Today while conducting my cavity nesting bird research up in the Mud Lake burn above HWY 410 outside Naches, I decided to check a cavity that Northern Flickers used last year. Even though I haven't seen a flicker there this year, I figured I would check because sometimes they can be elusive and quite sneaky to avoid detection, leaving the cavity early to avoid being seen. So, I looked in the cavity and to my surprise I found 4 Northern Saw-whet owlets staring back at me! They were just about completely feathered and if I hadn't checked today, I might have missed them. They just stared back at my camera probe and then clacked their beaks a few times. What cuties! Pretty cool to confirm breeding of this species in Yakima County.

Also heard a Lark Sparrow singing on the steppe/pine fringe.

Jeff Kozma
Yakima