Today I shared high elevation riparian habitats on the Yakima Training
Center with Scott Ray. Upper Cold Creek had 37 species, Greeley Pond on
Upper Selah Creek less.

We noted Sage Grouse on five occasions, in groups of 4's, 3's and 1's.
Sighting of these huge grouse was the highlight of the day.

Of interest, while Upper Cold Creek had 37 species, the riparian habitats at
the training center entrance had but nine. Data is meager but it is apparent
something is going on at these isolated higher elevation riparian areas
across our region with regards to migrants that the birder at valley bottom
elevations misses for the most part.

Here's the morning tally:

Great Blue Heron-1
Green-winged Teal-1
Cinnamon Teal-5
Northern Harrier-16
Cooper's Hawk-1
Accipiter sp.-1
Red-tailed Hawk-19
American Kestrel-9
Sage Grouse-13
California Quail-6
Killdeer-1
Mourning Dove-4
Great Horned Owl-2
Downy Woodpecker-1
Northern Flicker-3
Olive-sided Flycatcher-2
Western Wood-Pewee-6
Hammond's Flycatcher-1
Dusky Flycatcher-5
"Western" Flycatcher-4
Empidonax sp.-5
Eastern Kingbird-3
Horned Lark-105
Violet-green Swallow-1
Tree Swallow-2
Barn Swallow-130
Black-billed Magpie-5
Common Raven-3
Red-breasted Nuthatch-1
House Wren-10
American Robin-16
Sage Thrasher-13
Loggerhead Shrike-2
European Starling-10, first in 6 weeks!
Warbling Vireo-7
Orange-crowned Warbler-4
(Nashville Warbler-0, 12 a week ago!]
Yellow Warbler-6
Townsend's Warbler-1
MacGillivray's Warbler-2
Wilson's Warbler-14
Western Tanager-3
Black-headed Grosbeak-1
Spotted Towhee-8
Chipping Sparrow-12
Brewer's Sparrow-12, seasonal decline continues
Vesper Sparrow-40, dramatic decline from a week ago
Song Sparrow-8
White-crowned Sparrow-1st of the fall!
Red-winged Blackbird-6, 1st since young fledged (in early July?)
Western Meadowlark-7
Bullock's Oriole-1
House Finch-5
American Goldfinch-3

The above list represents a 10% increase over a week ago.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA