Subject: [Tweeters] Birding Vantage/Umtanum Rd/Wenas Areas
Date: Jun 4 12:02:54 2006
From: Michael Fleming - michaellf at myway.com



Yesterday, I birded the Vantage area in the morning then worked my way down to the Wenas Campground via the Umtanum Road out of Ellensburg. I started out looking for the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (to no avail) south of Vantage along both the Huntzinger Road and the Yakima Training Center Road (which is 4 1/2 miles south of Wanapum State Park). I did see plenty of SAGE SPARROWS in the area, though.

I then headed up to Ginkgo State Park and was able to relocate the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER that Greg Toffic had spotted earlier in the day near the ranger's house. Next, driving the Umtanum Road out of Ellensburg toward Wenas about 2+ miles beyond the intersection with Durr Road I observed a SAGE THRASHER and VESPER SPARROW. I stopped briefly at the parking area for Umtanum Falls and had a LAZULI BUNTING and RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER in the area. Continuing along the Umtanum/Wenas Road I pulled over a couple of times in the Ellensburg Pass area and had PYGMY NUTHATCH and GRAY FLYCATCHER.

Along the Audubon/Wenas Road and at the Wenas Campground I was able to locate a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, several calling VEERY, and had the whole campground to myself for a while. I also noted a couple of SWAINSON'S HAWKS in the Selah area on my return trip.

Cheers and Good Birding;

Michael Fleming

Ballard, WA

michaellf AT myway.com

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