Took off a few days before the WOS Convention to do some scouting and birding in the Blue Moutains with Howard Armstrong. The evening of June 1 we found some hard rocks to sleep on near the mouth of the Tucannon River in Columbia County. While rolling our sleeping bags out a Western Screech-Owl called three times at close range out in the marshy delta and then a Long-eared Owl continued calling all night while it hunted this area. A Great Horned Owl called some distance away after sunrise, but did not hear it during the night. Long-billed Curlews called from a distant hillside. Another highlight was a Common Yellowthroat which is tough in southeastern Washington. Later up the Tucannon River we heard another singing--perhaps a mini-invasion. We birded our way up to Godman Springs, but just had the usual birds. We returned and headed east up Blind Grade and onto Scoggin Ridge up to Wenatchee Guard Station where 2 Green-tailed Towhees were chasing each other. This spot was just east of the guard station.

That night we had a light reddish, with little streaking, Screech-Owl feeding on insects on Ping Gulch Rd before getting to Rice Bar Rd. The bird did not call. At Rice Bar the next morning we found 2 Forster's Terns a Garfield County first along with 2 Gadwall and 1 Wood Duck.

Saturday at Swallows Park in Clarkston were 2 Black Terns-tough to find in Asotin Co. and up at Field Spring State Park we had a lone Tureky Vulture fly over. Sunday our best bird also at the state park was a flying south White-throated Swift.


Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
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