Hello Tweeters,

I left work Tuesday night to head out to the Liberty area on my continuing
quest to see FLAMMULATED OWLS. Over the course of the last two
summers, I've made about 8 or 9 (I've lost count) expeditions in search of
this elusive little owl. I've been able to hear them on every trip but
could only get fleeting glimpses of shapes flying through the trees. This
time, however, was different. I was able to finally see a pair very well as
they perched and flew about a small open grove of ponderosas. I was even
rewarded with a view of the pair copulating. What an amazing little bird
and a wonderful experience! I'm still buzzing at finally seeing this owl
which has eluded me for so long. WOW!!

I continued to hear Flammulateds as I settled in to camp for the night. I
also heard a distant NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL as I drifted off to
sleep.

The next day (Wednesday), I birded Red Top Mountain where the view is
absolutely spectacular. I would highly recommend this spot for the view
alone. I look forward to returning in the fall to watch for migrating
raptors. Here I had a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at the lookout and a
probable BOBCAT (although the look was so fleeting that it could have been a
Canadian Lynx - hey, one can dream). I checked out a small riparian area
near Liberty itself where a male American Redstart had spent the summer last
year. No redstarts (yet) but NASHVILLE WARBLERS were common among
the YELLOW WARBLERS and WESTERN WOOD PEWEES. Working my
way down through Ellensburg and into the Yakima River Canyon, I found a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT singing from deep within a grove of Russian Olives.

Eventually, I headed up to White Pass Campground which was very quiet save
for a group of EVENING GROSBEAKS moving through and a suprising
BARRED OWL heard calling from the forest. Spring appears to have not quite
reached this spot. Working back down through Selah, returning to the Yakima
River Canyon, I found the usual suspects, including BULLOCK'S ORIOLE,
WESTERN KINGBIRD and a singing CANYON WREN. My best sighting on this
stretch, however, was a group of BIGHORN SHEEP moving along close to the
ridgeline in the north end of the canyon. Finally, I finished at Umptanum
Road out of Ellensburg listening for POORWILLS which I heard calling about 6
miles up the road. The capper of the day was watching an unrelenting
lightning storm illuminating the desert to the east.

Overall, a solid day of birding with no real surprises (except for maybe the
Barred Owl) but the memory and excitement of finally seeing the Flammulateds
the night before made this a very special trip indeed.

Good Luck and Good Birding!

Ted Kenefick
Seattle, WA
tedk at nwlink.com