Well, I didn't see my target birds, chukars & acorn woodpeckers, but I did
see a lot of birds. Thanks to everyone who sent me tips on finding the same.
I did find the exact spot for the acorn woodpeckers but they weren't there.
Here's the story of what I did see.
Friday, May 17th
I left Federal Way at about 9:30 am and headed off on I-90. At Ellensburg, I
headed up the Umptanum road and watched an immature GOLDEN EAGLE plunge to
the ground after something to eat in the field right next to my car. On the
road itself, I saw COMMON RAVENS and got a clear view of the difference
between raven and crow tails. I also saw:
WESTERN KINGBIRD
CALIFORNIA QUAIL
AMERICAN KESTREL
MOURNING DOVE
LEWIS WOODPECKER
NORTHERN FLICKER
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
CASSIN'S FINCH
HOUSE WREN
WESTERN & MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
SPOTTED TOWHEE
and the stars of the day were a beautiful WESTERN TANAGER in a bush right
beside me (and I haven't seen one since my first trip on this road 7 years
ago), BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (ditto) and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (at Wenas).
Whoopee!
Exhausted, I decided to skip Vantage and the Potholes, and headed to Yakima
and an AIR-CONDITIONED hotel room.
Saturday, I headed for Goldendale and from there I went to Rock Creek. It
was a wonderful spot I've never been or birded before, cut deep into the
hills and full of noisy stream, green trees and bird song!. While there I
saw:
CANYON WREN (saw & heard)
DUSKY FLYCATCHER (identified by song, then sight)WESTERN KINGBIRD
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
The star was the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT who sang his full repetory of songs
and a pair of GOLDEN EAGLES over the Columbia Gorge.
I then headed for Trout Lake and saw nothing of note except some lovely mule
deer. I never found the Trout Lake campground either.
Then I went to the hotel in Goldendale and watched the Preakness. (The horse
I picked won!)
Sunday, May 19th
I went off along the gorge to Maryhill and in search of the Acorn
Woodpecker. I saw:
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (in love)
WESTERN TANAGER (in love and singing their heads off)
TREE SWALLOW
The star was a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY.
It was a great trip and well worth it.


Rahne Kirkham
Federal Way, Washington
rahnek at foxinternet.com

There are no unimportant people.