Subject: E. Wa. Birding, GREAT!!
Date: Jun 17 11:07:22 2002
From: kjandrich at netscape.net - kjandrich at netscape.net



Hi Tweeters,

Well I was supposed to be camping with a large group at Alta Lake this weekend and I did finally catch up to them, but what fun along the way and way back. At Wenatchee Confluence State Park I got excellent looks at Gray Catbirds. One busily eating berries off of a tree. A lot of nest building by Robins going on there. Saw one Bullock's Oriole nest there as well and a fellow birder I ran into said that eggs in an Osprey nest on a bridge near the park was due to hatch any day.

At Entiat Creek near the little information kiosk I saw a Robins, Mourning Dove and Northern Flicker nest all within 50 yards of each other. The flickers looked about ready to fledge any day, their marking and feathers looked very distinct and not downy, what I could see poking out of the hole. I didn't know they were crop feeders but it makes sense since I have read their diet is mostly ants, pretty small to present to them in the beak. First flicker nest I have run across. The robin and dove were on eggs.

The highlights for me at Alta Lake was Ruddy Ducks and Yellow Headed Blackbird. I also a pair of Black Capped Chickadees inspecting a cup nest, maybe a robin's nest and I swear it looked like they were cleaning it out. First one little bit of debris would be tossed out of the nest, and then a twig, etc. They both took turns at this. I thought they were hole nesters, could they get desperate and use this kind of nest? I also saw a Western Gray Squirrel for the first time. It looked a lot different than an Eastern but at the same time having basic similarities. Noticably larger and pure gray, the ears look more erect, and what a tail! Very full and bushy.

The best was near the end of my trip. I stopped at Swakane Canyon road and about 1/3 mile up the road I got the best close up looks I have ever had a Lazuli Bunting. No scope needed for this one, which is good because I don't have one. I have only looked at them before on feild trips with a scope. It was so cooperative. It wasn't singing, just perched, looking gorgeous. Within 10 minutes also had fair looks at Yellow Breasted Chat and a Lewis Woodpecker who was passing through.

Wish I could have stayed longer...

PS if the other birding Kathy I met briefly at Alta Lake is on Tweeters and reads this could you respond privately, I would like hear about what you saw!

Happy Birding!

Kathy

Kathy Andrich
Renton, WA
kjandrich at nestscape.net




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