Subject: Klickitat birding:
Date: Jul 9 19:52:41 2001
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


To all tweeters who responded so positive of our visits with the Roberts
familyon Sand Ridge Road,looking for the Northern Mockingbird. Tank you all
for you support.A lot of you birders think,wy would she come all the way
from Tacoma for a Mockingbird.This sighting is my fifth record in
Washington,and photographed all the birds i saw.The answer is verry
simple,the Scenery landscapealong the Columbia Gorge is absolutley
breathtaking,besides you got the roads all for youself no high traffic, and
you find birds you can find only in this area.I did not like the dusty road
up to Sandridge,but we drove slow and it was not to dusty.We got well
rewarded seeing all the birds as three Loggerhead Shrikes and Sage Sparrows
on fence post or close to the road .Reward expecial was the eight Chukars
what was posing for close up photos.When ever i been seeing this birds there
running so fast,by the time you get the camera out there way out of sight.So
if you figure that you like to see birds real close this is what makes
birding so rewarding.The Northern Mockingbird was there in view the whole
time we was there,calling also all the time,The reward is i got good photos
in flight what i never had before.And visit with Larry and Marilyn certainly
was all the long drive worth while.We talked about the winters there ,the
Rattle Snakes in the sommers,and some of the birds there had as the Snowy
Owl one winter.Marilyn was giving Patrick some real fine Millet what you can
not find in stores growing there in the fields.We will keep in touch by
internet,how good is it to have a computer and sharing some ideas about
birding.
Now comes something what i should have known for years.It is all about the
most attracted and wanted Ash-Throated Flycatcher.With all my birding i been
doing i only saw this bird twice,once on Umtummen Road going to Wenas only
seeing it flying of,but the rusty long tail this bird is easy to
identify,the second also in May comming from Wenas going to Robinson Canyon
with Jerry and Sandy Converse.We camped there overnight,and on ou walk
around the creek he was right on the road.As the bird spotted us all he took
of into the hillside.We all could not relocate this bird with some expensive
search for hours.When i saw all this Ash-throaded Flycatchers on Balch road
in Lyle i was thinking about good Jerry and how he persuet the birds he
found to make a high list in such short time.I am so glad that he birded so
much and enjoyed every moment of.This Flycatchers where manly on the
cemetery and staying also close to the road.I finaly saw this bird so close
with no effort or pressure.So if any birders want to see this species close,
go to Lyle when there be arriving in May.We also saw one baby Western Pond
Turtle,we was wondering where was all the adults?In the past when we
visiting this area we had least three or four adults each time.The season
was different, March to ende April.



Ruth Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net
Tacoma,wash.