Tweets,
June 19-21 I covered Wenas, Vantage, Teanaway Forks & Ridge, & Blewett
areas. 135 species. Highlights and directions:
- LEAST FLYCTR (2) - Hardy Canyon, marked wildlife area access on Wenas Rd
between lake and Audubon Rd. In the aspen grove at the gray gate post and
the next grove up.

- GRAY FLYCTR - Wenas campground area, upstream and to the left, up on the
flat (gentle slope) of the "plateau" between Wenas and Dry(?) Crks among
open, smallish and downed pines, reliable here.
- WHITE-HEADED WDPKR - on the road that goes up this plateau, at the edge of
the large scrub meadow before going into the pines woods.
- WILLIAMSON'S SAPSKR - Summit of Old Blewett Pass (with 20 other montane
species). [I left after 20+ minutes when nothing showed at the nest site at
Am. Forest Resources campground, as reported by Rachel Lawson (6June), where
Teanaway W and M Fork Rds divide.]
- PEREGRINE FALCON (2) - Huntzinger Rd near Vantage/Wanapum SP just below
the dam at the powerlines. One had a large kill, about the size of the bird,
using a guardrail post for a dinner plate -- I was amazed
how easily it took off and flew with it.
- PRAIRIE FALCON - Umptanum Rd in the huge snag above the open
meadow/pasture along the creek (unmistakable -- below the pass not far from
the falls trailhead). The tree dwarfed this previously reported bird.
- BURROWING OWL - Dodson Rd roughly a half-mile north of Frenchman Hill Rd,
on the east side just north of where the willows end (courtesy Rob
McNair-Huff's post 27Mar). None were observed beyond "Birder's Corner."
- BLACK TERN - Birder's Corner marsh (parking area), Dodson x Frenchman Hill
Rds.
- Dark phase SWAINSON'S HAWK - About 2/3 or 3/4 way south on Dodson Rd.
- GOLDEN EAGLE (2) - Yakima Canyon Rd, suspension bridge site, shading in
sagebrush above left-most basalt cliffs. Further upstream around
mid-elevation it looks like a large nest.

- CLARK'S GREBE - Southernmost bridge on "M" Rd (good pulloff) between
Sullivan Dam and Moses Lake. Forster's Terns also present. (Moses Lake sites
were overrun with boaters and recreators, but lots of terns in the waning
daylight.)

Other interesting sites/sights:
- Roosting C. NIGHTHAWKS (3+) at 14170 Wenas Rd, in the red-barked trees
overhanging the road. Pulloff is 500 feet below site at gravel pit. A first
for me.
- CANVASBACK (3) and BUFFLEHEAD (7) with many other waterfowl and waders
(30+ species without trying) at Potholes Rookery (Opperman 358), an
extensive wastewater lagoon and wildlife area. Especially interesting at
sunset. Accessed from exit 174 just west
of Moses Lake, westbound ~2.5 miles on the southside frontage road, left at
road "D.5" (unmarked except I think there was a wildlife area sign, and it's
between "C" and "E" -- which also has a name, according to the freeway exit
here), and ~6 miles of course gravel.
- Westside RED-NAPED SAPSKR An easy mark for westside listers: At White
Pass summit enter northeast corner of westernmost gravel parking lot; park
at the road barrier; walk down lane short distance before the huge rock on
left; watch the nest site in the broken-off tree
nearest the lane. (Lincoln's Sparrow is in the adjacent "marsh" and
Ring-necked Duck in the lake behind the lodge.)

Where NOT to go: The trail to the wastewater lake west of "Birder's Corner"
via Frenchman Hill Rd and north on Rd "I" (unmarked). This site (Opperman
p356) is promising but the trail was barely detectable (not a major
problem), the overgrowth near the water was impassible, boots would be
required (maybe this isn't a normal water year), and the mosquitoes are
horrendous.

Disappointing dips:

- Grasshopper Sparrow - Including in the extensive prime habitat above.
Wrong time of day?
- Black-throated Sparrow - Right area, but Monday p.m./Tuesday a.m. the wind
in the gorge was adverse.
- White Pelican
- Flammulated Owl (though I only had a chance to check one spot, near lower
end of Rimrock/Tieton Reservoir).

Good birding!
Paul Hicks
Tenino
phicks AT accessgrace.org