Subject: Eastern Washington birding
Date: May 24 19:31:12 2004
From: Washington Birder - washingtonbirder at hotmail.com


Attended part of the Kettle Valley Birding Festival in Republic on Saturday May 22. I missed Purple Finch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Black Swifts seen by others, but did have a Loggerhead Shrike between Curlew Lake and Republic Sat. evening. Mark Houston also showed us where there were a pair of Merlins, probably nesting, at the south end of town (Republic) just north of the Shell Station. The male was sitting on several tops of trees and snags and calling some of the time.

Sunday checked out the sewer ponds north of Fairfield in southeast part of Spokane County. Will have to return as this spot looked great for migrants in Aug-Sept. Birds seen here were both Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal, Gray Partridge, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalaropes, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Made a quick stop at Steptoe Butte. The lower western part had some type of carrot like plant full of insects and birds working them over which included both Western and Eastern Kingbirds, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle's)-which seemed out of place, White-crowned Sparrows singing, and 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow obviously migrating through.

Monday hit Bassett Park in Washtucna. Loads of Wilson's Warblers and Warbling Vireos. Bullock's Orioles were also common. A Rock Wren and Great Horned Owl called from the cliffs behind the park. Also had 1 MacGillivray's Warbler and 1 Swainson's Thrush, both below the swimming pool in the brushy area. Hit Palouse Falls next where a pair of Peregrine Falcons were keeping the White-throated Swifts agitated. This was the only place I had Western Wood-Pewees. Lots of bird activity here with Yellow and Wilson's Warblers, American Goldfinches, and Bullock's Orioles being the bulk of it. I was hoping for the Common Grackle which was previously seen here to be around, but could not locate it among the Brewer's Blackbirds.



Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com<mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com>
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