Hi all -
This weekend I hit the migrant traps in Eastern WA, hoping for some
leftovers from last weekend's bonanza -- no such luck. Overall,
migrant movement was still high, but there I didn't see or hear about
any rarities popping up. There're still plenty of warblers to sort
through though, so I bet more rarities are there to be dug out.....


Most notable was the movement of Lincoln's Sparrows & Common
Yellowthroat -- I believe I had both species in 5 counties [Adams,
Whitman, Franklin, Columbia & Walla Walla]. Especially in the case of
Common Yellowthroats, that's a pretty good turnout for a pretty
hard-to-find-in-Eastern-WA species.

Washtucna, Bassett Park, Adams Co. - Visited early Sat morning and
late-morning on Sunday:
Yellow-rumped Warblers were thick
Also had: Orange-crowned Warblers [several], Townsend's Warbler
[3-5], MacGillivray's Warbler [2-3], Nashville Warbler [1], Wilson's
Warbler [10+], Common Yellowthroat [2]

Warbling Vireo [10+], Cassin's Vireo [2], Red-eyed Vireo [1]

Varied Thrush [3], Hermit Thrush [2-3]

LEWIS'S WOODPECKER - one seen Sunday at the north end of the park

Barn Owl - one flushed from the russian olives north of the main
park, early Saturday morning

Wild Turkeys - very fun to watch them come out of the roost Saturday at dawn

Eurasian Collared-Dove - still around in good numbers

Red-breasted Nuthatch & Ruby-crowned Kinglets - pretty high numbers of each.

Fox Sparrow - 2 or 3 seen briefly


Lyons Ferry , Franklin Co - Visited late Saturday, and then Sunday
morning early
About the same suite & proportions of warblers & , w/o the MacGillivray's
Warbling Vireos only amongst the vireos
Varied [heard], Hermit [2-3], and Swainson's Thrush [1]
Hairy & Downy Woodpecker [1 each]
Fox Sparrow - 1

Ayer, Walla Walla Co - Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, and one each
Townsend's & Common Yellowthroat.
Black-crowned Night-heron - one

Seems like this could be a great spot to catch migrants, especially
around the boat launch.

Despite the lack of surprises, it was a good outing, especially in
getting a chance to cross paths with other Tweeters/birders like -
Ruth Sullivan, Mike & MerryLynn Denny, Michael Woodruff & his dad,
Tim O'Brien, Kathy Andrich, Rick & Tina Taylor, & a few I'm
forgetting!

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA