Subject: [Tweeters] Robinson Canyon birding
Date: Jun 24 18:42:52 2006
From: Marv Breece - mbreece at earthlink.net


Today (24 June 2006) I led a Seattle Audubon Society field trip to Robinson Canyon in Kittitas County. On the drive to our destination we stopped at the burn near Elk Heights. This location was reported to Tweeters on 22 June by Gene Hunn. Thanks to Gene, the whole group enjoyed seeing a family of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS. At this location, we also enjoyed RUFFED GROUSE, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RED AND WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, WESTERN TANAGER, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

Highlights at Robinson Canyon included great looks at a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. At one time we had RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL AND COOPER'S HAWK in the sky overhead. There were many LAZULI BUNTINGS in the canyon, but getting a good look today was tough. The total lack of VEERY at Robinson Conyon was surprising. Our only VEERYS were heard later in the day along Hwy 10 near Cle Elum.

On the way home, as we passed through the town of Thorpe, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was spotted soaring overhead. That was a nice surprise and punctuated a good day.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA