Tweeters,

Here's a recap of last Saturday's WOS trip 8 April 2001

WOS TRIP TO WESTERN COLUMBIA BASIN
8 APRIL 2001

WOS members met at Thorp west of Ellensburg to canvas the various habitats
in the western Columbia Basin. We were thwarted at our first stop at
Robinson Canyon, at the east base of the Cascades, where a WDFW barricade
seemed to mean business. I've since learned the road in Robinson Canyon has
washed out; I wasn't able to find out when it will be opened. Everyone had
good views of a confiding Townsend's Solitaire, though, so I didn't feel the
time here was all for nought.

We then headed east through Kittitas, birding the open fields. As usual
there were lots of raptors. Along one fence line, we had great scope views
of an adult Bald Eagle and 2 Rough-legged Hawks and a few minutes later a
busy Long-billed Curlew. We also had a dark Rough-leg. We were off to a
good start!

Though winds were up and down on the approaches to and in the shrub-steppe
of the Quilomene Wildlife Area, we were still able to get good views of Sage
Thrashers, Mountain Bluebirds, and Brewer's and Sage Sparrows. We had a
"heard" Vesper Sparrow, too, but it didn't show itself. There were a good
number of showy wildflowers about; memorable were Sage Violets, several
Lomatiums, and Sage Buttercups.

At the overlook of the Columbia at Ginkgo State Park, there were close
studies of breeding plumaged Horned Grebes. Pied-billed and Western Grebes
were also seen. A few observers saw White-throated Swifts zoom by, too.

At Sentinel Gap, where the Columbia flows through the imposing basaltic
ramparts of the Saddle Mountains, we had wonderful, if distant views of a
Golden Eagle perched atop a spire. Drifting by us on the river were Common
Loons, one in breeding plumage. Numbers of Violet-green Swallows were seen
nearby, close to the water, probably on account of the cold and wind.

Along Lower Crab Creek, were skunked at the usually reliable owl roosts. In
Russian Olives there, one is usually able to roust Great Horned or
Long-eared Owls. These groves seemed mostly birdless; I wondered if the fall
and winter berry extravaganza had run its course, hence the birds had little
to eat here and had moved on. Farther along the base of the Saddle
Mountains, we did get good looks at Loggerhead Shrike, a common species
here, probably because of the abundance of Greasewood shrubs. We heard the
cacklings of Chukars on the distant talus slopes, but could never find one.
A Great Horned Owl hooted briefly, though it was midday. Also obliging was
another Golden Eagle, a number of harriers, Red-tailed Hawk, and kestrels.
There were a few White-throated Swifts flying about the cliffs here, but
oddly no Cliff Swallows, yet.

Eastward on Lower Crab Creek, I must have been paying too much attention to
driving, as I cruised by at least 2,000 Sandhill Cranes! Sharp-eyed Jeff
Swift, in the last car, had alerted his car to this spectacle, though at
first they wondered if the field in the distance was full of gray boulders!
This roosting site was about 1 mile east of Smryna, an impressive little
village along Crab Creek. By and by, we returned, and admired the dancing
cranes ourselves. The movement of 20,000-25,000 Lesser Sandhill Crane
through Othello each spring surely must be one of Washington's
ornithological highlights.

Finally, the last stop was at the Para Ponds northwest of Othello. These
ponds were full of waterbirds. Eared Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, and
Yellow-headed Blackbirds were all showing themselves off. Waterfowl were
about in good numbers and diversity, including Ruddy Ducks, mostly having
attained breeding plumage.

Then it was back to Ellensburg, arriving there about 5:30 PM.

Species observed:

Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Canada Goose
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon - chasing blackbird flocks
Chukar
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Long-billed Curlew
Common Snipe
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
White-throated Swift
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Say's Phoebe
Horned Lark
Violet-green Swallow
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Canyon Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
American Robin
Sage Thrasher
Loggerhead Shrike
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Brewer's Blackbird
Vesper Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
House Sparrow

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
Steppie at nwinfo.net





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