Hello Tweets,

My mother and I birded May 2nd and 3rd of June in Kittitas Co. in search of
a few eastern WA specialties, despite the varibale waether that was
forcasted, as we lucked out on rain during most of our trip, with the only
rainshowers present in the Ellensburg-Thorp area during mid-afternnon on the
2nd, as the majority of the weather was fairly rewarding, with partly cloudy
to mostly sunny skies, and temperatures being the warmest at Vantage on the
2nd, and coolest overnight with near freezing at Liberty, and moderate to
heavy winds noted in the Ellensburg-Liberty after 2pm on the 2nd, but
decreasing with clearing skies, and a near full moon during that evening for
favorable owling conditions, then winds returning gusty in the Cle
Elum-Teanaway area on the 3rd, with scattered showers to Auburn. We
encountered a total of 148 species, including 6 species of owls, with 420
miles of driving during our trip, but missed several species, as can be the
case any trip. The main highlight of our trip was 3 BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS
located and observed 6.1 miles south of the Wanapum State Park along
Huntzinger Road, south of Vantage. These birds, with 2 birds seen, and an
additional singing bird were located near the same location than in previous
years across from the railroad tressel bridge the Columbia River, but these
birds were all noted on the west side of the road along the fenceline, with
the additional bird heard singing from the nearby partially vegetated
hillside below the extensive rimrock cliffs. We were fortunate to have
favorable conditions during the observation, with very minor wind during our
entire visit at 10am, which helps in locating them by hearing their song,
and observing them, as normally we encounter very windy conditions at this
location, which usually starts in Ellensburg anytime of day. Below is a list
of notable highlights during our trip at listed locations:

GREATER SCAUP
1 pair well observed in a small farm pond, east of Thrall on the 2nd, being
somewhat out of habitat, and unusual for time of year, and location, as most
records for eastern WA come from major rivers and lakes. In addition several
pairs of Lesser Scaups were noted on small ponds in the listed vicinity, as
would be more expected.

Swainson's Hawk
2 birds along I-90, east of Kittitas on the 2nd
1 along 4th Parallel Rd., east of Thrall on the 2nd

Golden Eagle
1 at Robinson Canyon on the 2nd

Prairie Falcon
1 at Robinson Canyon on the 2nd

Wild Turkey
3 males, and 1 hen with five young north of Liberty on the 2nd

Herring Gull
2 subadults at Wanapum Dam on the 2nd, being quite late for the date at this
location, as they noted with 16 California Gulls,1 Ring-billed Gull, 2
Glaucous-winged Gulls, and 1 Caspian Tern, which were all noted foraging in
the active spillway.

FORSTER'S TERN
3 roosting with 5 Caspian Terns, and 8 California Gulls on a gravel spit
along the Columbia River, north of Wanapum S.P. on the 2nd

Band-tailed Pigeon
2 along I-90 at Easton on the 2nd, being somewhat regular, but uncommon at
this location, and bieing one of the easier spots, other than the Trout
Lake-Glenwood area in northwestern Klickitat Co. to observe this species in
eastern WA.

Owls
All species were observed/and or heard in the Liberty area on the evening of
the 2nd, and early morning of the 3rd, with notable species that included:

5 Flammulated Owls
2 Western Screeh Owls
1 Northern Pygmy Owl
2 Spotted Owls
1 Long-eared Owl
2 Northern Saw-whet Owls

White-throated Swift
16 south of Wanapum S.P. on the 2nd
3 at Vantage on the 2nd

Black-chinned Hummingbird
2 at Liberty on the 3rd

Williamson's Sapsucker
4 north of Liberty on the 2nd

LEAST FLYCATCHER
1 at Liberty on the 3rd

Bank Swallow
1 nesting colony of 47 birds at Wanapum S.P. on the 2nd, with a few
additional birds noted further south along Huntzinger Rd. to Getty's Cove
Resort.

Veery
14 at Liberty on the 3rd

Black-throated Gray Warbler
1 along Kachess Lake Rd. at Swamp Lake on the 3rd, being somewhat regular at
this location, but not always encountered.

Hermit Warbler
3 at Lake Easton S.P. on the 2nd

Sage Sparrow
4 south of Wanapum S.P. on the 2nd

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
3 east of Thrall on private property, near the base of the Boylston
Mountains on the 2nd, being our second best species of the trip, as this
somewhat elusive, and relatively scarce, and uncommon breeder in WA is
always a highlight to see anywhere, especially in Kittitas Co.

Yellow-headed Blackbird
18 at Ellensburg on the 2nd
28 on the 2nd, along Hwy.97 betwen MP 137 and 138 in a rather small
wetland/marsh that also contained 1 Cinnamon Teal, 4 Sora, and 6 Virginial
Rails.

Purple Finch
1 pair at Liberty on the 2nd, being a irregular, and uncommon breeder in
this region

Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net