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April 22, 2006

I led a party of 8 on an extensive trip through Kittitas County, from Hyak to Vantage and back. The weather was great, the birds were great, and really the only disappointment was the lack of warblers.

The best highlight was a male, and maybe a glimpse of a female, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER at a possible nest hole on Emerick Rd, just opposite a green metal gate for Hidden Valley something ("Heritage?"). The hole was about 2/3rds of the way up a fairly slender tree, only a little bit uphill from directly opposite the gate, easily visible from the road. Emerick Road is the uphill extention of Hidden Valley Rd., south of SR-970. (Actually, Hidden Valley Rd. turns 90 degrees to the left, and Emerick continues on straight.) We also had a HAIRY WOODPECKER just a bit further uphill.

Other Highlights: Gadwall - One at the ponds on Hundley Rd off I-90 @ Golf Course Rd; Gray Partridge - Two at Swauk Prairie (at the buffalo farm); Wilson's Snipe - Great show at dusk on Smithson Rd.; Caspian Tern - Vantage; Red-naped Sapsucker - Several sightings including Hundley Rd., and SR-10 Teanaway bridge; Rock Wren - One just below Wanapum dam on a pile of rocks; Canyon Wren - Heard at the usual pullout for GCRF below Wanapum; Loggerhead Shrike - MP 17 Old Vantage Highway, and Huntzinger Rd.; Bushtit - 970 Lambert Rd near Cle Elum; Hermit Thrush - South Cle Elum (Charter Rd), and Swauk Cemetery; Sage Thrasher - Singing and displaying around MP 17, Old Vantage Hwy; American Pipit - ~50, Hartman Rd (off Swauk Prairie Rd); Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 at SR-10 Teanaway bridge; Golden-crowned Sparrow - 970 Lambert Rd.; Yellow-headed Blackbird - 2+ males at pond at about 7900 Parke Creek Rd.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were ubiquitous to the point of being obnoxious. They were EVERYWHERE. Both bluebirds were plentiful from Swauk Prairie east.

For the day, we managed 97 species. It was great.