Migrants filled the black cottonwoods, peachleaf willows and berry-rich
hawthorn, elderberry and rose thickets near the Selah Creek Divide on the
Yakima Training Center. Today Mike and Merry Lynn Denny and myself recorded
60 species from 0600 to 1400. Fifty were noted inone walk along a quarter
mile-long stretch of nice riparian along upper Cold Creek. Noteorthy were
high numbers of Warbling Vireos. Lewis's Woodpeckers - new for my surveys on
the training center - staged an invasion over the last week. A fly-over
Cassin's Finch was also new for the training center.

Sage Grouse totalled 11 individuals at four separate sites.We flushed 10
Gray Partridge at the summit of Hog Ranch Buttes. This chicken might be in
trouble on the north side of Umtanum Ridge as much of it and other
grasslands and shrub-steppe burned in the 54,000 acre fire of mid-August.

We observed a spectacular raptor migration with many birds sailing south
high overhead from Umtanum Ridge across Selah Creek to Yakima Ridge. We
watched several "kettles" of 10-12 Red-tailed Hawks and lesser numbers of
other raptors. During a 15-minute period, at least four Golden Eagles
cruised by us at pass level - truly majestic! We also watched loose flocks
of ravens circle over Umtanum Ridge to gain altitude and then flap and sail
south. The numbers shown below represent the most migrant raptors I've ever
seen in Washington in one day. I wonder if the numbers below (which
represent about 1.5 hours of observation) are high for any hawk watch in
Washington. If so, a full days effort would be noteworthy. And what of a
season's watch!

Turkey Vulture-1
Northern Harrier-12
Sharp-shinned Hawk-3, 1st for the fall
Cooper's Hawk-1
Swainson's Hawk-2
Red-tailed Hawk-34+
Golden Eagle-5, 1st for the fall
American Kestrel-11
Prairie Falcon-2, 1st for the fall, not recorded late June through August
here
Gray Partridge-10
Sage Grouse-11
California Quail-1`+
Mourning Dove-1
Rufous Hummingbird-1, summit Hog Ranch Buttes
Lewis'Woodpecker-12
Northern Flicker-4
Western Wood-Pewee-6
Hammond's Flycatcher-8
Dusky Flycatcher-1
Western Flycatcher-5
Empidonax sp.-5+
Say's Phoebe-2
Horned Lark-58
Violet-green Swallow-2
Barn Swallow-45
Black-billed Magpie-5
Common Raven-28, most sailing south high over the region
Red-breasted Nuthatch-7, high count for riparian?!
House Wren-13
Golden-crowned Kinglet-2, 1st for the fall
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2, 1st for the fall
Townsend's Solitaire-16, mostly in hawthorn and blue elderberry bushes
[Swainson's Thrush-1], thought we heard this species but didn't see it
American Robin-7
Sage Thrasher-16, most in hawthorn and blue elderberries
Cedar Waxwing-10
European Starling-20, fly-overs
Solitary Vireo-2, 1st for the fall
Warbling Vireo-31, personal high count for me anywhere, I think
Orange-crowned Warbler-5
Nashville Warbler-5
Yellow Warbler-3
Yellow-rumped Warbler-2
Townsend's Warbler-5
MacGillivray's Warbler-2
Wilson's Warbler-15
Western Tanager-13, many in hawthorns and blue elderberries
Black-headed Grosbeak-1, hawthorns
Rufous-sided Towhee-7
Chipping Sparrow-3
Brewer's Sparrow-2
Vesper Sparrow-17, just a dribble compared to early August
Song Sparrow-8, clearly up from 2 weeks ago
Lincoln's Sparrow-1, 1st for fall
White-crowned Sparrow-2 adults
Dark-eyed Junco-1st for fall
Red-winged Blackbird-1 male flyover
Western Meadowlark-18
Brewer's Blackbird-2
[Bullock's Oriole-1], thought we heard but did not see one
Cassin's Finch-1 flyover calling "cheed-lee"! First record for training
center
Pine Siskin-5
American Goldfinch-5

So the fall migration looks to be in full swing. Head out to tree groves and
ridges, mudflats and shores and check it out. Its a inspiring and remarkable
event!

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA