Hi Tweets,

I just got a call from Leslie Wahl telling me about a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
that was seen in Hardy Canyon north of Wenas Lake today.

It was found by two young men from the Seattle area, Tyler Davis and his
friend Brendan, and seen by many others including Leslie and Bob Wahl and
Richard Repp.

To get to Hardy Canyon, go north from Wenas Lake about two miles. The
entrance to the canyon is on the west side of the road. There is a large
wood and wire gate there with an Oak Creek Wildlife Area sign on it. Walk
through the gate and follow the road straight ahead, which is in a southwest
direction. The main road goes straight with trees and bushes on both sides,
then the left side opens up with the trees continuing on the right side.
Soon there is a hill on the left and trees on the right. The road turns to
the left and goes uphill. When the trees on the right end, a row of
bluebird boxes start. Shortly after the first box, the road splits. Keep
to the left fork and go about 200 yards from the first bluebird box. There
is a lone Ponderosa Pine tree there. The gnatcatcher is hanging out in the
area just past the pine tree. Leslie and Bob stacked some rocks to make a
cairn to mark the spot where they saw it.

This is the first Blue-gray Gnatchatcher found in Yakima County and possibly
the first for Eastern Washington. Tyler told Leslie he thought the bird was
acting like it was on territory, chasing away any other birds within a small
area.

Denny Granstrand
* * * * * * * * * * *
* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* osprey at nwinfo.net *
* * * * * * * * * * *