Subject: Seattle Audubon Field Trip-Kittitas
Date: Nov 15 09:28:11 1999
From: MEYER2J at aol.com - MEYER2J at aol.com


Hi Tweets:

On Sunday, November 14, 5 of us met with Seattle Audubon leader Dave Swayne
for a trip to Kittitas County, Ellensburg area. The day was warm and dry but
the fog was low and dense. We decided to "wing it" and make our way slowly
toward Reecer Canyon where there was no fog. We were rewarded with
unanticipated views of Northern Pygmy-owls and a Black-backed Woodpecker.
Details follow.

SPECIES SEEN
43 seen - Kittitas County

Trumpeter Swan
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle - immature and mature
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl - 2
Northern Pygmy-Owl - at least 2, likely 3. All scoped. Scoped 2 perched
near one another in the same tree; all seen in Reecer Canyon, DeLorme Page
66, C4
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker - * See notes
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Northern Shrike
Bohemian Waxwing - ID based on flight call
American Robin
European Starling
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper - heard
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
House Sparrow
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird

* Black-backed Woodpecker. We were are the last stop we were going to make
in Reecer Canyon, a pullout that affords a view of the canyon and cliffs. As
we listened and waited, some of us saw a shadow that landed on a tree that
was quite close to our group. We saw a woodpecker that was deep jet black, a
black head with a yellow spot, white throat, beautifully barred flanks, a
white line off the base of the bill. No obvious eye-stripe. Most of us saw
only a side view of the woodpecker while it was on the tree. When it flew
off I saw a glossy black back. We immediately checked multiple field guides
to confirm our sighting. The bird didn't have the extensive yellow crown as
pictured; however, in my opinion, the Stokes Field Guide to Birds most
accurately pictures the bird that we saw.

Joyce Meyer
Woodinville, WA
MEYER2J at aol.com