Subject: Robinson/Ainsley Canyon
Date: Jun 22 03:08:29 1998
From: JEDER1 at aol.com - JEDER1 at aol.com


Hi Tweets!

After reading Andy Stepniewski's Tweeters note about Robinson Canyon and the
ponderosa pine oldgrowth at Ainsley Canyon (just west of Ellensburg), my
husband Bruce and I decided to investigate this area. It is really a
beautiful secluded spot that is filled with birds. We entered the canyon at
5:30 am and did not see another person the whole day, leaving at 6:00 pm. It
was quite a treat!!!!

The habitat consists of riverine, shrub-steppe, and Douglas/ponderosa pine
forests. The road is narrow, gravel, and at times rocky, but easily driven.
There is quite an altitude change which is very gradual and not really
noticeable until the return. It is located on DeLorme on page 66 (D 2.5 -
3.5). The wildflowers were a bonus as they were beautiful, varied, and
everywhere.

The birds we saw follow and the numbers are approximates:

American Kestral - 4
Blue Grouse - 5 (hen and "teenagers")
Mourning Dove - 8
Common Nighthawk - 10
Lewis's Woodpecker - 5 (nesting)
Northern Flicker - 9
Western Wood Pewee - 23 (everywhere!)
Dusky Flycatcher - 2
Steller's Jay - 6
Common Raven - 1
House Wren - 9
American Robin - 12
Sage Thrasher - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Western Tanager - 7
Spotted Towhee - 26 (everywhere!)
Chipping Sparrow - 8
Brewer's Sparrow - 3
Vesper Sparrow - 7
Dark-eyed Junce - 3
Western Meadowlark - 6
Cassin's Finch - 2
Rufous Hummingbird -1
Townsend's Solitaire -1
Warbling Vireo - 8
MacGillivray's Warbler - 7 (1 nesting)
Black-headed Grossbeak - 6
Lazuli Bunting - 13
Black-capped Chickadee - 3
Song Sparrow - 2
Rock Wren - 3
Calliope Hummingbird - 2
Veery - 2
American Goldfinch - 3
Nashville Warbler - 2
Western Kingbird - 2 (nesting)
Northern Oriole - 2
Mountain Bluebird - 6
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
California Quail - 6
Prairie Falcon - 2 (adult in tree and chick on rock ledge nest nearby)

We were skunked by hawks (maybe we were too busy looking and listening in the
trees and shrubs) and nuthatches which Andy saw lots of and we couldn't find!
It was a great day birding!!!!!!!!.

Janet Eder
Yakima




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