Tweeters and Inland Birders,

On the evening of May 16, I found a male WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER feeding low
down in ponderosa pines about 100 yards from the entrance to the Leavenworth
Ski Hill at Leavenworth. I'm not sure how rare a sighting this is, but I
know that this is generally an uncommon to rare bird in WA. I've seen
White-headeds only twice before in the state, once at the Wenas campground
(likely the best spot in the state to find them), and once along the Silver
Creek Road east of Keller in Ferry County.

I was able to approach within 15 feet of the bird, which was feeding at
head-height in the pines and was quite unwary. I even managed a few photos,
which weren't in sharp focus because the light was very poor (near sunset)
and the bird wouldn't stay still, but you can see one of them on my Flickr
page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcweber/2511499391/ .

The Leavenworth ski hill looks like a great area for both birders and
botanists. The cross-country ski trails wind for some distance through young
ponderosa pine forest with a lot of undergrowth and many species of flowers
in bloom. There was lots of bird activity despite the evening hour; I'd like
to bird the place in early morning.

Yes, I know that May 16 was the start of the Leavenworth Bird Festival, but
I was unable to attend because I was booked on a botany trip near Ellensburg
the next day. One of these years, though...


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net