Fellow Tweets,

The riparian habitats along upper Cold and Selah Creeks on the Yakima
Training Center continue to attract some interesting birds. Though diversity
shows the expected seasonal decline (44 species versus 62 3 weeks ago, some
oddballs were apparent.

Black Swifts were again seen, nine on 15 Sept flying west along the crest of
Umtanum Ridge south of Priest Rapids Dam, today 1 bird flying west just
after dawn along upper Cold Creek (temp -3C! A little nippy for a swift?).

A Hairy Woodpecker was clinging to a giant mullein (introduced weed) stalk
much as Downy Woodpeckers do, miles from the nearest conifers.

A Clark's Nutcracker briefly put in an appearance in black cottonwoods at
Greeley Pond along upper Selah Creek, again miles from the nearest conifers.
No seed crop in the ponderosa pines this fall? This was the spot which had a
White-breasted Nuthatch a month ago - also a ponderosa pine specialist. I
also have two other reports of White Nuts away from their traditional haunts
this fall: 1 in Northrup Canyon in Grant County and 1 at Richland (fide Mike
Denny).

The latest in fall Sage Sparrow for Yakima County was observed running along
the gravelled road shoulder, tail cocked like a wren. This was at about 725
meters elevation. My latest in fall anywhere in WA was 9 October 1994 on the
Wahluke Slope, Grant County at 200 meters, near the lowest and driest part
of the Columbia Basin where this species is common.

Species list:

G-w Teal-7
Am. Wigeon-5
N. Harrier-25
Sharp-shinned Hawk-3
Swainson's Hawk-1, getting late?
Red-tailed Hawk-20
Golden Eagle-4, flying east along Umptanum Ridge
Am. Kestrel-4
Sage Grouse-6
Great Horned Owl-1
Short-eared Owl-4
Black Swift-1, 3rd record for Yakima County
Hairy Woodpecker-1
N. Flicker-2
Hammond's Flycatcher-3
Horned Lark-73
Tree Swallow-75, flying se along ridges midday
V-g Swallow-5+, as above
Clark's Nutcracker-1, 1st for YTC
B-b Magpie-10, wandering this time of year to treeless patches of shrub-steppe
Common Raven-5
Red Nut-4
G-c Kinglet-39, moving tree to tree or bush to bush westwards
R-c Kinglet-40, moving tree to tree westward
Townsend's Solitaire-10, flying west
Hermit Thrush-7
Am. Robin-63, flying west
Varied Thrush-2
Cedar Waxwing-1, flying west
Skyrat-25
Y-r Warbler-9, amazingly few, all flying west
Sp. Towhee-9
Sage Sparrow-1, late?
Savannah Sparrow-1
Golden-crw Sparrow-2
White-crw Sparrow-76,
D-e Junco-30, , moving west
R-w Blackbird-3, flying west
W. Meadowlark-10
Cassin's Finch-13, overhead, early am, flying west
Pine Siskin-15, overhead, early am, flying west
Am. Goldfinch-1

I have been asked to announce that though the YTC is an open base now, make
sure you sign in at Range Control and really study where the live fire is
going on and stay away from those places. Know how to read their maps, carry
a cell phone, shovel, extra food and cold-weather gear. A 4 X 4 is helpful.

Then experience the best shrub-steppe habitats and their birds in WA!

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA