Hello Tweets,

Dave Hayden, and my mother, and I birded on the 24th and 25th of June, mostly in Yakima County, with a few stops made in Kittitas County at Vantage for the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, with NO luck on the morning of the 24th, possibly due to constant wind, heavy at times, and a stop made near Packwood at 2pm on the 25th for the OVENBIRD, which was heard only during our visit, along with Bill and Nancy LaFramboise of Richland. The bird sang during 3 minute intervals at 2:15pm-2:30pm, just east of the road, but could not be seen, as the bird appears much more secretive than last weekend, and as it continues its stay.

We observed 112 species, the same as last weekend, but should of had more species, especially at Vantage, but windy conditions persisted. Weather was great, but some areas were quite hot, but cool mornings still prevail. The main highlights were: 3 FLAMMULATED OWLS near Rimrock Lake late on 24th, and 1 NORTHERN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at White Pass Campground on the 25th. We started at Vantage at 8am on the 24th, as we tried for the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, south of Wanapum State Park, but winds were constant, with only Western Meadowlarks present singing, and 1 Lark Sparrow. Other species that were observed included:

1 COMMON LOON along the Columbia River
1 family(5 birds)of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES
3 SAGE SPARROWS

We headed west, then south over Hwy. 97-82, with White-throated Swifts observed at two locations, north of Selah. At the Hwy.12/410 intersection, we had 1 calling YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, before we headed south along Hwy.12 to Rimrock Lake, with a few stops along the way. The remainder of the trip highlights included(with a few above species):

1 WESTERN GREBE at Rimrock Lake, Yakima County. Good for location at time of year.

FLAMMULATED OWL
3 birds heard, with 1 bird present flying over us at close range, near Rimrock Lake, Yakima County, late on the 24th in same location as last weekend, as we attempted mainly for photographes, but were unable to get any.

SPOTTED OWL
1 adult with 1 young observed near Rimrock Lake on the 25th

RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
1 pair at active nest at Rimrock Lake on the 24th, with photographes taken, as it is a good nesting record for the location in Yakima County.

WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER
1 pair at Conrad Meadows,YA on the 24th
1 near FR 1000,YA on the 25th

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER
1 female at Rimrock Lake,YA on the 25th

NORTHERN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
1 male at White Pass CG,YA on the 25th(heard first,then seen briefly)

Am.Dipper
1 family(4 birds)at Conrad Meadows,YA along Conrad Creek on the 24th
1 bird along Oak Creek,YA on the 24th

Western Bluebird
1 pair at active nest along FR 1000 in a clearcut

LINCOLN'S SARROW
8 at Conrad Meadows,YA on the 24th
3 at White Pass CG,YA on the 25th

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
1 male along I-90, E of Ellensburg,Kittitas County

Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net