Hello Birders,

We just arrived home from yet another rewarding 3 day trip to eastern Washington in search of migrant passerines,etc. Our trip began on he early morning of the 12th of September in the Vantage area,ten we headed eastward towards Washtucna,where we ended that day. The following we began the cool and crisp morning at Washtucna,then drove north and east to Sprague Lake,where we met Gina Sheridan and Harold and Karen Cottet of Spokane. This was a scheduled meeting,as we all birded a windy remainder of the day from the Sprague Lake Resort to Philleo Lake in Spokane Co. On the morning of the 14th we woke up at daybreak and began a very windy and cold day at the Sprague Lake Resort,where we ran into Roger and Michael Woodruff. As the winds prevailed off of Sprague Lake we tried our best to endure them in search of any new migrant passerines at this nice location. A few good sightings were made here before we went our separate ways by 8:30am,then my mother and I birded our way to Vantage by stopping at a few locations along the way including Washtucna and the Hatton Rest Area.The weather during the 1st portion of our trip was good with temperatures being warmest on the 12th,then becoming noticeably cooler on the 13th with much cloudier conditions. On the 14th we woke to very cool and brisk conditions near Sprague Lake with high winds and mostly clear skies,which remained all the way to Washtucna,which made birding quite a challenge at times,but we managed. When we arrived just west of Royal City in Grant Co. it began to remain hard and continue all the way to Vantage then again from Ellensburg to Cle Elum,so we lucked out having any rain while our best birding.

As mentioned we had a great trip with this trip producing 95 species,which was far less than our last trip but it was the numbers of certain species that was way up! Of most significant passerine numbers included very good numbers of White-crowned Sparrows,Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. All 3 of theses species were consistently abundant at all the basic migrant traps that we visited and at several locations. Our most exciting species of the trip was undoubtedly a fall plumaged BLACKPOLL WARBLER that was photographed under limited conditions,but observed good,but for a very short time by 5 observers at the Sprague Lake Resort in Lincoln Co on the 13th. The bird was first detected amongst a roaming "wave" of Yellow-rumped Warblers at 11:20am,as the flock came in rapidly moving through a hedgerow. The Blackpoll was easily detected amongst the Yellow-rumped Warblers by it's noticeably yellow upperparts with dull streaking on the sides contrasting well to completely white undertail coverts and dark wings revealing two white wing bars. The bird also showed a distinctive broken eye ring with a dark line extending through the eye at both ends. It was an exciting bird to see,despite being such a brief sighting and although we did obtain photos of this rare species for Washington they are quite poor in quality,but do show the main distinguishing field marks and thus are for documentation only. This bird represented a Washington State bird for all of us although somewhat overdue and much anticipated for some of us! It was lucky enough that any photos were taken considering how active the flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers were,but it did seem like the Blackpoll paused just long enough for us all to get glimpses of it with some of us seeing the bird better than others. As Gina Sheridan,Harold and Karen Cottet and us watched the bird continue to move through the hedgerow it was apparent that we would quickly loose it,as the entire flock moved and flew northwards towards the northern edge of Sprague Lake. From that point we remained diligent,yet excited by this great bird as we soon enjoyed our lunch while keeping close eyes on the same hedgerow! We all watched as wave after wave of Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows moved through all heading in the same direction as did the Blackpoll Warbler! It was definitely a sight to have witnessed and at times the numbers of birds seemed rather overwhelming! It was a great pleasure birding with Gina and the Cottets,as we continued the rest of the day after a 3 hour visit to the Sprague Lake Resort!

We have placed 5 somewhat poor photos of the Blackpoll Warbler onto our website,as well as a photo of a Sage Sparrow taken at Vantage and a Red-eyed Vireo taken at Bassett Park at Washtucna during our 3 day trip. The photos of the Blackpoll Warbler are strictly for proof and all show the bird from different angles,as it moved through the hedgerow. These photos can be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/


The following list below is a complete summary of notable species encountered on our trip from selected locations by dates and times:


September 12th,2006

Wanapum State Park,Kittitas Co. 7am-8am

2 Common Loons
2 Red-necked Grebes
1 GREAT EGRET
1 Great Horned Owl
3 Olive-sided Flycatchers
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Townsend's Solitaire
1 Hermit Thrush
4 Warbling Vireos
8 Yellow Warblers
48+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
12 Wilson's Warblers
7 Spotted Towhees
1 Savannah Sparrow
2 Lincoln's Sparrows
30+ White-crowned Sparrows
15 "Oregon"Juncos
2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park,Kittitas Co.(including lower boat launch area) 8:10am-8:30am

1 Osprey
30 Chukar
1 Say's Phoebe
15 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Townsend's Warbler
1 SAGE SPARROW
3 Golden-crowned Sparrows
25 White-crowned Sparrows
4 Lincoln's Sparrows
1 Pine Siskin

Sentinal Bluff,Grant Co.(accessed along S.R.243 south of Schwana) 9am-10:30am

1 Common Loon
5 Am.White Pelicans
7 Great Egrets
1 Hooded Merganser
4 Herring Gulls
1 Great Horned Owl
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
1 Western Wood Pewee
1 Warbling Vireo
6 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
8 Orange-crowned Warblers
10 Yellow Warblers
200+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
3 Wilson's Warblers
2 Western Tanagers
1 "Sooty" Fox Sparrow
8 Lincoln's Sparrows

"County Line Ponds",Grant Co. 11:15am

12 Least Sandpipers
2 Baird's Sandpipers

Hatton Rest Area,Adams Co. 12:30pm

2 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
1 Least Sandpiper
6 Baird's Sandpipers

Hwy.26 west of Foulkes Rd.,Adams Co.

1 dark-morph SWAINSON'S HAWK

Washtucna(including Bassett Park),Adams Co. 1pm-7pm

5 Turkey Vultures(all observed flying high in from the north a 5pm,then slowly descending downwards and eventually landing and roosting in tall Black Cottonwood trees within Bassett Park)
2 Sharp-shinned Hawks
14 Wild Turkeys
2 Barn Owl
1 WESTERN SCREECH OWL(heard calling constantly from tick willow trees at Bassett Park at 11pm)
8 Eurasian Collared Doves
1 live-sided Flycatcher
2 Western Wood Pewees
10 Dusky Flycatchers
1 Say's Phoebe
35+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Townsend's Solitaires
3 Hermit Thrushes
1 GRAY CATBIRD
3 Cassin's Vireos
3 Warbling Vireos
1 RED-EYED VIREO
2 Rock Wrens
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
55+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
8 Wilson's Warblers
1 Western Tanager
1 female-type LAZULI BUNTING(observed well amongst a loose flock of White-crowned Sparrows and "Oregon"Juncos in weedy patch along the west end of Bassett Park)
2 Spotted Towhees
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 Vesper Sparrow
1 Savannah Sparrow
1 "Sooty"Fox Sparrow
12 Lincoln's Sparrows
1 Golden-crowned Sparrow
120+ White-crowned Sparrows
40 "Oregon"Juncos


September 13th,2006

Bassett Park at Washtucna,Adams Co. 6:20am-8:45am

3 Turkey Vultures
2 Sharp-shinned Hawks
1 Cooper's Hawk
10 Wild Turkeys
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 BELTED KINGFISHER(quite noteworthy for the location,as well as Adams Co.)
2 Townsend's Solitaires
6 Hermit Thrushes
1 Cassin's Vireo
3 Warbling Vireos
1 RED-EYED VIREO
1 Bewicks Wren
1 HOUSE WREN
12 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
3 Orange-crowned Warblers
60+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 MacGillivray's Warblers
15 Lincoln's Sparrows
1 Golden-crowned Sparrow
100+ White-crowned Sparrows
25 "Oregon"Juncos

S.R.261 north of Washtucna,Adams Co. 9am

1 Merlin

S.R.261 north of Ralston,Adams Co. 9:35am

1 Prairie Falcon

Sprague Lake STP,Lincoln Co. 10am-10:15am

1 Wood Duck
4 Blue-winged Teal
3 Cinnamon Teal
90+ Northern Shovelers
1 Redhead
3 Common Goldeneyes
1 Bufflehead
1 Hooded Merganser
50 Ruddy Ducks
5 Turkey Vultures
5 Red-necked Phalaropes
1 Violet-green Swallow
4 Bank Swallows

Sprague Lake Resort,Lincoln Co. 10:25am-1:15pm

2 Western Grebes
1 Am.White Pelican
1 Wood Duck
40+ Redheads
3 Ring-necked Ducks
2 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES
1 Great Horned Owl
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Bank Swallow
1 Dusky Flycatcher
12 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
2 Orange-crowned Warblers
1 Yellow Warbler
350+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER
2 Wilson's Warblers
250+ White-crowned Sparrows
85+ "Oregon"Juncos

Sprague Lake,Adams Co. 1:25pm-1:40pm

6 Horned Grebes
75+ Western Grebes
3 Am.White Pelicans
1 Wood Duck
450+ Ruddy Ducks
1 Northern Harrier
2 Chipping Sparrows

Sheep Lake,Whitman Co. 2pm-2:30pm

2 Horned Grebes
2 Eared Grebes
1 TUNDRA SWAN
1 Cackling Goose
28 Hooded Mergansers
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Greater Yellowlegs(observed along Hwy.23 in Lincoln Co. northwest of Sheep Lake)
2 "peep" species

Hwy.23 just west of Crooked Knee Lake,Whitman Co. 2:35pm

1 immature Golden Eagle

Hwy.23 at Sprague,Lincoln Co. 2:55pm

1 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE

S.R.904 west of Cheney,Spokane Co.

20 Turkey Vultures(observed all together in a "kettle" formation)

Philleo Lake,Spokane Co.

1 Horned Grebe
2 Eared Grebes
90 Am.White Pelicans
1 Cooper's Hawk
10 Gray Partridges
1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Baird's Sandpiper
1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
3 Long-billed Dowitchers
1 Wilson's Snipe
6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
2+ Pygmy Nuthatches(heard only)
6+ Western Bluebirds

I-90(westbound) at Ames Lake,Lincoln Co.

1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
10 Wilson's Snipe


September 14th,2006

Sprague Lake Rest Area(westbound),Lincoln Co. 6:45am-7:15am

2 Turkey Vultures
1 Baird's Sandpiper(observed as a flyover only)
1 Red-naped Sapsucker
1 Western Wood Pewee
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
25 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Townsend's Warbler
38+ White-crowned Sparrows
20 "Oregon"Juncos

Sprague Lake Resort,Lincoln Co. 7:30am-8:40am

1 adult Bald Eagle
1 Merlin
1 Winter Wren
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
20+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
200+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
5 Wilson's Warblers
4 Spotted Towhees
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
85+ White-crowned Sparrows

Ritzville,Adams Co. 9:30am-10am

2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Townsend's Solitaire
2 Orange-crowned Warbler(including one bird of the gray-headed "celata" subspecies)
1 Yellow Warbler
50+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 "Sooty"Fox Sparrow
1 LARK SPARROW

Ellenger Rd. abandoned homestead(accessed 7 miles north of Washtucna,Adams Co. along S.R.261) 10:45am-11:15am

5 Barn Owls
1 Dusky Flycatcher
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Bewick's Wren
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
8 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
14 Yellow-rumped warblers
45 White-crowned Sparrows

Bassett Park at Washtucna,Adams Co. 11:30am-1:30pm

2 Sharp-shinned Hawks
1 Merlin
1 Wilson's Snipe(observed along the creek within the main park area)
3 Western Wood Pewees
3 Dusky Flycatchers
1 HOUSE WREN
14 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
4 Townsend's Solitaires
1 Hermit Thrushes
55+ Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 MacGillivrays' Warbler
1 Western Tanager
3 Spotted Towhees
40 White-crowned Sparrows
25+ "Oregon"Juncos

Hwy.26 at MP 69(east of Foulkes Rd.)Adams Co. 2pm

1 SWAINSON'S HAWK(presumably the same individual than noted near this location on the 12th)

Hatton Rest Area,Adams Co. 2:10pm

1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
2 Western Sandpipers
1 Pectoral Sandpiper
2 Yellow-rumped Warblers

Hwy.26 a MP 35(west of Othello),Adams Co.

1 Osprey

Hwy.26 at MP 30,Grant Co.

3 Great Egrets

Wanapum State Park,Kittitas Co. 3:45pm-4pm

2 SAGE THRASHERS
12 Yellow-rumped Warblers
3 Spotted Towhees
1 Vesper Sparrow
20 White-crowned Sparrows
Golden-crowned Sparrow



Good birding,

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