Cheryl & Tweeters,

Hiking south from Yellepit across the slopes below the the basalt cliffs is
a real adventure and in late spring should yield up birds like raven,
magpie, crow, several species of swallow, white-throated swift, rock wren &
horned lark. Additional surprises are occasionally found this time of year
in the small patches of raparian habitat that occur here. We should all
count ourselves lucky to even be able to still go to Yellepit. Recently
landowners abutting Ayers Road (which gives access to Yellepit) attempted to
have Benton County vacate the right-of-way so they could shut off public
access. Only a strong protest from the local public (including Lower
Columbia Basin Audubon Society) prevented this from happening.

Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA dennis.rockwell at gte.net

One fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968)

-----Original Message-----
From: cheryl essary <chiawana at bossig.com>
To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, May 20, 2001 7:59 AM
Subject: Birds at Yellepit


>Hi Tweeters,
> So who knows where Yellepit is? Yesterday my Lewis & Clark group
>ventured out there to see one of the least-visited Lewis & Clark
>campsites. Yellepit is on the western shore of the Columbia River,
>across from the Walla Walla delta. We had a great view across, and also
>of Wallula Gap.
> While we were there getting cheat grass in our socks, a few birds flew
>by. There was a WESTERN KINGBIRD, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and an
>OSPREY. And, of course, everywhere the songs of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.
> Not a lot of birds, but all were in flight and in a magnificent
>setting.
>
>Cheryl Essary
>Othello
>chiawana at bossig.com
>