I opted out of today's predictions of rain for the west side by heading out
to Umptanum Creek Canyon for the annual Lewis's Woodpecker at my
fast-becoming-guaranteed spot (third visit). Hike two miles into Umptanum
Creek Canyon to the large ex-beaver pond glade with all the dead snags, and
there they are, no searching. Pick a log for lunch, and watch the Lewis's as
they alternate between stump-stalking and impersonating fly-catchers,
listening to the chatter of the young from a nest-hole all the while. There
were at least four adults working the glade today, maybe more, hard to keep
track of all the coming and going.



Western tiger swallowtails swarmed the tall thistle flowers by the creek,
kestrels hunted the hillsides and cliffs above, occasionally pursued by mobs
of magpies. Rock wrens chattered and sang as they bounced about the scree
slopes. I found several of those yellow-breasted chats who have repeatedly
and determinedly taunted me at Stillwater (luckily I'm not a county
lister!), and had wonderful binocular views. Male Lazuli's buntings sang in
numbers, flickers and belted kingfishers provided the 'jungle extras'
soundtrack along the creek. Other sightings included numerous goldfinch and
black-headed grosbeak, an eastern kingbird, and non-singing Empidomax
flycatchers. No scaly friends today, but white-tailed deer, ground squirrels
and rabbits were all out on show, with numerous dragonflies.



I moved on to Umptanum Road and birded my way along to the Falls. There are
fewer bluebirds on the road now than 6 weeks ago, but still plenty of
westerns with stripy juveniles, and I tracked down the definitive Vesper
Sparrow that I only probably saw on my last trip out that way. At the
falls, half the state's population of western wood-peewee seemed to have
taken up residence in the stretch of trees just past the car park - there
was literally one in every bush. A Brewer's sparrow flew down to the edge of
the trees from the sagebrush slopes above. Other finds included the tricky
song sparrow and rufous hummingbird, just in case I missed them at my
feeders at home. Northern flickers flitted from tree to tree as usual, but
the red-naped sapsucker remained elusive - not even the distinctive sound of
drums.



Ah, well, I still have places on my list to try.



Good birding in the sun!



Louise Rutter

Kirkland