Hi hi Tweeters -

Today I did a little birding in Yakima County. The weather was
pleasant most of the day, with winds picking up only in the late
afternoon & then rain coming as I drove back to Seattle.
A few notable hits & misses:

Wenas Campground - Hog Ranch Rd. [Delorme p. 50 A/B-2, WA ABA p.301]:
(7:30 - 11:30)

VEERY: several singing most of the morning and a few occasionally
even showing themselves.

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - a pair trading spots with a Red-naped
Sapsucker & a Rufous Hummingbird.

GREY CATBIRD - One along Hog Ranch Rd near the junked car campsite area.

COMMON NIGHTHAWK - They are definitely back -- Saw 12 up in the air
all at once. Also seen at other locations throughout the day.

no luck on Grey Flycatchers though.


Hardy Canyon: [Delorme p. 50 B-3, WA ABA p.303]
(12:00-1:00)
No sign of 'the' Blue-grey Gnatcatcher - However, if you visit the
lone pondorosa pine where it hung out previously, you might see a big
ole porcupine as I did today.


Toppenish NWR - Lateral C Rd. (btw Pumphouse & Marion Drain/Yost)
[Delorme p.36 B-4 WA ABA p.317]:
(~2:00-2:30)
BOBOLINK - 2 males, including one giving a 'tape' quality flight song.


Ft. Simcoe State Park [Delorme p. 36 B-2 WA ABA p. 319]
(~3:00-5:00)

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - in the trees near the cemetary, to the SE
of the main park area.

AMERICAN KESTREL nest w/ 2 almost-fledged-looking young. After seeing
the adult Kestrels flying around non-stop, I learned why when I
stumbled on the nest with 2 very cute looking faces poking out
hollering. The nest is along the trail that runs behind the old
buildings on the west side, just south of the church. Look for a hole
where a large branch would have come out of the trunk ~ 20 ft up.

Not a single Lewis' Woodpecker despite a couple long loops of the
area. Either they aren't there or the winds were really doing a good
job of keeping them hidden.



All in all, I'm very glad I put aside all the planning & packing and
decided instead to squeeze in one more WA birding day before heading
away for a bit of distant travel.

Good birding,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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