Subject: [Tweeters] Jasper Mt. Solitary Sandpiper
Date: Aug 9 16:30:02 2009
From: Mike and MerryLynn - m.denny at charter.net


Hello all,
Yesterday the 8th of August we led an all-day BMAS field trip up Jasper Mt.
east of Walla Walla and found a few surprises.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER- 1 bird in the "cow pond" on Dent Road off Jasper Mt.
road - about halfway to Lewis Peak. This bird flushed then returned and gave
us a show eating bugs and moving around with wings up - unexpected!
We had a flycatcher bonanza day with 10 species:
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - 8 - 10 birds scattered along the way - uncommon
bird in WWCo.
Western Wood-Pewee - everywhere - with some newly fledged young in places.
Willow Flycatcher - several lower on Jasper Mt. road.
LEAST FLYCATCHER- one bird up on Dent Rd. - Mike saw this bird so Ginger
played the call and the bird responded with its chip note and gave us all
good looks.
Hammond's Flycatcher - many with a few very young birds.
GRAY FLYCATCHER- one bird at the "T" up Jasper - rare in WWCo.
Dusky Flycatcher - a few along the way - still calling.
Western Flycatcher - one bird
Western Kingbird - several
Eastern Kingbird - 8 - 10 birds - the kingbirds were on the way up in the
foothills.

Stopped at the "cow pond" just before you start down Jasper on the way
back - and found another surprise - at least 4 PYGMY NUTHATCHES! We had very
few Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 BC Chickadees and 1 Chestnut-backed, NO Mt.
Chickadees, NO kinglets, NO Cassin's Finches and NO Steller's Jays. There
were Western and Mountain Bluebirds, Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings and
Chipping Sparrows everywhere with Red Crossbills here and there. Pine
Siskins were flying over regularly.
Had a couple Hairy Woodpeckers and several young Red-naped Sapsuckers - and
one adult of the same. MacGillivray's Warblers were a constant with a few
Orange-crowned's and one male Townsend's seen. Also had several Spotted
Towhees and Warbling Vireos, Vaux's Swifts and Barn Swallows. In the raptor
dept. both a Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk circled us with prey (birds!)
in their talons. 2 Turkey Vultures floated over. No grouse were seen but had
a Wild Turkey with poults.
A great day in the mountains with a very good group -
Later, M & M
..................................................................................
Mike and MerryLynn Denny
Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley

If you have not birded, you have not lived