Six of us birded Eastern WA from Snoqualmie Pass to Ellensburg Friday. The
weather was pleasant and we had an enjoyable time finding 55 birds.
Highlights were a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER at Yakima R. access off Golf Course
Road, 2 OSPREY copulating in a tree near the nest at the exit to Cle Elum,
another 2 Osprey in another nest south of the Cle Elum ponds. BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE and COMMON MERGANSER and many nesting TREE SWALLOWS at the Cle
Elum ponds. EVENING GROSBEAKS at feeders at a yard in S. Cle Elum. The
resident AMERICAN DIPPER at the Teanaway bridge. A CANADA GOOSE in the
RED-TAILED HAWK nest on north side of Hungry Junction Road. At a small pond
on the same road, we saw 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 KILLDEER, 1 LONG-BILLED
CURLEW flew over and there were an number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
(beautiful Audubon's in full breeding plumage). RUDDY DUCKS and
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS at the Ellensburg WMA pond NE of the I-90
intersection. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK on Swauk Prairie
Road. A "kiting" AMERICAN KESTREL on Hidden Valley Road and at our last stop
at Hidden Valley Ranch we saw AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, CASSIN'S FINCH, PURPLE
FINCH and a pair of HAIRY WOODPECKERS.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at bigzoo.net