Hi again Tweeters -
I spent most of Saturday in Grant county, and much of Sunday in
Kittitas Co. - Once the morning chilliness went away, it was
downright springlike out there Saturday. Sunday was very windy, but
still a good day to be outdoors. Here is a quick rundown of some
highlights before getting on with the new week:

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE: I arrived late at the Leahy Cutoff lek sight,
Douglas Co. , well after sunrise & long after first light. As a
result, between 7:00 & 8:00 I didn't observe any lekking behavior,
but I did watch about a half dozen GRSG wandering the hills. [Be sure
to check south of the road, not just north if you go here, and expect
cold cold cold]

MOUNTAIN & WESTERN BLUEBIRDS: Great to see them again - Several seen,
in 3 different spots - Steamboat Rock State Park [Grant Co.], one
pair of MOBL near the beginning of the entrance rd to the park.
Umptanum Rd/Wenas Rd [Kittitas/Yakima]- Umptanum Road is open and
alive with both types of bluebirds, with pairs checking out nest
boxes .
Swauk Prairie - A few there as well, along Hidden Valley Rd.

LONG-EARED OWLS [2+], BARN OWL [1]: Steamboat Rock SP [Grant Co].
Just as suggested in the ABA book, there is a nice russian olive
windbreak on a walkable dirt road that leaves the entry road about
0.6 mi from the entrance.

EURASIAN WIGEON [2]: Steamboat Rock SP: At the intersection of the
entry rd and sr155.

BUSHTIT: [Yakima Co, 3/14] A small flock in the riparian area as the
road comes down from Umptanum Rd /Wenas Rd and makes several twists.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE: One along Lower Crab Creek Rd.[Grant Co.].

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW: Saturday, 5 above the water at Coulee City
[Grant Co]. Sunday, 2 above the river in Ellensburg's Irene Reinhart?
Riverfront Park [Kittitas Co.]

SANDHILL CRANES - one good-sized circling flock over Lower Crab Creek
Rd [Grant] at about 3:00 on Saturday, maybe 100 or so.

AMERICAN DIPPER [King Co] - One at the Tinkham Rd exit off I-90
coming home. Glad to see one after dipping on dippers for the rest of
the weekend.


Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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