Hello Birders,

We enjoyed a nice 3 day visit to several "migrant traps" between Vantage and Lyons Ferry State Park in eastern WA on the 2nd to 4th of June. We encountered relatively good weather for the most part except for heavy rain showers at times that soon went away and allowed for good birding. We extensively searched several areas specifically for migrant passerines,where our main efforts were made at Bassett Park in Washtucna. The best day for migrants was on the 2nd when we arrived to Washtucna during the mid afternoon on the 2nd at 3:30pm after a heavy rain storm. It is here we birded Bassett Park heavy,which at times was full of passerines. The following days were also good,but also slow at times as songbird migration appears to be ending. We had an enjoyable time visiting many of the "hotspots",but especially enjoyed our time at Washtucna and visiting with the locals there,as well as running into a few birders on the 3rd.


Our main route began in Vantage on the 2nd at 7:15am,where we checked a few spots including Wanapum State Park and the boat launch area below the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park. From Vantage we drove east towards Othello by stooping at the Corfu Woods along S.R.26 then the "County "Line"ponds before continuing onto Othello. We ended the day at Washtucna. On the 3rd we began the day with sunny skies at Washtucna,the visited a few other local spots in the general area including Kahlotus and Wind Dust Park during the morning,as conditions remained nice and relatively windless. After birding Wind Dust Park we proceeded towards Lyons Ferry State Park along the Snake River,where a thorough hike was made out to both "islands",as well as checking the general park for songbirds. It is here we joined Steve Mlodinow then Mike and Merry Lynn Denny before we went our separate ways with the Denny's rejoining us later in Washtucna. We ended the day in the general Washtucna area by birding a abandoned homestead with the Denny's north of Washtucna then returning to Bassett Park.

Yesterday(June 4th),our last and final day began very wet and rainy at Bassett Park,but conditions soon subsided for a brief period allowing for a nice assortment of species before we headed towards home. At times the rain was very heavy and we contemplated whether to stay or leave Bassett Park,but we waited the rain patiently out equipped with our raingear and umbrellas,etc and were not disappointed for the least by the nice gathering of migrants that were out even in the rain. We made a "sit" for 4 hours from one clump of willows and other trees at the north end of the large field at Bassett Park and just watched as the birds moved in and out of the trees. It was a nice way to end out visit to Washtucna! We then headed west to Vantage,where we ended our day after passing a very large rain/hail storm over Hwy.26 west of Royal City with great birding conditions at Vantage.

Our bird highlights were many,but of special interest was a bird that was originally idenitified as a CONNECTICUT or MOURNING WARBLER observed on the 2nd at Bassett Park Due to a lack of experience in either species and upon arriving back home then looking at the photos further we remained unsure to the exact identity of the bird. Upon receiving comments from one source we remain unsure and speculation of the bird will continue. We now realize many of the bird's details are completely wrong for a Connecticut Warbler and fit more well with the range of a female Mourning Warbler. We would kindly ask for other opinions of this bird and we have placed a few photos of the bird onto our website for further examination. We were able to obtain a few photos of the bird under very limited viewing conditions,which can be viewed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/ . The bird was extremely "skulky" and elusive and in the 2 out of 3 views that were obtained in a 2 hour period thin eye ring was evident,which is not very visible in the photos. During the photos taken the bird just sat on a branch tightly within a Russian Olive tree allowing a very narrow window for a small set of photos to be obtained. The bird remained motionless on the branch for 40 seconds before dropping down into dense cover. The bird called only once during the entire observation,but upon playing a playback of both a Mourning and Connecticut Warbler responded only to the Connecticut Warbler song that was played. The bird did not allow any views during this time,as it flew around by circling just above the low underbrush before finally disappearing. The bird was never relocated after 6pm on the 2nd,but a good movement of passerines was noted so it could have moved on. Also of note and just after arriving at Bassett Park were a single RED-EYED VIREO and 2 separate AMERICAN REDSTARTS(including a singing 1st year male).


Other noteworthy sightings during our 3 day trip included the following species from selected locations:

Am.White Pelican
8 birds along the Columbia River below Wanapum Dam,Kittitas Co. on the 2nd(with 1 there on the 4th)
14 birds north of the Para Ponds at Othello,Adams Co. on the 2nd
20 birds flying overhead at Washtucna,Adams Co. on the 2nd
6 birds along the Snake River below Lower Monumental Dam,Walla Walla and Franklin Cos.on the 3rd
25 birds flying south along the Snake River at Windust Park,Franklin Co. on the 3rd
1 bird at Lyons Ferry State Park,Franklin Co. on the 3rd
2 birds along the Columbia River north of Wanapum SP,KT on the 4th

Great Egret
1 at the Para Ponds,AD on the 2nd

Canvasback
1(with 8 Redheads)along S.R.26 at the County Line ponds,Grant Co. on the 2nd and 4th

Greater Scaup
4 birds at Vantage,KT on the 2nd
1 pair along Hwy.26 at the County Line ponds,GR on the 2nd

Prairie Falcon
1 along S.R.260 wet of McAdam,FR on the 3rd

Wild Turkey
a maximum of 9 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 3rd(with smaller numbers noted on the 2nd)

Black-necked Stilt
10 birds(with 15 Am.Avocets and 8 Wilson's Phalaropes)along S.R.26 at the County Line ponds,GR on the 2nd

Spotted sandpiper
1 bird at Windust Park,FR on the 3rd

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
4 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd-4th

Barn Owl
4 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd
1 bird at Windust Park,FR on the 3rd

WESTERN SCREECH OWL
1 calling bird during the early morning of the 3rd and 4th at Bassett Park,AD

Great Horned Owl
1 adult at Wanapum State park,KT on the 2nd
2 birds at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd

Burrowing Owl
1 adult bird along S.R.26 approximately 3 miles west of Othello,AD on the 2nd

Common Nighthawk
2 at Wanapum Sate Park,KT on the 2nd
7 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd
1 bird at Lyons Ferry State Park,FR on the 3rd

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
1 female bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 4th

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
1 bird(with 4 Western Wood Pewees)at Vantage,KT on the 4th

Willow Flycatcher
1 bird at Wanapum State Park,KT on the 2nd with 2 birds there on the 4th
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd

LEAST FLYCATCHER
1 calling bird observed at Vantage,KT on the 2nd

Hammond's Flycatcher
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd and 3rd
1 bird at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd

Dusky Flycatcher
4 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2n(with 2 birds there on the 3rd)
1 bird at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd
1 bird at the town of Hatton,AD on the 4th
1 bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 4th

GRAY FLYCATCHER
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 4th

Pacific-slope"Western" Flycatcher
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd and the 3rd(with 2 birds there on the 4th)

Am.Crow
1 at Lyons Ferry SP,FR

Bewick's Wren
2 at Corfu Woods,GR on the 2nd
a maximum of 5 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 3rd

Swainson's Thrush
3 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd and 3rd(with 2 birds there on the 4th)
1 bird at Windust Park,FR on the 3rd
1 bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 4th

Gray Catbird
1 bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd
3 birds at Corfu Woods,GR on the 2nd
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd
1 bird at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd

Cassin's Vireo
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd

Warbling Vireo
2 birds at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd
8 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd
2 birds at Lyons Ferry SP,FR on the 3rd

Orange-crowned Warbler
1 bird a Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd
1 bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 4th

Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 bird of the "Audubon's" subspecies at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd
1 bird of the "Myrtle" subspecies at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd

Townsend's Warbler
1 bird at Lyons Ferry S.P.,FR on the 3rd
2 birds(with a Townsend's/Hermit Warbler hybrid)at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd
3 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 4th

MacGillivray's Warbler
3 birds at Wanapum SP.KT on the 2nd
3 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd(with 1 bird there on the 4th)
1 bird at Lyons Ferry SP,FR on the 3rd

Common Yellowthroat
2 birds at Corfu Woods,GR on the 2nd

Wilson's Warbler
3 birds at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd(with 1 bird there on the 4th)
6 birds a Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd(with a maximum of 10 birds there on the 4th)
2 birds at Windust Park,FR on the 3rd
3 birds at Lyons Ferry SP,FR on the 3rd
3 birds at an abandoned homestead north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd
1 bird at the town of Hatton,AD on the 4th

Western Tanager
1 bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd
4 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd(with 3 birds there on the 3rd)
2 birds at Lyons Ferry SP,FR on the 3rd
1 bird at Windust Park,FR on the 3rd

Black-headed Grosbeak
2 bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd
a maximum of 6 birds at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd

Lazuli Bunting
1 singing bird at Wanapum SP,KT on the 2nd
1 bird at Vantage,KT on the 2nd
4 birds at Corfu Woods,GR on the 2nd

Spotted Towhee
1 bird at Bassett Park,AD on the 2nd

Grasshopper Sparrow
3 birds along S.R.261 near Palouse State Park,FR on the 3rd
2 singing birds along S.R.261 north of Washtucna,AD on the 3rd



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com