Hello Tweets and birders,

My mother and I apologize for the late posting of our near annual attendance of the Wenas Campout,as we are surprised no one that we saw there posted any of there highlights/sightings onto Tweeters. This year we encountered a total of 112 species of the 120+ species encountered during the campout on May 28th-31st,which was slightly down compared to past years possibly due to cooler temperatures and unstable weather conditions,but overall our 4 day visit was fairly productive despite no nocturnal owls encountered. There was a good attendance of Audubon members during the campout with many in attendance for the very first time along with several birders noted and most of our efforts were made at Hardy Canyon and Wenas Lake and in the general Wenas camping area itself along with several visits made along Maloy Rd. We did not encountered any main highlights this year as in past years such as Least Flycatcher,Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,etc,but we did note up to 8 Gray Catbirds along Maloy Rd. on the 30th with 2 pairs of Purple Finches at the end of Maloy Rd. noted on the 29th amongst several pairs of Cassin's Finches,which was noteworthy as they foraged together on the ground feeding on gravel,etc. Also of note was a single immature Bald Eagle observed along Wenas Rd. near Hardy Canyon on the 29th,which was possibly the first encountered during the Wenas Campout. We also encountered our highest count of Prairie Falcons during the Wenas Campout with a total of 4 birds observed at various locations including our first bird encountered at lower Hardy Canyon on the 29th followed by a single bird at the end of Maloy Rd. on the 30th,then a single pair flying above the base of Black Canyon on the 30th. Our only Golden Eagles of the campout were a single pair flying along a hillside northeast of the intersection of Audubon Rd. and Umtanum Rd. on the 29th. A single Swainson's Hawk was observed along Wenas Rd.on the 28th flying above open fields north of Wenas Lake,but no others were encountered were observed during the campout,as far as we know. Another highlight of the campout for us was observing a single agitated Ruffed Grouse that was observed at lower Hardy Canyon on the 30th that was very protective of her chicks,although we never did get an accurate count of them,as they scurried off into thick cover,as she defended them from our presence by crawling on the ground,giving several different agitation calls,as well as many clucking notes before she too scurried off into thick cover. It was our first encounter of this behavior from this species,so it seemed worthwhile as we also encountered 2 territorial Ruffed Grouse along Wenas Creek within the camping area on the morning of the 30th. We encountered 4 calling Sora and 2 Virginia Rails from wetland on the 29th along Wenas Rd. just west of Wenas Lake that has been a fairly productive location for these two species during the Wenas Campout.

Passerine numbers of certain species were in good attendance with Black-headed Grosbeak,Yellow Warbler,Western Wood Pewee,Veery,and Cassin's Finches noted in abundance from most locations visited. Several passerine species this year seemed down in abundance such as Say's Phoebe,both kingbirds,and Lazuli Bunting to name a few although all those species were encountered during the campout. We were most impressed with the seemingly unusual good numbers of Veeries encountered during the Wenas Campout with the largest densities noted along Wenas Creek within the camping area and along Maloy Rd. within appropriate riparian habitat along with several other locations that produced this local breeder. We also enountered a small influx of Swainson's Thrushes primarily at lower Hardy Canyon along with several that were banded at that location on the 29th,which we personally do not normally encounter during the campout. 3 species of hummingbirds were noted during the campout primarily from several feeders within the campout including ours that we placed out that hosted several Black-chinned Hummingbirds, 2+ Calliope Hummingbirds,and at least 1 Rufous Hummingbird and several additional Black-chinned Hummingbirds were noted from other riparian areas. Bank Swallows seemed most abudant this year primarily at Wenas Lake and nearby locations west to Maloy Rd. along with smaller numbers of Northern Rough-winged Swallows observed from several locations. Red-naped Sapsucker was the most common woodepecker species encountered during the campout along with White-headed Woodpeckers that were observed within the general campout,as well as along traditional locations along nearby Hog Ranch Ridge with an additional bird noted in typical habitat along the west end of Maloy Rd. on the 29th. Gray Flycatcher,which is always a highlight and target species of the campout were noted this year at typical locations including primarily along Hog Ranch Ridge along with a single nesting pair within the western portion of the Wenas camping area,but overall numbers of the species eemed quite low than on average. A single Hutton's Vireo was reported during the campout, but could never be relocated,which was very noteworthy of this rare eastern WA species,although not the first record for the Wenas Campout. The only other record of this species also noted from the Wenas Campout on the 30th of May,1990 is listed in Andy Stepniewski's "The Birds of Yakima County,Washington". Vesper Sparrows were quite common in favorable habitat and the most abundant sprrow encountered during the Wenas campout followed by lesser numbers of Chipping Sparrows. Away from general birding our mammal highlights during the campout included a pair of Badgers along Wenas Rd. west of Hardy Canyon that allowed good close,but safe looks along with 2 species of ground squirrels observed at Hardy Canyon including Townsend's Ground Squirrel and California Ground Squirrel. Our reptile highlight encountered was a single adult Gopher Snake along the road near Wenas Creek within the Fish and Wildlife area at the base of Burn Canyon,which was a personal first for the both of us and it allowed good and safe looks,as it rested calmly on the gravel road before slithering off into thick cover. We also enjoyed listening to Tim Cullinan program during this years Wenas Campout,who was one of the key speakers on the evening of the 30th and has several titles including Director of Science and Bird Conversation,National Audubon Society-Washington Field Office,birder,etc. We obtained a copy of the most recent Audubon regional report of declining species in WA and additional species placed in that report that are at risk in many levels,which was very enlightening to us to learn about as active birders. As many areas we have birded at within the Wenas sector we still enjoy finding new locations to us and this year we found a spot we have not checked before that lies along the South Fork of Wenas Creek and Maloy Rd. within a posted Fish and Wildlife area south of the main road,which was highly productive especially for riparian species such as Gray Catbird,Pacific-slope Flycatcher,etc and we look forward to vsiting this location next year due to the high abundance and diversity within this limited area. Dragonfly species encountered during the Wenas Campout included the following:

California Darner
Variegated Meadowhawk
Northern Bluet
Western Forktail

As mentioned earlier owling efforts during the entire campout proved unsuccessful away from a Great Horned Owl family along Wenas Creek and a single calling Northern Pygmy Owl observed along Hog Ranch Ridge on the 30th. Our main owling efforts were again along Dry Creek,as well as listening within the general camping area,as our only target species encountered was 3-4 Common Poorwills heard calling at traditional locations along Dry Creek with a single bird heard calling near our camping location. Perhaps next year will be more successful for owls,as it seems to be that way at Wenas with every other or 3rd year. We did not encounter any Common Nighthawks during the entire campout,but this species was observed by several birds from at least two locations on the 30th including several from Wenas Lake and at lower Hardy Canyon. Other notable species encountered during the Wenas campout by us included the following:

1 Great Blue Heron along Maloy Rd. on the 30th
5 Turkey Vultures along Wenas Rd.(west of Wenas Lake)on the 30th
1 Osprey at Wenas Lake on the 29th
1 Cooper's Hawk along Wenas Creek(Wenas Campground)on the 28th
1 Blue Grouse heard calling between 9:15pm-9:30pm from the same location along Dry Creek on the 28th and 29th
5 Spotted Sandpipers along Maloy Rd. on the 30th
1 Ring-billed Gull at Wenas Lake on the 28th
1 White-throated Swift at Wenas Lake on the 29th
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher at lower Hardy Canyon on the 30th
1 Loggerhead Shrike observed along Wenas Rd. west of Wenas Lake on the 28th
small numbers of Nashville,MacGillivray's and Wilson's Warblers noted from various locations from the Wenas Campout to Wenas Lake in typical habitat(with most birds encountered at lower Hardy Canyon being primarily migrants)
5+ Yellow-breasted Chats observed at lower hardy Canyon on the 29th-30th and 3 birds noted at Wenas Lake on the 29th(in addition away from the Wenas area 2 Yellow-breasted Chats were noted calling from a traditional location at the intersction ofHwy.12/410 on the 28th)
1 singing Brewer's Sparrow observed at the upper portion of lower Hardy Canyon on the 29th
fairly good numbers of Evening Grosbeaks encountered at lower Hardy Canyon on the 29th and 30th with very small numbers observed in the Wenas camping area


Away from the Wenas Campout we also checked a few other areas primarily on our way home on the 31st,including the White Pass Campground and Leech Lake in both Yakima and Lewis Cos.,which ended our 4 day trip with several species. Highlights from these locations included a single Red-breasted Sapsucker and Red-naped Sapsucker chasing eachother at the south end of Leech Lake in Lewis Co.,along with fairly good numbers of Townsend's ,Yellow-rumped and Wilson's Warblers and Chipping Sparrows from both locations,a single singing male Black-headed Grosbeak,which seemed at a unusual elevation and most likely a migrant and ending our visit with small numbers of "Slate-colored"Fox and Lincoln's Sparrows in typical habitat at both locations. Our only Ring-necked Ducks and Gray Jays of the trip were encountered from Leech Lake and 2 adult Spotted Sandpipers were noted foraging along floating logs and vegetation and a single female Barrow's Goldeneye was noted along Hwy.12 just west of White Pass at Knuppenburg Lake on the 28th,but not there on the 31st. Our trip began on the 28th on route to Wenas with flocks of swifts along Hwy.12 between Randle and Packwood in Lewis Co. that contained primarily large numbers of Vaux's Swift during constant rain showers along with up to 70+ Black Swifts noted just west of Packwood. Continuing east a single Prairie Falcon along Hwy.12 east of Randle on the 28th,which circled over the Cowlitz River with a single Turkey Vulture and driving back along the that same route and location a single male Lazuli Bunting was noted perched atop a patch of vegetation along with several nearby Savannah Sparrows.


Perhaps others may have additional observations to add regarding their visit to the Wenas Campout,but we wanted to list our sightings despite the late date.

Good birding,

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