This weekend I birded parts of Kittitas and Yakima Counties, particularly the Wenas and Umtanum areas. I began Saturday morning in Ellensburg working my way south along the Umtanum-Wenas Road, stopping at Umtanum Creek/Falls and birding to the Wenas Campground. I then spent late Saturday afternoon hiking in Hardy Canyon and checking a few spots in Selah. Sunday morning I birded the Umtanum Recreation Area-BLM in the Yakima Canyon. The weather was good although later Sunday morning the wind picked up in the Ellensburg area.

One of the highlights was along the Umtanum-Wenas Road near Bluebird boxes 26 and 27, where I spent about 20 minutes walking along the road and had CASSIN'S FINCH, a pair of WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and several LEWIS WOODPECKERS. Lots of Warblers at several locations, and many LAZULI BUNTINGS at the Umtanum Recreation Area, although I missed YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Additional birds seen included:

OSPREY - near Ellensburg

SWAINSON'S HAWK - in Selah along Sheep Company Road

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD - Umtanum Creek/Falls

LEWIS WOODPECKER - at Audubon Road into the Wenas Campground and along Umtanum-Wenas Road

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - 2 along Umtanum-Wenas Road

GRAY FLYCATCHER - along Umtanum-Wenas Road - Bluebird box 45

PYGMY NUTHATCH - along Umtanum-Wenas Road - Bluebird box 45

DUSKY FLYCATCHER - Umtanum Creek/Falls

WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE - Umtanum Creek/Falls

CANYON and ROCK WRENS - Umtanum Recreation Area

SAGE THRASHER, BREWER'S SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and VESPER SPARROW - along Umtanum-Wenas Road near Durr Road

HERMIT THRUSH - near Wenas Campground

BUSHTIT (eastside) - Umtanum Recreation Area

CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS - near Wenas Campground

CASSIN'S FINCH - along Umtanum-Wenas Road

NASHVILLE, WILSON'S, ORANGE-CROWNED, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS - at several locations including Wenas Campground, Umtanum Recreation Area, and Hardy Canyon.

YELLOW WARBLER - Hardy Canyon

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW - Umtanum Recreation Area

LAZULI BUNTING - Umtanum Recreation Area

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE - Umtanum Recreation Area and Selah

WESTERN TANAGER - several at Umtanum Recreation Area

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK - Umtanum Recreation Area



Cheers and Good Birding;



Michael Fleming

Ballard, Washington

Michael-Fleming AT myway.com

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