Hello Tweets and Inland NW birders,

Today my mother and I observed a pair of Least Flycatchers at lower Hardy Canyon near Wenas in Yakima Co., which were observed at the same location than we noted a single Least Flycatcher on a nest last weekend. Both Least Flycatchers were observed together today with both birds helping construct a new nest in the canopy of a tall aspen tree. The nest is within the same height than the previous nest that was blown down last weekend and also built in the same manner and both birds were observed very active within the aspen grove gathering nesting material and were also heard calling during our afternoon visit. The new nest is near the old nest location,but in a seemingly more stable area,so hopefully it will remain. Near the end of our visit we were join by Denny Granstrand and John Herbert of Yakima,who both enjoyed views of the nesting Least Flycatchers as conditions remained very warm and calm. We were most pleased to see both birds today and figured that the other bird was around last week,but wasn't seen and we also figure that they will successfully breed at this location given the somewhat isolated,less disturbed location. Other species of note during our visit to this location included the following:

1 Prairie Falcon
2-3 Common Nighthawks
3 immature Great Horned Owls
2 Willow Flycatchers
1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
3-4 Gray Catbirds
2 MacGillivray's Warblers
1 Wilson's Warbler
4 Yellow-breasted Chats
3 Vesper Sparrows

Mammal highlights:

1 Roosevelt Elk


A quick check of nearby Wenas Lake produced 3 Lesser Scaup and along a vegetated canal area at the intersection of Hwy.410 and Hwy.12(west of Naches)produced a pair of singing Bewick's Wrens. Further south along Hwy.12 a single Golden Eagle and up to 5 Lewis' Woodpeckers were noted within the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.The remainder of our highlights were encountered in Lewis Co.(western WA)within the Hwy.12 corridor specifically between White Pass and Randle. Our main highlight within this area were a single Eastern Kingbird observed in a area of dead snags along Hwy.12(2 miles east of Randle). 2 Golden Eagles were noted at separate locations including a single adult bird at the Palisades Scenic Overlook(just east of the Hwy.123 intersection and west of White Pass)followed by the second bird being observed during the late afternoon soaring alone over Randle with 4 nearby Turkey Vultures. A single adult Peregrine Falcon was observed flying east along Hwy.12 just north of the Cowlitz Ranger Station(east of Randle)carrying prey to a possible nestsite. A group of 8-10 Bank Swallows were noted along Hwy.12 at a location bordering the Cowlitz River approximately 6 miles east of Randle,where they may possibly breed with more searching conducted. 2 Bullock's Orioles were noted along Hwy.12 between Randle and Packwood.


Good birding,

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