Tweeters;
I just finished my Breeding Bird Atlas trip to White Pine Buttes and Devils
Canyon (T6R15E SW; T5R15E NE). What a great weekend for birding. It was
clear and cold at 4am but by the time we quit for the day it was in the
80's. Mount Adams and Mount Hood were visible both days and really stunning
at sunset. The habitat ranged from riparian alder/willow to dry Ponderosa
woodland with a smattering of Larch at 3000 ft. I have never heard or seen
so many Evening Grosbeaks as we did in both sections. Is it an up year for
them or is this typical of this habitat? I must admit I haven't done much
summer surveying in Eastern Washington. Common also were Dusky Flycatchers
( I have that call down now), Swainson's Thrush, Nashville, MacGillivary's
and Townsend's Warbers (sorry no Orange-crowned Warblers). There were
quite a few Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Mountain
Chickadees as well. This habitat was great for for woodpeckers. We saw 6
species; Northern Flicker, Hairy, White-headed, Black-backed Woodpeckers and
Red-naped and Red-breasted Sapsuckers. My partner Ian McGregor thought he
saw a Williamson's Sapsucker but we had very poor looks and we couldn't be
sure. The White-headed Woodpecker was our last bird for the trip (a great
way to end). Another highlight was finding a Solitary Vireo nest being
tended by both parents. They were alternating feeding the young at about 3
minute intervals for the 1/2 hour we observed :).

The data is on the way Michael!

Tracee Geernaert
tracee at iphc.washington.edu