Subject: [Tweeters] weekend at Washtucna
Date: Jun 3 22:15:17 2007
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Birders,

We enjoyed another nice trip in search of migrant passerines in the Washtucna area of eastern Washington from the 1st-3rd of June. We checked most of the same areas as in our previous trip,but concentrated most at Bassett Park in the wonderful town of Washtucna. Our weather was very hot during the day ranging in the upper 90's making birding very slow and somewhat unpleasant at times. Our best day was today with a nice morning spent at Bassett Park after a night and early morning of passing clouds,which produced a nice assortment of migrants. During this time we were joined by Gina Sheridan and Kim Thorburn of Spokane,who both saw many of the same species. After a nice morning at Bassett Park we drove east to the town of Hooper,where along the way we ran back into Gina and Kim,who excitedly announced to us they had seen a Philadelphia Vireo and Red-eyed Vireo in the town park area of Hooper. Since we were on our way to that location we enjoyed learning of their discovery,but upon arriving were unable to relocate either species,which most likely moved to a different location. The town has many tall deciduous trees and great habitat for migrants,as well as areas just north of the town in Whitman Co. as you cross the Palouse River. Despite not seeing the Philadelphia Vireo it was nice to visit Hooper before we drove home.

Overall passerine movements were very small and light all 3 days and most likely due to main end of migration,as well as very nice weather to help keep birds moving. We noticed this at all the locations we visited including in the Vantage area, Windust Park, the town of Kahlotus, and both Palouse Falls and Lyons Ferry State Parks. Despite rather slow birding we still enjoyed our trip and look forward to fall migration. Away from birding our highlight discovery was noted yesterday while sitting in our chairs as we watched birds coming to the small creek that flows through Bassett Park. Here, after watching a Prairie Falcon drop down and shoot through the park and only flushing up birds we discovered a beautiful dragonfly called a River Jewelwing. This species was known only to us from experience as very local in western Washington,where they normally occur in colonies or groups at just a few selected locations and was a personal new species for us in eastern Washington. The dragonfly slowly flew along the north end of the creek from the small culvert under the road,as we watched it until it flew into the sunlight showing off its metallic green body and black tipped wings. It was very exciting for us and we followed it as it continued along the creek until it landed and we were able to get photographs of it for documentation. This location seemed very,very unusual for this species and the nearest river or main body of water was the Palouse River 4-5 miles away to the east. Eventhough this species has been detected and documented in Adams Co. before it was special for us!


A list of our highlights by date and location include the following:


June 1st,2007

Wanapum State Park,Kittitas Co.

2 Am.White Pelicans
6 Western Grebes
1 Clark's Grebe
2 Common Nighthawks

Gingko Park,Kittitas Co.

1 Eastern Kingbird


S.R.26 at the County Line Ponds,Grant Co.

3 Red-necked Phalaropes


S.R.26 at MP 44,Adams Co.(east of Othello)

1 Burrowing Owl


S.R.26 at MP 47,AD

4 Burrowing Owls


S.R.26 at MP 58.7(east of Hatton),AD

1 Burrowing Owl


Bassett Park at Washtucna,AD

7 Wild Turkeys(including 3 males and 3 females and 1 young)
6 Common Nighthawks
10 Eurasian Collared Doves
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
2 Willow Flycatchers
1 Dusky Flycatcher
1 GRAY FLYCATCHER
1 Pacific-slope"Western"Flycatcher
4 Bewick's Wrens
2 Swainson's Thrushes
2 Gray Catbirds
5 Warbling Vireos
6 MacGillvray's Warblers
7 Wilson's Warblers
8 Western Tanagers
2 Black-headed Grosbeaks
1 Lark Sparrow
1 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
1 Yellow-headed Blackbird

S.R.261 at the south end of Washtucna,AD

1 Ferruginous Hawk


Palouse Falls State Park,Franklin Co.

4 Grasshopper Sparrows(observed along the entrance road to the park)
1 RED-EYED VIREO
2 Western Tanagers

Lyons Ferry State Park,FR

5 Am.White Pelicans(observed soaring high over the rimrock cliffs along the Colubia Co. side of the Snake River)
2 Golden Eagles(observed soaring along the rimrock cliffs along the Columbia Co. side of the Snake River)
1 Am.Coot
2 Caspian Terns
1 Wild Turkey
1 Barn Owl
2 Great Horned Owls
2 Willow Flycatchers
1 Bewick's Wren
1 Swainson's Thrush
1 Gray Catbird
3 Warbling Vireos
8 Yellow Warblers
3 Wilson's Warblers
1 Black-headed Grosbeaks

Lyons Ferry Fish Hatchery,FR

2 male Wood Ducks



June 2nd,2007

Bassett Park,AD

1 Prairie Falcon
6 Wild Turkeys
1 Barn Owl
4 Common Nighthawks
7 Eurasian Collared Doves
1 Willow Flycatcher
2 Dusky Flycatchers
4 Bewick's Wrens
2 Swainson's Thrushes
3 Warbling Vireos
6 Wilson's Warblers
2 MacGillivray's Warblers
2 Black-headed Grosbeaks
1 OREGON JUNCO(notable date for this species in Adams Co.)


Lower Monumental Dam,Franklin/Walla Walla Cos.

1 Western Grebe
15 Am.White Pelicans
75 California Gulls
1 pair of nesting Osprey


Windust Park,FR

4 Am.White Pelicans
1 Bewick's Wren
2 Swainson's Thrushes
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Warbling Vireo
7 Wilson's Warblers
2 MacGillivray's Warblers

S.R.261 north of Washtucna,AD

2 Swainson's Hawks
1 Grasshopper Sparrow



June 3rd,2007

Bassett Park,AD

2 Wild Turkeys
1 Barn Owl
7 Eurasian Collared Doves
1 Calliope Hummingbird
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
3 Willow Flycatcher
1 Dusky Flycatcher
1 Pacific-slope"Western"Flycatcher
1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH(very notable date of this montane species in Adams Co.)
2 Bewicks Wrens
1 Swainson's Thrush
1 Hermit Thrush
5 Warbling Vireos
3 RED-EYED VIREOS(very notable count for this species in Adams Co. with all 3 birds heard and seen singing from separate locations in the park)
1 Yellow Warbler
1 female AM.REDSTART
1 MacGillivray's Warbler
4 Wilson's Warblers
2 Western Tanagers
2 Black-headed Grosbeaks
1 Lazuli Bunting
3 RED CROSSBILLS(very notable date of this montane species in Adams Co.)


Hooper,AD

1 Swainson's Hawk
2 Vaux's Swifts(observed flying over the town area,then flying into a red brick chimney of a large building near the park area)
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 Warbling Vireos
1 Wilson's Warbler




Good birding,

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