[Tweeters] Black-throated Sparrow(s) in Walla Walla Co.

[Houghton, Jon]

Hi Tweeterdom - today, Kathleen and I headed east for one of our spring outings to Walla Walla.  It's windy here!!  But, we had great ease in finding FOY Bullock's Orioles, but NO Common Nighthawks at the Vernita Rest Stop, en route. At Horn Rapids Co.Park, where CONI have been a sure thing for me in the past, they must have blown elsewhere - not in their usual day roost trees.  We did a breezy walkabout and enjoyed a plethora of YB Chats - readily heard above the wind, along with some other nice and vocal birds. A quick drive through of the Two Rivers Unit showed the usual many Am. White Pelican and gulls, handling the wind much better than us birders. At the Millet Ponds, we found abundant White-faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilts, Great Egrets, and a few Am. Avocets but no Night Herons could be found braving the gale.

  The real prize of the day, was found about 1/2 mile up 9-Mile Canyon Rd. "Anonymous" reported a Black-throated Sparrow here yesterday, the same day that Mike and MaryLynn Denny found one farther north in the county!  Fortunately, MerryLynn knew Anonymous and the distance up 9-mile Rd. of the report. Because of the wind (and time of day), we figured we'd give the 9-mile bird a shot.  We stopped about 1/2 mile up the road and I played the BTSP song into the wind.  We heard some sketchy bird song down in the draw.  We tracked these first birds down as Lark Sparrows, but when they flew off, some song was still heard over the wind.  Finally catching a look at the bird, my first glimpse was of a jet black throat and beautifully striped crown.  It seemed to be singing in response to my playback but...a truck came along and my phone died, so no pix. A great state first for us though.  As a bonus, two adult Ferruginous Hawks soaring above the nest platform.  Happy Birding!  - Jon Houghton, Edmonds

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