Hello Tweets,

My mother and I enjoyed a rewarding two days in eastern WA on the 2nd and 3rd of April,mainly in search of local specialties including Sage Grouse near Leahy in Douglas Co. and good numbers of Tricolored Blackbirds recently reported from near Othello in Adams Co. We achieved success in both species including up to 15 male Sage Grouse at an active "lek" near Leahy on the early morning of the 3rd and up to 125+ Tricolored Blackbirds noted from a large cattle corral along McManamon Rd. just west of the Para Ponds near Othello on the 2nd, which were amongst 90+Yellow-headed Blackbirds and lesser numbers of Brown-headed Cowbirds and Brewer's and Red-winged Blackbirds. The blackbird flocks were very elusive and active,as they moved around the corral amongst cattle,but were well viewed from the main road with photographs being obtained of the Tricolored Blackbirds. It was rewarding to see so many Tricolored Blackbirds and we wondered how or where these birds have moved in from with far lesser numbers being reported from this location in past years and the recent breeding colony noted from the Wilson Creek area in Grant Co.

Away from these two main highlights of our trip we encountered a few returning spring arrivals including relatively good numbers of Vesper Sparrows noted from several locations in Douglas Co.on the 2nd and 3rd,including near Leahy and along both Bridgeport Hill Rd. and along Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,which both occur near the town of Bridgeport. We also observed our first Brewer's Sparrows of the season on the 3rd noted from the same locations with up to 8 singing birds heard near Leahy and 2 birds singing along the lower portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. We also noted 2 Red-naped Sapsuckers on the 3rd along the upper Central Ferry Canyon Rd. In addition a fairly short visit made along Bridgeport Hill Rd. produced a single Sharp-tailed Grouse on the 3rd observed flying over the road at the traditional Sharp-tailed Grouse location along Foster Creek. Overall on both days many areas were still very quite with minimal migration activity noted,but a few areas were the most productive including near Leahy and along Central Ferry Canyon,specifically near the Packwood Cemetery.

We mainly began our two day trip on the 2nd along Hwy.26 on route to Othello,where we encountered up to 1000+ Sandhill Cranes flying south of the highway just west of Royal City in the direction of Crab Creek,as they drifted in the very heavy winds that continued as we birded in the Othello area north to Ephrata in Grant Co. Our only other main highlight noted on the 2nd away from the Tricolored Blackbirds was a single male Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal intergrade,which was observed and photographed amongst a flock of Cinnamon Teal at the intersection of Dodson and Frenchman Hills Rd. and was a striking bird and a first personal record for us. Continuing north from the George area after locating a pair of Burrowing Owls at the S.R.281/I-90 interchange we worked our way towards the Leahy area as winds began to decrease,where we ended our day with up to 6 Rough-legged Hawks observed actively hunting over vast areas of Sage and other vegetation. We also observed 4 Loggerhead Shrikes and our only Northern Shrike of the trip noted from these same locations,of which were noted in close proximity of eachother. On the early morning of the 3rd we rose at 4:45am to the near distant calls of Sage Grouse and the distant falling moon over the North Cascades that showed a reddish hue,possibly due the sunrise. By 5:30pm we observed our first male Sage Grouse in our spotting scopes,as they performed on an active "lek",which we ended up counting a total of 15 birds. We never located any female birds as we were also joined by Marv Breece as we watched the birds from a safe distance along a fenceline. Several of the "dominant" males were observed performing until we left the location at 7:30am with most of the action noted until around 7am with one male observed flying from the "lek" and flying south. It was rewarding to finally see this species in performance from this locations away from seeing them during the winter season in past years. We continued our day in the Bridgeport area checking a few locations beginning along Bridgeport Hill Rd.,then a short visit to Bridgeport State Park that produced a single Sage Sparrow amongst a small flock of White-crowned Sparrows,which was noteworthy for the locations and a quality bird for Okanogan Co. Overall the Bridgeport area was quite slow including several locations visited along Bridgeport Bar until we arrived to Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,which was our last main area visited of the trip.A short visit made along a dirt road to the Packwood Cemetery was the most productive,which is accessed off of Central Ferry Canyon within the forested area. We encountered good numbers of Pygmy Nuthatches that seemed to call from everywhere along with the songs of Cassin's Finches and a drumming Blue Grouse in the distance. The weather was good both days with the wind in the Othello area being our biggest downfall along with several areas being less productive,but overall the trip was successful.

A list of additional highlights noted from selected locations include the following:

Eared Grebe
48+ at Soap Lake,Grant Co. on the 2nd

Am.White Pelican
3 observed along McManamon Rd. north of the Para Ponds,Adams Co.(Jake's Lake)on the 2nd

Wood Duck
1 pair at Bridegport Bar,Douglas Co. on the 3rd

Cinnamon Teal
8 at the Para Ponds(Othello),AD on the 2nd
17 along Frenchman's Hill Rd.,GR on the 2nd

Canvasback
26 along Frenchman's Hill Rd.,GR on the 2nd

Turkey Vulture
2 along I-90 west of Easton,Kittitas Co. on the 2nd
2 along I-90 west of Cle Elum,KT on the 2nd
3 at Cle Elum,KT on the 2nd
1 along McManamon Rd. west of the Para Ponds,AD on the 2nd
1 along Hwy.97 south of Hwy.2,Chelan Co. on the 3rd

Osprey
1 along I-90 at Ellensburg,KT on the 2nd
1 at a nestsite along Hwy.97 east of Pateros,Okanogan Co. on the 3rd
1 along Hwy.2 at Cashmere,CH on the 3rd
1 at a nestsite along I-90 west of Cle Elum,KT on the 3rd

Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 along Hwy.26 west of Royal City,GR on the 2nd

Cooper's Hawk
1 along I-90 east of Easton,KT on the 2nd
1 along I-90 west of Cle Elum,KT on the 3rd

Rough-legged Hawk
1 along H Rd. SE(south of O'Sullivan Dam,GR)on the 2nd
6 near Leahy,DO on the 2nd

Prairie Falcon(unusual location)
1 along I-90 at Easton,KT on the 2nd

Chukar
3+ heard calling above Hwy.17 at Soap Lake,GR on the 2nd

Sandhill Crane
1000+ along Hwy.26 west of Royal City,GR on the 2nd
20 near Leahy,DO on the 3rd

Black-necked Stilt
2 at the Para Ponds,AD on the 2nd
12 along Frenchman Hills Rd.,GR on the 2nd

Am.Avocet
6 along Hwy.26 at the "County Line ponds",GR on the 2nd
6 at the Para Ponds,AD on the 2nd

Greater Yellowlegs
8 along Frenchman Hills Rd.,GR on the 2nd

Dunlin
8 along Frenchman Hills Rd.,GR on the 2nd

Great Horned Owl
1 along the lower portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,DO on the 3rd

White-throated Swift
25 along Hwy.17 between Soap Lake and Lake Lenore,GR on the 2nd
15 above the Dry Falls Dam Interpretive Center,GR on the 2nd

Hairy Woodpecker
1 along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,DO on the 3rd

Say's Phoebe
fairly abundant and widespread from several locations,specifically in Douglas Co.

Horned Lark
small numbers noted on the Waterville Plateau,being most noteworthy in the Leahy area

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
1 along Bridgeport Hill Rd.,DO on the 3rd

Mountain Chickadee
8+ along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,DO on the 3rd

Winter Wren(unusual location)
1 along a fenceline along Dodson Rd.,GR(north of Frenchman Hills Rd.)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
7(with 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet)at Oasis Park in Ephrata,GR on the 2nd
5 at Bridgeport State Park,OK on the 3rd

Western Bluebird
1 pair along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,DO on the 3rd
1 male(with 2 male Mountain Bluebirds)along Hwy.970 at Swauk Prairie,KT on the 3rd

Mountain Bluebird
1 female along Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,DO on the 3rd

Sage Thrasher
15+ near Leahy,DO on both days

Cedar Waxwing
55 at Oasis Park,GR on the 2nd

Lincoln's Sparrow
1 along Bridgeport Hill Rd.,DO on the 3rd
8 at Bridgeport S.P.,OK on the 3rd

Red Crossbill
7+ along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,DO on the 3rd


Mammal highlights of the trip included 3 Coyotes observed including one running just south of the "County Line Ponds",GR on the 2nd and 1 pair of Coyotes observed together on the 2nd near Leahy and later heard calling. 10 Yellow-bellied Marmots were observed at Bridgeport S.P. on the 3rd.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Tacoma,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net