Tweeters,

Just returned from a trip to Eastern WA. I went owling Saturday night along
Forest Road 9705 near Liberty in Kittitas Co. Almost immediately after
arriving, I heard at least two FLAMMULATED OWLS calling from both sides of
the road. On two occasions, a bird flew directly overhead but I was never
able to get a satisfactory look. I am headed out that way later in the week
if anyone in Tweeterland would like to join me.

I camped in the area and, this morning headed for the Wanapum Dam location
that Steve Pink had mentioned on the birdbox. This was my third time in
search of that pesky sparrow and well, third time's a charm as I saw 1
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW at this location. I witnessed a little skirmish
between the bird I was viewing and another sparrow which I couldn't ID. As
Marv Breece indicated, he was able to confirm that there are indeed two
BLACK-THROATEDS there. After watching for CANYON WRENS at the cliffs across
the river (heard only), I headed to the flooded field along Highway 28 near
Wilson Creek where I saw the SNOWY EGRET reported by Mary Anne Thornbeck.
The White-faced Ibis was nowhere to be seen, however the quickly receding
pond yielded several AMERICAN AVOCETS as well as about 15 peeps - mostly
WESTERN SANDPIPERS. I checked out the Tricolored Blackbird location which
was pretty quiet save for four AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and a single GREAT
EGRET.

Per Marv's advice, I headed across Crab Creek and then east out of Wilson
Creek. Heading out of town along Kanniwai Road for about 2 miles, I came
across a beautiful FERRUGINOUS HAWK perched on a telephone pole along the
road.

Working west, I stopped by Little Soap Lake which had a host of REDHEADS and
EARED GREBES among others. I also stopped at the Quincy Sewage Ponds
finding BLACK-NECKED STILTS, RUDDY DUCKS etc. At the Quincy Wildlife Area
were more STILTS as well as LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. I finished up
back at Liberty seeing the AMERICAN REDSTART that Steve Mlodinow had found
back on the 24th of June.

Good Birding,
Ted Kenefick
Seattle, WA
tedk at nwlink.com