Hi tweeters,
I just returned from a quickie scouting trip to Manastash Canyon. It was
snowy pass trip -hard to believe its May 4th. The snow didn't stop until
almost Ellensburg. I was mainly scouting the route and making sure I didn't
get lost but there were some interesting birds. The warbler diversity is
increasing despite the February-like conditions. I saw a Nashville and
Yellow-rumped and heard a Yellow in the first 3 miles from the Cove Road
interesection with Manastash. An adult Golden Eagle was flying low near the
lower part of the canyon as well. The river itself is pretty high. It was
hard to hear anything at any of the bridge stops but up about 5 miles I
heard a Canyon Wren but no luck on Lazuli Bunting or Chats (is it too
early?). Townsend's Solitaires must be moving through in a big way. I saw
about 15 different birds. Other interesting species were; Ruffed Grouse,
Copper's Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Lewis's Woodpecker (0.7 m up from Cove Rd),
Virginia Rail, Western Bluebird and some sapsucker species I couldn't quite
look at long enough. I'll check again on Saturday.
2 Turkey Vultures at Easton on the way back.
Tracee Geernaert
International Pacific Halibut Commission
PO Box 95009
Seattle, WA 98145-2009
206: 634-1838 ext 208