Tweets,
Spent some time in sunny Yakima County in two riparian canyons over the
weekend. A few early migrants in evidence, most notably good numbers of
White-crowned Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. In general the riparian
brush is just starting to leaf out, so a bit early for peak diversity.
Directions to both sites are in Andy Stepniewski's book on the birds of
Yakima County.
COWICHE CANYON is an enjoyable, easy 3 mile rails-to-trail located a few
miles west of Yakima. Birds seen on 4/20 were:
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Am. Kestrel
CA Quail
N. Flicker
Say's Phoebe
Mystery silent Empidonax
Violet-green Swallow
Black-billed Magpie
C. Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Bewick's Wren
Am. Robin
Hermit Thrush
Townsend's Solitaire
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Nashville Warbler
W. Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-Crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
House Finch
Am. Goldfinch
The other site visited was UMPTANUM CREEK Trail in the North end of
Yakima Canyon on 4/22. No rattlesnakes in evidence yet. Lots of new beaver
activity.
Mallard
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Osprey
Am. Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
CA Quail
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
N. Flicker
Say's Phoebe
Cliff Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Black-billed Magpie
C. Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Am. Robin
Townsend's Solitaire
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
W. Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Am. Goldfinch

Ed Deal in Seattle
dealgen at aol.com