Just spent parts of two days tooling around the Quilomene Wildlife Refuge and
Wenas & vicinity, looking for access and quiet places to record natural sounds.
We spent more time driving than birding. Following Brenda Senturia's lead we
entered the Quilomene at a Fish & Wildlife parking area 18 miles east of
Ellensburg. The road is severely rutted, with one small stream crossing that
will test your vehicle's wheelbase length and overhang. You will tear the
bumpers off your father's Oldsmobile. FWD not necessary, but helpful. We saw
MALLARD, LONG-BILLED CURLEW (2), KILLDEER, RED-TAILED HAWK, TURKEY VULTURE (6
in a kettle), RAVEN, MAGPIE, SAGE THRASHER, and BREWER'S SPARROW and fifty
four elk. It was very windy or we might have see (and heard) more. The road
from Ellenburg is being graded and is in good shape. Balsamroot was in bloom
in Shushuskin Canyon. Large snow patches cover the north sides of the hills
and Umtanum Ridge, coming down to the roadside at Ellenburg Pass. Along the
way or in Wenas valley Bluebells (Mertensia), Western Spring Beauty, Yellowbell
(Fritillaria) and an unidentified Viola (?) were in bloom. Ribes sp. were
leafing out but cottonwoods, etc. were in bud only. The road from the juncture
of Audubon Rd. into the Wenas campground is covered with running water for the
most part but is easily passable in your father's Oldsmobile. Do not attempt
any of the side roads farther in, however. The campground was occupied by
horse campers. Dry Creek and Wenas Creek were in spate. Patches of snow were
present along Dry Creek and the slopes of the ridge to the south; it got down
to 30 at night. Thirty elk were grazing Umtanum Ridge. We saw NORTHERN
HARRIER, KILLDEER, RAVEN, MAGPIE, numerous MOUNTAIN and WESTERN BLUEBIRD, many
FLICKER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, large flocks of JUNCO and ROBIN, and a PRAIRIE
FALCON chasing a STARLING. Not Major League birding but an interesting trip.

------Herb Curl
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NOAA Hazmat 7600 Sand Point Way, NE Seattle, WA 98115 (206)526-6317
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