Took a loop from Yakima through Vantage to Othello and home again this
evening on a wonderfully warm sunny spring day in the Columbia Basin. Had my
first WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS of the year this morning as two flew over the
Selah Bridge going north on I-82 from Yakima. Once I hit the Vantage Hwy.
all I do mean ALL the birds were active and some early return surprises.

My first stop was at the pumphouse, about MP 14.5. Here I had: Pair of
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD getting ready to nest in a box. 5 SAGE SPARROW singing and
1 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE calling.

Second stop was at MP 15. Here I had the first singing VESPER SPARROWS of
the spring, 2 singing males, another Loggerhead Shrike and 3 more singing
Sage Sparrows.

At the entrance to the Wild horse Wind Farm there were 2 SAGE THRASHER
singing, first of the spring and a couple of days earlier than average and
they likely have been here for a couple days given the voracity that they
were singing. There were also 2 more Sage Sparrows, another pair of Mountain
Bluebird and a SAY'S PHOEBE.

At MP 20 in the Quilomene WRA there were 3 more Sage Thrasher singing, 3
more Sage Sparrow and amazingly a singing male BREWER'S SPARROW! The
previous early data in my records is March 22 on the Vantage Hwy, with an
average of about March 26, so this is a week early!

At the traditional Great-Horned Owl nest spot in Schnebly Coulee I had 4
calling CHUKAR, 3 more Sage Sparrow and another pair of Mountain Bluebirds.

Huntzinger Rd: South of Wanapum Dam, near where in the past Rosy finches
have roosted is a huge traditional VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW COLONY. Today they
were active setting up nests, with at least 100 present here. Also present
were several more CHUKAR, 4 ROCK WREN, 1 CANYON WREN, 2 SAY'S Phoebe and out
on the river here was 7 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, 6 COMMON LOON (several in full
alternate) and 1 PACIFIC LOON (still in basic).

Next stop was across the river at Sentinel Bluffs in Grant Co. Here I had 1
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, 2 BALD EAGLE and a gull flock on the rocks in the rive
r consisting of 2 HERRING GULL amongst the RING-BILLED GULL. In the riparian
strip it was pretty slow, except for quite a few RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
singing, many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and many FLICKERS drumming and doing
courtship behavior.

At Countyline Ponds near Othello the SNOW GOOSE reported earlier was still
present among the hordes of CACKLING and CANADA GOOSE. Also saw at least 200
SANDHILL CRANE fly into the back out of sight pond areas while I was scoping
the geese around 1:00.

Ended the day on the Wahluke Slope with 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEW, 1 adult GOLDEN
EAGLE soaring over the south ridge and at least 14 SAGE SPARROW (stopped
counting after 14, but likely more), many acted like nesting was well
underway.

A great sunny spring day!

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA