Field Trip Reports 2007

2007    2006    2005    2004    2003    2002    2001    2000    1999

Back to Field Trips        WOS Home

August 22, 2007 — Marv Breece led a trip to The Nature Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay Preserve in Snohomish County

August 21, 2007 — Gary Bletsch led a trip in Skagit County hiking from the Rainy Pass trailhead to Cutthroat Pass

July 21, 2007 — Whidbey Island Fall Migration with Brian Bell

July 1-4, 2007 — Blue Mountains of Washington with Ken Knittle

May 5th, 2007 — Scott Downes led a trip to Douglas and Grant counties for shrub-steppe birds and migrants of the upper Grand Coulee area

April 14th, 2007 — Michael Hobbs led a trip in Kittitas County

March 24, 2007 — Ken Knittle led a field trip to Whitcomb Island, Crow Butte State Park, and Roosevelt in Benton County, and eastern Klickitat County

February 10, 2007 — Owls by Day led by Mike and Merry Lynn Denny

January 13-15, 2007 — Patrick and Ruth Sullivan led a trip to the Waterville Plateau

[Top]                    

August 22, 2007—Marv Breece led a trip to The Nature Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay Preserve in Snohomish County.

The day started very slowly at Channel Drive in Skagit County, between La Conner and Hwy 20. The water was too high for shorebirds and the fog too thick to see the birds anyway. We did see a few BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. The OC Warblers were lutescens with a probable orestera.

Our focus was on shorebirds, so after a few stops where we saw few or none, we arrived at the Stanwood STP in Snohomish County. Here we observed a single juv STILT SANDPIPER, a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS (adults w/ 1 juv), LEAST SANDPIPERS and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.

On the large pond to the SW were several species of ducks, a HORNED GREBE, 1 or 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a 1st year FRANKLIN'S GULL.

At The Nature Conservancy's Port Susan Bay Preserve we found limited numbers of shorebirds, but a fine diversity. Highlights include:

Baird's Sandpiper - 15 or more Pectoral Sandpiper - 1 juv Stilt Sandpiper - 1 juv Least Sandpiper - a few Western Sandpiper - 50 or more juv Semipalmated Sandpiper - 1 or 2 Long-billed Dowitcher - a few adults with 2 or 3 juv Short-billed Dowitcher - 2 juv Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Killdeer Red-necked Phalarope - about 20

Also at Port Susan we observed 1 VIRGINIA RAIL, 1 SORA and an adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. Also a very large IMMATURE female COOPER'S HAWK and a PEREGRINE FALCON which was feasting on prey while on the wing.

For information about the Port Susan Bay Preserve, please see the following link. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/preserves/art6837.html

It was a good day.

Marv Breece, Seattle WA, mbreece AT earthlink.net

[Top]                    

August 21, 2007—Gary Bletsch led a trip in Skagit County hiking from the Rainy Pass trailhead to Cutthroat Pass.

An excellent birding trip! Sorry about the weather, but at least it gave us something to talk about.

The birds we saw (and/or heard) from Cutthroat Pass Trailhead to the pass and back included:

Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Ryan only?), Winter Wren, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, Yellow-rumped ("Audubon's") Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler (Ryan only?), Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed ("Oregon") Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak

We also saw a Douglass's Squirrel, several Golden-mantled Ground-Squirrels, and a number of chipmunks.

Yours truly, Gary Bletsch

PS On the way back west, Ryan Merrill and I stopped at Corkindale Creek, where there were at least 5 Eastern Kingbirds, along with some other common species. At the Concrete Airport at dusk were at least 10 Common Nighthawks.

[Top]                    

July 21, 2007 — Whidbey Island Fall Migration with Brian Bell

Yesterday, I led a field trip for the Washington Ornithological Society to Whidbey Island. As the day started it was uncertain whether we could expect rain during the trip. We arrived at Mukilteo just after a ferry had left for Clinton, so we had time to walk down to the fishing pier to check for birds. There was a breeding plumage MARBLED MURRELET loafing and diving just off the pier, with at least two others nearby. To the east were 4 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and a couple of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Two CASPIAN TERNS flew over as did several GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS (GWGU)

As our ferry pulled away from the terminal, misty rain could be seen over the channel, and we initially felt some drops. This wetness proceeded to pull away to the northeast, and we had two COMMON MURRES fly past us to the north. Closer to Clinton were a bunch of gulls, all GWGU with exception of one HEERMANN'S GULL. A GREAT BLUE HERON hung around the terminal. The slight wetness we felt at the start of the ferry ride was the last we experienced during virtually the rest of the day.

We stopped by the seasonal wetland on Ewing Road (along the way we saw a MOURNING DOVE) and had many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, including lots of juveniles. on the wires. An OSPREY was perched near the nest and a second one later flew into the nest. The wetland is essentially dried up, but BARN, CLIFF and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were making the rounds. A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE called in the distance, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW sang across the road near the house, a few AMERICAN ROBINS and EUROPEAN STARLINGS were around, a distant COMMON YELLOWTHROAT sang from down in the reeds, and a SONG SPARROW sounded off. All of the juvenile swallows meant we really had to look intently at each to determine the species.

At Sunlight Beach Road the view of the mudflats at the eastern part of Deer Lagoon was covered with shorebirds, including several WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS literally at our feet. These birds were feeding so intently that they ignored us. One of the Westerns was still in bright breeding plumage and was quite a contrast next to the brown Least. This Western obviously knew he was king of the hill as any time any other sandpiper came near him he chased it off. Two KILLDEER proceeded to change places frequently. Further out on the mudflats were two groups of dowitchers, one group of six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and even further out a group of about 30 Long-billeds. A nice BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER with a nice black belly was out near them. A couple of GREATER YELLOWLEGS were there along with GREAT BLUE HERON, CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS. We stopped at the dike access just east and had great binocular and scope looks at more dowitchers, virtually all still in breeding plumage (all Long-billeds). Down the slough to the east were MALLARDS and GADWALL. A BALD EAGLE was overhead.

Next we made a stop at Earth Sanctuary, really beautiful after the rain. WOOD DUCKS and HOODED MERGANSERS were present, along with young of several ages. A PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER called overhead, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, a BELTED KINGFISHER was across the main pond, CEDAR WAXWINGS were over the pond, a NORTHERN FLICKER called and then flew. Lots and lots of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, most of which were young ones were cruising over the pond. SONG, SPARROW and SPOTTED TOWHEE and SWAINSON'S THRUSH sang, a PURPLE FINCH sang and hid from us, a very agitated Robin kept up its protests but we couldn't track down what the problem was.

Tide was mostly in at Double Bluff with a group of BONAPARTE'S GULLS rafting up about 200 yards out. More PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were on Useless Bay. Five SURF SCOTERS were down near the bluff.

Crockett Lake was surprisingly empty of birds. About 15 CASPIAN TERNS loafed near the south shore. A group of 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were feeding with one different bird amongst them. We walked out to the edge of the marsh and scoped them out - a single SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was the odd bird out. Small numbers of WESTERN SANDPIPERS were foraging on the mud. Scattered about were more GREATER YELLOWLEGS. SAVANNAH SPARROWS were perched on tall grass stalks. A male PURPLE MARTIN came in briefly to the next boxes, and then flew off.

At the ferry terminal access an adult and juvenile PELAGIC CORMORANT were perched on the old structure, with many PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, and several ROCK PIGEONS. The usual mixed flock of gulls was on the jetty, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and GWGU-WESTERN hybrids, and several HEERMANN'S GULLS including both adults and juveniles. A single HARLEQUIN DUCK was diving just off the beach.

We made an early lunch stop at Fort Casey in the picnic area. Notable were several young BARN SWALLOWS sitting on the pavement and patiently waiting for mom or dad to come in and feed them. Singing around us were OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, BEWICK'S WREN, SONG SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BROWN CREEPER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. A downy young GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was flitting about as were several BUSHTITS - at one point four were snuggled up together as tight as could be on a branch. An AMERICAN GOLDFINCH was present. At this point we had enjoyed a warm, mostly cloudy day that was beginning to breakup.

Libby Beach was devoid of birds for a change, so we moseyed up the road to the Hastie Lake Rd. access. The HOUSE SPARROWS were making a fuss, off shore were some SURF SCOTERS, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. A couple of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS caught us by surprise and had almost flown past before we noticed.

At Swantown we continued to see the same alcids on the Strait, a single COMMON LOON was waaaaay out. A nice breeding plumage HORNED GREBE was just off the lookout point. Across the road in Bos Lake there were MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS (including five showing extreme variations of breeding plumage wear). Two DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were on the far side of the lake, a NORTHERN HARRIER was over the area and a RED-TAILED HAWK was perched on a pole.

Dugualla Bay had a couple of hundred gulls on the bay side, mostly CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED. The pond had more KILLDEER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and GADWALL with young of at least four different ages.

We tried to stop at Rosario Beach, but a large wedding party was there so we moved on.

On the way down to Stanwood we skirted edge of a large shower, but only got a few drops on the windshield. Our final stop of the day was at the Stanwood Sewage Ponds, where a good variety of ducks were present. These included MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, RUDDY DUCK, CINNAMON TEAL, a single NORTHERN SHOVELER, among the swallows was a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, and just outside of the ponds on a wet area some GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Two COMMON YELLOWTHROATS yelled at each other across the road.

Other birds seen along the way included: CANADA GOOSE, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, WESTERN GREBE, TURKEY VULTURE, AMERICAN COOT, ANNA'S and RUFUOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, STELLER'S JAY, AMERICAN CROW, TREE SWALLOW, MARSH WREN, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-WINGED and BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and HOUSE FINCH.

We picked up occasional raindrops on the way home but never had much in the way of rain. It wasn't until I was on the way up the hill to my house that it began to rain. All in all a great day after the recent rainy weather. All on the trip enjoyed the excellent looks we had at many birds, and finished with 86 species. Whidbey lived up to its reputation for good birding any time of year, even during the "slow" summer.

Brian H. Bell, Woodinville WA, bellassoc AT isomedia.com

[Top]                    

July 1-4, 2007 — Blue Mountains of Washington with Ken Knittle

The WOS field trip began Sat. night at Boundary Campground in southern Garfield County south of Pomeroy. The night sky was alive with Common Nighthawks and a Common Poorwill flew through the edge of the burn, which is next to the campground right before dawn. Instead of going up Scoggin Ridge we went down and began our day at Pataha Creek with Veeries singing loudly. As we birded our way east on Peola Rd. we found both Brewer's and Grasshopper Sparrows. Alpowa Creek mouth produced a Bufflehead and a female Lesser Scaup, unusual birds for mid-summer. The wildlife management area just east of Chief Timothy Park produced several Gray Catbirds and Yellow-breasted Chats. Just west of Clarkston up on the high rock cliff sat a Peregrine Falcon. Swallows Park and then up Asotin Creek to Lickfork Creek produced many species. No Short-eared Owls were seen on Onstot Rd. But we did find a Yellow-headed Blackbird, another Bufflehead, and a Cinnamon Teal at Savage Ponds. The day was warm when we stopped by Fields Spring State Park before we headed over to the Wenatchee Guard Station and back to Fields Spring State Park for the night. Our only Swainson's Hawk of the trip flew over us near the Wenatchee Guard Sta. which was unexpected at such a high elevation. This first day netted us 98 species seen in Asotin Co. The Poorwill, Veeries, and Brewer's Sparrows were seen in Garfield Co.

The second day July 2 was mainly mountain birding. We began at Fields Spring State Park and headed down to the Grande Ronde River while the air was still cool. Several Red-eyed Vireos were singing on some of the side creeks. A herd of Bighorn Sheep was seen on the high hillside overlooking the Grande Ronde River. We checked several roads up on Grouse Flat and found some interesting wetlands, which need to be explored at a later date. Brewer Sparrows were singing just north of the small cemetery on Grouse Flat. FR 40 was great to view the steep ridges and valleys that run down to Grouse Flats and Grouse Flats is a long way up a switchback road from Troy, OR. We made a brief stop at Misery Springs and birded our way east to Wenatchee Guard Station where we had been the day before. This day was absolutely the best in terms of super mountain scenery where one would like to spend the summer soaking up the views. Right after driving into Asotin Co. from Wickiup Campground at an old clearcut we had many Brewer's Sparrows singing. This seemed very high in elevation for such a species. The hot afternoon was spent driving up to Kamiak Butte County Park where we spent our third night.

The third day July 3 began with birding Kamiak Butte Co. Park before working our way over to Steptoe Butte by way of Glenwood Rd. Wild Turkeys were encountered along Glenwood Rd. The ditch before the entrance to Steptoe Butte produced a Common Yellowthroat which was seen when stopping to see two Gray Partridges. The picnic area was crawling with passerines including the still singing Clay-colored Sparrow. Many Brewer's Sparrows were singing everywhere. At the lower parking lot between red-flagged bushes we looked and looked for the Black-throated Sparrow and was just giving up when there it was. Quick stops were made at LaCross, Washtucna, Palouse Falls before ending up in Columbia County for the rest of the day. Washtucna was hot and the only notable birds were the Eurasian Collared-Doves and 2 "Tom" Wild Turkeys. A Prairie Falcon was near the entrance to Palouse Falls. At the falls were White-throated Swifts and a Peregrine Falcon. The Last Chance Store up the Tucannon had a bird feeder and two hummingbird feeders. We try to stop and buy a few items and let the owner know we appreciate his feeders behind the store. As the temperature got warmer we were gaining elevation so we could bird all afternoon. We checked several burn areas and found a nesting American Three-toed Woodpecker pair in a short small snag. Right before Godman Springs we had a fly-by Merlin. We didn't know they were even in the Blue Mts. during mid-summer. We stopped by Rainbow Lakes and then headed up to Godman and then east to Tepee Trailhead where we spent our last night and enjoyed the solitude and beautiful scenery looking south to the Wallowa Mts. Nesting Williamson's Sapsuckers were making lots of trips back to the nest hole with food.

On our way out of Tepee Trailhead July 4 we again found high elevation singing Brewer's Sparrows. This is surely odd in finding Brewer's Sparrows all over. At the ponds at Godman Spring we saw a family of Brown Creepers playing tag on old growth fir trees. They seemed fresh out of the nest. Winter Wrens, Fox Sparrows, and Varied Thrush were singing as we left the high country. We went our separate ways at the Lewis & Clark Trail State Park.

Ken Knittle, washingtonbirder "at" hotmail.com

[Top]                    

May 5th, 2007 — Scott Downes led a trip to Douglas and Grant counties for shrub-steppe birds and migrants of the upper Grand Coulee area

Yesterday I led the WOS fieldtrip meeting in Soap Lake at 5:30 am, venturing through Moses Coulee, Waterville Plateau, Northrup Canyon, Sun Lake St. Park and the Lower Grand Coulee Lakes to return back to Soap Lake at 6:30 in the evening. Weather couldn't have been much better, highs were bright sun mid 60's to 70, with only a little breeze in the afternoon. for most of the day we enjoyed singing birds with no wind and sun beating down on us. We ended the day with a combined list of 106 species. I'll touch on some of the highlights below. That list was made possible by the great spotting of the participants, it truly was a combined list.

In the morning as we headed up Sheep Canyon Road from Soap Lake. Notables here were a nice prolonged scope view of a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS nesting on a grain elevator on a man-made nesting platform (nice to see people doing things for birds in this area), 3 SWAINSON'S HAWK, with scope views of one perched near the intersection of 23 NW and Rim Rock Rd. (their is a regular pair that nests in this grove of trees). Also the first of many, many pipits for the day and a perched GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) field near this intersection.

In Moses Coulee we had mixed success with shrub-steppe birds, with stops at Sagebrush Flats we had great looks at VESPER and BREWER'S SPARROW yet only brief looks (and not by all) of SAGE SPARROW, SAGE THRASHER and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. In the upper sections of Moses Coulee just south of Hwy. 2 great studies of WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, a very engaging ROCK WREN and a LARK SPARROW feeding at a mud hole in a farm field.

Starting on the Waterville Plateau we first stopped at a flooded area in a farm field on Heritage Rd, just north of Hwy. 2 that has yielded quite a few shorebirds this year (last week I had both yellowlegs here). Today, no yellowlegs but about 75 LEAST SANDPIPER and 5 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER along with an estimated 400 AMERICAN PIPIT. The peeps allowed a great study between least and semi-palms by all in the scope. Unfortunately we could not turn up a western to compare with.

On road 4NE just west of Heritage rd, we had several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, one at least allowed for reasonable scope views. Nest we stopped at the pond just north of St. Andrews Rd (6NE) on O NE. Many ducks and shorebirds were evident here, among the totals included 14 BLACK-NECKED STILT, 8 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and about 20 LEAST SANDPIPER with 1 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER mixed in. 9 WILSON'S PHALAROPE were also present. All appeared to be females. Among the duck, many CINNAMON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, REDHEAD and AMERICAN WIGEON.

A quick glance at a pond about a mile south of St. Andrews Rd. on Hwy. 17 revealed 3 AMERICAN AVOCET. Next onto Coulee City environs. From an overlook on the Banks Lake Dam, we were able to observe the CALIFORNIA GULL colony on Banks Lake, along with 1 of three breeding plumaged COMMON LOONS for the day. On the south side of the dam in the ponds we had many YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, 4 BLACK-NECKED STILT, 1 LEAST SANDPIPER, 1 female CANVASBACK, 3 RUDDY DUCK and numerous teal and redhead along with LESSER SCAUP. A SORA also called from the marshes unseen but heard by all. WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS decided to check us out here zooming by sometimes not more than 20 feet from our heads! Above Coulee City TURKEY VULTURES were soaring over town, which is a roosting area for these birds.

Northrup Canyon had mixed results. Mostly quite and started out with a nice study of a GOPHER SNAKE crossing the path in front of us. Singing birds included HOUSE WREN, LAZULI BUNTING, YELLOW WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER, and WARBLING VIREO but few if any of these could be coaxed into the open for views. All of that was made up for when we were heading out a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD put on extended viewing of its display flight and perching only 75-100 feet from us in some places. A silent perching female was also revealed when the male went down to her in t he end of his display flight. Interesting to see Calliopes displaying in a mixed of serviceberry, currant and big sage!

Sun Lakes St. Park provided a good mix of migrants, ORANGE-CROWNED, 1 TOWNSEND'S and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were all seen well including a male MYRTLE YELLOW-RUMPED. A male CASSIN'S FINCH was spotted along with two birds that gave us long pauses. The first being what looked list a juvenile YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, though not sure how in the world a juvie can be here in early May, the bird was clearly a yellow-rump but the plumage looked just like every other young newly fledged yellow-rump I've ever seen. A young VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW sitting in a leafed out tree also gave us pause until we figured out what it was. Other migrants were included a male VARIED THRUSH, brief look at a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, WESTERN WOOD PEWEE and wonderful extended scope views of a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER that all could study well for primary projection and other features. A CANYON WREN finally called on the cliffs above.

Stops on Lake Lenore provided us with BARROW'S and COMMON GOLDENEYE, EARED GREBE, GREATER SCAUP and a BANK SWALLOW. The breeding RED-NECKED GREBE was present on the south end of Alkali lake.

Finally stops shorebirds on the north end of Soap Lake produced 16 AMERICAN AVOCET, 2 SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER and 2 birds that were likely BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, but distance and glare prevented a confirmed ID. Good spotting by observers here also produced single breeding plumaged HORNED and WESTERN GREBE among the many RUDDY DUCK and breeding plumaged EARED GREBE.

A few misses, but all in all a great day with great weather and great people.

Scott Downes downess AT charter.net Yakima WA

[Top]                    

April 14th, 2007 — Michael Hobbs led a trip in Kittitas County

The trip I led yesterday in Kittitas County was quite successful, despite overcast conditions and strong winds.

We started the day at the river's edge at the Golf Course Rd. off I-90 west of Cle Elum, where an AMERICAN DIPPER was singing.

Along Charter Rd. in Cle Elum, we had at least one PYGMY NUTHATCH, a couple of TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES, and several VARIED THRUSHES.

A homeowner on Grant Ave. in South Cle Elum invited us into his backyard where we watched EVENING GROSBEAKS, and spent a long time viewing CASSIN'S FINCH amongst the PINE SISKINS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES.

McDonald Pond, off Lower Peoh Point Rd. near Cle Elum, hosted a CINNAMON TEAL drake, amongst seven other species of duck.

At the Elk Heights burn, it took some searching, but we found a beautiful male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECER along with several HAIRY WOODPECKERS.

Just east of mp 94 on SR-10, east of Cle Elum, is a nice cliff where I hoped we'd find Canyon or Rock Wrens. No luck with the wrens, but there was a perched PRAIRIE FALCON and lots of wash. Possible nest site?

Off a new road that heads south from Robinson Canyon Rd., due south of the town of Thorpe, we had three LONG-BILLED CURLEW. With all of the houses being built on what was agricultural land in Kittitas County, these will certainly become harder to find in future years.

Durr Rd., off Umptanum Rd., south of Ellensburg, featured cooperative VESPER SPARROWS and BREWER'S SPARROWS, along with MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS.

>From Tjossem Rd., between Ellensburg and Kittitas (but south of I-90), we watched a SWAINSON'S HAWK playing in the wind.

Huntzinger Rd., south of Vantage, provided a slew of singing ROCK WRENS and several SAY'S PHOEBE. At the end of Recreation Drive, that goes down to the water immediately north of the Ginko Visitor Center in Vantage, we had two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. There was a wide variety of plumages of HORNED GREBE, from seemingly untouched non-breeding plumage through full breeding plumage, among the individual grebes between Wanapum Dam and Ginko.

The lower Quillomene access off Old Vantage Highway was incredibly windy. Still, we trudged through sage for quite a while, hearing BREWER'S SPARROWS. Then, amazingly, a SAGE SPARROW found an exposed perch in the lee of a large sage, and sat singing for a full two minutes. Almost everyone in the group was able to see it. We walked a little further up the road and were treated to a couple of HORNED LARK flying around in the wind.

The ponds on Parke Creek Rd., east of Kittitas, had several YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, TREE SWALLOWS, and a WILSON'S SNIPE. Belatedly, I should mention that last Tuesday, I had two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS there.

At the house about a block west of Park Creek Rd. on Vantage Highway, we had a GREAT HORNED OWL still sitting in the nest.

Our last stop was the Swauk Prairie area, where we had many WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and a very cooperative MERLIN, who let us get quite close as it sat perched on fenceposts.

For the day, 86 species. Our only big miss was Sage Thrasher, but with the winds we had, it wasn't a surprise that we missed some sage species.

== Michael Hobbs, Kirkland WA, birdmarymoor AT verizon.net

[Top]                    

March 24, 2007 — Ken Knittle led a field trip to Whitcomb Island, Crow Butte State Park, and Roosevelt in Benton County, and eastern Klickitat County.

The WOS field trip on March 24 covered Whitcomb Island NWR, Crow Butte Park, Six Prong Rd., Sand Ridge Rd., Bickleton, Pine Creek, Goldendale, Crofton Prairie Pond, Glenwood, and Conboy NWR. We saw 92 species starting at 6:30am and ending at dark. 58 species in Benton Co. and 62 species in Klickitat Co. with 3 bonus species in Yakima Co. north of Bluelight.

Highlights include by location:

Whitcomb Island with a bright colorfull sunrise---Greater White Fronted Goose, 24 Snow Geese, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 5 American White Pelicans, Long-billed Curlews, Tree Swallow (a tough bird in Benton), and Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Crow Butte Park---2 male red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Pied-billed, Horned, and Western Grebes, and Caspian Terns. The park itself was pretty dead.

Six Prong Rd. and Sandridge Rd. where the wind began to blow---2 Gray Partridge, 2 Turkey Vultures, an adult Cooper's Hawk, Rough-legged Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Long-billed Curlews, Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, both Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, both Mt. and Western Bluebirds, and American Goldfinches with no Lessers mixed in.

A quick stop at Bickleton we found a feeder with Pine Siskins and Cassin's Finches. And at Pine Creek crossing another pair of Turkey Vultures and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks grasping talons and spinning until they almost were at ground level. Several Lewis's Woodpeckers were in the small oaks near Cleveland. We worked Goldendale over for Eurasian Collared-Doves and were just about ready to leave when we spotted one lone Eurasian Collared-Dove sitting on the power line near a school with noisy kids playing. A few Western Scurb-Jays were around town where they use to be tough to find there. The best birds at Crofton Prairie Pond was an adult Peregrine Falcon and a Northern Shrike.

The closer we got to Glenwood the clouds got heavier and we ended the day birding in the rain. The best birds at Conboy NWR were Lesser Canada Geese, 2 Sandhill Cranes, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Ruffed Grouse heard only. On our way down the hill after Krebs Lane we found a flock of Wild Turkeys just before dark.

Target birds hoped for, but missed were Ferruginous Hawk and Sage Sparrows--figured the strong wind was keeping them down under cover. Winter still hasn't come to Bickleton, Goldendale and Glenwood. Saw a patch of snow still lying on the ground near Conboy NWR.

We finished our day going over our lists at the famous Scottish Restaurant more commonly known as McDonalds in Bingen.

This WOS field trip filled up quite fast with several birders left on the waiting list and everyone that signed up, showed up 32 mins. earlier than asked. Never seens such eager-beaver birders before in a group like that. Thanks to those who did survive the trip for spotting birds missed by the rest of us. I think all had a great day.

Ken Knittle, Washington Birder newsletter, 2604 NE 80th Street Vancouver, WA 98665, 360-574-2590 mailto:washingtonbirder "at" hotmail.com

[Top]                    

February 10, 2007 — Owls by Day led by Mike and Merry Lynn Denny

This field trip started out under an overcast sky at Hood Park with an outstanding group of folks. We visited Hood Park, Charbonneau Park, Fish Hook Park, Smith Springs Rd., Lyons Ferry Park, Kahlotus and ending at Windust Park. Highlights of the trip were........

• Long-eared Owls......19 birds-located 7 birds at Wind Dust after most folks had left.

• Great Horned Owl...8 birds

• Rough-legged Hawk...3 birds in Franklin Co.

• Coopers Hawk.....1 bird, in WW Co.

• Sharp-shinned Hawk.....1 bird at Fish Hook Park not far from a plucked Saw-whet Owl.

• AMERICAN TREE SPARROW....20 birds along Lyons Ferry Rd.-this is the most we have ever seen in Walla Walla Co. until today. These birds were chirping and singing in one flock.

• Bohemian Waxwing......24 birds at the Lyons Ferry Fish Hatchery, Franklin Co.

• Northern Shrike...1 bird along HWY 261 in Franklin Co.

• 900 to 1100 Common Goldeneye with 80% male. These birds were diving for spilt grain at the barge slip west of Windust Park, Franklin Co.

• 24 Bohemian Waxwings at the Lyons Ferry Fish Hatchery.

Mammals of note: Porcupine, mule deer, howling Coyotes

A huge thank-you to all those that joined us for this great day in the field. Thank-you for supporting WOS.

Mike & MerryLynn Denny, College Place, WA

[Top]