I couldn't wait for the sun to come back after Monday so Tuesday I went over
the hill. Hit the Toppenish area and then Horn Rapids park before turning
back west. Very few dragonflies yet but I did get photos of Emma's Dancer
and River Jewelwing, both new ones for me.
Spent Tuesday night at Wenas and Wednesday morning was glorious. Fiddled
around and almost leaned against the tree with the WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER
nest before the chatter of the returning female alerted me to move away. I
did and took a couple photos from some distance with the long lens and
extender. Keep in mind when looking at them they are also cropped.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE were everywhere I went. I put a separate folder on the
site just for them. On the way out as I came around the curve overlooking
Wenas Lake I saw about ten COMMON NIGHTHAWK flying around so I stopped and
played camera tag with them. I got one good one so that makes me the winner!
Next I risked the logging trucks on Little Rattlesnake River Rd to a small
pond I sometimes visit. Soon after I got out of the car I began to hear 'chi
bek'. LEAST FLYCATCHER! I set up the camera and walked out toward the pond.
I lost a foot on the tripod, wasn't hearing the 'chi bek' anymore and the
sun was in the wrong place. Phooey! SO I went back to the car and found the
tripod foot on the floor, whew! I fixed that and set down with some Gatorade
and a cookie when 'chi bek' right close by. By the time I got to the camera
there it was in a small pine about 50' away, I took several photos, none as
good as I would like, but good enough for the first time.
I spent the night and Thursday morning around the Little Naches River where
I lost most of the hide and seek with the warblers before heading home.

Photos: http://www.pbase.com/jvhigbee/c_current

Joseph Higbee
Spanaway, Wa
Mailto: jvhigbee at hotmail.com