Hey Tweeters,

Friday (5/6), Fred Boesche and I did a "dry run" for the field trip to
Colockum Pass (which took place Saturday). Got many of the usual things of
this wonderful area staked out; during the day we had 110 species. On our
way back we birded Dodson & Frenchman Hill Road, where there were at least
nine Burrowing Owls. One was at the site along Dodson Road just north of
Frenchman Hill Rd, and a pair with six or more young were scurrying into the
burrow along Frenchman Hill Rd as we pulled up. In the ponds were the
typical Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal, a Canvasback, and several Wilson's
Phalaropes. Surprisingly no Black-necked Stilts. We also stopped along the
old Vantage Highway at milepost 24, where the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (found
by Mike Dossett several weeks ago) gave us very pleasant views.

Yesterday (5/7) was the Audubon field trip. First off in the pond along
#81 Road near Kittitas was the pair of GREATER SCAUP which are apparently
summering here. We then turned onto Colockum Road, and about a mile up we
saw at least three (probably more) GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. One of them
actually perched up for a while right along the road giving many of us great
views. This was the first time I'd seen them in this area. We were also
surprised when we saw a Pronghorn Antelope out in the sagebrush a couple
miles past the sparrows. At one time there apparently was an established
population here, but I hadn't heard of any recently. Up into the trees we
picked up a Calliope Hummingbird on its favored perch, quite a few Dusky
Flycatchers, and Townsend's Solitaires. At the intersection with the trail
to the bluff there were Gray Flycatchers singing. At the bluff, I spotted
an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK in the distance which a couple of people got on
before it dove out of view. Also Vesper Sparrows singing which I believe
are nesting in the sage here, at roughly 5000' elevation, and about a dozen
Turkey Vultures gliding down the various ridges. The diverse wildflowers,
butterflies, and scenery were great as always.

Up the road about another couple of miles in the wet meadow we had a
great time observing the large numbers of cavity nesters. We found nest
sites of American Kestrel (one), Willamson's Sapsucker (one; great views of
the pair), Red-naped Sapsucker (two plus fledged young), Hairy Woodpecker
(one), Northern Flicker (one), Western Tanager (one being built), Western
Wood-Pewee (one), Mountain and Western Bluebird (one each), White-breasted
Nuthatch (one), and House Wren (at least four). Other birds probably
nesting in the area which we didn't find nests of were two pairs of
Lincoln's Sparrows, a Blue Grouse (heard hooting), Warbling and Cassin's
Vireo, and more. We then stopped at the pass where we added Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, Townsend's Warblers, and Hermit Thrushes. There is no snow left
at the pass this year.

We continued on north down the Wenatchee side, stopping at the first
house which has hummingbird feeders. There were dozens of Calliopes, one
male Rufous, and one or two female BLACK-CHINNED Hummingbirds here. In the
lush riparian area down lower, many Yellow-breasted Chats and Bullock's
Orioles were singing. A pair of PURPLE FINCHES were seen by the Sullivans.
We had marvelous views of Lazuli Buntings at one stop. We also had a
RED-EYED VIREO singing loudly in the same place as it was the day before.
At least three Lark Sparrows were around the horse pasture at the base of
the road. To end the day a pair of Prairie Falcons were seen at a distance
soaring over the Rock Island Dam. Our combined total for the two days was
125 species.

Cheers and good birding,
--
Charlie Wright
Sumner, WA
charlie at birdwright.com

In case anyone's interested, here's our trip list for the 7th (100 species):

Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
Blue Grouse
California Quail
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk
White-throated Swift
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Gray Flycatcher
Dusky Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Say's Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Cedar Waxwing
Rock Wren
House Wren
Western Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Steller's Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Clark's Nutcracker
American Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Cassin's Finch
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow