Tweeters,

Pasted below is a recap of a short visit to Fort Simcoe this morning. We
did not see Vermillion Flycatcher, but we did note a nice
collection of birds.

FORT SIMCOE
13 JULY 2002

A pair of Vermillion Flycatchers was reported 5 July at Fort Simcoe, so
Ellen and I decided to search for them. Intense and record-breaking heat on
the 12th (officially 105F in Yakima ) was tempered a bit by clouds for
awhile this morning. But,
the clouds blew north early and it became hot again, thus quieting bird
activity by mid-morning.

We walked the edge between trees and lawn all around the fort and then
discovered a wet, shallow ditch just northeast of the ranger's residence
which was attracting every bird in the neighborhood, or so it seemed.

We missed Lewis's Woodpecker, which really surprised me, though John Hebert
and Richard Repp noted one (only one)10 July.

Several birds we saw appeared to be vanguards of the fall migration,
including the pewee, Nashville Warbler, and tanager.

Birds we noted:

Northern Harrier - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 2
California Quail - 20
Mourning Dove - 5
Vaux's Swift - 1, I wonder if they nest in cavities in the Garry Oaks here,
as they appear to do in the Klickitat?
Rufous Hummingbird - 1
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 4
Western Wood-Pewee - 1
Ash-throated Flycatcher - 2
Western Kingbird - adults feeding begging (and panting) young perched on a
wire
Cliff Swallow - 10
Barn Swallow - 1
Common Crow - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 5
House Wren - 5, fledged young about, too
American Robin - 10, including 3 spotted young
Cedar Waxwing - 3
Nashville Warbler - 1
Black-headed Grosbeak - 5
Lazuli Bunting - 1
Spootted Towhee - 10, including 4 grayish juveniles
Song Sparrow - 3
Western Meadowlark - 1
Yellow-headed Blackbird - 6, fly overs
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Bullock's Oriole - 2
Purple Finch - adults and 3 fledged young
American Goldfinch - 3

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
Steppie at nwinfo.net