Hello Tweets,

I birded Sept. 8&9th in 8 Cos., starting from Cowlitz Co., then travelling
east along the Columbia Gorge(Hwy.14), then the Lower Columbia Basin
Cos.(Adams,Franklin,Walla Walla, and Benton). The weather was rather good
with mostly sunny skies on Tuesday, turning cloudy further east with
showers in Walla Walla and Franklin Cos., then partly to mostly sunny skies
and scattered showers(Adams Co.)on Wed. Temperatures ranged from 93H to
48L. The main purpose was to check a few migrant traps, also including
regularly checked areas, which produced highlights as CLAY-COLORED SPARROW,
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, GRAY FLYCATCHER, and STILT SANDPIPER.

I started out on Sept. 8th, birding Dike Access Rd., west of
Woodland(Cowlitz Co.), where 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 12 W.Sandpipers, and 2
Gr.Yellowlegs were noted on a small pond. I drove east along Hwy.14 to
Dallesport(Klickitat Co.)along Tidyman Rd., where notables included: 5
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS among several W.Sandpipers
and 1 Gr.Yellowlegs. The series of ponds, which are quickly drying up, have
been great for shorebirds, which can be DIFFICULT in Klickitat Co., as well
as waterfowl. A quick check at the Maryhill Museum produced several
W.Tanagers, and single Black-headed Grosbeak and Golden-crowned Sparrow. A
generous walk through Maryhill SP allowed a great view of a secretive GRAY
CATBIRD in dense undergrowth along the Columbia River shores. In Benton Co.
at Crow Butte SP a WINTER WREN, HOUSE WREN, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and
Warbling Vireo, where among the notables in a small, loose flock of
Yellow-rumped Warblers in the camping area. Further north and east, at the
Yakima River Delta in Richland, good numbers of shorebirds were present on
the well-exposed mudflats including: 320 W.Sandpipers, 18 L.B.DOWITCHERS,
12 C.Snipe, 12 Gr.Yellowlegs, 18 L.YELLOWLEGS, and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
Other species on/or near the delta included: 1 HORNED GREBE, 2 GREAT
EGRETS, 1 B.C.Night Heron, 23 Am.White Pelicans, and 20 GR.W.F.GEESE. By
4:30pm I was at the Walla Walla River Delta(Walla Walla Co.), as being
larger than the YRD, produced more species and numbers of shorebirds, being
fairly low at the time. Species included: 380 W.Sandpipers, 40
L.Sandpipers, 1 SANDERLING, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 5
STILT SANDPIPERS, 10 L.YELLOWLEGS, 6 Gr.Yellowlegs, 7 L.B.DOWITCHERS, 10
AM.AVOCETS, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 8 C.Snipe, and 54 Killdeer. In Franklin
Co., along the shores of the Columbia River at Sacajawea SP 4 SANDERLINGS
were noted at the entrance to the park, and a FORSTER'S TERN at Burbank,
observed from Sacajawea SP, flying in recent evening strong winds.

The next day(Sept.9th)I started at dawn birding Windust Park along the
Snake River in Franklin Co. for 2 hours, as the trees and surrounding low
brush seemed nearly crawling with birds, probably due to the recent storm
front, the evening prior. A single CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and tan-striped
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were picked out of 40 CHIPPING SPARROWS and good
numbers of W.C.Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Other migrants included: 1
C.NIGHTHAWK, 3 R.B.NUTHATCHES, 3 FOX SPARROWS, 1 G.C. SPARROW, 3
R.C.KINGLETS, 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, 1 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, 2 WILSON'S
WARBLERS, 1 YELLOW WARBLER, 4 O.C.WARBLERS, 12 W.TANAGERS, 1 CASSIN'S
VIREO, 1 WINTER WREN , 5 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, 3 S.TOWHEES, and 2 HERMIT
THRUSHES. At Kahlotus Lk.(Franklin Co.)larger numbers of waterrfowl were
present, along with 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Heading east along S.R. 260 near
the Adams Co. line a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was observed at McAdam. My next
quality migrant stop was made at the city park in Washtucna(Adams
Co.)birding in light showers, where I found another tan-striped
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW amongst several W.C.Sparrows and 1 G.C.SPARROW, as I
thoroughly walked and checked the dense willows, taller shade trees, and
few conifers present. Other notable migrants included: 1 GRAY
FLYCATCHER(late), 2 DUSKY, FLYCATCHERS, 4 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS, 1
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, 3 W.W.PEWEES, 1 T.SOLITAIRE, 6 H.THRUSHES, 4
R.B.NUTHATCHES, 2 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, 3 WILSON'S WARBLERS, 1
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, 3 O.C.WARBLERS, 5 R.C.KINGLETS, 20 W.TANAGERS, 5
S.TOWHEES, 10 D.E.JUNCOS, 2 FOX SPARROWS, and 4 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. A few
species that considered resident in Washtucna, by seeing them on past
visits include: 5 BARN OWLS, with as many as 10 observed twice roosting in
the dense willows in the park, and 1 WILD TURKEY, which I observed once
before in the park, but seems quite tame. At 12:30pm I arrived back at YRD,
to check for shorebirds. Nearly the same count of birds were noted as
previously, with 1 SEMI.PLOVER, 2 FORSTER'S TERNS, 1 R.N.PHALAROPE being
additionally added. On my way home I quickly birded the Grandview Sewage
Treatment Plant in east Yakima Co., where shorebird numbers were very low,
with only a few species present including: 5 R.N.PHALAROPE, 45
W.Sandpipers, 1 L.YELLOWLEGS, and 7 AM.AVOCETS.


Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net