Gene:

I'm with you, I believe there's another record from Colockum but it's way
back and vague to me, before the "gush" of records from Okanogan Co. sites
(Toats Coulee Rd) in the 80s.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

>From: "Eugene Hunn" <enhunn at attbi.com>
>Reply-To: "Eugene Hunn" <enhunn at attbi.com>
>To: <Downess at cwu.EDU>, <tweeters at u.washington.edu>,
><inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu>
>CC: <mattockp at cwu.EDU>
>Subject: Re: Clay-colored Sparrow at Colockum Road
>Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 15:21:33 -0700
>
>Scott,
>
>I seem to recall a record in spring migration near Ellensburg in American
>Birds quite a few years ago, but there was no additional information on it
>at the time. Perhaps the mid-1970s?
>
>Gene.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Scott G. Downes" <Downess at cwu.EDU>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>; <inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu>
>Cc: <mattockp at cwu.EDU>
>Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 1:19 PM
>Subject: Re: Clay-colored Sparrow at Colockum Road
>
>
>On my back from the field this morning, decided to try and relocate this
>bird. Found it with a couple of White-crowned sparrows, 100-150 Juncos,
>including at least two Slate-colored Juncos about .2 of a mile farther up
>the road from where Charlie had it, accross the creek and on the eastern
>slope in the sage at the base of the rimrock. Also had a House Wren
>foraging
>along the creek, probably the same one they heard yesterday. Clay-colored
>Sparrow isn't on the county checklist from what we can tell, is it a first?
>Anyhow, a good bird. Maybe it will stick around for a day or two so others
>can see it.
>
>Scott Downes
>downess at cwu.edu
>Ellensburg WA
>
> >>> <Birdking88 at AOL.com> 04/19/02 01:50 AM >>>
>Hello Tweeters and INBirders,
> Today I birded Colockum Road with Fred Boesche, mainly just to see
>what the road conditions are like up top. We made a couple of stops on the
>way over, including a stop at the road to Stampede Pass where we had a pair
>of WOOD DUCKS and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, along with various passerines
>including YELLOW-RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS.
> We started heading up Colockum Road at about 10:00 a.m. Had a male
>BARN OWL in the barn at the intersection of Colockum and Erickson Roads.
>Driving up Colockum, we spooked a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE near the last house
>on
>the right. We saw some more activety here so pulled over and I quickly got
>a
>good look at an adult alternate plumaged CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. A slim
>sparrow
>with a long tail. During the initial view, I got good looks at the dark
>crown, white median crown-stripe, obvious moustachial and lateral throat
>stripes, white malar, gray nape, buff wash on underparts, and as it flew
>back
>into the brush the brown rump was apparent. It appeared roughly the same
>size
>as the CHIPPING SPARROWS nearby and much smaller than the White-crowneds it
>was also with. The bill could have been smaller, but I wasn't able to
>confirm
>that mark. I do believe this is a county first. From the beginning of
>Colockum Road NE of Ellensburg, you go north on Colockum about 3 miles
>(past
>where the road turns to gravel). There is a house on the right which has
>feeders (they were empty yesterday), and lots of willows and other bushes
>making for great habitat. The area is just before the first Ponderosa
>Pines.
>I saw the bird in the bushes along Trail Creek, just behind the left-most
>patch of daffodils. Hope somebody is able to relocate the bird this
>weekend.
>Other good birds here were a singing "Slate-colored" FOX SPARROW and newly
>arrived HOUSE WREN.
> After searching for a good 30 minutes in vain for the Clay-colored
>Sparrow, we continued up Colockum Road. Had a singing NASHVILLE WARBLER and
>an early (?) DUSKY FLYCATCHER at the campground. We made it up about 5
>miles
>from the pass before being forced to turn around because of snow drifts.
>Nothing else notable during the day, save 2 male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS just
>past where we had the sparrow earlier. I've probably left a lot of things
>out, but that's all I can think of for now. Good birding.
>
>Charlie Wright
>Birdking88 at aol.com
>Sumner, WA
>
>
>


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