Hello Tweets,

Yesterday(June 8th)and today(June 9th)my mother and I birded several
portions of eastern WA,mainly scouting a few areas for our field trip(s) for
next week's 2002 WOS Convention. Due to our primary goal being to scout a
few areas in Okanogan Co.,we did manage to late several highlights despite
the heavy to severe constant rain showers between 11am-9pm on the 8th from
the Loup Loup Campground in Okanogan Co. to the Vantage area in Kitittas
Co.,which was our first eastern WA experience to encounter this amount of
rainfall in the time period. The weather on the 9th(today)was much increased
compared to yesterday with clearing,sunny skies and relatively calm
conditions. It seems other eastern WA birders encountered the same type of
weather too over the last few days. Our main highlight of the trip was good
numbers of BLACK SWIFTS in 4 northcentral eastern WA counties on both
days,with our largest flock at one time being 120+ birds over the Hwy.2
bridge over the Columbia River,just east of Wenatchee which were both in
Chelan and Douglas Cos. on the 8th. Our first Black Swifts on the 8th of
June were noted directly low over Hwy.97/Hwy.2 north of Orondo at two
seperate locations and were observed flying in the steady rain,making
observations very good and at relatively close range. Most sightings
included pure flocks within 50-100 feet above the ground,but some
observations included mixed elevated flocks amongst several species of
swallows,Common Nighthawks,and Forster's Terns(south of Vantage and the
Wanapum Dam). All sighting were however in close or immediate association to
the Columbia River. This two day invasion is our second large Black Swift
encounter in this relative area in eastern WA,which occured last summer
in(Okanogan and Douglas Cos. on the 25th of June,2001). Perhaps these are
birds migrating to breeding grounds or postbreeding dispersal,which may take
place in several areas of eastern WA,BUT nesting information and dispersal
may be poorly understood or known. With this possible dispersal it may be
possible to encounter this species at many unusual areas in many parts of
eastern WA,where they have never been recorded or are very rare. A list of
specific locations and numbers of Black Swifts that we encountered follow
below:

June 8th,2002

Hwy.97 between MP 215 and 218 north of Orondo,Douglas Co.
45 birds

Hwy.2 at MP 136 south of Orondo,Douglas Co.
8 birds

Hwy.2 bridge over the Columbia River east of Wenatchee(Douglas and Chelan
Cos.)
120+ birds

June 9th,2002

Columbia River south of Wanapum Dam(Kittitas and Grant Cos.,viewed from
Huntzinger Rd.south of Vantage)*possible first county record for Grant Co.*
45+ birds foraging with various species of swallows,Common Nighthawks,and
Forster's Terns as they ALL presumably "hawked" for insects,in addition to
the terns diving for fish with nearby Caspian Terns too.

Vantage,Kittitas Co.
7 birds


We spent the night south of Vantage to wade the rainstorm out and to attempt
to locate Black-throated Sparrow(s)along Huntzinger Rd. due to Charlie
Wright's recent sighting,as we encountered good and very favorable
conditions this morning between 5am-7:30am,which has been crucial in
observing this species in past years that include calm conditions and most
sightings found in the morning. Despite our extensive a search at two
seperate locations we however did NOT encounter a Black-throated Sparrow in
any form,but it or they may still remain in the area as I say "they" because
my mother and I encountered three birds along the slope east of Huntzinger
Rd. and the railroad tressel,which lies south of Wanapum Dam. At least 2
birds remained in the immediate area through the remainder of last June.

Despite the much mileage driven,my mother and I had a rewarding weekend trip
that began relatively at Liberty in Kittitas Co. on the 8th, then ended this
late afternoon at the White Pass Campground(CG) on our way home. A list of
our most notable highlights noted include the following at listed locations:

PACIFIC LOON(very late for eastern WA in spring)
1 along the Columbia River south of Wanapum Dam on the 9th(with 3 Common
Loons nearby)

Red-necked Grebe
2 along Hwy.97 north of Chelan Falls,Chelan Co.(CH)on the 8th

Eared Grebe
2 at Wells Dam(Chelan and Douglas Cos.)on the 8th
6 along the Columbia River at Vantage,Kittitas Co.(KT)on the 9th

Clark's Grebe
1 along the Columbia River at Vantage,KT on the 9th(with 3 Western Grebes)

Am.White Pelican
1 at the mouth of the Okanogan River at Cassimer Bar,Okanogan Co.(OK)on the
8th
6 along the Columbia River south of the Wanapum Dam,KT on the 9th
1 along the Columbia River south of Vantage,KT on the 9th

Blue-winged Teal(*unusual for elevation and location*,with good numbers
found at additional locations in appropriate habitats on the 8th)
1 male at the south end of Leech Lake at White Pass,Lewis Co.on the 9th

Ring-necked Duck
15 at Leech Lake at the White Pass Campground,Lewis and Yakima Cos(YA).on
the 9th

Greater Scaup
1 male at Wells Dam,CH(with 3 Redhead)on the 8th

Swainson's Hawk
1 along Hwy.97 at Cassimer Bar,OK on the 8th
1 dark-morph adult at Fort Okanogan State Park,OK on the 8th
1 along I-90 east of Kittitas,KT on the 9th

Golden Eagle
1 adult over the White Pass CG(Yakima and Lewis Cos.)on the 9th

Chukar
1 adult seen along Huntzinger Rd. south of Wanapum Dam,KT with additional
nearby birds heard on the 9th

Forster's Tern(high count for location)
34 along the Columbia River south of Wanapum Dam,KT on the 9th

Black-chinned Hummingbird
1 male at Liberty,KT on the 8th

Red-naped Sapsucker
1 at White Pass Campground,YA on the 9th

Williamson's Sapsucker
3(2 males and 1 female)at the White Pass CG on the 9th(with 1 pair at a
confirmed nestsite)

Willow Flycatcher
6 at Liberty,KT on the 8th

Bank Swallows(relatively good numbers at many locations)
120+ at a presumed nestsite near Cassimer Bar,OK on the 8th

Veery
8+ along Hwy.10 at Teanaway near the Teanaway River,KT on the 8th
5 at Liberty,KT on the 8th

Gray Catbird
3 along Hwy.10 at Teanaway,KT(previous location)on the 8th

Loggerhead Shrike
1 along Huntzinger Rd. south of Wanapum Dam,KT on the 9th

Purple Finch
1 male at Liberty,KT on the 8th


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net