Subject: [Tweeters] Common Poorwill common @ Robinson Canyon
Date: Jun 15 20:07:38 2009
From: Michael Fleming - michaelfleming01 at gmail.com


Last weekend I decided to do some birding in Kittitas County as it
has been a while since I have ventured over to the eastside. I got an
early start on Saturday morning hoping to beat the crowds to
Snoqualmie in search of the INDIGO BUNTING. The bunting showed itself
briefly, shortly after I first arrrived but I decided to stick around
for a much better look. Before I left after observing the bunting a
few more times, there were already eight people at the spot. Also,
the LEAST FLYCATCHER was very active, and heard a RED-EYED VIREO on
the way to the bunting spot.
I must say that Robinson Canyon has to be among one of the best
places around to come up with COMMON POORWILL. When actually looking
for COMMON POORWILL, I have never dipped on them yet at this location.
I usually go into the canyon area just a little beyond the gate and
wait for it to get dark. As if on cue the poorwills start calling,
and most of the time I see a couple of them by either walking or
driving the road. Saturday evening I met up with Steve Pink who was
also there to get a look at the birds.
Sunday morning I hiked in the Umtanum Recreation Area along the
Yakima River. This is definately the place for YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS,
as the place was crawling with them. Right across the suspension
bridge near the parking area a chat was singing away, and there were
many more as I progressed up the trail. I had a total of 77 species
on the trip, some of the highlights being:

GREAT HORNED OWL - Robinson Canyon
PRAIRIE FALCON - Umtanum Recreation Area
COMMON NIGHTHAWK - Robinson Canyon and Colockum Road
COMMON POORWILL - Robinson Canyon
LEWIS WOODPECKER - Umtanum Recreation Area
CASSIN'S VIREO - Colockum Canyon
RED-EYED VIREO - heard calling at Three Forks Park, Snoqualmie
CANYON WREN - Huntzinger Road & Umtanum Recreation Area
ROCK WREN - Huntzinger Road, Ginkgo State Park, & Umtanum Recreation Area
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD - Colockum Road / Canyon
GRAY CATBIRD - Colockum Road / Canyon
SAGE THRASHER - Old Kittitas Vantage Hwy - MP 20
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - Robinson Canyon & Umtanum Recreation Area
BREWER'S SPARROW - Colockum Road / Canyon
LARK SPARROW - Huntzinger Road
SAGE SPARROW - Old Kittitas Vantage Hwy - MP 20
CASSIN'S FINCH - Colockum Road /Canyon

Cheers and Good Birding;

Michael Fleming
Ballard, Washington
michaelfleming01 AT gmail.com