May, heard singing in the Trout Lake NAP (PM).

4 on 30 May, in the Trout Lake NAP: three singing ASY males seen, a 4^th male was heard-only, occupying the same territories used by redstarts last spring-summer (SJ). The male on the 29^th was singing from yet another spot.

2 on 14 May, singing at Trout Lake NAP; “at 07:18 there were two Northern Waterthrushes singing, just about exactly where found last May 29th. I listened to them and glassed for them off and on for three hours until they quieted down. But I never did see 'em,... and they did change location some on several occasions, essentially repositioning North to sing a bit, then back South” (PM).

1 on 29 May, heard singing in the vicinity where one was in mid-May, in the Trout Lake NAP (PM).

2 on 30 May, in the Trout Lake NAP, one singing from the exact same perch that it used last spring-summer, the second heard-only, singing within hearing of the first, but at a different location than the 2^nd bird last year. Singing of 1^st bird noted from 13:50 to 14:00; at 14:03 one heard singing further off to the e-se. The 1^st male sang again from 14:11 to 14:18, flew nw., resumed singing in same tree at 14:26. By 14:37 a second countersinging male was audible off to the se. Two males continue countersinging (I’ve positioned myself midway between them) at 15:00. At 15:03 the second male was singing in the distance >100 m. further to se. And at 15:17 birds are countersinging again as I leave (SJ).

1 on 3 May, first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

8 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

4 on 19 May, two singing at Timber Valley pond along Canon Rd.: one e. of pond, one to nw. of pond (later see male at w. end of big aspens, w. end of pond). And pair in creek riparian just downstream from the s. end of Jebe Swale, along Fisher Hill Rd.; male singing, mate calling (SJ).

2 on 22 May, countersinging in brush under the stt powerline, at w. side of the Snowden Rd. crossing, 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop; this is a little over a mile s-sw. of Mount Brook (SJ).

2 + on 29 May, singing in the Trout Lake NAP (PM).

1 on 15 Apr., calls heard first, in little marshy microhabitat at base of the cul-de-sac, n. end of the dike road on w. side of the Hood R., i.e., at the Hood R. mouth (SB, SJ, Hood River Co. community education field trip).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 19 May, male, marshy pond (cattails) w. of the dike rd. at Glenwood Millpond; “tched” and stutter calls heard as well as song, in late afternoon (SJ).

1 or 2 on 29 May, heard singing in the Trout Lake NAP (PM).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

4 on 19 May, three at Timber Valley pond, one singing on territory above the sw. shore (while it was chasing a second, I heard another male singing closeby), in late morning; and one singing briefly in riparian at the confluence of two creeks just downstream from the s. end of Jebe Swale, at ~13:15 (SJ).

1 on 31 May, female, in riparian along Rock Creek, near the shed at the far corner of the Corps of Engineers park sited at the creek mouth (SJ).

1 on 14 May, “One notable hightlight [of the NAMC] was my first-ever detection of Yellow-breasted Chat in Hood River Co. It was on the port property at the east end of Cascade Locks, near the small cove north of the sawmill” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 31 May, singing from dead sapling in close proximity to an extensive blackberry thicket along Rock Creek, near the far corner of the Corps of Engineers park sited at the creek mouth, at mid-morning (SJ).

1 on 12 May, first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

8 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

4 on 19 May, two at Timber Valley pond, along Canon Rd. (one calling se. side of pond, later 1 heard singing w. of the pond); one heard singing sw. of creek crossing along Fisher Hill Rd., downstream from the s. end of Jebe Swale and 1 mi. to s. of the jct. with Wahkiacus Heights Rd.; and 1 heard singing at Glenwood Millpond (SJ).

1 on 22 May, heard-only, singing at the stt powerline crossing Snowden Rd., 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct with the Bates Rd. loop, ~16:00 (SJ).

1 on 25 May, heard-only, calling “bddick” notes and singing, in oaks along w. side of Cedar St. n. of the intersection with E. Humboldt St., Bingen, at 14:47 (SJ).

1 on 26 May, heard-only, singing briefly in vicinity of BSI, Bingen; heard through closed window of room #12 at 10:44 (SJ).

Spotted Towhee –

1 on 28 Feb., the first returning spring migrant showed up along Bates Rd. at Gadways’ feeder (DG).

1 on 28 Feb., male, first of the spring season at property along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Canon Creek Rd.; this is adjacent the Klickitat Wildlife Area (TA).

1 on 2 Mar., heard-only, calling along N. Major Creek Rd., to e. of the jct. with Bates Rd. (DG)

2 on 4 Apr., pair, nestbuilding along lower Nestor Peak Rd., half a mile n. of Northwestern L., at ~10:20. The male had a dead grass stalk in his bill and was tugging on other vegetation; eventually he flew across the road with dead grass, to where female was perched, and then angled down to the presumed nest site and was lost to view (SJ).

1 on 19 Apr., first female of the season at 256 Bates Rd.; males arrived earlier (DG).

13 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 30 Mar., at the Sandy R. delta, Multnomah Co., OR (IT).

1 on 1 Apr., “This afternoon at ~14:30 I relocated the Vesper Sparrow reported two days ago by IT at the Sandy River delta (I-84, Exit 18). I flushed the bird several times before it finally perched cooperatively on top of a bramble and gave me point-blank looks. It was quite pale overall with white outer tail feathers, a complete white eye ring, creamy undertail and uniform black and gray streaks on the upper back. At some angles, even the rufous lesser coverts were visible. Directions: Head east from the parking lot at Exit 18, go past the corral and continue another 3/8 mile to a fork in the trail. Stay straight (left) and go another quarter mile and take the less travelled path to the right. After a couple hundred yards you will encounter a series of brambles on your right (if you have reached the pond on your left, you've gone too far). At the first bramble, leave the path and walk due south keeping the brambles on your left. In about 90 yards you will come upon a small depression (about 30 feet across) with uniform short grass. The bird has been consistently seen within a 100-foot radius of the depression. This is where IT originally found it, where I found it today, and where AF and IT found it yesterday” (JF).

1 on 1 Apr., flushed from Pine Creek Rd., 1 mi. w. of the jct. with Nelson Rd., nw. of Bickleton; only seen in flight – identified by size and flashing white outer rectrices (KK).

2 on 2 Apr., one seen singing, another heard-only singing, along Brannon Rd. in e. Klickitat Co. (CJF, SF).

1 on 11 Apr., “This a.m. both the Mockingbird and the Vesper Sparrow were seen at [the] Sandy [River] Delta just past the previously reported site of the Mockingbird, where the first path to the left turns back to the main gravel trail. The VS was on the right side in the brambles and the MB was flying around on both sides…” (Linda ______); from OBOL.

1 on 12 May, at the Sandy R. delta, Multnomah Co., OR (fide HN); gleaned from 5/18/06 Audubon Society of Portland weekly RBA posted to Tweeters.

2 on 21 Apr., at Catherine Creek, the first of the season (JE, PM).

1 on 26 Apr., at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of Crofton Prairie’s nw. end (TA).

1 on 2 May, first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

6 on 19 May, four at Timber Valley pond, alongside Canon Rd., one with nest material (fine rootlets, it looks like) in its bill, flew with mate up into mid-level of a Doug fir, at e. end of the pond; 2 other males countersang to nw. of the pond. One sang in vicinity of creek riparian just downsteam from the s. end of Jebe Swale, along Fisher Hill Rd., and one sang near the dam at Glenwood Millpond at ~16:55 (SJ).

1 on 22 May, heard-only, singing in row of spruce or D. fir at farmyard along Bates Rd., 0.8 mi. se. of the ne. jct. with Snowden Rd., at ~15:15 (SJ).

1 on 16 May, at the Sandy R. delta, Multnomah Co., OR (fide HN); gleaned from the weekly Audubon Society of Portland RBA, posted to Tweeters.

2 on 15 May, singing along upper Catherine Creek (CJF).

4 on 27 Mar., migrants, foraging along the short weedy (millions of blossoming Spring Whitlow-Grass, Draba verna) road margins s. of the “paddlewheeler” dock and w. of Boat Works Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~14:15 (SJ).

2 on 9 Apr., along Bates Rd. (DG).

1 on 12 Apr., heard-only, singing in a grassy swale s. of Fordyce Rd., < 1 mile sw. of Husum, at 11:15. Several years ago, while surveying for the Klickitat Co. BBA, Savannah Sparrow/s were found singing along Fordyce Rd. (SJ).

1 on 18 Apr., along Bates Rd. to n. of jct. with N. Major Creek Rd. (DG).

2 on 20 Apr., along the Bingen riverfront, flushed from vicinity of puddle immediately e. of se. corner of the binstacks, to s. of Bingen Pond and on n. side of Shore Dr.; migrants, as this is not a breeding site (SJ).

1 on 23 Apr., flushed from weedy (but recently totally submerged by high water levels) base of The Spit, along the Hood River waterfront, at 10:49. Calls heard first; seen only in flight, w. to e. across the Hood R. mouth (SJ).

4 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 22 May, heard singing once, seen on fence post along Bates Rd., 0.8 mi. s-se. of the ne. jct. with Snowden Rd. (SJ).

2 on 2 Apr., tentative I.D., heard-only, singing along Middle Rd., s. of Bickleton (CJF).

1 on 6 May, at the Sandy River delta, Multnomah Co., OR (fide HN); from Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly), posted on OBOL.

Fox Sparrow –

3 on 1 Mar., one heard singing, in blackberry thickets and other brush nw. of the corner of F St. & 3^rd Ave. in Dallesport: one looks to be a ‘Slate-coloured,’ one an apparent intergrade between ‘Sooty’ and ‘Slate-coloured’ and the 3^rd heard only, at ~10:45 (SJ).

1 on 1 Mar., an apparent ‘intergrade’ between ‘Sooty’ and ‘Slate-coloured,’ at the brush-edged wetland along The Dalles riverfront, between Windseekers restaurant and the USDA Service Centre, Wasco Co., OR, at ~14:15 (SJ).

5 on 6 Mar., in blackberry thickets at “seeps” along boardwalk stretch of the riverside trail, Deschutes River SP, Sherman Co., OR ; they look most like “Slate-coloured.” One singing for a bit (SJ).

3 on 9 Mar., in blackberry thicket along w. side of Grant L., Skamania Co., WA; two have grey washed across sides of head and neck, like “Slate-coloured,” third has merest hint of grey there, looks like a “Sooty” (SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., in willow brush along the vernal creek beside upper Oak Flat Rd., on the n. flank of the Columbia Hills IBA. Has a greyish face, suggesting ‘Slate-coloured;’ definitely not ‘Sooty’ (SJ).

1 on 18 Apr., first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

9 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 1 Apr., “near the old Olex School on Upper Rock Cr. Rd.” in Gilliam Co., OR (RG, FS); from OBOL.

1 on 2 Apr., in a yard between NE Academy and Columbia streets, in White Salmon, where a feeding station is maintained (PM).

1 on 8 Apr., sang once, in the rain, from brush in a wet spot along the n. side of the Klickitat Trail (Swale Creek riparian is s. of the trail); less than halfway, when walking east from Harms Rd., to the Centerville Hwy bridge at Warwick (SJ).

1 on 15 or 16 Apr., “Arlington, across the road from the cemetery (a first for me in Gilliam Co.!)” (PS and ABW participants); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 4 Apr., along Bates Rd. (DG).

1 on 22 Apr., heard-only, singing twice, somewhere to s. of BSI, Bingen…along hwy. 14 or still further s. along the RR tracks, at 10:18. This species doesn’t nest at this low elevation (SJ).

14 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

4 on 19 May, at least 4 territorial males countersinging in the immediate vicinity of Timber Valley pond, mid- to late morning (SJ).

Golden-crowned Sparrow –

5 on 6 Mar., in the Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Sherman Co., OR; one along the river trail at the gauging station and 4 further upriver, beyond the boardwalk, in blackberry thickets along a vernal creek that recently flooded and washed out the middle trail crossing (SJ).

4 on 15 Apr., one in riparian between The Spit road and w. bank of the Hood R., along the Hood River waterfront, early a.m.; and 3 in full alternate plumage at Davis’s feeder along East Side Rd., se. of Hood River, at ~12:15 to 12:20 (CD, SJ, et al: Hood River Co. community education field trip).

2 on 16 Apr., “Two bright male Golden-crowned Sparrows…were new for spring” at their home on Mt. Pleasant in w. Skamania Co., WA (WC); from Tweeters.

>1 on 22 Apr., still singing in vicinity of a home along NE Columbia St. near the jct. with NE Skagit Ave., White Salmon (JE, PM).

Dark-eyed (Slate-coloured) Junco –

1 on 17 Mar., “one continuing along Eyrie Rd. through 17 Mar.” (KG).

1 on 31 Mar., along Snowden Rd. just e. of the jct. with Staats Rd., at the edge of riparian along the W. Fork of Major Creek, just upstream from the inlet end of Wiley’s Pond, at 14:20. Foraging with 6 Oregon Juncos (SJ).

2 on 23 Mar., heard counter-singing along E. Humboldt St. and at the intersection with Cedar St., as well as around BSI, Bingen. Singing by one or two males has been going on around BSI for a couple weeks now, sometimes a block further n., along E. Franklin St. Several years ago a pair nested in a fist-sized depression I had made for them in the steep vegetated bank at the back of the vegetable garden here at BSI. The depression was well hidden by an overhang of residual grass and bracken, but a predator found the nest, nonetheless, and the eggs were taken (SJ).

10+ on 16 Apr., calling, mobbing me as I imitate pygmy-owl, along trail at w. side of Catherine Creek, n. of hwy. 14, at 12:10 – apparently some are still flocking? (SJ).

As of 23 Apr., no junco/s have been seen or heard singing in BSI vicinity for some time now, so nesting is not going to happen here this spring (SJ).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 29 Apr., at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (TA).

1 on 5 May, first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

11 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

3 or 4 on 19 May, two countersinging and a probable 3^rd singing around Timber Valley pond, mid-morning, and one male heard singing in creek riparian in the open area just downstream from the s. end of Jebe Swale, ~13:00 (SJ).

3 on 22 May, countersinging males, along the w. side of Snowden Rd. at the stt powerline crossing, 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop, at ~16:00 (SJ).

1 on 22 May, heard-only, singing in trees nw. of the jct. N. Cedar and E. Humboldt streets, Bingen, at 19:45 (SJ).

4 on 30 May, heard singing in the Trout Lake NAP (SJ).

2 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

2 on 19 May, males, along Canon Rd. at Timber Valley pond, one singing at the pond’s s-se margin, another at the meadow’s edge just w. of the grove of big aspens, in mid-late morning (SJ).

1 on 30 May, heard singing near the Trout Lake NAP (SJ).

1 on 31 May, heard singing near the shed at the far corner of the Corps of Engineers park sited at the mouth of Rock Creek, Klickitat Co., WA, at 11:20 (SJ).

Western Meadowlark –

20 on 11 Mar., noted along the 102 mile The Dalles – Dufur raptor run, route B, Wasco Co., OR; “singing + 2 seen together = pair?” (CJF, SF).

4 on 12 Mar., four together near Bingen Pond, “the day after the morning of the last snow” (KG).

8 on 20 Mar., foraging in hayfield stubble along Highland Orchard Rd., ~ 4 mi. w. of Underwood via Cook – Underwood Rd., Skamania Co., WA (SJ).

3 on 11 Apr., seen out on The Hook, along the Hood River waterfront (BMcK).

1 on 16 Apr., heard-only, singing in the early evening (pre-dusk) from steep grassy slopes on the lower s. flank of Burdoin Mountain, just n. of E. Franklin St. and BSI, Bingen; this is the second time this spring that a singing meadowlark was heard on these slopes. Singing heard from these slopes again on 22 Apr. (SJ).

1 on 14 May, “…found the only W. Meadowlark of the day [Hood River Co. NAMC] up on Old The Dalles Rd. on the ridge at the e. edge of the county. The habitat is a mixture of meadows, oaks, and conifers” (CK, PS); gleaned from OBOL.

1 on 22 May, with a useless L. leg, flew up along Bates Rd. to a fence post near the farmyard 0.8 mi. s-se. of the ne. jct. with Snowden Rd. (SJ).

2 on 7 Apr., males, at the Washougal Sewage Treatment Plant, Clark Co., WA, at MP17.5 of hwy 14, “found while I was cleaning out the swallow boxes there” (WC); from Tweeters.

1 on 11 May, female, foraging on lawn in the little park at nw. end of Bingen’s marina, with starlings (CC).

1 on 12 May, male?, heard only, singing, calling from the top of locust trees on the s. side of the hostel bldg. at BSI, at 17:35 (SJ).

2 on 16 May, females, calling, fly e. over the BSI pkg. lot with a 3^rd blackbird, sp., at 08:25. Minutes later see 1 of them perched atop the baseball homeplate backdrop fence at the sw. corner of the BSI playfield; in half a min. it is joined by a 2^nd female that flew up onto fence from the ground. When a loudly whistling train rumbles through both fly off to s-sse. toward Bingen’s marina (SJ).

1 on 4 Apr., along Bates Rd. (DG).

3 on 7 Apr., on a manure pile along N. Major Creek Rd. (DG).

24 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

10 on 20 Apr., three females, 7 males, on the ground at filled land at the nw. corner of Bingen Pond, at 16:04, foraging with several starlings and Brewer’s Blackbirds as well as 2 female Red-winged Blackbirds (SJ).

9 on 21 Apr., males, at feeder and yard along Glenwood Hwy. to nw. of the jct. with Counts Rd.; at first there were 4, at 16:10, but in a bit there was a total of nine males (TA).

1 on 23 Apr., male, flushed from the ground in area with low saplings at base of The Spit, along the Hood River waterfront, at 10:52. Calls and displays in red osier dogwood at n. rim of the cul-de-sac, n. end of The Spit road (SJ).

1 on 27 Apr., first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

6 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 11 May, at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (TA).

3 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 4 Apr., heard-only, singing along lower Nestor Peak Rd., about ½ mi. n. of Northwestern L., at ~10:20 (SJ).

1 on 12 Apr., first of the season at 256 Bates Rd. (DG).

2 on 12 Apr., heard-only, one singing, one calling, in two spots along Fordyce Rd., sw. of Husum (SJ).

>1 on 12-13 Apr., heard-only, in the vicinity of a home in White Salmon along NE Columbia St. near the jct. with NE Skagit Ave. (PM).

7 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

3 on 19 May, one heard-only, singing a bit, n. side of Canon Rd. at Timber Valley pond, mid-morning; and a pair, calling flat “dik” notes, in alder riparian at the confluence of two creeks just downstream from the s. end of Jebe Swale, mid-day (SJ).

1 on 22 May, heard-only, singing along the rd. at 776 Snowden Rd., n. of the stt powerline crossing ~100 m. and a little over a mile s-sw. of Mount Brook (SJ).

3 on 5 Apr., “Just spotted three Cassin's Finches in the yard (first for the year), two males and a female.” Observed at Rivendell, along Glenwood Hwy. nw. of the jct. with Counts Rd. and near the jct. with Canon Creek Rd., opposite the Klickitat Wildlife Area (TA).

1 on 10 Apr., female or imm., calling from an oak top along Williamson Rd. on Oak Flat, on the n. slope of the Columbia Hills IBA; in Oregon White Oak – Ponderosa Pine habitat. Nice scope view at 12:25 (SJ).

1 on 10 Apr., male, singing and foraging on Ponderosa Pine cones along Oak Flat Rd., on the n. flank of the Columbia Hills IBA, at 13:10. Plumage is light orange-red, burnished to a golden hue, with dark spots speckling it’s back—perhaps a SY bird? (SJ).

Pine Siskin –

As of 20 Mar., there are “several Pine Siskins continuing in the area surrounding Eyrie Rd.,” White Salmon (KG).

1 on 12 Apr., heard-only, calling, in vicinity of bird feeder at a home along Fordyce Rd., sw. of Husum (SJ).

3 on 16 Apr., “I had the first Pine Siskins of the winter at our place on Mt. Pleasant, [in western] Skamania Co., on Easter, when three of these birds appeared at our thistle feeder” (WC); from Tweeters.

Lesser Goldfinch –

1 on 19 Mar., singing male, in the crown of a deciduous tree next to the house at 1717 Hwy. 142 (>MP 17), 0.4 mi. short of the “twin bridges” crossing of the Klickitat R., at 15:45. This is 0.9 mi. ne. of Wahkiacus (SJ).

1 on 19 & 20 Mar., along Eyrie Rd., White Salmon: “…a Lesser Goldfinch has been around the past couple of days, calling lots…” (from 20 Mar. email: KG).

1 on 8 Apr., heard-only, calling from a locust on the s. side of the hostel building at BSI, Bingen, ~14:00 (SJ).

2 on 11 Apr., one singing male, in the canopy of an oak at the Lyle-Balch Cemetery along Balch Rd., at 17:03, included snippets of calls of 8 species that I recognised: ‘quemp’ from Song Sparrow, ‘bddick’ from W. Tanager, twitterings from Barn Swallow and House Sparrow, ‘keer!’ from N. Flicker, and bits from Am. Robin, Cassin’s Vireo and Am. Goldfinch; an extraordinary mimic! Another was heard singing in oaks along the s. side of Old Hwy 8 to w. of the jct. with Balch and Sauter roads, at ~17:22 (SJ).

1 on 12 Apr., singing male, in mid-canopy of oak at forest edge along w. side of Alt. 141, immediately s. of the jct. with Arnett Rd. At one point song mimicked a W. Wood-Pewee note (SJ).

1 on 16 Apr., singing male, oaktop along the trail (trail 1230 – 020), w. side of Catherine Creek; s. of the (remnant) blooming Dutchman’s Breeches that many wildflower lovers visit each spring (SJ).

1 on 20 Apr., heard-only, singing in riparian at e. and s-se. margin of Bingen Pond, early to mid-afternoon (SJ).

1 on 23 Apr., heard-only, singing in cottonwoods at e. edge of Waucoma Basin, along the Hood River waterfront, at ~1215 (SJ).

9 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

1 on 12 May, at Rivendell, home along Glenwood Hwy. near the jct. with Counts Rd., in the vicinity of the nw. end of Crofton Prairie (TA).

12 on 13 May, eleven, calling, fly e. from trees at the nw. corner of the intersection of N. Cedar & E. Humboldt streets in Bingen, at 07:26. When they’ve gone, I hear calls of at least one remaining in these trees (SJ).

8 on 14 May, Hood River Co. NAMC (CK, PS).

>1 on 22 May, heard-only, calling in flight over the stt powerline crossing Snowden Rd., going se. This is 0.6 mi. n. of the ne. jct. with the Bates Rd. loop, and a little over a mile s-sw. of Mount Brook (SJ).

>1 on 22 May, heard-only, calling in the oaks along SE Wyers St., White Salmon, just s. of the parking lot for the pharmacy and the hardware store, in late afternoon (SJ).

>1 on 24 May, heard-only, calling in the vicinity of Fruit Valley Nursery along NW Loop Rd., White Salmon, at ~17:55/18:00 (SJ).

Bumblebee –

1 on 23 Mar., the first I’ve seen this spring, buzzing around the bank above the BSI parking lot, at ne. corner of Cedar and E. Humboldt streets, Bingen (SJ).

1 on 3 Apr., in a side pool off Clear Branch at the inlet end of Laurance L.; it had a long laterally-compressed tail like a pollywog, thus may have been a larval stage critter? (KW, BH, SJ).

1 on 28 Mar., sunning atop the little concrete lid to the water meter just w. of the vegetable garden, s. side of E. Franklin St., BSI, Bingen, at 13:33. First I’ve seen this spring (SJ).

Western Grey Squirrel –

2 on 29 Mar., in Rock Creek canon, along Newell Rd. a stones throw upstream from the jct. with Rock Creek Rd.; individuals were ~25 m. apart in Squaw Creek riparian (TA, SJ).

2 on 28 Mar., swimming in Bingen Pond at ~17:40 (SJ).

1 on 19 May, D.O.R., along Canon Rd. a mile s. of Timber Valley pond, and a mile n. of the intersection with Klickitat-Appleton Rd. (SJ).

3 on 24 Mar., one big male, 2 female or young, in wheat stubble off to e. of Scott Canon Rd., 7 miles s. of Rufus, Sherman Co., OR (DG, TA, SJ).

11 on 1 Apr., in groups of 5 and 6, Conboy Lake NWR to n. of Kreps Lane, at ~15:00 (KK, SJ).

TA – Ted Anderson

SB – Sandy Bechberg ?? spelling

MB – Marv Breece

CC – Claudia Cleveland

CD – Carroll Davis

JD – John Davis

PE – Pam Essley

JF – John Fitchen

SF – Stewart Fletcher

CJF – Catherine Flick

AF – Andy Frank

DG – Diane Gadway

CG – Chuck Gates

RG – Roy Gerig

KG – Kevin Glueckert

KGo – Kevin Gorman

KH – Karen Hadley

BH – Bob Hansen

RH – Roger Hull

SJ – Stuart Johnston

CK – Carol Karlen

CKo – Carol Kohler

KK – Ken Knittle

JL – Julie Larson

DL – Dan Lichtenwald

BMcK – Bob McKenzie

DM – Diane Millington

PM – Paul Moyer

HN – Harry Nehls

LR – Luke Redmond

CR – Cheryl Roth

MR – Miko Ruhlen

FS – Floyd Schrock

PS – Paul Sullivan

IT – Iain Tomlinson

BT – Bill Tweit

KW – Kathleen Welland

The Audubon Birding Weekend field trips are sponsored by Audubon Society of Portland. Paul Sullivan leads these trips.

This is a co-operative project of The Larks and other bird observers in the Columbia River Gorge.

Compiled by Stuart Johnston

<johnstonstuartf@hotmail.com>