Subject: [Tweeters] Kittitas County, 4/2/06 -
Date: Apr 2 22:21:30 2006
From: Matt Bartels - mattxyz at earthlink.net


Today I headed over to Kittitas County to look for some signs of
spring - The day started out a little iffy, with a very light mixture
of rain&near-snow, but nothing serious. Compared to the reports from
yesterday I heard, it was a beautiful day today....

EVENING GROSBEAK - After a period when they were scarce to absent,
it was a pleasant surprise to find a good-sized flock of Evening
Grosbeak back in South Cle Elum again.

WESTERN SCRUB-JAY - One still present on Lambert Rd [east of Cle
Elum, south of 970]

WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER - one pair, perhaps 2 pairs, on Emerick Rd
[off Hidden Valley], near the gate to the Hidden Valley Resort.

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - 1 or 2 near the Swauk Cemetary, just a bit
down Ballard Hill Rd.

WESTERN BLUEBIRDS - numerous on the Swauk Prairie

LONG-BILLED CURLEW - several west of Ellensburg, on Smithson Rd. &
Reecer Ck. Rd.

On the Old Vantage Highway, I saw CHUKAR roadside at about mp25, a
GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest on the cliff side, SAGE SPARROWS in the
Quilomene area, and several MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. I struck out on
Brewer's Sparrows and Sage Thrashers though [I did hear a few SATH in
the Quilomene, but no Brewers]. Also had 2 NORTHERN SHRIKE here, but
no Loggerheads popped up.

Driving through Vantage, I saw a MERLIN perched on a treetop, with a
House Sparrow in its talons.

Down Huntzinger Rd., near the railroad bridge south of the dam, there
were about 8 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS.

On my way home, I stopped in Ellensburg at the Irene Rhinehart(sp?)
park. At least 3 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES allowed close looks. Also, to
the west in the larger ponds, a EURASIAN WIGEON was mixed in with the
flock of American Wigeons.

Overall, about 74 species for the day -

Locations:
S.Cle Elum Evening Grosbeaks [Delorme, p. 66 C-1 - follow the signs
to S.CleElum, and take the first residential right after crossing
the river - listen & look in the blocks around this area].

Lambert Rd WESJ - ~Delorme p. 66 C-2, near the intersection with a
road called, I think Stetson?

Emerick Rd [off Hidden Valley Rd]- Delorme, p. 66 C 2/3 - Take 970 to
Hidden Valley Rd. south on Hidden Valley, then straight ahead onto
Emerick when Hidden Valley turns left.

Swauk Cemetary - Delorme, p. 66 C-2/3 - from Cle Elum, take 970 to
the left turn for "Swauk Prairie" [might be called Swauk Rd or
something similar]. The cemetary is on the left, at the intersection
w/ Ballard Hill Rd.

Old Vantage Hwy - See Opperman's ABA guide, p 289-290.
Huntzinger Rd - Opperman, p. 290.

Irene Rhinehart(sp) Park, Ellensburg. Follow the directions that
would get you from exit 109 to Umptanum Rd., but look for the park
after crossing under I-90 and before crossing the river. [Opperman p.
280 & 298].

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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