Subject: Williamson's Sapsuckers in WA
Date: Jun 26 07:00:37 2003
From: Lynn Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net
Hi Tweeters:
I put out a Request for Information about finding Williamson's
Sapsuckers, WISA, in WA state this year, as I had been having trouble
finding them. It turns out there are a number of sightings this year.
The Breeding Bird Atlas publ in 1997 shows 47 pairs confirmed or
probable breeding, all on the east side of the Cascades. The atlas
said the "Core zones were Ponderosa Pine, Interior Douglas-fir, and
Grand Fir. Periferal in the Subalpine Fir zone, except in the Blue
Mts, where this zone was core. Good habitats were conifer-lined
rivers and conifer forests..." Interestly, the BB Atlas also said the
following: "... Apparently Western Larch must be a component of
forests that support Williamson's Sapsucker."
I received a bunch of very-good ideas about viewing these guys, and
have printed some of the suggestions below. Two people suggested Loup
Loup Campground west of Twisp. Incidentally, that's just a great
place to camp. Almost empty, and very birdy. Good owls, too.
In the end I will recommend the Nile Rd Burn, off of hwy 410, east of
Chinook Pass to my friends. It will be closer for them, and there
also is a chance for Black-backed and White-headed Woodpeckers there
this year. I'll send another msg later about Nile Rd Burn, with
directions and several messages about all the woodpeckers there.
Here is a sampling of messages about Williamson's Sapsucker. Thanks
to everyone for being so nice to send them.
The messages are below. They all arrived yesterday, June 25, 03.
Carol Schulz
DesMoines, WA
linusq at att.net
------------------------------
>From Joe Meche
Carol,
On the weekend that my wife and I did our Birdathon for North Cascades
Audubon (May 24-26), I found Williamson's Sapsuckers at the Loup Loup
Campground.
They have been fairly reliable there over the past few years.
Joe Meche
Bellingham
-------------------------------
>From Matt Bartels (who also wonders if anyone has seen them on the
West side)
Hi Carol -
Yes, Williamson's Sapsuckers are out there -- Here are places where
I've run into them this year:
Emerick Rd., of Hidden Valley Rd., Swauk Prairie, Kitt Co. - A male
drumming away on the telephone pole. This would be a very convenient
site, compared to the others below, except that this siting was on
Mar 25. I've only been back to the area once since then though , so
perhaps the Swauk Prairie is a good option.
Nile Rd. Burn -- The first time I followed the directions to the
burn, I stopped too soon -- closer to 8 miles up FR1600, not 9. I
missed the BBWO as a result, but I did have a close encounter with a
Williamson's male. I have no idea if this is a regular spot, but if
you are headed to the burn for the BBWO, WHWO & others, it might be
worth a stop -- At about the 8-mile mark [or a little beyond], there
is a noticeable path off the road to the right into a small gully.
The bushes & trees here were pretty birdy [got great looks at a
MacGillvary's finally] -- not far from the road, I stumbled on the
sapsucker. This was on June 8
[by the way, the Burn is definitely worth a visit if you can -- if
directions are needed, just ask -- but the latest reports on
Tweeters have been good for directions & details too]
On June 14, I headed back to the Nile Rd. Burn. This time, though, I
drove over on 410 and saw another Williamson's -- this was on a
little road off to the south [I just picked a road in the forest that
didn't have an entrance fee sign and stopped just off the road to
wander for a bit] - I believe I was near Pleasant Valley campground,
but my notes aren't too good on that.
June 21 - Colockum Rd. This Sat, I saw a pair of Williamson's
Sapsuckers, at a nesthole, up on the top of Colockum Rd. -- Warning :
I didn't realize this road was going to be so rough; my little
Hyundai barely made it over all the ruts & bumps [especially when I
got off on a wrong turn or 2] -- but if you've got the car for it,
this was a great drive [see C.Wright's notes from a couple weeks back
, and definitely don't miss the n-side riparian areas mentioned at
the end of his message] -- For the sapsuckers, I was up on open
forest/meadows , not very far before the sign announcing the
beginning of the Colockum Game Preserve [maybe 1/2 - 1 mile max] --
The nest was in a snag to the right side of the road [all of this
assumes one is coming from the south heading towards Wenatchee]. I
can't think of any good landmarks, but what alerted me to this was
just waiting abit and noticing the repeated flights across the road
of the male & female. Once I was paying better attention to them, I
was able to notice where they were going.
Good luck, and I hope this gives some options. Good birding!
Matt
Seattle
-----------------------
>From Denny Granstrand
Hi Carol,
There have been a few sightings in the general Yakima area this
spring, some
requiring quite a hike. I know of a spot where there has been a nest
the
past few years. Along Highway 410 as you drive east from Chinook
Pass, the
first campground you come to is Lodgepole Campground. Somewhere in
the
vicinity of Lodgepole, possibly six or eight miles to the east, is a
turnoff
and parking area for the Union Creek trailhead. It is well-marked and
is on
the north side of the highway. Just about 100 yards to the west from
the
turnoff to the parking area on the south side of the highway, there is
a
large, paved pulloff area. Park there and walk into the woods,
bearing a
little to the left. There are several snags in which the sapsuckers
have
nested.
That whole area is good for Williamson's Sapsuckers. We have
frequently
seen them at or across the highway from Lodgepole. There are also
many good
birding opportunities along Highway 410, including the Bumping Lake
area,
for you to explore.
Good luck,
Denny
* * * * * * * * * * *
* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* osprey at nwinfo.net *
* * * * * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------
>From Jason Paulios [more about his sightings in another msg about the
Nile Rd Burn]
Carol, see my posting from this week at the Nile Burn. We had a pair
of
Sapsuckers in the burn and at least a group of four on the way up from
Naches on the Forest Road.
--- Jason Paulios
--- jpaulios at earthlink.net
--- Olympia, WA
----------------------------------------
>From Gene Hunn (this one is pretty funny)
Carol,
They are nesting (as of June 22) in some abundance at Havillah in ne
Okanogan County at the notorious Great Gray Owl spot (none seen on our
latest attempt).
Gene.
----------------------------
>From Gary Bletsch
Dear Carol,
Skagit Audubon members saw two Williamson's Sapsuckers on their annual
campout at Klipchuck this year. Klipchuck is at mile marker 75 on SR
20 in Okanogan County. We hiked up the trail to Dock Butte, and saw
the birds in dense forest about two miles up.
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch
near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington
garybletsch at yahoo.com
--------------------------------
>From Sherry Hagen [don't know how Carol missed these when she was at
the Wenas Campout]
We saw William's Sapsuckers on Hog Ranch Road at two locations durning
the
Washington State Audubon Camput over Memorial Day Weekend.
Sherry Hagen
Vancouver, WA
littlebirder at netzero.net
------------------------------
>From Mike Denny
Williamsons Sapsuckers are to be found throughout the northern Blue
Mountains. Take Scoggins ridge Rd. south out of Pomeroy Washington and
on up
into the Umatilla N.F. towards Clearwater Lookout. On the way you will
pass
Alder Thicket Campground. STOP HERE and you will see WISS nesting!
Good
luck.
Later Mike
********************************************************************
Mike & MerryLynn Denny
323 Scenic View Drive
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)