Tweeters,
This weekend I went with my friend Keith Messer to look for the Gnatcatcher and other things at Wenas. On the way we drove through Yakima Canyon, and had a Ferr. Hawk, several Canyon Wrens, White-Throated Swifts, and all the regulars.
Then we headed for Hardy Canyon. A large group of people had just seen the Gnatcatcher, and he was foraging further back than in the original area where his nest is. By the time Keith and I arrived on site (about 92 yards from the bird box #17) the bird was back in his area, very easy to hear and see without going off trail. The area was trampled much more than on Thursday, when Diann MacRae and I first visited. There are also huge numbers of Vesper Sparrows, and Chipping in this area, fun to listen to, and great looks and both adult and juvenile birds.
Then we found the Least Flycatcher, on Maloy Road, only one for us, although I believe two had been seen. The bird was hanging out at the small brook where the bridge is, very low, foraging among the branches just above the water.
We spent a great deal of time at Wenas, first encountering a singing Lazuli Bunting before we even got there, as well as an Eastern Kingbird, and many other eastside favorites. We spend some time enjoying, and studying the variety of birds and calls, and went quite a ways up and around Hog Road Ranch, and again saw a female White-Headed Woodpecker in the same area as the beginning of May. A nice number of flycatchers and Warblers, Warbling Vireos, and well as large numbers of Veery, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and Red-Naped Sapsucker, especially at the second crossing of the creek on Dry Creek Road. We went owling well after dark, having two Flammulated Owls and two Screech Owls, as well as Common Poorwills calling.
It was a great day for birding, and the birds were very cooperative. Since we owled, we didn't DO Umtanum Rd. and didn't get home until nearly 3AM.
What a way to break in a new pair of Leica Binoculars!!!

Have a great week, Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa vickibiltz at msn.com

Diann the TV's were one at Wenas, and one in the Yakima Canyon.......