Subject: Grant & Kittitas County birding 4/23-26
Date: Apr 26 22:29:16 2002
From: Birdking88 at aol.com - Birdking88 at aol.com


Hey Tweets & InlandBirders,
We headed over the mountains Tuesday around mid-day and arrived at the
MarDon Resort on the Potholes Reservoir in the afternoon. On the way I noted
EASTERN KINGBIRDS west of Moses Lake, several SWAINSON'S HAWKS, and others.
Just before sunset there were hundreds of swallows flying low over the
reservoir, along with scattered VAUX'S SWIFTS and a real surprise: an adult
male PURPLE MARTIN. I remember hearing about a martin on the reservoir about
a month ago, possibly during the crane festival? Perhaps the same bird.

The next morning I was happy to find the resort area hopping with
birds; this is a great migrant trap. Some good migrants/returning breeders
seen Wednesday included:

3 Western Kingbirds
1 cooperative Hammond's Flycatcher
1 very early WILLOW FLYCATCHER (calling)
150+ "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warblers
12 Orange-crowned Warblers
1 Nashville Warbler
1 early male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER
1 WILSON'S WARBLER
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
100+ White-crowned Sparrows
2 Chipping Sparrows

Some interesting finds out on the reservoir and elsewhere Wednesday
were:
19 Common Loons (calling almost constantly both day and night)
3 RED-NECKED GREBES
100's of grebe sp. (either Western or Clark's, too far out to ID)
10 Western Grebes
2 Clark's Grebes
3 Great Egrets
2 Black-crowned Night-Herons
1 FORSTER'S TERN
1 Prairie Falcon
1 Great Horned Owl

Thursday morning we mainly noted the same birds, but got at least 2
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS and 5 NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Thursday afternoon just north
of Wanapum Dam were 4 AM. WHITE PELICANS. Out in the Whiskey Dick Wildlife
Area north of the Old Vantage Highway on Friday we noted that LARK SPARROWS
have arrived. There was also a migrant LINCOLN'S SPARROW singing from a sage,
a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, and we found several SAGE THRASHER nests. About half
of the Hedgehog Cacti flowers were opening up. It was a good trip.

Charlie Wright
Birdking88 at aol.com
Sumner, WA