Here is the description of the bird and a clarification on directions. On the directions, this is the auto tour route on the east end of the dam.
Description:
First seen with a male Lazuli Bunting, in a willow tree at about 30 yards away. The rich deep blue of the bird and the brown wings indicated this was a bird worth further investigation.
Size was essentially same size as the Lazuli, a deep dark blue was present on the head, breast, tail and rump. The only places the blue was interrupted was a rusty brown color on the wings and the upper sides. The breast was completely dark, including the undertail coverts as it flew overhead and there were light buffy wingbars on the brownish wings, similar to those you might see on a Blue Grosbeak.
The song was very similar to the Lazuli, however it was slower and of a deeper richer quality, as oppossed to the finchy quality I assoicate with Lazuli. The bird was flying around on both sides of the road and occassionally going over the ridge on the east side of the road to some willows there. We observed it for about 25 minutes before we decided enough notes had been taken and photo wasn't possible so on with the rest of the big day.
Elsewhere in the area; we searched with no luck for the Lark Bunting or Snowy Egret. However at the Hwy. 26 ponds, we had 1 Red-necked Phalarope with the Wilson's and 3 White Pelican.
Also had some decent warbler numbers at the Corfu woods: Several Yellow-rumped and Wilson's warbler. 2 Townsend's Warbler (m,f), 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler.

Good birding.

Scott Downes
downess at cwu.edu
Ellensburg WA

>>> "Scott G. Downes" <Downess at cwu.EDU> 05/25/02 16:34 PM >>>
I joined Michael Dossett on his eastern WA part of his birdathon today. Just south of the Potholes dam on the Columbia NWR we had a singing 1st year male INDIGO BUNTING this morning, this was around 7:30 am and was able to watch it for 15-20 minutes though it was too flighty that pictures were not able to be taken. I'll provide a description a little later, just got home. To get to the site, take the refuge entrance south from the Potholes res. dam, go about 1/4 mile until you reach the first grove of trees
next to the road on your right. This is actually the second grove on this road but the first right next to the road. Hopefully by putting it on now, somebody might be able to see it this eve.

Scott Downes
downess at cwu.edu
Ellensburg WA