[Tweeters] Red-Throated and Pacific Loon in the Tri-Cities

[Rick Taylor]

Tweeters,

Tina and I spent the last two days birding in Benton County and around the Tri-Cities.  It was our first trip to Umatilla NWR.  The LONG-BILLED CURLEW are back and easily seen in the irrigated fields.  We dipped on the Burrowing Owl.  We made a lunch stop at the Columbia-Crest Winery at Paterson yesterday and found a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a MERLIN, and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in the little line of pines bordering the parking lot.  In Richland, we had four AMERICAN AVOCET in the Yakima delta.  The best birds were today with a RED-THROATED LOON in Franklin County just off the swimming beach at Sacajawea State Park and a PACIFIC LOON from Two Rivers Park boat launch across the river in Benton County.  Now, if I could just have convinced them to change places to add them to both county lists.....

Enjoy!

Rick

Rick and Tina Taylor
Everett, WA