To Tweeters Readers. I picked this up from the Bird Chat Line. I apologize
if it is too long, but it is kind of fun to read.
Mon, 25 Aug 1997 19:48:13 -0400
XFrom: David Oliver
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Trip Report - Washington State (long)

Hello Birdchatters,
Dennis Oliver, Glenn Long and myself (David Oliver) visited Washington from
August 3 to 15. We covered a good portion of the state and also just over the
border into British Columbia near Vancouver in Canada. I would like to thank
the people who responded to my request for information before the trip.
Everyone provided useful information and directions to some great birding. As
you go through the narrative, the species in capital letters are new for the
trip. All of the birding sites can be found in Terry Wahl's "A Guide to Bird
Finding in Washington". Also used was Keith Taylor's " A Birders Guide to
British Columbia".
We arrived at Sea-Tac airport around noon on August 3 and after
picking up
our luggage and rental car, we drove north to Bellingham. After checking in
at the motel, we started our birding in Bellingham itself with a quick visit
to Sehome Hill Arboretum, Whatcum Falls Park and Bay View Cemetery. Birds
seen that first afternoon were CANADA GOOSE, RED-TAILED HAWK, GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULL, ROCK DOVE, MOURNING DOVE, VAUX'S SWIFT, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, DOWNY
WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, BARN SWALLOW, STELLER'S JAY, NORTHWESTERN CROW,
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH,
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BEWICK'S WREN, AMERICAN DIPPER, AMERICAN ROBIN,
EUROPEAN STARLING, WESTERN TANAGER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, BREWER'S
BLACKBIRD, and HOUSE SPARROW.
The next morning we headed for Mt. Baker, close to the Canadian
border. We
could see the mountain clearly from the lowlands and noticed the amount of
snow covering it. Having read that during some summers, the road can be
blocked by snow and unpassable, we hoped for the best. Mt Baker was our first
try for White-tailed Ptarmigan. I had done this hike once before a few years
ago (unsuccessfully for ptarmigan) and looked forward to trying again. Well,
the road was passable all the way to the parking lot for the trail to
ptarmigan ridge, but everything was covered with snow! We had no hope of even
attempting to hike through the snow from the parking lot. A good find in the
parking lot was a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH. It was hopping around the parking
lot looking for food and allowed very close approach. We headed down the
mountain and back tracked to route 20 (North Cascades Highway). This passes
through North Cascades National Park and we drove and stopped for birds until
we got to Twisp (I love that name!), where we spent the night. Birds seen on
the way up and down Mt. Baker and along the road to Twisp were MALLARD,
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER, OSPREY, NORTHERN HARRIER, TURKEY
VULTURE, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, KILLDEER, NORTHERN FLICKER, OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EASTERN KINGBIRD, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW,
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON
RAVEN, BOREAL CHICKADEE, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, VARIED THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT,
CEDAR WAXWING, WARBLING VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER,
LAZULI BUNTING, SONG SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
On August 5 we left Twisp and added RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and LEWIS'
WOODPECKER as we drove to Chelan and visited Echo Ridge. We drove the road
and stopped and birded and added EARED GREBE (at Chelan Lake), GREAT HORNED
OWL, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, GRAY FLYCATCHER, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, HOUSE WREN,
AMERICAN CROW, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, CASSIN'S VIREO, NASHVILLE WARBLER,
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, CHIPPING SPARROW, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and CASSIN'S
FINCH. We were heading for Moses Lake for the night and by stopping along the
road that runs beside the Columbia River, we found GREAT BLUE HERON,
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER,
CINNAMON TEAL, AMERICAN COOT, CALIFORNIA GULL, CASPIAN TERN, and BANK
SWALLOW. We visited the desert unit of the PotHoles WRA that late afternoon.
Birds sighted included PIED-BILLED GREBE, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK,
REDHEAD, SWAINSON'S HAWK, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BURROWING
OWL, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, SAGE THRASHER, LARK SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD,
WESTERN MEADOWLARK, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and HOUSE
FINCH.
The next morning found us exploring the northern portion of PotHoles WRA
where we enjoyed AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, GREAT EGRET, GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
GADWALL, AMERICAN KESTREL, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPER, RING-BILLED GULL, FORSTER'S TERN, BLACK TERN,
BELTED KINGFISHER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,
BREWER'S SPARROW, SAGE SPARROW, and VESPER SPARROW. We then proceeded to
drive to Yakima for the night with a stop at the Selah reststop where we
added WHITE-THROATED SWIFT and CANYON WREN. Along the way, we stop at a
couple of spots for Chukar without success. An exploratory search for Wenas
Campground that evening netted us a ROCK WREN.
Wenas Creek Campground was our destination for the morning of August
7. On
the way in this morning we flush two COMMON SNIPE. Wandering around the
campground we were provided with views of SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER, and RED CROSSBILL. On the road out we spot a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. We
next head for Mount Rainier. This afternoon we visit the Paradise section of
Rainier and are impressed with RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, GRAY JAY, and CLARK'S
NUTCRACKER.
Early next morning finds us shivering in the cold at the Sunrise
section of
Mount Rainier. The foggy start only provides glimpses of this snow-covered
peak, but as the fog lifts, we stand in awe at the spectacular scenery. We
bird around the picnic area and then hike the Burroughs Mountain trail. Added
here are BLUE GROUSE, BROWN CREEPER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, TOWNSEND'S
WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER and EVENING GROSBEAK. Notice that we missed the
ptarmigan again! We then drive straight to Westport and check into our motel.
A quick check of Westhaven State Park gives us our first BROWN PELICAN,
PELAGIC CORMORANT, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRD,
HEERMANN'S GULL, WESTERN GULL, COMMON MURRE, and PIGEON GUILLEMOT.
The day of August 9 is filled with a pelagic trip with Terry Wahl out of
Westport. Species new today are COMMON LOON, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, NORTHERN
FULMAR, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL,
BRANDT'S CORMORANT, SURF SCOTER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, POMARINE JAEGER,
ARCTIC TERN, ELEGANT TERN, and RHINOCEROS AUKLET. There is a special
celebration, for the albatross is species number 700 for Dennis for the ABA
area.
Ocean Shores is our first stop the next day. At the Point Brown
Jetty and
the area to the east we spot WHIMBREL, BONAPARTE'S GULL, and SAVANNAH
SPARROW. Driving north on the Olympic Peninsula we stop at Hoh Rainforest in
the Olympic National Park. Treating us to sightings were WINTER WREN and
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. After a quick side trip to La Push where we added
PACIFIC LOON we spent the night in Forks.
August 11 starts with a drive and then hike out to Cape Flattery.
Along the
way, at the many pulloffs and at the Cape, we added HARLEQUIN DUCK, BALD
EAGLE, BLACK TURNSTONE, LEAST SANDPIPER, MARBLED MURRELET, TUFTED PUFFIN,
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
We awaken in Port Angeles on the 12th and head into Olympic National
Park
again. This time to Hurrican Ridge. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER is the only new
species added, but we enjoy the montain birds and the scenery. In the
afternoon we drive to Port Townsend and take the ferry over to Whidbey Island
and end the day at Anacortes. We drive around Wahington Park in Anacortes and
add HUTTON'S VIREO. Our final birding for the day finds us at the ferry
terminal and at the little pond see TREE SWALLOW and hear VIRGINA RAIL.
As dawn breaks, we board the ferry the next morning for a trip to
San Juan
Island. Spotted are MERLIN, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, and
EURASIAN SKYLARK (after hours of searching and scanning at American Camp).
Back on the mainland we head up to Bellingham for the night.
We plan on spending the day in southern British Columbia on August
14. We
start at Reifel Bird Sanctuary where we find MUTE SWAN, HOODED MERGANSER,
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER, BUSHTIT, MARSH WREN, along with hundreds of other waterbirds. Next
stop is Iona Island Sewage Treatment Plant. Close studies of BAIRD'S
SANDPIPER and SEMIPLAMATED SANDPIPER along with many other shorebirds, kept
us busy. Next into Vancouver for a search for Crested Myna. This was not my
idea of fun birding and we did not find the myna. But we did see thousands of
starlings! On the way back to Washington, we added GREEN HERON.
Our last day of birding in Washington was spent exploring many
coastal areas
along Pugent Sound. We didn't find much and by the afternoon we were at
Nisqually NWR near Tacoma. A very pleasant walk produced WILLOW FLYCATCHER,
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and many other woodland and marsh birds. The three of us
had a total of 191 species of birds.
We had an outstanding time birding the great state of Washington.
The birds
and the scenery were unbeatable. But I think I must tell you about all the
mammals we saw also. I am using the Peterson Field guide to the Mammals. Our
29 species included the following:
Opossum - roadkill
Raccoon - roadkill
Mink - Reifel Sanc. & Nisqually NWR
Striped Skunk - roadkill
Coyote - Mt. Rainier Nat. Pk.
Red Fox - San Juan I.
Northern Sealion - Cape Flattery
Harbor Seal - many places
Yellow-bellied Marmot - along Columbia R.
Hoary Marmot - Mt Rainier Nat. Pk.
Olympic Marmot - Olympia Nat. Pk.
Townsend's Ground Squirrel - Wenas Creek Rd.
Golden-mantled Squirrel - Mt. Rainier Nat. Pk.
Townsend's Chipmunk - Mt. Rainier & Olymic Nat. Pk.
Yellow Pine Chipmunk - Mt. Rainier Nat. Pk.
Western Gray Squirrel - Chelan area
Douglas' Squirrel - Mt. Rainier Nat. Pk.
Muskrat - Potholes WRA
Porcupine - roadkill
Pika - Mt. Baker
Snowshoe Hare - Mt. Baker
European Rabbit - San Juan I.
Elk - Olympic Nat. Pk.
Mule Deer - many places
Mountain Goat - Mt. Rainier Nat. Pk.
Killer Whale - ferry to San Juan I.
Harbor Porpoise - ferry to San Juan I.
Dall Porpoise - Westport pelagic
Gray Whale - Cape Flattery


David Oliver
Arlington, MA
davido401 at aol.com
DJ Beatty