Greetings Tweets,

I took off EARLY Saturday morning hoping to hit as many of the likely spots for White-Headed Woodpecker in western Yakima County as I could. Heading east out of Packwood I picked up the obligatory crows, ravens, jays and such, plus a soaring Bald Eagle for my trouble.
A stop at Indian Creek Campground netted my first treat for the day, a good long look at a Nashville Warbler, and my first "east sider" a Clark's Nutcracker.
Wild Rose Campground east of Rimrock on Highway 12 was alive with "low brush" and raparian birds. I had three flycatchers, two more Nashville Warblers (with red showing on their crowns) 5 or 6 Townsend's Solitaires, and my first two Picids of the day, a Nor. Flicker and a pair of Red-Naped Sapsuckers. Since this is breeding season, and I was in their breeding range, I assume they were a....Yep, A Breeding Pair.
On to Oak Creek for a major surprize. I checked the burn in the canyon, hoping in vain for a Black-Backed Woodpecker, but what I got was 9 or 10 Lewis's Woodpeckers! They were spread out all up and down the canyon foraging on the burned trees. There was also one Downy female with them for Woodpecker numbers 3 and 4.
On to the junction and up Route 410 to Nile. At the intersection of 410 and Nile Road I found Yellow rumped (both sub-species) Yellow, and Wilsons Warblers, plus a BUNCH of Nor. Rough-Winged Swallows.
Up Nile Road in search of the elusive White Headed Woodpecker I came across three Hermit Warblers about 8 or 9 miles in. This was a new state bird for me since the only other I had seen was in Oregon. I figured it was a fair consulation prize for having missed the White Headed, but sometimes the magic works. As I started back down through the heaviest part of the Nile Burn a black & white something flashed by on my left. A male WHITE HEADED WOODPECKER foraging from tree to tree at ground level up to about 6 feet. Right behind him came the female and I had about 15 minutes of blissful observation. While watching them feed I was treated to that wonderful Cassins Finch song there in the burnt forest.
On down to 410 I was able to pick up 2 Chipping Sparrows, a magpie, one killdeer and a pair of mating California Quail.
39 species for the day, and one of them a Life Bird!

-Rolan


Rolan Nelson
Burley, WA
rnbuffle at yahoo.com

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