Friday night June 30 everyone (Ned McGarry, Brian Bell, Julia Bent, Marv
Breece, Anne Kahle, Carol Kohler, and myself) showed up at Boundary
Campground south of Pomeroy, but we didn't know it until daylight the next
morning. This left the fearless leader awake most of the night wondering
when all would arrive. Main highlights include a Three-toed Woodpecker nest
at eye level on July 3 in first burned area north of Sunset Point on the
west side of FR 40, 2 different sightings of Black-backed Woodpeckers, both
in Garfield Co. along FR 40, all three accipiters were seen, 1 Black-necked
Stilt on Savage Pond north of Anatone along with a Green-winged Teal and a
pair of Ring-necked Ducks on July 3, a Crow along the Grande Ronde
River--Crows are tough in Asotin County, 6 Turkey Vultures south of Misery
Springs in Asotin County along FR 40--possibly the largest group of vultures
ever seen in this part of the state as they are very rare in the
southeastern parts of Washington, a Green-tailed Towhee on the last day July
4 at Biscuit Ridge, Walla Walla Co., Pacific-slope Flycatchers at Hartsock
Wildlife Unit in Garfield Co. on July 1, another one an hour later near
Spring Lake in Columbia Co., and yet another one at high elevation in
Garfield Co. west of Wenatchee Guard Station on July 2. These are 'County
First' for both Columbia and Garfield Counties. On the last day we observed
a Cordilleran Flycatcher along Dry Creek in Walla Walla County for
comparison in breeding plumage and call. Below is a list of places visited
by day in case someone would like to run their own trip.

July 1 Saturday
Boundary Campground
Blind Grade
Hartsock Wildlife Unit
Last Chance Resort for all 3 hummingbirds
Spring Lake
Rainbow Lake
Punjab Creek
Godman Springs
Tepee Trailhead east of Godman Springs-one of the highest places in Columbia
Co. one can drive to
Dayton
Marengo-a pair of Canyon Wrens looked like nesting in farmer's small shed
with iron pipes on pipe rack
Poorwill spot east of Marengo near county line
Boundary Campground

July 2 Sunday
Boundary Campground
FR 40
Clearwater Lookout forest service cabins
Sunset Point--struck out on finding Green-tailed Towhees here
FR 4031 to trailhead to Diamond Peak-a super beautiful blue clematis in
bloom
Wenatchee Guard Station--another miss for Green-tailed Towhees
Wickiup Wickiup Camp
FR 44 leading down into Asotin Creek--singing Grasshopper Sparrow and only
Lark Sparrow of trip
Asotin Creek-close to 100 F and only Red-eyed Vireo of trip, no Cordilleran
Flycatchers calling due to heat or possilby time of day
Lickfork Creek junction with Asotin Creek
Misery Springs Campground at 6200 feet a welcomed cool air place to sleep
after cooking down along Asotin Creek

July 3 Monday
Misery Springs Campground with nesting noisy Hairy Woodpeckers at top of
dead snag 100 feet up
FR 40 north to Pomeroy to fix a flat, but found the Three-toed Woodpecker's
nest on the way
Alpowa Creek mouth, Asotin County--4 Bufflehead, and a few Western
Sandpipers
Swallow's Park-Caspian Terns, Glaucous-winged Gull
Savage Ponds just north of Anatone--high elevation for Black-necked Stilt
Field's Spring State Park-another Pacific-slope Flycatcher-have been noted
at this location in passed years
Grande Ronde River where the asphalt was liquid everytime you put your foot
down -- 103 F -- TOO HOT for Yellow-billed Cuckoos or at least for searching
very hard for them.
Grouse Flat-hot time of day not much
FR 40 leading north to Misery Springs Campound where the temp. was 71 F and
very much welcomed for a second night of camping (no other campers in the
campground)

July 4 Tuesday (half-day of birding)
left Misery Springs Campground before sun rise, temp. was 57 F
headed straight to Biscuit Ridge for Green-tailed Towhees where we were
rewarded with one singing across the steep slope.
Dry Creek-our only Cordilleran Flycatcher
Tom Lamb's with his many hummingbird feeders south of Dixie
Bennington Lake--struck out on finding the reported Least Flycatcher

The trip covered the high points of different areas of the Blue Mountains
and the plant life and scenery were appreciated by the group. The FR 40
leading south of Misery Springs down to Grouse Flats could have spent a
whole day covering this stretch. This is where the only Hermit Warbler
record of Asotin County comes from. Many Green-tailed Towhee type habitats
were noted along this stretch. I know of those wishing to have joined this
group, but were deterred by having to sleep on the ground in primitive
campgrounds. I didn't hear any complaining from the group about having to
sleep in this manner. This area is seldom birded and is one of the places
many return to after having once been there.


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