Hello Tweets,

My mother and I birded portions of southeast WA on June 26th and 27th,mainly
in eastern Walla Walla Co. with ALL of our target species observed. In
addition to birding portions of southeast WA my mother and I birded a few
locations to and from destinations as time allowed in cluding the Walla
Walla River Delta and the Vantage area,but mainly on our way home this
afternoon. The weather was quite variable from a high temperature in the
Tri-Cities area of 105 degrees on the 26th to lighting/thunder and rain
showers and moderate wind overnight along upper Bisquit Ridge Rd.
Temperatures were much milder today on our way home,but still quite warm.
Our main highlight of the trip was up to 4 adult GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES along
a rather steep,brushy vegetated slope along upper Bisquit Ridge Rd.(with 2
adults on the 26th and 2 adults today in different locations). The main
highlight was observing one adult in our spotting scope this morning for
several minutes as the bird sang in a rose thicket,before flying off to
another rose thicket,and remembering how difficult it was to get quality
looks at this species during the 1993 WOS Convention at Walla Walla,so this
sighting was by far an exceptional sighting for us. The adult that we
observed in our spotting scope was fairly close to the main road,while the
other individuals were further downslope in an area that is well-known for
this species.

In addition, my mother located and documented 4 CORDILLERAN-type Flycatchers
along Bisquit Ridge Rd.(6.4 miles from Hwy.12)along Dry Creek in relatively
appropriate habitat,as ALL birds were observed along the Black
Cottonwood-lined creek in association to a small bridge that 2 birds were
observed roosting under at two different times during our visit. Since this
species is yet to be officially listed as an official WA state species it
can only be listed as "type" until possible further documention may be made.
We checked a few other locations with similiar habitat including both forks
of Coppei Creek southeast of Dixie(accessed from Hwy.12),but we were unable
to locate any such "type" flycatchers. We conducted playback of the song of
this species with tapes we had with us,and ALL songs matched the song of the
species and ALL four birds we observed resonded to our playback and NOT to
the similiar song of the Pacific-slope Flycatcher. A list of our additional
highlights follows at selected locations:

Am.White Pelican
20(with 38 Caspian Terns)at the Walla Walla River Delta,Walla Walla Co.(WW)
on the 27th
24 at Wallula,WW both days
2 over Burbank,ww on the 27th
1 along the Columbia River at Beverly,Grant Co.(GR)on the 27th

Forster's Tern
14 along Hwy.12 at the McNary Wildlife Area,WW on the 27th

Northern Pygmy Owl
1 along the upper Bisquit Ridge Rd.,WW on the 26th

Black Swift
7 over I-90 at MP 34(west of Denny Creek,King Co.)on the 27th

Chestnut-backed Chickadee(scarce and in relatively low numbers for location)
7 amongst both Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees along upper Bisquit
Ridge Rd.,WW on the 26th

Veery
2 along Bisquit Ridge Rd.,WW on the 27th

Gray Catbird
1 along Bisquit Ridge Rd.,WW on the 27th
5 along the North Fork of Coppei Creek,WW on the 27th
1 along Coppei Rd.,WW on the 27th

Yellow-breasted Chat
1 along upper Bisquit Ridge Rd.,WW on the 27th
1 along the South Fork of Coppei Creek,WW on the 27th

"Slate-colored"Fox Sparrow
7 along upper Bisquit Ridge Rd.,WW both days

PURPLE FINCH
1 female along lower Bisquit Ridge Rd. on the 27th


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net