Hi Tweets, Long time. Today Fred Parent and I got sitters and managed
to do an extended day trip out to eastern Washington. We started at
first light at the Tinkham Road where we dipped on the Dipper but did
hear several Varied Thrush calling in the distance. Next we birded
Bullfrog Pond and the woods across the Road. We are pretty sure we
saw a Northern Goshawk cruise right overhead but we are both a bit
rusty and haven't ever seen one so couldn't count it. Other usual
suspects were there including:
Red-naped Sapsucker (To the right of the I-90 exit)
Red Crossbill
Western Bluebird
Mountain Chickadee
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Turkey Vultures.
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pushing on we visited Roslyn and saw several TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE all
around the cemetery.

Our next stop with the Elk Heights burn which did not disappoint with
great views of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS among flitting Western
Bluebirds, Yellow-Rumped Warblers and Hairy Woodpeckers. We followed
the "Buried pipeline" signs to the west and down the slope which
seemed most active. I only wish the site was further from I-90 so we
could have been sheltered from the noise of passing cars. It made
hearing anything difficult.

On to Othello where we failed to find any Burrowing Owls which I have
never had any luck on, but did see some good variety at the Para Ponds
including:
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Great Egret
Black-necked Stilt
American White Pelican (flying over head)
Caspian Tern

We failed to see any Tri-colored blackbirds.

At the county line ponds (west of Othello) we encountered CINNAMON
TEAL, READHEAD AMERICAN AVOCET and several other common ducks.

On our way home the wind started really picking up and we failed to
see either Sage Sparrow or Sage Thrasher along Old Vantage Highway.
In the rocky cliffs where Great Horned owl nested in 2005 we spotted a
Raven on its nest.

Some great birds and a great time returning to birding after a long hiatus.

Aaron Martin
Seattle, WA